October 21, 2020
She’s been driving down to visit them at their lake house on a regular basis for a few years now… Her first trip was in the dead of winter; a bit of warmth and sitting outdoor was delightful!
After the pandemic started, she was down earlier in the summer to take advantage of their cooking frenzy…
Now, they’re talking about having her come for the entire winter! Why not – it’s not like she’s having buckets of fun being in her apartment almost all day every day!
And she wouldn’t mind seeing some birds…
“Come down for the weekend and we can discuss it; you can have the bedroom and bath that you had back in the summer, and you can work on the desk in your bedroom. We’re upgrading the wifi…”
Marled cotton cardigan – L.L.Bean; star earrings – LMJ; mask – Brunna Co.; scarf – Canali; white oxford shirt – L.L.Bean; corduroy pants – Lands’ End; bag – Thacker; socks – Goods for Life; waterproof boots – Timberland
“If you decide to join us for the next couple of months, at least, you can leave clothes here and go back to your apartment to stock up.”
So she packs a couple of outfits, and starting thinking about being away from home, a guest in someone’s vacation home, for 2 or 3 months at least…
Star mask – ModCloth; plaid flannel tunic – L.L.Bean; lion & peacock scarf – Aspinal of London; poncho – Rag & Bone; black star earrings – Kendra Scott; black X earrings – Julie Vos; black recycled cashmere cardigan – Reformation; black tee shirt – J.Crew; onyx ring – Vintouch Italy; black jeans – Lands’ End; socks – Falke; moccasins – L.L.Bean; flannel shirt – Uniqlo; saddle brown jeans – L.L.Bean
She wouldn’t mind doing her share of the cooking, laundry and cleaning. As long as she has her own room, and some books, she would be happy in the same house as her friends. And being able to be outdoors EVERY DAY is a definite bonus…
So she shows up for the weekend with this wardrobe:
This is a generous wardrobe for a weekend, but it will need some definite supplementing if she agrees to move in with them for the rest of the year!
She also packs her Stargazing for Dummies book – her friends have been using their small telescope to search the skies, and she’s going to learn a LOT hanging out with them!
love,
Janice
p.s. Five years ago, a scarf named “Pigs on the Wing” inspired a combination business/casual travel wardrobe in black, grey and teal…
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I love this colour palette, but would add blush (like the duck’s beak).
Where can I find friends like this? ?
That’s what I was thinking! :D
The colours aren’t mine but it’s a well balanced wardrobe. My duck inspiration for colours would probably be a Mallard drake with a purple head.
I love the details of the accessories – the snowflakes and stars on the masks, socks and earrings. The black and gold version of the Lion and Peacock scarf is stunning.
However a flash of red (from the beak) would just add a bit of fun and quirkiness. Perhaps red laces on her sturdy boots or red and black socks, or perhaps a Burberry shawl which is camel, black and red.
Great choice of boots which come in a wide range of colours and finishes including pink, red and floral.
Well p’raps not real Burberry as that is just tooo expensive but something similar…..
But Burberry lasts forever, so the cost per wear can be lower then one would think.
The salmon pink boots are gorgeous!
Lovely! With the exception of the poncho (or maybe a scarf in addition to add some color) I could be quite happy with this. Oddly, I’m wearing camel and navy today – as I have a meeting and wanted to look a little more conservative than I usually do! But I could see easily substituting any of these garments – as a matter of fact, now as I’m thinking, with the exception of the plaid shirt and white blouse I already have them! wow…. lightbulb moment!
The plaid shirts are amazing wardrobe stretchers in such a setting. If you find one that has two neutrals you live and two accent colors you love, you’re on your way!!!
I love the orangy-brown with the black and white…it add such richness and warmth to the palette. (As I look out my window at several inches of snow, I am sad to see our autumn color has left for the year, so outfits with tonal warmth and physical warmth are very appealing.) From the last image with the four colors, the camel-orange is well represented but the darker cinnamon-orange has yet to make an appearance. I am curious to see how this will show up later in the expanded wardrobe (but I’m anticipating some “harmony” styling, to use Bridgette Raes’ term).
As others have mentioned, I also immediately thought that a poppy red-orange (like the duck’s bill) would be terrific here. The lion and peacock scarf shows the “road map” for that. I would love to see a French 5 or similar in the expanded wardrobe. This would provide a nice pop of color for the black and white outfits (“focal point” styling). This color palette is similar to what I’m thinking…https://colorpalettes.net/color-palette-3667/
Though I actually very much prefer the camel-orange with true white, like in the 6th outfit featuring the white shirt, camel-orange pants, and lion and peacock scarf. It has a fresher, more vibrant vibe than it would with beige or ecru.
Hi Sally: you and I are fashion soul mates. I looked up the color palette and that’s about half my closet 9 months of the year.
You all have snow already?!! Brrr!
Hi Janice! You had me at the color palette. As mentioned previously, a splash of red or a touch of blush would be nice if she needs to go back and get more clothes or accessories.
Yay boots! This is a very comfortable wardrobe. The colors remind me of the woods in winter. I agree that some flashes of red and adding the deeper cinnamon/russet might be nice. Maybe a red jacket or parka?
I’m so glad to see you revisit one of my favorite wardrobe inspirations! These are the colors of many of my cold weather capsules (and some of my warm weather ones also). I usually add denim, which I see in the water of this photo, and if I were to expand this to make a 3 month capsule I’d likely add teal, which if I squint I can see in the duck’s neck, or maybe it’s wishful thinking? – nancyo
I was near Michigan ave last night so thought of you, especially when I saw a woman in a star sweater outside a grocery store. If it was you, hello. Many many women in leggings who were not jogging. But I was wearing jeggings so maybe should not talk.
You’re in luck Nancyo – shelducks in flight have green on their underwings!
Best wishes
Beth T