It’s always a question – there are LOTS of good wardrobe ideas that work beautifully with black (and usually with navy and grey), but what if your favorite colors are warmer, and softer?
Let’s start here, just for the sake of art. We saw 2 exhibits of this artist when we were in Paris – there was 1 small room in the Centre Pompidou, and then a much larger exhibit in the Musee Cernuschi (which is just outside of the Parc de Monceau, and is well worth the search!).
This just screamed to me across the room – I saw khaki right away, with amazing accents…
So let’s think of a starting point that is lovely for a moderate winter – not a place where you get snow, necessarily, but where you see cooler temperatures. You don’t worry about slush and splashing salt-laden muck, so you can still wear your favorite summer colors:
ribbed tee – Uniqlo; ivory tee – Lands’ End; shirt – Lands’ End; pecan sweater – Lands’ End; Henley – Patagonia; ivory long-sleeved tee – Lands’ End; corduroy shirt – L.L.Bean; cashmere cardigan – L.L.Bean; striped tee – Banana Republic; khakis – L.L.Bean; cords – L.L.Bean; skirt – L.L.Bean
You can clearly see that there are literally a few dozen ways to wear these 12 items! But, even with cashmere sweaters, and corduroy pants, it doesn’t necessarily have that “autumn-y” feeling you might want…
Let’s add these 5 pieces, and see what happens!
cardigan– Ralph Lauren; scarf – Bindya; tee shirt – Lands’ End; bag – Coach; pants – Lands’ End
Even just bringing the scarf into existing outfits gives a much more “cool weather” feel…
As always, this is a pretty neat way to pull together a travel wardrobe – start with a dozen of your core, stand-by, always important neutrals, and add literally a handful of accents!
love,
Janice
Like this article? Save it to Pinterest!
Janice,
Another home run for this “ warmie “ ! This grouping would also be perfect for “ shoulder season” which we’ve been having — warm days, but officially Autumn here in the mid Atlantic States !
I just realized that this is very close to how I do pack — two neutral 4×4 ‘s, one dark, one light, or sometimes three 4×4’s one dark, one medium, and one light, and then either two twin set accent colors or a mix of accent colors, Thanks for remembering those who can’t wear black or gray and look their best !
Janice,
Adding or substituting yesterday’s accent colors would be perfect here too !
Even tho I mostly wear black with black ;-) I think these colors are my favorite combo – always have and I guess always will – thanks for the lovely post!
Please do these warm colors again with grays..dark and light!
Thanks for this great mix. As always, I start my day with a coffee and Vivienne Files. I have warm coloring and this collection is perfect for me. :)
This is great and I realized a person could have that core and add the colours you have for fall/ winter and then have another capsule of summer weight accents for the other half of the year. I know that is so obvious but it just struck me as brilliant!!
Janice, you've done it again!!! Given us another wonderful color grouping to consider! I can see how these added colors could also work with some grey, denim, or even black. Great multi-functional pieces and colors!!
This is beautiful, and as always, I'm amazed at your ability to find matching shades, tints, and hues online. I wouldn't have had an inkling of how to find that brown. "Dark mahogany" at Lands End, "chestnut" at Coach…
This is very clever. And it would work with a black and white capsule too of course. My problem is always, I might have the items but how do they suit my body? For instance if I have a pair of flared trousers I cannot add a boxy top or a long (not fitted) jacket.
Greetje
Janice, I had alays understood the French Five to be five pieces in the same color family. This is ho I’ve read about it being done. So, for example, I ould have added five rust pieces, five maroon pieces and five moss green pieces to this khaki basic ardrobe. Did you just make it short so it orks as a travel ardrobe? or have I misunderstood a French Five for years?! I also ant to let you kno that I love this ardrobe!! Absolutely perfect for Arizona inters!!