March 1, 2017
Always one of my favorite days of the month!
For no good reason I can explain, the earliest glimpses of spring make me want to wear a skirt, but not really get dressy. It’s hard to explain, but I’m a firm believer that a skirt in a casual fabric can be a great substitute for shorts or pants; the world will think you’re all dressed up, when in reality it’s just a simple garment switch…
So – let’s see what I found this month:
I really tried to find the perfect brown, black and grey scarf in “current production,” but I finally realized that this Missoni scarf was going to be my choice. It’s second-hand (but probably never worn, as is so often the case!); I have confidence that Missoni will do this color scheme again next fall…
Scarf – Hèrmes Carré en Boucles; sweater – L.L.Bean; scarf – Missoni; watch – Throne; skirt – Uniqlo; shoes – Keds
I hesitated for a minute about the scarf, with white in it, but then I realized that some of us wouldn’t want too much beige near our faces, and this scarf will lighten up the scheme just enough. Everything doesn’t have to be “dye-lot” matched, of course. But it’s tempting to be a real stickler, at the expense of every making a decision!
Scarf – Hermes Flanerie à Versailles; sweater – Uniqlo; scarf– Brooks Brothers; watch – Roefield; skirt– L.L.Bean; shoes – Keds
Red shoes! “I won’t get any older, now the angels want to wear my red shoes…”
Scarf – Hèrmes Au Bout du Monde; sweater – L.L.Bean; scarf – Joie; watch – Larsson & Jennings; skirt– L.L.Bean; shoes – Keds
Yes, a long skirt! Please please PLEASE, don’t let these drag on the ground. It’s horrid for the skirt, it looks messy, and you don’t even want to think about what kinds of dreck you drag into your home…
Okay, I have no idea why the scarf says (I think) PINEAPPLE…
Scarf– Hèrmes Collections Impériales; sweater – L.L.Bean; scarf– Golden Goose; watch – Anne Klein; skirt– Simply Be; shoes – Sperry
Lavender athletic shoes – what could be more whimsical on a warm day?
Scarf – Hèrmes Etude pour un Iris Arc-en-ciel; sweater – Uniqlo; scarf – Mosaique; watch – Skagen; skirt – Uniqlo; shoes – Vans
I could get really interested in a pair of gold Keds; good thing that this kind of purchase is off-limits for the year!
Scarf – Hèrmes Chemins de Corail; sweater – M&S Collection; scarf – Polo Ralph Lauren; watch – Olivia Burton; skirt– Simply Be; shoes – Keds
The assembled wardrobes would be amazingly versatile for a long weekend trip, wouldn’t they?
Just in the interest of giving credit where credit is abundantly due, these are the scarves. I don’t get a single solitary penny of commission from a purchase of these, but I DO get the joy of knowing that one of my “as-yet unmet friends” has brought something beautiful into their world…
Please note that I’m struggling to find some of these scarves available online. If there’s one on which your heart is set, please DON’T hesitate to call an Hermès boutique – anywhere – and ask if they can find it for you. Their staff will treat you like a queen, and you might still get the scarf you most prefer…
Black – Hermès Carré en Boucles; Beige – Hermès Flanerie à Versailles; Navy – Hermès au Bout du Monde; Olive – Hermès Collections Impériales; Grey – Hermès Etude pour un Iris Arc-en-ciel; Brown – Hermès Chemins de Corail
But remember, your inspiration scarf does NOT have to cost the moon, and it doesn’t even have to be a scarf!
Which color scheme is your current favorite? I have to admit that I’m really leaning toward the last one, with light brown, orange and red. I surprise myself!
love,
Janice
For more in the 2017 “Build a Capsule Wardrobe – 12 months, 12 outfits” series, check out the following articles:
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
- Evaluating our 2017 wardrobes…
Looking for more ideas? Follow along as we build a new capsule wardrobe in 2018.
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I can't choose a favorite. I love the brown/black, but I also love the baby blue/beige. And the red/black. And the lavender/gray.
One of my favorite days of the month! Although I can't choose a favorite – maybe the grey/blue/mauve or maybe the beige/blue/pink.
And thank-you because I am a skirt wearer. I always mentally convert shorts and pants to skirts, so it's nice to see some skirts up there.
Janice,
In addition to the varied color combinations between the various scarf inspired color schemes, what I am really appreciating is seeing how you have selected the bottoms and tops ! Several of the ensembles feature dark and light versions of a given neutral for the bottoms, others repeat the same exact value , and one has both a neutral and a colored bottom. As to the tops, I see one that matches the colored bottom, several complementary colored tops, one neutral with one colored top, and finally, a twin set. This is one of the easy ways of introducing the variety in a wardrobe that I crave — especially for packing, which is often how I first view ensemble collections ! Thank you for providing this visual lesson — I'm loving it !
My favorites are the same as last year – the beige and the grey. I'm in love with the grey wardrobe scarf and Hermes has a version of this pattern that has a very pale grey border that I love even more (sigh). The great thing about this scarf's pattern is that you could show a different color scheme depending on how you fold it. Love this series and looking forward to April! Janice Collins, Washington DC
In your paragraph before the first wardrobe (my favorite!), where you were describing this month's scarf selection, you linked to the Hermes scarf on their page and I think you might have intended to link to the Missoni scarf on the RealReal site? – nanchyo
Great flaming mountains of confusion – I should hire you to proofread!
thanks so much,
hugs,
Janice
I think I like the black, brown wardrobe the best but some of others are also intriguing,. last year, I discovered that as the months rolled along and the wardrobes developed I grew in and out of ,love for many of them. My favorite at the end was not the one at the beginning.
I am also very pleased to see that long casual skirts are back in style. While I know in fashion should not rule my own choices, it is nice when my style is not alone. These skirts are so great as they keep your legs covered but are also letting the breezes in!! And they look cool with sandals or lace ups.
Deb from Vancouver
i love the black & carmel wardrobe.. am currently in progress of creating a capsule wardrobe. slowly. wisely. your site is key in helping to establish motivation – hoping it's okay that i link to your website from my blog..?
I like watching them all grow too. I learnt last year that my favourites change from month to month. I suspect, too, that sometimes I respond to a particular garment – the style and cut and what it is – rather than to the colour. It's a fun series and always interesting to read your reasons for choosing each item.
Yesterday I did a seasonal changeover from summer to autumn using the principles I learn here, and it went very nicely thank you! Because I'm in a cool temperate climate and have a low boredom threshold, I do seasonal changeovers every two months. Very happy this time: it came in at 32 items, an enjoyable mix, and nothing needed from the shops. Plus there's a bag of stuff to give away. Yay!
Robyn in Tasmania
That scarf that you featured in your first frame will be mine once the shopping ban is over. Your link connects to the official site. Can you help me out?
The black and brown one? If you really REALLY want it, you'd best phone an Hermes boutique TODAY and have them find it for you – I think it's selling out very quickly.
Good luck!
hugs,
Janice
The last combo is definitely my fave! But I love seeing them all. :)
I like them all. It's interesting that, as more and more clothes are added, whether or not you like a particular scarf becomes less important, the scarf becomes just a useful item that goes with everything. Linda M