June 19, 2020
It really stuck with her, and so she decided to make it part of her life!
“It Might Not Even Happen….”
They’re talking about her spouse’s annual corporate meeting. Always a weird few days for her, because she travels along just to attend cocktail parties and dinners… It’s scheduled for late October this year, but of course that’s subject to change or cancellation…
But she’s going to go ahead and plan her travel capsule wardrobe because… um… why not? At least this way, she can have a good capsule wardrobe for staying home in the autumn, at a minimum!
Grey silk cotton cardigan – Banana Republic; earrings – A Weathered Penny; jacquard scarf – Etro; black tee – Lands’ End; small bag – Rag & Bone; watch – MVMT; black knit pants – Lands’ End; weekender bag – Aldo; metallic loafers – Veronica Beard
She had planned to just pack black, white and grey, because she could NOT find any nice garments in her new favorite shade of pink, from her favorite painting.
But then she realized that her clothes don’t have to MATCH her painting (“her” painting, eh?); they just have to be in the same spirit. They have to appeal to her in the same way. And when she saw this pink cardigan, the appeal hit her HARD!
Bohemian Rose sweater-blazer – J.Crew; pearl necklace – Stephen Dweck; drop earrings – Michael Krainer; stud earrings – Fossil; bracelet – Komang Wirawan; reading glasses – Eyebobs; scarf – Aspinal of London; black dress – MICHAEL Michael Kors; floral blouse – Department 5; black slingback pumps – Bella Vita; ivory sweater – Banana Republic; black jeans – Banana Republic; skirt – Banana Republic; boots – Frye
It was great with her favorite scarf. It looked nice with that floral blouse that she bought on a whim, and grew to love. This trip, she is NOT packing a black cardigan! That, in and of itself, is a big change…
She looks over the tentative schedule for the conference, and plans what she will wear both to the “functions” and also what she will wear when she’s out wandering the streets, going to museums, doing her own thing:
I haven’t traveled to a corporate function with my spouse in years – they’re fallen out of favor at his company. Do any of you still have to attend these things, for yourself or a partner?
love,
Janice
p.s. Was it really just last year that our heroine took off on a long LONG train trip? Goodness, what a decade 2020 has been….
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What a beautiful wardrobe! This is what I would want to look like when wearing black and pink (which is still a wardrobe dream because I have virtually nothing in pink): polished but not over-stated, simple lines with a few laid-back feminine details, black as an anchor and pink as a portal to the whimsical. It feels comfortable but not lazy.
Pink is such a semantically charged color for women… for a long time it felt like a symbol for everything I was supposed or believed to be, so I rebelled against it and rejected it; now I feel it calling me back as simply a home for some of the things I long for, regardless of the expectations of society. It’s the color I choose when I want to feel peaceful, loving, and happy, and not at all “weak” or superficial as I thought it would make me seem.
This is a great personal wardrobe for you, Janice. Your new love of pink really makes this special. Oh if only we had somewhere to go! Beautiful combinations.
I myself do get to go on a conference with my spouse sometimes. It’s to the mountains so I add warm hiking clothes to my packing and preplan with another one of the tag along spouses to get out on the hiking trails during the day.
Hi Janice! Really like the clothes when ‘in transit’. They look super comfortable.
Actually the case has been that my spouse has traveled with -me- to professional conferences. We try to set aside one day just so we can do some sightseeing. Hopefully next year…
Dear Linda,
You’ll notice that I try to write in gender neutral terms, because there’s no telling who’s traveling for what, or with whom! Belovedest used to come to Europe with me for business trips – it worked really well! Except he’s seen more of some cities than I have… sigh…
hugs,
Janice
‘What a decade 2020 has been…’ indeed. But the cocktail glasses made me chuckle. I am having phone tea with a friend today, and we may share a bit of bubbly in our teacups. Sigh. Anyways, pink is such a cheerful color and you conjured a lovely transitional wardrobe that can go from cocktail party to cozy home attire. Your work is both art and science and I am so happy to be able to check in for a spot of pleasure these days.
Oops. To your question about attending corporate functions, i directed a p.r. department during the 1980’s and had a collection of silk dresses for events. Still have a frothy Jessica McClintock dress in my archives. I miss those days.
Oh yes, I had some gorgeous silk dresses. And BLOUSES!!!! How I wish those were still around, even with the gargantuan shoulder pads…
hugs,
Janice
That black blouse with the pink flowers would be oh so tempting if it came in my size! I have added three pink blouses, different shades and different styles, to my wardrobe this year and have enjoyed them with different neutrals. A couple of prints would be nice.
Oh yes, I have been ogling that pink sweater-blazer myself. That candy floss pink shade is such a cheerful color. I can’t justify purchasing it but I would very happily trade my current somewhat warmer-pink blazer for it. And oh my, does it ever look striking with a black wardrobe. The black metallic loafers are also a nice subtly-fancy touch.
I SO don’t need this cardigan, and I think that the only thing that will keep me away from it is that it doesn’t come in Petite sizes, so the sleeves will certainly be too long for me. I hate to have sleeves shortened on garments like this; it never works out. So I’m trying to avoid…
Maybe hanging from a tree by my arms for a long time will lengthen my arms?
sigh…
hugs,
Janice
Hi Janice, Did you see that the sleeves on the pink blazer sweater are Bracelet Length? That’s why I didn’t buy it (I have very long arms), but might work for you?
Thanks for all you do. I keep reading all of your posts from the beginning and learn something new each time.
I didn’t see that! Oh dear… ???
Patty – I did it! Let’s see how much I adore this blazer/sweater once it’s in the house…
hugs,
Janice
Such a great week! Your June 16th one was one of my favorites ever.
Both a sign of the times and also of my level of addiction: I went to see your post earlier this week and was bummed to see it wasn’t up yet. Checked a bit later–still no post. After several attempts I worried to my husband that I hoped you were well.
His response: “It’s Sunday, Julie.”
Ooops!
I love that – both that you’re looking for my posts, and that your husband knows that I’m not here on Sundays!
And I’m so happy that you’re enjoying my work; I’m struggling some days. I think it’s just a combination of stress, isolation, the occasional fibromyalgia pain, and struggling to find clothes in stock.
But if you’re enjoying things, I must be doing okay!!!!
hugs,
Janice
You’re doing great! And such a nice gift you’re giving all of us–this combination of beautiful escape and beautiful practicality. I’m a fellow fibro girl, but an introvert, and even I am struggling. I can’t imagine the struggle of being an extrovert right now; my poor husband is climbing the walls. I told my daughter that we’re all just going to have bad days, and to learn to give ourselves and each other grace for those days. Which, of course, you already know.
Oh I can wear this wardrobe all year round. However, I would swap one pair of black trousers for a grey pair so that I had a core of grey and add in a pink tee shirt. The floral blouse is divine and I love your accessory choices. I could go a long way with pink and grey.
It is strange that we should feel stressed but I feel stressed too. I think it’s not having choice over what to do each day, where to go or who to see; choice has been taken away.
The lockdown is easing in the UK but we still don’t feel free to see people for any length of time. On Wednesday, I went to a funeral and it was just nice to SEE people, sit down and have a chat with a real person, even though we had to be mindful of social distancing.
I’m sorry to hear your fibromyalgia is playing up, mine has been flaring up too – days when I just feel soooooo tired (but doing nothing much) and ache all over. Then there are days when I go for a walk with hubbie and my feet are stiff and painful for the rest of the day. Bed is a relief. So , dear Janice, take a day off! We can cope.
You are doing wonderfully well and your choices are creating universally appealing wardrobes with longevity throughout the year – a Weekly Timeless wardrobe every week!
The clothes shops have just reopened this week in the UK. Many of them cancelled all their orders and seem to have given up on summer and are going straight to autumn. I’ve been reading up about the global textile industry and it is so dependent on short turnaround but long supply chains. It’s nice to not be overwhelmed by stuff and not have too much choice.
Take care of yourself. Virtual hugs.
Janice,
I have been wondering if the return of the 5 day a week posts is getting to be “ old hat” again ? You have provided such joy during this life hiatus , but I am thinking that it might be getting to be draining, since you put so much effort into it ? I don’t know how you do it, I know that if it was me, I would need to take a break ! Thank you for all of your wonderful posts, I learn something from each one, even when they are not in “ my colors “ !
Yes indeed, I heartily second that. I am now finding the simplest tasks draining – and I am very fortunate not to have any medical conditions. I simply could not put in the work Janice does. Very rarely are the wardrobes in my ‘colours’ either (although those brown cashmere sweaters….be still my beating heart!) but like you I learn so much.
My attitude to pink was like Alice’s (above). Now that I’m in my 60s, with gray/white hair, I’ve found it to be flattering and cheerful to wear. My neutrals are black, Ivory and gray, so pink looks great with all of them. And I can switch it happily with my other accent of pastel blue. Today’s wardrobe sings to me, though I keep black away from my top half unless it’s mediated by a scarf. But everything here looks elegant, unfussy, easy to wear. Thank you Janice.
I often put together travel capsules of black, gray, white, and pink. I bought a dark pink soft shell jacket and have gotten a surprising amount of wear from it. – nancyo
Warning to travellers: those effective disinfectants being used to sanitize surfaces are also destroying clothing. Maybe now is the time for shabby instead of chic while en route.
I too have noticed availability of clothes is less these days. And some companies are having shipping issues, so it takes longer to get the things. But fall is coming, shouldn’t we be ramping up? Bean is starting with some fallish colors.
As much as I enjoy seeing these posts Monday to Friday, especially during this pandemic, I would understand if Janice took a break. Or a modified schedule. I know there are lots of archived posts to read. I do like seeing people’s comments, though.
Dear Janice,
I am very grateful for your posts. I consider them a special gift delivered to me every weekday. I certainly support your getting all the rest you need, but my experience leads me to believe that creating the posts and communicating with your readers is a positive in your life. I wasn’t authorized to work from home for the first few weeks of the In Times, and I found it pretty depressing. I don’t love working remotely, but I have felt a significant improvement in my general sense of well-being since I started. It is so important to have a purpose in life.
All the best,
Tina
I absolutely love this capsule! It’s going to be my springboard into fall. I was really drawn to pink the last few years, and it’s moved from a spring accent to year round. I wore it instead of my usual reds and cranberry tones last fall and winter so this just looks perfect.
Clothing quality went down almost 2 years ago with a lot of cheap wrinkly shrinking pilling rayon taking the place of cotton which seemed in short supply. This spring one of my favourite Canadian retailers (Nygard group with Tan Jay Alia)just went under.
I’m having to look elsewhere for classic cut pants in a durable breathable blend that don’t cost a mint. And fit me right. Cleo is ok but their quality is bad. Pants from them shrink, pill, wrinkle and look worn after a few washes.
I keep eyeing the American online brands I see in these capsules and gearing myself up to try online cross border shopping with the nightmare of customs involvement in the process. Once I find a brand I can trust I’ll be a customer for life!
Thanks again Janice!
Hi Margery, I, too, am a fellow Canadian shopper and was hesitant to risk the on-line international shopping experience. However, I have experimented with a few American retailers and have found several to be pretty much risk free. LL Bean, now with a bricks and mortar store in Oakville, Ontario and another promised for Barrie (no idea how that one will pan out at the moment!) has excellent customer service although you are charged customs and duties fees as they deal with a border agency company. Returns are easily made and postage free with an enclosed label, I believe. Land’s End and Nordstrom have also proved to be no problem for me, with orders arriving promptly, no duty charged and returns similarly free of charge. The merchandise ordered from all three retailers was great, no complaints about the quality.
Hi Janice,
I also want to tell you that I deeply enjoy your posts every day! And, almost needless to say, I also enjoy the comments. For the first time. your links partially seem not to work (e.g.: the black weekender bag, I just get a .png 1×1 pixel picture. Maybe because I try to visit the links from Germany?)
oh, darn. Punctuation…. can be so distorting.
For the first time, your links partially seem not to work.
Here’s another expression of thanks for the gift of a daily post of loveliness! So necessary!. And I love reading comments from around the world!
Il love so much these new ideas : so smart, so convenient to travel with, so original…
In fact, there are several looks, or styles, inside your propositions…Every thing matches with every thing, however.
(I love…)
Sorry.
This might be my favorite collection you’ve done! I love everything in it, especially the pink jacket.
It occurred to me last night that now is the time to stock up on long sleeved tops, dresses and knitwear in the ‘enticing us back’ sales. Retailers need to shift the ‘before lockdown’ stock to make way for next season’s stock. So I’m going to ‘make do’ with most of my current summer wardrobe as I’m probably not going to be going out enough to warrant anything new. I bought a new summer dress before lockdown for my son’s university graduation but that’s now been postponed. I will also buy floral tees in all sleeve lengths if I see them in the right colours as I have too many plain ones.