December 2, 2020
It’s the end of the year – at least for this project! I will probably re-visit this to analyze these wardrobes when I’ve had a few days to digest them; if you have any specific requests for analysis please let me know!
Of course this has been an… unusual? year. Thus, I’m finishing off these wardrobes in a pretty “non-festive” way, since the majority of us have no business going to a party!
But we can still look good, and not waste clothing money, right?
Let’s hop to it!
I think this first color scheme has been very successful. The neutrals are classic, the accent colors are pretty easy to find, and it all has worked out well. This year, our December additions are going to be (for the most part) warm, cozy and casual but not sloppy!
First, let’s look at how everything is going so far:
I’m fascinated that – now that we’re separating out the “strictly 2nd layer” garments from the “top or 2nd layer” pieces – the versatility of these wardrobes seems to improve. Maybe it’s just me?
Except for fresh masks from time to time, I think we’re in a good spot for accessories:
So to finish off the year, and the wardrobe, I’m option for a sweat suit that’s a little bit different from the usual, and a very versatile tee shirt:
Scarf – Aspinal of London; teal heather fleece pullover – L.L.Bean; white tee – L.L.Bean; navy sweat pants – L.L.Bean
I like the cowl neckline on the sweatshirt a lot, and sweatpants that don’t have tightly cuffed legs can look pretty much like “normal” pants if your top comes down over the drawstring waist!
Do these bring options to this heroine’s wardrobe? Heck yes:
While I love this next scarf and color palette to pieces, this might have benefited from the addition of a darker neutral. If you are happy with wearing mostly light colors, this could be really gorgeous…
scarf – Aspinal of London
This wardrobe is well balanced – any wardrobe that’s built on individual outfits is going to have more bottoms than strictly necessary, but after we added tops last month, things aren’t wildly out of hand:
And this heroine has some really lovely accessories…
I felt that this wardrobe might benefit from the addition of more blue, so blue it is!
Scarf – Aspinal of London; arctic ocean hoodie – J.Crew; striped shirt – Dorothy Perkins; jeans – L.L.Bean
You could certainly wear these 3 garments together, but the addition of them to this wardrobe also provides a bunch of new outfit possibilities:
Some months I sort of wished that I hadn’t included this scarf in our year-long project, but here in December I think I’m glad we gave it a try. Seeing unusual colors together, or wardrobes that feel odd in some way, might be a way to learn something. I’m not sure WHAT we learn, but we learn…
scarf – Aspinal of London
This really isn’t so bad, is it? The pink and mustard aren’t going to be worn together by most of us, but this heroine has the choice of strictly neutral (with grey and white) or one of her 2 VERY different accent colors. While this isn’t the way to maximize “mixing and matching,” it IS a way to give the same neutral garments 2 very different moods:
And I do love the range of accessories…
If our heroine is going to be working from home and staying safe through this winter, a velour sweat suit seems like an understandable indulgence!
scarf – Aspinal of London; velour hoodie – J.Crew; gold sun turtleneck – Chaps; velour jogger pants – J.Crew
And of course, these 3 pieces can mix into her existing wardrobe without hesitation:
For this next wardrobe, I feel like I went too far into the olive and red direction and didn’t include enough beige, but when I look at the entire wardrobe I think I’m crazy…
scarf – GISY
But everything’s balanced; I’m a big fan of balance!
I remain smitten with this plaid cape…
Since this wardrobe was already in good shape, I just added an outfit of versatile separates!
scarf – GISY; waffle pullover hoodie – J.Crew; desert rose & fatigue green flannel shirt – L.L.Bean; natural jeans – Lands’ End
Just to be sure, let’s see if I can conjure up some new outfits for this heroine:
Yep, my favorite colors!
If I had included a button-front cardigan in place of the open-front one, there would be NO “strictly” 2nd layer clothes at all here! And boy oh boy does this heroine have a LOT of pink tops…
And she kinds of likes floral prints, which isn’t surprising for someone with a love of pink…
Even with all of those pink tops, this heroine doesn’t have a simple pink oxford cotton shirt! and I thought that some grey might be a nice, soft neutral for her to include. It was, after all, in her initial color palette…
scarf – Aspinal of London; charcoal hoodie – Lou & Grey; ice pink no-iron shirt – Lands’ End; charcoal heather knit corduroy pants – Lands’ End
So long as she’s comfortable wearing charcoal (aka light black!) with black, she will be able to wear her new clothes in lots of different ways:
Our final heroine, with our final scarf, has a palette that combines classic neutrals of cream and black with unexpected rust and peach. Unexpected is good, I think!
I really like the way this feels soft without sacrificing a core of a “serious” neutral:
These might be my favorite accessories – black and gold, or pearl and gold… sigh…
For no good reason, I’m assuming that this heroine lives in New Zealand, and has no constraints at all for being able to go out and about! Or else maybe she already has all of the “staying home” clothes that she needs and she’s planning for the future…
scarf – Aspinal of London; spotted shirt – Samsøe Samsøe; metallic striped sweater – Express; ivory corduroy skirt – The White Company
I’m so enamored with an ivory corduroy skirt… and these new clothes give her SO many possibilities:
Have your preferences stayed firm throughout the year? I’m true to my black and pink, but I have to admit that if I had the right coloring, I’d probably wear any of these!
NOW I get to pick next year’s scarves – I’m thinking of choosing 6 from Echo! What do you think?
love,
Janice
p.s. Random garment endorsement – my mother, who is now in Chicago, is loving Uniqlo fleece tops. They’re not at all bulky, VERY warm, and beautifully soft.
p.p.s. Four years ago we did an extensive review of a brown, tan, orange and beige “Start with a Scarf” wardrobe…
Like this article? Save it to Pinterest!
There’s a gold bag that appears in the last outfit. It’s not in the accessories collection. Can we get the details, please?
Is it really a year since you began this series? It has been a treat to see these wardrobes unfold which kept us focused on beauty and simplicity whilst we faced all the challenges and heartache. I think we all felt your frustration at the dearth of seasonal clothes in the summer but it kept us amused. Now with so many clothes companies going bust, it’s like watching the ‘Bonfire of the Vanities’!
The British ‘High Street’ has seen some very big names fall in recent days. Our local shopping arcade has had the big department stores at both ends close. One of them is to be turned into a bowling alley and food outlets.
It has been quite a rollercoaster this past 12 months, but with a vaccine on the near horizon, there is hope of a better year in 2021. This blog has been a lifeline and I am so grateful for your dedication and commitment. It can’t have been easy. You must be relieved that your Mum is now closeby so you can see her more often, even if you have to be togged up in PPE. May you both stay well. Bless you. Big hugs.
PS I shall make some comments on the wardrobes later. I have an IT chap working remotely trying to figure out why my work email isn’t showing my boss’s emails in my Inbox. As I can’t use my computer, I’m doing some Christmas cooking prep – spiced red cabbage and apple, then putting the dried fruit to soak in brandy and sherry ready to make my Christmas Cake ??
.
I am amazed by the olive, orangey red, and beige wardrobe! These, to me, are kind of weird colours but this wardrobe is pretty fabulous. While all three of these colours make me look like something from the crypt, I am so impressed with how well all the pieces work together and how much variety there is.
I love this end of year post with all the clothes in one place, and the accessories. Your blog has helped me transform my wardrobe and I have become a much more confident and decisive shopper. I enjoy putting my outfits together and I feel like I look more fashion-y, if that’s a word!
Along with many others, I have so appreciated your MANY posts in the time of Covid. They are such a bright spot. Your humour and your style shine through!
I also have loved the balance in this wardrobe though they are not my colours, but I have family members who look fabulous in them. So I’m used to seeing (and washing) them all the time. I particularly like the new edition of the olive and rust check shirt because it provides so many more possibilities. Definitely a bridge piece with mileage and versatility. It’s the shirt that will go on for years (decades even) becoming more and more soft and comfortable until it’s only really decent for jobs around the house and garden.
Separating the 2nd layers from the tops as 2nd layers is incredibly helpful – I’m so glad you did that! I noticed that you didn’t place the short sleeve button down tops in the tops as 2nd layers category. In the warmer months I often wear a tank top under a short sleeve button down top to help with the cooler temperatures of the early morning/evening. Because I’m a big fan of layering, I always make sure when I’m planning a purchase of any button down top that I also make sure I have something to wear under it as well as over it before I make the purchase. That way I can get at least three seasons wear from the new top!
And, yes on the Echo scarves! Maybe one with olive and burgundy?
Janice,
Lovely, each and every one. Question for you, is there an easy way to find the link to something added in a previous month? Say for example I see something in one of the capsules in December but don’t know when it was added, what is the best way to locate it? Thanks!
Maria, I found myself in the same position today, wanting to look at the white sneakers from the Lion wardrobe. I put “six scarves” into the search at the upper right of the screen. This showed all the six scarves posts in reverse order. I scrolled down the list of posts, looking at the image with each post that shows which items were added in that month. When I saw the white sneakers in the July post, I clicked on it and there were the details.
Sorry, Marla, I mis-typed your name!
Thanks, Sally! And not to worry about name misspelling. I’ve gotten Mark in the past! ?
Thanks, Sally! And not to worry about the name misspelling. I’ve gotten Mark in the past! ?
Thanks for all your hard work. Like the others already said, it was a beam of light in a dark and eventful year.
I love that ivory corduroy skirt! Completely impractical for me, but a girl can dream, can’t she?
I would love to see a wardrobe build from a scarf in soft grey, pink and blue with a hint of ivory. If you can get a scarf like that.
Isha, I looked at Janice’s link to the echo scarves and there is a gorgeous one, see the link below
https://echonewyork.com/products/romantic-floral-silk-square
This is also soft colours
https://echonewyork.com/products/natural-swirl-silk-square
How about one of the above Janice? Really lovely soft colours .
The Natural Swirl Silk Square in the Lapis Blue is lovely.
I’ll second your suggestion, Isha.
I honestly can’t decide my favorite wardrobe, they’re all gorgeous and so well done!
Maybe I’m a bit of a weirdo, but I still can’t really see the issue with wearing accent colors together. My favorite moment for mixing colors is the spring – as soon as the sun starts shining a bit brighter and I start spotting more and more flowers, my mood lifts and I feel the urge to dress accordingly :) One of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe is a yellow dress with pink flowers, and I’m always looking for a pink cardigan to wear with it!
I’m with you Alice. Your dress sounds lovely. My favourite items are ones that have more than one accent colour. It opens up so many possibilities.
I seem to be drawn to them, my mother’s mantra (one of many) was ‘Is it versatile? If something could be more than one way, it was more cost-effective.
For example, in the summer, I bought a Lands End long sleeve tee – burgundy paisley. The paisley pattern is made up of tiny flowers in pink, teal and aqua. Today, I wore it with my pink velour tracksuit. I have also worn it with teal jeans and an aqua jumper or pink cardigan.
Have fun and I hope you find a pink cardigan!
If I had the Aspinal A peppermint scarf, I would throw a fuschia pink.cardigan or top into the mix. The butterflies in that colour leap out at me.
Beth T,
My thoughts exactly !
Yes, this! – nancyo
Just a thought Alice that your yellow and pink floral dress would fit right into the yellow and pink wardrobe.
As you like yellow and pink, this scarf would be ideal in the pink and yellow wardrobe
https://echonewyork.com/collections/silks/products/heritage-paisley-silk-square
The grey, mustard, pink wardrobe is so inspiring to me! Being able to put together such different moods in such a small wardrobe is encouraging. Except for one top, the pinks are all warm enough to be worn with the mustard, even, for a very bright and warm woman.
I hope your life has settled a bit. I’ve prayed…
These are all beautiful, comfortable wardrobes suitable for staying home. However, you have to promise that for next year’s wardrobes, you are going to go all out in December with some flashy, fabulous party outfits.
These are amazing. I can’t even put the stuff together for one wardrobe, much less six! I will say though, that during the time I’ve been reading your blog I let my hair go gray and all my colors did a 180. Not helpful. Like you, I still favor the pink/black/gray. During this current year of the pandemic I find myself wearing much brighter colors in an effort to be cheery. Or at least look cheerful. As others have mentioned, thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into these posts. Heartily Grateful!
I love the way you have broken out the different layers – it helps me with my wardrobe! All the wardrobes are beautiful! My favorite is the Robin Scarf. I would love to see an Echo scarf for next year. Would you consider the Patchwork Cotton Pareo Wrap in Aqua? Of course, these are my colors!! And the price is right so I could buy along with you!!
I also would like to thank you for all the wonderful posts you have done this year and all the extra ones once Covid started. I believe you really have made a difference for each of your followers. I always look forward to your posts in the morning with my coffee! It starts my day with a smile and happiness!
Thanks again for all your beautiful and creative work!!
For next year, a wardrobe for a scarf with denim blue and olive green would be great for me.
I’d love it if you did the Painted Tulip scarf!! https://echonewyork.com/collections/silks/products/painted-tulip-silk-square
Oooh, this would work beautifully for this series!
To echo what others have said, I like the idea of separating tops into three categories: second layers, tops or second layers, and tops. Someday (someday soon?) we will be traveling again, and these categories will make it easier to come up with the most versatile packing lists. And of course the groups also are useful for stay-at-home wardrobes.
Also, as the year ends, I wanted to say thanks for all of the work you do. (I find that I always look forward to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the days that you generally post.)
Happy holidays!
Watching these wardrobes grow has been fun and instructional. I am much more intentional about my clothes purchases now and find it much easier to put together outfits. Thank you for sharing your creativity! I second the recommendation of the Uniqlo thin fleece tops which come in many colours, two styles that work for casual or dressier outfits, and are a great price. Here in Canada, I want to wear one every day!
Although we wont have many parties to go to, we can still put on the glitz. Yesterday during the day, I wore a teal satin shirt over a teal polo on top of navy velvet trousers. I accessorised it with a ‘mystic topaz’ crystal necklace.
Seeing today’s post made me realise how good the Lion and Peacock scarf would suit yesterday’s outfit, though I would limit the camel/orange colours to tan accessories. Navy and tan is a classic combo. I think I still have a pair of tan long boots which I could wear with said teal shirt and polo and a navy velvet skirt and teal bag, navy jacket and teal scarf and aqua gloves.
Wow! I’m going to continue wearing my ‘party’ outfits up to Christmas just to give them an airing.
I went a little bit glitzy today – just jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt, but I topped it with a black poncho that has metallic silver threads to it….. and sparkly earrings. Beth T I enjoy reading your comments almost as much as the original post! ;)
Your teal-navy-topaz outfit sounds beautiful! Reading the comments, I often wish there was a Facebook group or something where I could see the readers’ outfit choices, I bet you would all be a fantastic source of inspiration :)
I love this idea! A Fans of The Vivienne Files group. :)
That would be so fun!
Great idea Alice. I might even join Facebook ?Just to meet everyone and see all the outfits that are described so eloquently here. Perhaps it would be easier to show one of my blended/tonal outfits on Facebook because I’m sure you’re all wondering what I mean!
However, I wouldnt like Facebook to replace the comments which are so helpful when adapting wardrobes to suit climate, weather and personal preferences.
Beth T – I’m not on facebook either. I can’t imagine my life is that interesting. Although I sometimes send a friend of mine via text the outfit dujour….. (pardon my very bad French) I think she dresses vicariously through me! :)
Beth T, I agree on navy with tan accessories…or as I think of it, navy and cognac leather…as a top notch combo. The lion and peacock scarf and wardrobe remain my favorite, but I just can’t do that much warm beige/camel. But I would oh so happily substitute a combination of blue denim and white for the beige/camel, add my tall cognac riding boots and brown flats, and let my “lion’s mane” (as my husband calls my increasingly long, voluminous, and somewhat wild hair) be complemented by that marvelous scarf.
Oh to have a mane of hair! Mine is brown and very fine, going white from underneath. It is also straight with the odd kink put there with clever layering by my hairdresser. ?♀️
I don’t know why I didn’t see it earlier this year– but the last scarf immediately brought to my mind cheetah or leopard print tops in browns, carmel and black. I don’t even wear animals prints so it surprises me. Glad to hear that you & your mom are able to be together. Stay warm & healthy.
Grateful for all your posts & lessons I’ve learned & still learning.
Janice,
What a beautiful review of your comprehensive and exhausted endeavor to supply and inspire your readers with colorful options throughout this challenging year ! I also add my two cents worth of deep appreciation for all that you have done and continue to do, brightening and diverting our attention to something delightful ! Thank you so much for that ! At age 75, I continue to learn from you ! My travel wardrobe is just one area in which sanity has finally won out , in numbers of garments, thanks to your magic formulas that you have so generously provided, and now my closet is also becoming an area of reason — thank you dear lady , you are indeed a blessing ! Big cyber hugs !
Mimi, the reply button didn’t work for me, but oh my goodness, YES on the cat prints for the last wardrobe! That didn’t occur to me at all but would be perfect.
My favorites remained the lion and the mint throughout the year, but the red/olive mandala really grew on me over time and drew neck and neck with the robin wardrobe here at the end.
In November, I had made notes on what I would add to each wardrobe, one item in each of the following categories…pragmatic, fun, luxurious, accessory…plus a little winter boost of a quilted vest (can be a second or third layer!) and another pair of boots for each wardrobe because they are personal necessities for me in my climate. Janice’s warm and casual items were very much on point for what the pandemic winter has in store for us, and I just ADORED the outfits with a pleated skirt and a hoodie/sweatshirt, especially with a pair of sneakers! But I could not resist adding one piece (“luxurious”) that would still be comfortable but a little festive for the holidays (for zoom/FaceTime gatherings, being with one’s beloved(s), or to enjoy on one’s own).
Lion:
Pragmatic – white long-sleeved T or long-sleeved blue denim or chambray shirt
Fun – navy/beige plaid pants
Luxurious – peacock shawl at the Met Store
Accessory – a long turquoise necklace
Winter boost – navy quilted vest and navy ankle boots
Janice’s choice of that gorgeous aquamarine sweatshirt with the cowl neck (which I have basically fallen in love with as an alternative to the turtlenecks I just can’t wear) was primo.
Mint:
Pragmatic – long-sleeved blue denim or chambray shirt (yes, it’s a favorite of mine)
Fun – floral blouse (a 2 piece dress would be amazing!)
Luxurious – soft blue cashmere shawl
Accessory – a scarf that works well with blue and white – Hermes La Folle Parade in blue, perhaps?
Winter boost – white quilted vest and navy ankle boots
I loved the addition of a richer blue with the hoodie! This soft indigo is the perfect color, and would work well with the navy that I imagine substituting for some of that beige.
Mustard:
Pragmatic – white/grey striped T
Fun – pink floral top
Luxurious – bright pink cashmere shawl
Accessory – bright pink loafers (you can tell I like the pink and not the mustard, no?)
Winter boost – grey quilted vest and dark grey casual boots
I really don’t enjoy this wardrobe very much (though I do respect what it’s doing in terms of very different accent color options), and the choices this month felt a bit like “ho hum more of the same” seen from that lens.
Mandala:
Pragmatic – olive/beige striped top
Fun – red/olive/beige plaid shirt
Luxurious – velvet skirt
Accessory – olive scarf
Winter boost – olive quilted vest and beige boots
I think I literally yelled out “YES!” when I saw Janice’s choices for December. Perfect.
Robin:
Pragmatic – grey cardigan
Fun – pink/black floral shirt
Luxurious – velvet blazer
Accessory – pink scarf
Winter boost – white quilted vest and casual black boots
I liked the charcoal grey additions; this wardrobe would do well with even more grey, and perhaps more small scale black/white prints that read as grey, I think.
Shield:
Pragmatic – black/cream striped top or cream button up shirt
Fun – rust/black plaid pants – Madewell had some cute ones
Luxurious – black cashmere wrap
Accessory – multi-layer pearl necklace
Winter boost – black quilted vest and black ankle boots
All 3 items Janice added were terrific. I enjoyed that the cream blouse with black polka dots took both my “pragmatic” ideas and combined and improved them. Now that Mimi’s put the leopard print idea into my head, I would add a pair of leopard smoking slippers/loafers to the mix too.
I can hardly wait to see what scarves we will have for 2021!
Hi Sally, I’m always so impressed by your detailed assessment and thoughtful additions to different wardrobes. You have a good eye for colour.
I wholly agree on a peacock scarf or shawl. Yours is a lovely choice but as I live in the UK, my choice would be a shawl from Liberty of London in the Hera range. I have one in navy, ivory and purple and wore it today. Vintage Liberty is more affordable. Turquoise jewellery is a must.
Floral blouse with Mint A – perfect. I have a lovely mint green velvet jacket that would be great to wear with it in early spring.
Velvet jacket with the Robin pink and black. You don’t specify pink or black. I have a deep orchid pink velvet jacket (vintage) which is so out of the ordinary that I get noticed.
(You may have twigged that I love velvet and velour!)
Beth T
I think the Echo scarves are quite lovely and I have a suggestion! I love the Colorful Grid Oblong Silk. It would be a similar color scheme to the Colored Rhythm of a few days ago but with navy and white instead of black and white. I love ALL the colors and I think it would be fabulous!
Also, totally in favor of a Facebook group!
Vivienne, thanks you for the inspiration you give by writing Ans showing those beautiful colour and clothing combinations. Stay safe! Is it possible to write a post about colour combinations for deep cool colour types with low contrast. Greetings from Germany!
I love seeing what you come up with Janice – your ability to find and create gorgeous outfits/ wardrobes is outstanding.
My favourites are the aqua A and the black/ pink robins though I personally wouldn’t wear anything with a bird on it.
I love the idea of using Echo scarves next year but am unsure of their availability in the UK. The tropical geo print square, tropical palms silk square and the blue-green plaid silk square are the ones I’m most drawn too.
Uniqlo HeatTECH for the win! I’ve been living in them all Chicago cold-season for a number of years now. The warmest ones do pill after a while, but for the price, they’re unbeatable.
And, yes, definitely thank you for all the gorgeous posts – they’re such a pleasant ray of sunshine. I’m looking forward to the return of Fancy, but am finding plenty of temptation to resist in this Cosy time as well!
v
I also like separating each wardrobe out in layers. It’s a very helpful concept particularly if you are trying to make garments last for more than one season.
Some of the wardrobes could have done with an additional second layer – three seems ideal – perhaps in an accent colour.
By that token the Robin pink and black (love it) might need two more second layers and I would definitely choose a pink long cardigan or jacket. Perhaps a jacket because it has always seemed to be a smart and refined wardrobe. I would also choose a pink floral shirt in a ditsy print rather than another plain top.
I notice that none of the wardrobes has a dress or skirt/top combo.
Perhaps adding winter boots with the additional clothes would be a useful addition for the accessories.
My favourites of the new selections are the turquoise cowl neck top and the grey velour tracksuit. I have two velour tracksuits – grey and soft pink- with a cowl neck top and another burgundy cowl neck. I have lots of other velvet and velour items which I shall be wearing all the way through January at least!
The Aspinal A peppermint is another favourite for Spring. But I would change the camel to grey. I like the darker denim additions. I would add a fuschia pink cardigan, jumper or tee to take this into summer. Those little bright pink butterflies have leapt out at me from.day 1. Gorgeous!
The Lion and Peacock is stunning and my choice with teal satin and navy velvet this season. Teal or tan footwear and bag. Love it.
Hi Janice, Thank you for separating the wardrobes into sections. It made so much sense to me – having challenge with the second layering, as I do. Seeing it all set out really shone a light on where I need to spend on my clothing budget – layering items and shoes. And it also helped me see that I can use a scarf for colour combination inspiration, without having to actually own it. I don’t very often wear a scarf, except in Winter for practical purposes. I have a shortish neck and I also dress fairly informally. Once I’ve made a decision about top, bottom, shoes and earrings, I’m all decisioned-out. There are some very tempting sox in each wardrobe and I can see I may need to put some thought and money into my footwear to add a bit of pizazz. Thank you for the time and effort you put into your posts. Your generosity cheers me every time.
Thanks for the very helpful look back. Dividing the clothes and accessories into warm or cool weather is great for analysing seasonal extensions within a wardrobe.
The browns are not colours I would wear but it would suit my notion of a blended or tonal wardrobe. Now if that had been in shades of light to dark purple……
I vote for the Fantastica scarf in black, which has major wappage! But there are many good choices and I always love what you come up with. Thanks for all of the work that you do!
While none of these wardrobes would suit me, I think the cream, black and peach one turned out really elegant. If I had to make one for myself from these options, I would take the Robin scarf and draw out the burgundy, plum and rusty brown tones. The one that works least for me is the grey/mustard/pink (although I love the pink and orange zebra socks!) Most of the time when I see a wardrobe that’s grounded in grey that features bright accents, it just looks like someone colorized parts of a black & white photo. Too jarring for my eye.
We won’t be going to any parties, but I do have some velvet joggers and a sparkly sweater to wear. Maybe round out the year with a few somewhat festive but still cozy on the couch outfits?
ooo! For the Echo scarves I nominate The Floral Tassel Silk Square in the Fig colorway.
https://echonewyork.com/collections/silks/products/floral-tassel-silk-square
The scarves from Echo are amazing. My choices would be
1. Painter Palm Silk Oblong – Sea Blue
2. Natural Swirl Silk Square – Lapis Blue
3. Floral Painting Oblong – Fig
I love the soft muted colours of the first two especially. These would be good scarves for blended wardrobes.
Gosh those scarves are stunning and addictive. I’ve selected a few more that have lots of variety – something for everyone:
Heirloom silk – Maritime Navy – I had to look closely at the pattern – it’s like openimg a jewellery box.
Tropical Floral square – Navy
Floral Bloom Silk Square
Flourish Silk Square – Pale Lilac – I have a summer blouse in the same lilac with similar flowers. I’m unsure how to style it particularly with bottoms, but I’m sure you could work some magic.
I admit to being surprised at the realization that this was the last outfit post for these scarves…it doesn’t seem like it should have been a year, even with all the crazy. The robin scarf and wardrobe is hands down, my fave this year…and has convince me I should had more pink to my closet! Thanks so much for all the work that goes into the scarf series; I look forward to the posts each month.
How nice to have one of your heroines live here in New Zealand!
Apparently, if our government had waited just one more week before implementing it’s first tough lock down, we also would be struggling to break loose of the grip of this nasty coronavirus. It has been useful to take a second look at this post. What stands out most for me is the number of well chosen patterned shirts in the first capsule. A reminder to me that I enjoy pattern, especially when it works with almost everything so well. What a challenge.
I love how you separated out the wardrobe parts in your analysis. The category of tops that can also be second layers would be so useful in Fiona’s month-long wardrobe — I’m going to add that to my experimenting with her idea.
I just spent quite a bit of time gazing at Echo scarves — what a versatile collection they have! I’d be thrilled if you included this one in your 2021 line-up — it isn’t as eye-catching as some, but boy-oh-boy would it make a perfect basis on which to build a wardrobe to suit a good swath of the population: Modern Baroque Wrap in navy: https://echonewyork.com/products/modern-baroque-wrap
I hope your mom is settling in and life is calming down for all of you.
Hello Janice and Everyone! My favorite still remains the last one, probably because the majority of my wardrobe is made of those colors, AND it has a version of an Orange hue in it.
I know most people could probably wear mustard yellow and grey together but on me it would look wretched. There is a little peep of turquoise or real in that scarf so I’d probably go with that!
I have had a personal revelation about my shopping habits this year…I just LOVE color! I would have a closet full of fuschia and deep purple and caramel brown and apricot and cobalt blue and mint green! I would look like an Easter egg!
Reading TVF and admiring the color combinations (and stories) and reading everyone’s posts is a real treat for me and has been something to look forward to during this unpredictable and anxious year we’ve had. So thank you Janice, for inviting us into your fashion salon where we can gather together.
I missed the Hermes scarves so much this year. I know they’re aspirational but they’re also inspirational! Have you considered choosing high, medium, and low exemplars? Maybe two Hermes, two Jessie Zhao, and two Echo? Regardless, thank you for your dedication to this yearly project; we all learn so much from it!
Oooh, this appeals to me! It would certainly make finding a range of neutral bases easier….
I’m going to do a post next week showing some scarves with a few accessories and maybe a sweater, just to get us thinking about what we want – I’m going to put this idea out for consideration.
Thanks for being here, and for your very good idea!
big digital hugs,
Janice
Janice,
I rarely post, but have been reading for years and I just wanted to say you have made a difference in my life. Thank you for all your hard work and the dedication you put into this blog. I so look forward to your posts. I certainly hope your new year is healthy and happy. I look forward to being inspired by you to be more intentional, more organized, and pulled together when I dress.
I always enjoy these posts and love seeing the thinking behind your decisions. As a hazel eyed grey haired woman is there any chance one of the scarves you pick could have olives and greys as the dominant neutrals and even better without black(although I sub any black with charcoal, unless I have to wear it as as a Kiwi -black is our national colour). We in New Zealand have been very thankful that we live on some islands a long way from anywhere and for a government that has been listening to the scientists. Stay safe, warm and well.
Another year of six scarves is in the books! These wardrobes turned out to be filled with comfy clothes, reflecting the way that things went for most of us in 2020. I have to say, though, that I do plan on wearing festive clothes for the holidays. For me, Christmas is worth celebrating, and even at home I’ll pull out my velvets and satins. – nancyo