June 18, 2018
Let’s look back at another recent travel wardrobe, and choose some accessories to be packed along with the clothes…
This wardrobe was all about colors of sky and sea; here’s the original clothing color palette:
It’s never necessary to have a plan for anything you do, but I think when you’re packing, having some structure and some limits in mind can help a lot. If I don’t set some clear guidelines when I’m packing, I’m likely to just toss in everything that I like (which is just about all of my wardrobe!) and then get somewhere and struggle to make sense of things…
Silver would be the obvious metallic choice for navy and shades of blue… but since we’re talking about warmth and sun and summer, I thought that I’d go with gold instead. There aren’t really any rules around these things!
So this next step is really optional, but it might be helpful if you are like me and need some direction when you’re packing.
These are the clothes that are going on our imaginary vacation to somewhere sandy and sunny…
tunic – Nic+Zoe; linen shirt – Uniqlo; print top – Nic+Zoe; striped top – Nordstrom Signature; print cardigan – Nic+Zoe; navy cardigan – Uniqlo; white tank top – Lands’ End; ruana – Echo; navy tee – Lands’ End; white sleeveless shirt – Uniqlo; tank top – Uniqlo; pants – Lands’ End; shorts – Lands’ End; pleated skirt – Lands’ End
And these are a few outfits built with these clothes, with some “essential” accessories added. Realistically, you probably need shoes, and maybe a bag; all the rest is for fun – adornment that makes you feel special and beautiful…
I thought that these bar earrings echoed the linear print in the ruana really nicely…
Ruana – Echo; earrings – Roberto Coin; tank – Lands’ End; tote – Coach; pants – Lands’ End; watch – Fossil; loafers – Robert Zur
The bar bracelet has that same feeling, with the linear sort of weave with this cardigan:
tee shirt – Lands’ End; earrings – Talbots; cardigan – Nic + Zoe; bag – Louise et Cie; skirt – Lands’ End; bracelet – Monica Vinader; slides – Athena Alexander
This scarf doesn’t really echo any mood or theme in this wardrobe, but it’s so very pretty that I had to include it! And these aren’t your normal cheap espadrilles – they should be MUCH more comfortable than those rough rope insoles you so often see!
cardigan – Uniqlo; scarf – Nordstrom; shirt – Uniqlo; ring – Federica Tosi; shorts – Lands’ End; espadrilles – Paul Green
Moonstones are so pretty… And there’s absolutely NO reason that your nail polish can’t match your wardrobe accent color!
tunic – Nic + Zoe; moonstone earrings – Liesel Love Jewelry; tank top – Uniqlo; wristlet – Dagne Dover; pants – Lands’ End; slides – Athena Alexander; nail enamel – Sally Hansen
I could NOT resist these earrings…
shirt – Uniqlo; earrings – Mine Finds by Jay King; necklace – Argento Vivo; bag – Louise et Cie; skirt – Lands’ End; espadrilles – Paul Green
Always remember your sunglasses, and if you plan to do much walking, a pair of comfortable shoes is essential!
earrings – Moon & Meadow; striped top – Nordstrom Signature; sunglasses – Kate Spade New York; shorts – Lands’ End; sneakers – Dansko
Here’s the final accessory wardrobe; imagine the moment of real pleasure you get when you open your suitcase and put these things into a drawer in your room… Enjoying your possessions isn’t a bad thing, every now and then!
earrings – Roberto Coin; moonstone earrings – Liesel Love jewelry; gold cube earrings – Moon & Meadow; navy earrings – Talbots; nail enamel – Sally Hansen; bracelet – Monica Vinader; aragonite & lapis earrings – Jay King; necklace – Argento Vivo; watch – Fossil; wristlet – Dagne Dover; ring – Federica Tosi; sunglasses – Kate Spade; tote – Coach; scarf – Nordstrom; crossbody bag – Louise et Cie; athletic shoes – Dansko; espadrilles – Paul Green; slides – Athena Alexander; loafers – Robert Zur
This is an overwhelming assortment of accessories to try to buy in one go, but if you work with a plan and shop gradually, intelligently, and with some discipline, this could come together in just a few months…
Do you plan your accessory purchases? I admit that I have a general plan that’s entirely dependent upon being gobsmacked by something beautiful…
love,
Janice
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I do try to plan my accessory purchases, at least in the sense that I know what it is that I will actually wear. I have a fairly sizable statement necklace collection, but they keep my collections of basics looking fresh and “me” so I feel no need to pare down. I don’t wear earrings any longer so it’s pointless to look and I wear rings and bracelets infrequently enough that it would have to be something truly special for me to consider it. The only piece I’m lacking is a simple, but unusual enough to feel special, long gold-tone necklace. We’ll be traveling to Charleston in a week and I have my eye on a rice bead necklace to see if it will fit the bill!
I do think to plan things like scarves and earrings/necklaces as they tend to have the most colours and therefore need to coordinate with what I’ve packed. But I’ve never really thought about how I actually do plan for items – although it is more subconsciously – I’d never add a certain colour purse or pair of shoes with a wardrobe such as this but I never really thought of that as “planning”.
Thanks for this, Janice. I leave for a trip to Tuscany shortly (you kindly did a post with these colors for me a couple of months ago) and I’ve been mulling over what my accessories should look like I appreciate the guidance.
Janice, you really hit it out of the ballpark for me with this one. I love most of the clothes and the shoes and the other accessories. I just may need to go shopping!
Dear Janice, I HAVE a plan but I get gobsmacked A LOT when it comes down to accessoires ;o)))))). And so I decided a while ago to just trust my instincts on this one – buy what I love and then one day it will magically go with some outfit and look wonderful. The plan I have thanks to you and your gorgeous blog is that I finally have more discipline in filling obvious gaps – like just now buying a really nice bracelet with a silver star to go with my silver star earrings, a bag with a silver star on it and also a scarf. I hadn’t been aware of this star thing going on until recently I thought about how you always match accessoires to a certain topic. THANK YOU for making it so much fun!!
I put gold shoes or jewellery with anything, it’s just… gold. I buy shoes within a colour family because at one point I ended up wth dozens of coloured pairs that went with one or two things. A little more leeway with scarves; I can always stuff another one in the bag!
Wonderful post! And these are colors I love. The only thing that makes me hesitate is the idea of packing so many shoes. They do add options, yet are so bulky in my bag!
I don’t mind packing a lot of shoes in warmer weather when you can really SQUISH sandals and canvas shoes for a few hours. (yes, the shoe salespeople are cringing…)
hugs,
Janice
Pretty things! I especially like the little scarf. There’s my weakness … scarves … Gobsmacking is the only plan there but I’m more “considered” with jewellery.
We are going to California onTuesdayand staying two weeks. Because we are staying at our sons house, I will have access to a washer so I could take very few items but I love to have lots of choices and because we’re driving,that’s not a problem.
I’m using your “Sky and Sea” palette. I followed your tip to find a scarf you love to plan my recent trip to my daughters house and it worked like a charm. I’m using the same scarf this time with its navy blue, white, pink, and grey. It also has some hints of maroon and gilt.
It’s so much fun and very freeing to follow your guidelines. Thanks so much.
I plan my wardrobe capsules, shoes and purses carefully and buy accordingly
—but I am nothing like that when it comes to jewelry and scarves.
The “gobsmacked” method works best for those. I make mistakes but when I realize it I donate them.
I rarely spend a lot on scarves or jewelry preferring to buy good scarves from Winners (Canada’s TJMAXX) and costume jewelry as I see ones I like.
And I am operating on purest impulse then.
I just bought a scarf and earrings that are part of my Five Piece French accent in a powder blue. The scarf is by Calvin Klein in a Navy, white & powder blue chiffon rectangle. $20. The earrings were $10 – a silver teardrop with a “lapis lazuli” stone.
That started me onto a new French 5.
I found a blue linen blouse and a cotton tank top in that same powder blue. $20 and $10.
So far my impulse buys are 60$. I’m using them a lot to freshen up my basic core but if I decide against them like I did with some chocolate browns 2 years ago I can donate the lot without a single regret.