October 28, 2019
I know that it’s really Autumn when I pull out my black cords!
dune brown corduroy jeans – L.L.Bean
Of course, if you’re not crazy about corduroy, you have other options:
I love the way corduroy is dressier than denim (by a mile!), but is still relaxed…
beige Fair Isle sweater – L.L.Bean; earrings – Madewell; natural denim shirt – Lands’ End; socks – No Brand Shown; loafers – Børn; dark caramel knit corduroy pants – Lands’ End
Having dark neutral pants for cool weather lets your go a bit crazy with sweaters, socks – everything else!
Note: This following sweater might be accented with navy, rather than black. I honestly can’t tell on the website, so I’m showing it… If it’s not black, I apologize!
red onyx hoop earrings – Bhavesh; Fair Isle sweater – Tommy Hilfiger; red cotton turtleneck – Lands’ End; dotted socks – Stine Goya; oxfords – Vionic; black bootcut corduroy pants – Lands’ End
The texture of corduroy makes it easier to blend, rather than match, colors in your wardrobe. So long as things look nice together, they don’t have to be perfect matches; who’s looking that closely? (perhaps they need a new hobby?)
Fair Isle wool sweater – L.L.Bean; snowflake earrings – Talbots; white shirt – Lands’ End; backpack – Ju-Ju-Be; boots – Naturalizer; warm graphite elastic-back corduroy pants – Lands’ End
I know I say this often, but if you find a color that you like, be sure to search on that website for other items in that color. Having a solid column of color upon which to build an outfit makes life SO much easier…
garnet earrings – Made Sugi; grey Fair Isle cardigan – L.L.Bean; deep mulberry turtleneck – Lands’ End; backpack – Vera Bradley; black cherry suede boots – Nine West; deep mulberry knit corduroy pants – Lands’ End
And there’s NEVER a bad day to wear a simple, monochromatic outfit…
rosemary earrings – The Met Store; olive cardigan – Jenni Kayne; silk shirt – Banana Republic; Not All Who Wander are Lost socks – ModCloth; penny loafers – Sperry; dark loden corduroy pants – L.L.Bean
Don’t neglect to look in men’s departments (and stores!) when you want some fun socks. Just check the size before you buy!
crystal earrings – Swarovski; navy Fair Isle sweater – L.L.Bean; emerald cotton turtleneck – Lands’ End; striped socks – Ties.com; navy suede loafers – Me Too; navy corduroy pants – L.L.Bean
Our example wardrobe doesn’t look much changed – the black jeans are swapped out and black cords are in their place. Of course, in the real world, no woman will put her jeans too far away!
(To those of you who had trouble with the graphic that I was using to diagram these wardrobes – does the less intense circle graph in the bottom left work better for you? Please let me know…)
black and white and red turtlenecks – Lands’ End; red snowflake turtleneck – Lands’ End; black cardigan – Banana Republic; shirt – Lands’ End; black sweater – L.L.Bean; striped sweater – Madewell; floral cardigan – Lands’ End; black cords – L.L.Bean; black pants – Lands’ End; tweed skirt – J.Crew; washable wool black dress – Lands’ End
And just for reference purposes, here’s the master 52-garment list that is the current long-term plan for the Weekly Timeless Wardrobe. I reserve the right to make alterations if this really doesn’t work!
love,
Janice
p.s. 2 years ago, I experimented with adding warm accents to a grey and white wardrobe…
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Does everyone get the wierd Agent Provocateur adverts between the post photographs or are they “personalised”.Today the nearly naked ladies in expensive underwear appear to be practising difficult yoga poses.
I am seeing Geico Insurance ads in Janice’s posts this morning.
There is at least two of these ads in between Janice’s illustrations. It may be based on Google searches.
Bernadette, I get Coldwater Creek ads — probably the result of cookies as I purchase from Coldwater creek .
Today I have four ads: Eileen Fisher at Bloomingdale’s, Yoox, and two ads for Shopstyle. All of these are sites that I have clicked on recently. Sometimes I get some strange ones, also.
If you want safe browsing without the ads, try changing your browser for one containing ad blockers. I’m using Brave, super easy to install and use, and it blocks most ads.
LOL-I got at least two ads for heart failure meds. I just turned 65.
I dont get any advertising at all ?
I love Corduroys. I have a pair of bootcut corduroys in black and the corduroy is small and it makes the pants look like velvet. They are my cold weather dressy pants. I recently bought a pair of skinny corduroy pants in a charcoal gray so I have something warm to wear that can tuck into my snow boots. I think if I needed a pair of cold weather travel pants, those elastic waist corduroy pants would be perfect.
Janice, the revised graphic is much easier viewing for my eyes. Thanks!
OOOOOO corduroy! Snow predicted tonight! (I get no advertisements!)
Love the view of the whole 52 garments (I cannot wear title necks with hot flashes, but have alternative v necks).
Ads showing are Amazon items I have viewed.
Rhon
Oops…turtle, not title… lol
The gizmo is now fine. It is standing still rather than doing some odd advance and retreat. This is true on both i-pad and desk- top computer. Thank you so much for taking the comment seriously. Thank you also for The Vivienne Files. I only found it at the start of the year and have spent hours looking at past releases. Have spent less, been more creative and am not constantly resorting to black.
The graphic works well for me Janice! Thanks for accommodating the requests on that.
I just bought a pair of Lands End cords in birch (like a winter white), and they are the most marvelous thing I have owned in a long time. It works well for my office’s newly relaxed “Dress for your Day” dress code – as an attorney, I would never wear jeans to the office, but corduroy is that perfect dressy-but-not look. I need another color – looking at the olive ones next!
How excellent! I love winter white; it’s madly inappropriate on truly wet and sloppy days, but on lovely fall days when it’s bright and dry, they are perfect!
hugs,
Janice
I have loved this series from the start, Janice, but right now, sitting at a desk in Colorado looking at all the white stuff falling outside, it’s extra appropriate & helpful. And the master list you’re building for us will be up on the closet wall.
Thank you so much for guiding us in coordinating our wardrobes!
I desperately needs corduroy pants in my life – I had two great pairs from Banana Republic, one cream and one black, that were tailored for me and fit perfectly. But now I’ve put on weight (that’s peri-menopause for you) and I need new ones. I love them so much more than jeans in fall and winter. Will definitely start looking for some cute ones soon (in my new size).
I think your observations about wardrobe planning and functionality of certain pieces have proven so RIGHT so often, I find myself checking back to your website frequently. I’ve recommended you to dozens of friends who’ve been stymied by their chaotic closets. I totally agree that cords are as comfortable but much dressier than jeans. This is especially true in this era of relaxed dress codes. I love the way you illustrated the range of possible looks by using the nordic sweaters and more polished turtlenecks.
I’m sort of crazy about Irish knits and Fair Isle sweaters; I was born to live in Ireland, at last from a cliche wardrobe perspective!
hugs,
Janice
Me to. I am swedish and I could buy a ton of irish knits and faire isle sweaters. Just love them. In every colour and in a lot of different patterns. Never get bored with them
If cords didn’t swish audibly as I walked I’d love them. They make me wish for slender thighs. Sigh.
I agree that corduroy pants are a good cool-weather alternative. But the stars of this post, for me, are the fairisle jumpers! Thank you for sharing the 52-garment plan, too. It’s going on my pinboard.
LandsEnd has 40% off full price styles and free 2-day shipping today with code EERIE pin 2020. They have % off sales at least once weekly so I never buy except on 40% or 50% days. The 50% days are less frequent so sometimes I’m too impatient to wait!
Absolutely! They’re worth waiting for…
hugs,
Janice
Thank you Janice for revising the graphic sign! It means a lot to us that you try to accommodate all our needs. Wonderful as always!
I love my readers. Seriously. You all are tremendously important to me!
hugs,
Janice
I haven’t worn corduroy pants in years but I am going to try some on to see what I’ve been missing. Do you prefer fabric with a bit of stretch? Or does 100% cotton work well too?