October 16, 2019
The Weekly Timeless Wardrobe is enough clothing for a lot of us – enough different garments, and enough colors. But what if you bump into an accent color that you can’t resist?
For demonstration purposes, I’m going to start with the Week 16 Wardrobe…
And then let’s imagine that our heroine sees this shade of blue on the L.L.Bean website. And she recognizes the value of true “whappage” – that feeling when you walk away, and are still thinking about something hours or days later. It takes a while to really know the difference between a crush and real love, and in the same way you have to cultivate your sense of “I could wear the dickens out of that color” vs “gosh, that’s pretty…”
She realizes that her love is real, and she chooses carefully…
raw indigo heather turtleneck – L.L.Bean; tanzanite earrings – Effy; raw indigo heather cardigan – L.L.Bean; scarf – M.M.LaFleur; socks – Falke; bag – Urban Originals
At first she feels a bit concerned – this new blue doesn’t look AT ALL good with either of her existing accent colors!
But accent colors can stand on their own – they DON’T have to work together. The core neutral pieces in your Weekly Timeless Wardrobe give you a good structure, within which you can indulge a range of accents if you choose…
Nevertheless, she persists… She’s going away for a 10-day trip, and she realizes that she has a perfect travel capsule wardrobe hanging right there in her closet!
In addition to the numerous ways that she can wear her black and white garments, she now has a ton of options for incorporating this gorgeous cornflower blue, too.
I’m going to take a look at the Pantone Spring 2020 colors on Friday, so if you’re looking for an accent color inspiration, I might have just the perfect thing!
love,
Janice
p.s. If you’re still working to pull together a work wardrobe, two years ago I assembled a lovely blue, grey and aqua wardrobe – it was for a pretty formal office, but it could be adapted…
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This is the prettiest blue I’ve seen in a long time. It will definitely work with a navy and grey capsule too. Thanks for showing us all the pretty things.
Oooh, navy and grey would be lovely with this blue. Good thinking!
hugs,
Janice
Janice,
This post was enlightening for me. I’ve struggled with the color palette for my wardrobe because I tend to have one or two items that just don’t mesh with the wardrobe as a whole, but I sooo wanted to include them. So I did! And yes, they may clash with my other accents but they work perfectly with my neutrals. When you post this same idea, I feel I have approval! Haha.
A question that occurred as I read today’s post, would you trade out one item in your current wardrobe each week as opposed to just switching over completely from fall to winter? That’s a concept I hadn’t considered but find intriguing.
XO
Wardrobes don’t have to work as well as jet airplanes – they’re designed BY US, FOR US, and if we’re happy, that’s all that matters! It’s a hard lesson to learn when the world admonishes us to always be perfect…
hugs,
Janice
Ahhh, Janice, you are so refreshing! Thank you. I know all this, but sometimes I need to hear it. XO
Back at you! I just want women to be happy and confident, and not make all of this getting dressed business more important than it really is, in the grand scheme of things! Dress yourself and go out and do important things!
hugs,
Janice
Jennifer,
As the temps and weather change here in eastern PA, I am doing exactly as you suggest — I am pulling out a few turtlenecks from storage as the weather gets colder some days, but have kept out summer shorter sleeved tops for the varied warm days we still are having. A whole season does not have to all be switched into or out of storage at one time !
Since the weather doesn’t shift overnight, my wardrobe doesn’t either. I’ve gone through and removed the clothes I know I won’t wear again until warmer weather returns, leaving just a few pieces to wear on the occasional warm days we MAY have. I have a main closet and a storage closet that houses my and my husband’s off-season clothing that must be hung. My off-season purses are stored there as well. I have a a couple of storage tubs for items that don’t require hanging. I do the same with an over the door shoe storage system, one for the current season and another for the off-season. It’s not a big effort since many items can be used year-round.
I also take this time to inspect the garments and accessories for fit and wear. I launder everything that requires it and put it away. I make notes on what will need to be replaced when that season returns.
One of the things I’ve learned is that NEVER buy 100% cotton tops because they invariably stretch out of shape. A little Spandex or Elastane goes a long way toward a garments longevitiy. Also, NO ACRYLIC OR POLYESTER! They pill and end up costing too much per wear.
Janice,
This is a beautiful blue color that could easily fit into my wardrobe, though I do have plenty of other accent colors ! And yes, not all of my accent colors work together nor have bridging garments ( darn ) , but can stand by themselves with my warm neutrals . I tend to prefer twin sets, even if my definition of them is a print and a coordinating solid topper or two that pick up colors in the print. Or a twin set of two different textures, such as a knit and a woven garment, but both the same color . Or as you show above, a matching turtleneck or tee with a cardigan . My issue has been non matching garments within one given hue that were enough different from one another as to not work together, so I have tended to get rid of some of the least favorite ones , except for Summer tops, as I don’t wear many toppers in hot weather , and then more neutral ones to grab for AC conditions . If I needed another accent color, which I don’t , this blue would do beautifully — sigh !
I love the pattern twin set idea! It would work very well in my wardobe, I’ll consider it for my next shopping expeditions!
I recently was at a conference at the Hotel Del Coronado – and came home with a Hotel Del jacket in this same color. I *love* it, have been told it is a flattering color on me, and wanted to incorporate it into my wardrobe as one of my accent colors. I am downright giddy to see this post and all that you’ve found because I’ve not had a lot of luck. Thank you, Janice!!
I found that exact sweater this spring and love love love it! It works beautifully with white, navy, gray, tan, etc. Now that it’s finally cooling down in Denver, I’m looking forward to wearing it again :)
It would be pretty with tan – I hadn’t thought of that…
hugs,
Janice
Hi Janice, I also LOVE this color and would like more of it as I only have a cabled sweater in this color. I also have had many compliments when wearing it. It really is lovely with my navy and light grey items. I haven’t tried it with tan. But it is also surprisingly nice with my favorite jeans in darkish olive. I can’t find any color at all that doesn’t look nice with these jeans! I too love this post for the “permission” to add a beloved accent. By the way, I just received the marled cardigan from LLBean that you featured in your packing for Ireland post a few days ago. WOW, i got it in navy and it combines grey in the marled stitching. PERFECT with my wardrobe. It’s warm enough to be a jacket for now under a t-neck or light sweater. I can see why you love it! Thank you so much for all you do for us! – Janice Coyle, Washington DC
Thanks for letting me know about your new cardigan, and for the feedback on that lovely blue…
big hugs,
Janice
Ah ha – this post answered a question I had. I have been following the Weekly Timeless Wardrobe black/white/red wardrobe because those are my colors. However, I wondered if it was possible to also follow one of you other wardrobe ideas…the Vibrant Lapis Donegal color in the Rosace de Janos scarf wardrobe is an “I could wear the dickens out of that color” for me but I did not know if it was possible to add it to my WTW. Now I understand how an accent color can go with the neutral colors and does not have to go with other accents…so we can grab a color from a start with a scarf or start with a painting wardrobe and wear it with our neutrals….thank you!
Exactly! I’m so glad that you understand that you can building ANY wardrobe that makes you happy! That’s the only real goal, I think…
hugs,
Janice
Janice, thank you again for all the capsules you share with us. I also appreciate the links to the items.This color obviously goes with my navy and gray capsule wardrobe.
I love that blue! I’m imagining it with grey and winter white. Like a clear winter sky and shadows on snow.
Do you remember this post, based on a winter photograph?
https://www.theviviennefiles.com/2015/01/start-with-art-winter-photograph-by.html/
hugs,
Janice
Ohhhhh I missed it. I love it!!!! Just went to look and that’s really gorgeous. Going back to feast my eyes.
This blue is my favorite! I wear it with chocolate brown, in fact one of my coats is the same blue with fluffy brown cuffs and collar. I also wear a twinset and long pale blue jean skirt, very slimming, all the same colour tone. Once again following your ideas. Thanks.
Can’t wait for your November postings I love blue. It is coming up to Advent and the colours are Royal blue and purple, would love some suggestions. I try to wear the colours of the seasons when I can. Wonder what you will come up with this time. We only wear red for the twelve days of Christmas. Starts on Christmas Eve. I know North Americans seem to wear red for most of November, December and January. Now that we are in Canada I must get use to their holiday clothes. The celebration of Un-Christian shopping is very hard. Your posting for last year’s Paris golds were beautiful.
Thank you for the smaller circle, still have to wiz by it.
I’m working on an different circle to indicate the seasons, which I’m hopeful won’t bother anybody! I’ll let you know (and post it for feedback) when I’ve got it done…
hugs,
Janice