April 3, 2018
You might remember that back in January I assembled a very simple, but (to my mind) fascinating little Tote Bag Travel capsule based on this work.
Blue by Kinuko Imai Hoffmann
The palette suggested by this is very limited, but I think that’s part of the challenge/fun – especially for someone who thrives by being creative with constraints:
When we left our heroine visiting classrooms, just after the winter holidays, this was her travel wardrobe:
rectangle earrings – Shinola; bracelet – Rebecca Minkoff; star earrings – Jantana; star scarf – Closed; bag – Kara; scarf – Kate Spade New York; watch – Gomesky; tassel necklace – Lucky Brand; tee – Eileen Fisher; white crewneck sweater – L.L.Bean; turtleneck tunic – Eileen Fisher; pants – Eileen Fisher; tweed skirt – Boden; crossbody bag – MYS Collection; dotted shirt – Lands’ End; dressy boots – Italeau; boots – Nine West
Her visits continue through the school year, even as the weather warms… And she adheres to her very disciplined wardrobe. Her goal is to be a calming, familiar presence in the classes she visits…
jacket – Eileen Fisher; earrings – Mikimoto; scarf – Caslon; tee – Uniqlo; crossbody bag – MYS Collection; overnight bag – Deux Lux; pants – L.L.Bean; watch – Gomesky; loafers – AGL
The weather’s getting warmer, but it’s still cool enough for a long-sleeved sweater, or to layer her shirt and sweater… A lighter-weight skirt is a good idea if only to move away from tweed and start feeling as if spring is here!She’s still happy mixing dots and stripes, and she packs the skirt knows that she’s going to have to meet with school administrators at some stage. Whatever’s required to look like her recommendations are worth hearing, and employing!
rectangle earrings – Shinola; bracelet – Rebecca Minkoff; scarf – Michael Kors; striped sweater – Eileen Fisher; white crewneck sweater – L.L.Bean; tassel necklace – Lucky Brand; skirt – Eileen Fisher; bag – Kara; dotted shirt – Lands’ End; ballet flats – Nine West
She has a tidy wardrobe when she slips on her pajamas, and hangs up everything…
And she knows that she she gets ready for her visit, she can dress according to both the weather and her “sense” of the situation:
Her overall wardrobe is still rather small… When we next update her in July, I will take a look at the overall assortment…
love,
Janice
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I love the art and I also like the subdued but interesting wardrobe. It's a nice way to travel, too – taking just a very limited color scheme.
Oooh Love this navy and white wardrobe – although for me it is navy and cream/ecru. I actually have similar items except the skirt, which is VERY tempting. I also love that Eileen Fisher stripped sweater, but I have several breton stripped tops in various weights already. Also love navy with white dots and just purchased a navy white dot windbreaker (really the only thing I really NEED for the coming spring/summer!). I'm planning a long weekend trip to Toronto in May and this wardrobe will be perfect. I might add a tiny bit of dusty pink for some color, but this is sooo classic with just the navy and white. Janice Collins, Washington, DC
It may just be my astigmatism outpacing my glasses prescription, but I think there's a slight hint of lavender along the left navy/white boundary, if you're looking for a touch of another color to slide in.
fidelio
I suspect that if I got close to this beauty in person, I'd see all sorts of subtleties! Maybe when we're back for summer, or autumn…
hugs,
Janice
Yes!! you are right. I can see the pale, pale lavender and also some lighter blue bleeding on the edges of the central figure, which, by the way, is more ecru/cream than stark white – wonderful as I look awful in white white. That does it! I'm wearing a bit of light dusty pink: jewelry, navy/ pink/ecru scarf, and pale pink cardi AND my loafer-style wedge shoes for travel are a pinkish champaign-gold metallic. Wardrobe for trip – DONE! Now I just have to do the written homework (lots) for the weekend writers workshop there :) Thanks! Janice Collins, Washington, DC
Yes! I can also see the pale pale lavender on the side and also some lighter blue bleed-through on the edges of the central figure which, by the way, is more cream/ecru than stark white. That's wonderful as I look awful in white-white. That does it! I'm packing some pale dusty pink: jewelry, pink-navy-white scarf, pale pink cardi, AND my loafer-style wedge shoes for travel are a pinkish champaign gold! Travel wardrobe DONE! Now I just have to finish my written homework (lots!) in prep for the weekend writers workshop there :) Thanks so much! Janice Collins, Washington, DC
This is one of my favorites – well done!! Love the simplicity of navy and white. Chris from Indy
Beautiful, classic, and elegant. I love this!
Am I the only one who very badly wants to know what her pajamas look like? :) Hot pink maybe to balance it all out???
Maybe our heroine is wearing the navy dot cotton piped pajamas from uniqlo – that's what I bought, along with the dot t-shirt in this wardrobe. Love the navy and white! – nancyo
I'm glad you gave us an update on this heroine!
I love this color palette. I have worked with these colors and pieces, plus jeans, blue oxford cloth blouses and some colorful scarves to keep dressing simple and comfortable.When we are lucky enough to travel, packing is a breeze.
I enjoy all your combinations. I am looking for a way to keep track of outfit ideas from my own closet. Is there a format or program you recommend to do that?
I personally use Excel – I can put each garment in a different cell, and then I can count how often a particular piece is included in what I wear. Or you could take photographs and work with PowerPoint, which is what I use to create all of the images that I use here. You can move pictures around, resize them etc. really easily.
hugs,
Janice
Thank you for that information. How do you get your images to look so clean? I have been thinking of using Power Point and will give that a try. I have a huge closet and importing all the images feels a little daunting. Thank you
I just love this grouping and the art that inspired it. Calm and serene. LOVE!