April 27 2020
Finally, she’s getting a break… And she’s going to take advantage of being able to stay home.
Her plan is to sleep, read, go for walks in the park behind her home, bake excellent stuff, have a cocktail or two, and then sleep some more!
She’s starting here – the colors of calmness, for her…
She starts with her favorite beige (there’s some advantage to being blonde) and then adds in some denim-y blue, and some shades of rose:
For warm weather, she could probably live in shades of beige and ivory. From these 13 items, it might be possible to dress for weeks.
After what she’s been through in the last few months, she doesn’t care if her clothes get dirty or spotted; she knows that there are more important things than that in life! And she’s not going to compromise on wearing what she likes because of some fear that may or may not ever materialize. (brave woman, but we knew that already…)
beige striped tee – Liverpool; sailcloth top – L.L.Bean; oatmeal linen shirt – L.L.Bean; ivory cabled sweater – Lands’ End; sandstone cardigan – L.L.Bean; dress – Banana Republic; oatmeal open cardigan – L.L.Bean; cream tank top – L.L.Bean; camp shirt – Banana Republic; flax linen shorts – Lands’ End; oatmeal linen pants – L.L.Bean; stone cropped pants – L.L.Bean; no-wrinkle cotton skirt – Banana Republic
This is where the fun starts – a few tops, and a couple of pretty dresses. And there’s no way this heroine was going to make it into the summer without a denim skirt!
Blue striped tee – L.L.Bean; cotton cardigan – L.L.Bean; plaid top – L.L.Bean; dusty apricot tank top – Lands’ End; floral dress – Treasure & Bond; denim skirt – Marks & Spencer; blue dress – Banana Republic
Luckily, while she was busy working 12 hour shifts and living in a hotel near the hospital, her partner cleaned all of her winter clothes and put them into the storage cedar cabinet in the attic! So she just has to put her 20 chosen items in her closet, and admire what she’s accomplished:
Given that she could dress in her neutrals many days, she’s content knowing that her accent pieces can each be worn at least two different ways:
I’ve been doing this at home – I have put so many things into their appropriate hibernation locations that my actual closet is very “un-crowded.”
AND I’ve started getting up in the morning at a decent hour, and putting on “real” clothes – dresses and leggings, jeans and a nice top etc. I think Belovedest deserves to see me look decent, eh?
We should enjoy what we can, in these days. If you enjoy your beautiful clothes, WEAR THEM! Why ever not?
love,
Janice
p.s. Six years ago, I was taking care of someone (in their home) and I packed SIX GARMENTS – and found that I actually had TWENTY-SEVEN outfits… The wardrobe Slot-Machine, I call it…
p.p.s. Should I show accessories for this wardrobe? I suspect that I might find something really pretty…
p.p.p.s. Has anybody else noticed that some clothes are getting to be INSANELY expensive? I almost included a tee shirt in this wardrobe that was priced over $1,000. It better launder itself at that price, and I’d better look like the cover of Vogue magazine when I wear it…
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I’d love to see accessories for this wardrobe! It’s very soothing, although I don’t particularly love beige.
I love this wardrobe! And would love to see some accessories. Thank you again, Janice, for your wonderful blog. Stay safe! Best wishes from Finland, where I live.
I’d love to see what a $1,000 t-shirt looks like and had to offer.
Love your posts and the art that inspires them. Thank you.
So would I. The price tag is no reflection of quality or durability. They’ve just got a fancy name and aimed at folk with more money than sense.
I’d love to see accessories for this wardrobe – so beautiful!! Would it be possible to do a wardrobe like this with grey as the neutral and calming accents? Thank you again for all your work putting everything together!! You are amazing :-)
Stop back on Wednesday; I’m thinking of you…
hugs,
Janice
My thought as well. Swap the beige for grey and that nails a summer wardrobe I’d love.
Yes, yes, 1000 times yes to seeing this wardrobe with accessories! I know that beige is a good neutral for me (blonde hair) but it always looks so life-less when I wear it unless I add a lot of color, so I sort of avoid it. I have been thinking of experimenting more with the few beige items I do have, so I would love to see how this wardrobe could be brought to life with accessories.
Janice,
Values of beige tones are my “ go to” pieces for Summer, as well as light denim blue with accents of soft coral or peach or aqua or periwinkle, so thank you for this ! “ Hibernation locations” — yes that describes the large blue Rubbermaid containers in my garage that are still storing a lot of my normally unpacked and refreshed seasonal clothes ! However, I am employing more of the” leave the house” garments into everyday wear for now, so my daily closet is still rather full, which is my preference . After my first husband died many years ago, I could not look at his empty closet, so I filled it with my own clothes, and I seem to need to continue that pattern !
Hi Janice, I like the look of beige and how the accent colours add colour. I also like how the pieces vary in texture. It’s such a calm, peaceful look.
However, when I wear beige as neutral, I feel washed out. I think I could exchange white for the beige. It would change the feel to fresh and crisp. Agreed who cares if it gets a spot, that’s what washing machines are for!
Exactly! I wonder if, when we’re at the other side of this, we will feel more free to live our lives without saving things for “good.” Any day is a good day!
Says me, wearing a scarf and a PINK SWEATER!!!! today…
hugs,
Janice
Janice. I wanted to take a moment to show my appreciation for the work you do. Your proportions of color, pattern and texture inspire not only my wardrobe but my interior design and holiday decor projects as well. You’re the best!
Thanks! I’m really having to work to keep motivated and inspired these days, and kind words help SO MUCH!
hugs,
Janice
Hi Janice! Thank you for today’s color combination. I would like to hear your ruling on wearing ‘tasteful’ tourist-y t-shirts. By tasteful i mean there is logo or symbol sewn on the upper right side of the shirt. (e.g ‘Keuka Lake ‘ with a small rowboat). Most are 2×1 ” if that. I tend to buy t-shirt s with sewn -in emblems as most of the time they are better quality. I would use these for casual get togethers, NOT for work or going out. Please advise. Thank you.
I’ve got no gripes with that kind of shirt if it’s someplace that you’ve actually been to and like; I do, however, object to seeing people wearing shirts for bands they’ve never seen and concerts that happened before they were born! If you’re going to wear a Ramones tee shirt, I want to hear you SING a Ramones song before you put it on…
Just my opinion though – we are all, happily, free to wear whatever doesn’t get us arrested!
hugs,
Janice
So you’ll enjoy this. I went to a wedding a few years ago and the father-daughter dance was to “I Wanna Be Sedated.” Yes, the dad was a Ramones fan and it was hysterical! My favorite is “Rockaway Beach” because that’s where I went to high school.
I love that…
hugs,
Janice
Hi Janice, what a difference accent colours make to this wardrobe…when I looked at the chosen 13 I just thought…meh…and yet I love all the outfits you put together here…Would love to see your accessories list for this wardrobe, and also a grey and cream variation. I try to start every day with a little time with something beautiful (poetry, music, sunrise) and your wardrobes are a cherished and pleasant part of that routine…especially right now!
You are always inspiring. You’re right about a $1000 t-shirt. Since I started reading your blog 8 years
ago, I have bought some of my basics from Land’s End or L.L. Bean because their clothing is suitable for retirement casual and they have such an assortment of colours. Today might be an apartment cleaning day so perhaps not the best clothes but a scarf or jewellery are uplifting. Lilac and grey will be my colours today. Do you remember your Marie Laurencin posts from a few years ago?
Oh yes! I love her paintings so much. One of my (countless) travel goals when we are free to travel again is to visit the Musee de l’Orangerie in Paris, where some of her paintings are displayed. Sigh….
hugs,
Janice
More Marie Laurencin in a couple of days…
hugs,
Janice
“Her plan is to sleep, read, go for walks in the park behind her home, bake excellent stuff, have a cocktail or two (wine, beer or cider for me) , and then sleep some more!” This is my itinerary right now adding in trying new recipes, watching films and being able to spend time with my husband. I’m enjoying this lifestyle and see it as a precursor to retirement in a few years when I shall be able to devote daytime to my hobbies and join new groups instead of ‘working at home’.
We appear to be past the peak in the UK. The Prime Minister has returned to work after recovering from Covid19. There is talk of relaxing some of the restrictions so people can socialise, and businesses will gradually reopen to create a ‘new normal’. No firm details but at least we have hope.
Today’s painting is another inspiration, so thank you. It reflects my summer wardrobe. Yet I see three shades of blue from aqua to denim, three shades of pink from shell to deep rose, the outer edges are a dark heather and in the middle is ivory, grey and stone.
Please take heart and encouragement from the deep appreciation of your daily injections of colourful hope and dreams that you’ve given us, these past few weeks. Your posts are a highlight in my day.
Virtual hugs
Beth
Hugs back at you! And yes, these paintings all have lots of shades and nuances of color that reward those who study them at leisure.
Time with Belovedest is the best part of this, by far! I know you understand…
hugs,
Janice
Do you have any information on the Paul Klee painting? I’d like to learn more about it.
I’ve found new artists that I love on your blog. Thanks for introducing me to new artists and such a broad range of art styles!
I’m going to assess this color combination for winter clothes. That blue/grey border color is one of my winter colors, and I have those other shades as well (not beige). Thanks for this, it’s an unusual piece of art that deserves more attention!