April 3, 2020
Today I’m looking back at one of my all-time favorite blog posts, and choosing how I would interpret it in my own wardrobe!
My computer screen savers are all images from The Vivienne Files, that change ever 20 seconds or so. Although they are supposed to be randomly chosen from a huge file of images, in fact I see the same wardrobes fairly often, and this one I see EVERY DAY:
Something about this just feels so right to me…
So in my dream travel, I’m going to… either Ireland or Paris – it doesn’t really matter. If I’m in Ireland I’m going to have some business to transact, and if I’m in Paris, I want to look lovely…
Earrings – Julie Vos; scarf – The Met Store; black cotton cardigan – Eileen Fisher; watch – Olivia Burton; bracelet – Julie Vos; waffle-fabric tee – J.Crew; black pants – Lands’ End; round cross body bag – Talbots; socks – Falke; loafers – Drivers Club USA
After much consideration, this is what I would pack. I don’t own these exactly same clothes (although that striped tee shirt could tempt me…) but mine are very similar:
black jacket – Eileen Fisher; striped tee – J.Crew; black cashmere cardigan – Lands’ End; pink sweater – Uniqlo; black cashmere short-sleeve sweater – Lands’ End; pink oxford – L.L.Bean; floral shirt – Lands’ End; black velvet jeans – Lands’ End; sleeveless dress – Eileen Fisher; black jeans – Lands’ End
Yes, there will be another post with accessories; they are going to take some thought…
This is the template that I’ve used in the past for Perfect 10 packing; does my travel capsule wardrobe fit?
I’d say so!
This is the current “Everything;” more accessories are going to be so much fun!
In theory, there should be at least 5 dozen outfits here – 3 second layers x 5 tops x 3 bottoms = 45, and then you can wear each of the tops WITHOUT a second layer, which is another 15 outfits, plus layering the shirt and the sweater is more outfits, and then the dress….
Whew!
This isn’t every outfit, but it’s certainly enough to get me through any travel, and any laundry that needs to be done!
Do you think, once we are all set free and breathing outdoor air again, that we will be happy with smaller wardrobes than we had in the past? I’m starting to think that I’m not going to need nearly as much as I’ve thought that I did, in the “before” days…
love
Janice
p.s. Four years ago, we shared a wardrobe based upon a photograph (well, a series of photographs) of the moon. I still love the feeling of roundness and completeness here…
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Pink and black is definitely growing on me. Every post have so many beautiful items! Thanks for bringing the beauty in our dreary days.
I was thinking the same thing. I’ve taken everything out of my closet. I’ve cleaned it and now am slowly putting things back. So far, I have only put back a few items. I know I will be adding more things, but I’m loving what I’m seeing in there right now. It’s very calming to me.
I have taken everything out of my wardrobe and have put back only those things that really please me in terms of colour and style. What’s left is now in a separate wardrobe and I will live in these things until my total isolation ends then they are going to be binned/given away.
Why? If the items please you in terms of colour and style why not keep them and use them for gardening or decorating?
Same with me! I put all unnecessary clothing away and will probably give it away once this whole isolation thing is all over. I appreciate all these posts which show how many outfits are possible with a small wardrobe.
I’ve already started thinking about things that are going to be given away.
And almost everyday this week I’ve worn some combionation of pink/grey/black….
I have the same feeling. I have already started sorting out my wardrobe, bringing out everything I’m not wearing. Staying home means we pretty much wear the same stuff for a few days, and repeat. This will help make people realize they really don’t need as much. This can be said for many other things and activities as well.
Janice,
I feel the need of more than two colors , even in a travel wardrobe, but that’s just my preference. Looking at my wardrobe, a lot of my excess clothes are my “ leaving the house” accent color garments, which are being revisited and the seasonal ones are being packed away for now. I have found that I have a limited supply of “ at home” clothes , which consists of mostly very worn items, so I am converting some of those extra “ going out clothes “ to home useage , and really questioning the need for so many items in my total wardrobe ! This could be the defining time for me to be happy with less !
So many of us are learning – again – what’s really important, and I think that this will help us figure out living with less…
hugs,
Janice
This is such a worthwhile discussion for us to have. If I add anything, it will be to plug in a few items that stretch the core I have in place. I find that I’m dressing up a bit to make that once every 10 days (or more!) trip to the grocery store or that once a week takeout pickup we’re doing to try to keep our favorite French bistro in business. Moving along to your color discussion: I’ve noted that this is a BIG year for pink -and more difficult to find other colors I love and have invested in. Since the fashion industry tends to go heavy on certain colors for a season or two, grab ’em while you can! As tempting as it is for me to add pink, it subverts my careful planning around grey, navy, coral, red and teal/aqua. Learning discipline is the challenge here!
Hi All, Going along with the title for this post I’d love to “hear” everyone’s thought process as we each assess one of Janice’s capsules. For example, when I read a post that really resonates with me I try to figure out what is is about the combination of garments and accessories appeals to me. I like to start by looking at how Janice combines the shapes of garments, as well as the type and shape of accessory she chooses for the shape of the garments. Oversized, bulky sweater with high waist pants? Classic sweater set with what style of shoe? Next, I know what colors I use in my wardrobe so instead of “seeing” pink, black, and white, I “see” deepest/ darkest neutral, bright or soft accent, lightest/highest contrast neutral. So for me pink, black, and white would translate to bright orange, navy, and light cream.
What thought process do you use? Janice, how did you choose each of the substituted items for this post?
Karen
Karen,
Right on with adapting Janice’s instructive posts to fit your own visions of what works for you! I believe that is her whole premise — to supply us with a foundation of how to think about getting multiple outfits out of a minimal amount of garments , but then taking that foundation and making it our own ! I have soft muted warm coloring, so when Janice shows a post with a lot of black garments, I do as you do and translate that into my own preferred neutrals of brown through tan color families, or more recently, navy . Her pinks become my corals , etc.. Her cool toned greens become my olive hues , her whites become my ivories . What I truly appreciate most about Janice’s posts is that she does provide a wide range of color input in various posts that feature color schemes that she would probably never wear herself , due to her own coloring and preferences. So many other capsule wardrobe blogs seem limited to the black, gray and white mindset. That doesn’t work for me, as I truly enjoy color along with neutrals . So something for everyone
is here !
It works !
I chose things that I already own or that I really love. I just don’t bother loving garments that won’t look good on me (THAT took a few years of growing up!) and so I know if I assemble my favorite garments, they will be ideal to be worn together in various combinations.
It’s subtle, and will vary for each of us. Learning to love what looks good on me was my best accomplishment for wardrobe building!
hugs,
Janice
Good luck to everyone sorting out your wardrobes. I know that half the time, I probably think I know what clothes I have but don’t really consider why I chose to keep each item. Does it fit properly, does the style still suit me, does the colour blend with the rest of my clothes, is there a sentimental attachment? Now I have the luxury of time to carefully consider the style and purpose of everything. It is therapeutic and makes me value each item and question whether it brings me joy.
Having colour blocked my wardrobe, I decided to fold and roll my t-shirts and organise them by colour in the drawer making it easier to choose. I then realised that I only have two decent pink t-shirts – one bright and the other rose- pink.
This is odd when my wardrobe clothes have a large pink group. Looking closer, my pink wardrobe clothes are the smarter end of smart-casual – several dresses, nice tops, a pink abstract floral skirt, pink linen trousers and a pink jacket. I don’t think that I’d noticed that I wore my pink clothes for ‘going out’.
However, I have two blue and pink floral t-shirts so I’m going to put the pink ones next to them in the drawer, and wear them with blue, which I did today to good effect. One of them goes specifically with a navy skirt with pink roses on it.
I’m now just waiting for the warmer weather promised this weekend to try out my ‘new wardrobe’.
Oh yes, we all “need” less than we have, for going out (and we will go out more again some time), for around home, for grubby jobs (cleaning, gardening, washing the dog, painting), and for hobbies (in my case craft and bushwalking). Like AK above, I’m enjoying dressing up a wee bit for the weekly shop or takeaway, and these days dressing with more care for home too. (Wouldn’t Audrey?) But now I’m not working, I find that versatile clothes are my target, combinable with each other, a narrower colour range, and I’m good to go. It’s so restful and easy. Thank you Janice! And I really like what you’ve shown with this post, including the first slide. Ease and prettiness.
That particular grey & soft pink capsule is a favourite for the colours but also the numbers. I saved it in my Pinterest file. Love!
It’s exactly how I start a packing list or a core seasonal capsule.
Every jacket or cardigan layering piece has 2 bottoms that match or coordinate.
Every bottom has 2 tops – 1 top matches a bottom, another contrasts.
Dresses are extras and I usually like a merino wool V neck thin knit pullover that matches 1 pair of pants and coordinates with the other(s).
It’s how I visualize holes in my packing list. I buy stuff to fill in wardrobe gaps using those numbers as my guide.
For a long weekend to 4 or 5 days I wear my travel outfit – The jacket or cardigan, a pair of pants and a “Coffee spill proof print” top. I wear a watch, sunglasses and earrings with a silk scarf for accessories.
My Longchamps bag. It stays zipped up through airports, light and holds everything I need. I’ve been known to chuck a nicer day bag inside it along with other in flight necessities.
A coat or trench goes over all with a cashmere shawl scarf for extra warmth on the plane.
I pack another pair of pants and 3 tops (2 tops per pair of pants) plus a thin V neck wool pullover.
3-5 scarves. 5 pair of earrings, 2 necklaces.
The loafers I travel in plus a comfy pair of sandals or loafers to alternate with. A pair of flat light beach or poolside flip flops.
A dress, clutch and heels if required.
Beach or sun outfits as needed. (Shorts, tanks, pareo, hat, bathing suits)
That will do me up to a week in a pinch.
For longer trips up to 3 weeks (I have done 21 days) I add another cardigan layer plus 2 more pants and 4 more tops. The places I go all have access to laundry facilities. Cruises or family visits.
I use scarves for my colour and pattern & as an upscale “bib” protecting me from salad dressing etc —- so I keep my tops plain with the exception of my travel top which I refer to as my coffee spill proof print.
If I have those basics I know I will do fine. I love to travel light.
Auto immune problems equals fatigue and muscle weakness so keeping it simple really helps.
By the time we get onto our cruise ship I can unpack in 15-20 minutes and take a nap before the further exhaustion of muster drill and dinner.
Same with the hotel room when visiting family. Keep my underwear in it’s packing cube, hang everything else up (I pack extra travel hangers). Done. Nap time.
This particular capsule always makes me think of my minimum packing list and core neutral seasonal capsules.
And I enjoyed thinking about packing routines again. Someday soon!
I have been through most if not all of the following posts through the current. Did you do an accessories post and I just miss it?