October 22, 2021
She Knows Why She’s Going…
She hasn’t traveled in forever. Well, almost 2 years. And her friends are surprised that her first choice destination is a “retreat spa…”
There’s meditation. There’s massage. There’s long walks in an undeveloped woodland area. There’s excellent food…
There’s NO getting up at dawn for 5 hour meditation sessions.
There’s NO limit on how much you may speak, or to whom.
There’s NO requirement that you spend an hour a day every day in the kitchen peeling turnips, or other such things…
Yes, she’s spent a lot of time alone, but she hasn’t really taken time to pay attention to herself. NOW, that’s her plan…
Quilted cardigan – L.L.Bean; earrings – Simona; ¾ sleeve tunic – L.L.Bean; charcoal heather sweatpants – L.L.Bean; starry river silk scarf – Yen Ting Cho; water resistant tote – Rains; loafers – UGG; socks – BP
She’s not at all sure what to pack – she’s heard that it’s really cold up there. She’s heard that it’s lovely and warm in all of the facilities. She’s heard that some people really dress up, and she’s been told that most guests lounge around in robes or sweatsuits…
She frankly doesn’t care. She’s going to be attired in beautiful brightness, grounded in gray. She’s wearing things that are soft, and comfy, and uncomplicated…
Mask – Echo; earrings – Simona; hat – Echo; light ocean tee – L.L.Bean; dark berry cashmere sweater – J.Crew; grey hoodie – Banks Journal; flannel shirt – L.L.Bean; gray heather sweatpants – L.L.Bean; spa socks – Dr. Scholl’s; stretch chino shorts – J.Crew; nightshirt – British Boxers; clogs – Haflinger
As she hangs her outfit up for the drive tomorrow, and starts to pack her suitcase, she pauses for a moment to realize that she’s going to be just fine, no matter what everyone else is doing!
She will be able to dress appropriately for just about anything – the sweatpants WITHOUT elastic ankles look so much less casual than the more traditional style!
She knows what’s important, and she knows that she will be just fine no matter what; that’s the greatest clarity she could ever desire!
love,
Janice
p.s. Six years ago, I was just back from London and I shared with you the “Four T’s” that every woman in London seemed to wear, in brown and pine green. (tee shirt, turtleneck, tights, trousers…)
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How cozy. Perfect for a long, rainy fall weekend. Making a pot of soup. Great colors. Cheery bracelet.
Ditto what Sandy says. Happy Friday!
This took me back…. I went to a lovely health spa twenty year’s ago in the late autumn and took an outfit for outdoor walking (jeans, boots & chunky knit), a gym kit for the aerobic/yoga classes and a swimsuit for the indoor pool. I was given a towel robe and slippers for padding about in between the massages and beauty treatments. The two evenings were spent dining (or shall I say ‘banqueting’) as there was so much lovely food available and listening to invited experts giving talks or quietly reading or chatting to the other guests. I can’t remember exactly what I wore, but back then my ‘uniform’ was plain dresses with knee high boots, or tunic type blouses over black trousers.
Sounds wonderful! Just to be pampered and cared for with nothing expected of you.
Take me with you! I want to go to health spa like this one. I would pack the same wardrobe – almost exactly. Just ordered 1 pair of the LL Bean sweatpants to try for the upcoming winter season!
Janice – your posts with the heroine and travel are always my favorite :) Thank You!
Though the inspiration is another stunning Fierce Lynx bracelet, this could almost have been a post about ‘Start with a Shirt’. I could happily build a capsule around the colours in a check shirt.
This capsule is brilliant in its simplicity as the grey, blue and red have medium to dark saturation, so it looks complete and melded without fuss. It would be nice to see some footwear and accessories to go with this? I always struggle with jewellery looking wrong with a casual outfit.
Beth T, I had a very similar reaction to yours. I really like the low value and saturation contrast achieved in this capsule. It’s an interesting illustration of using one neutral–grey–and varying the value somewhat instead of selecting separate dark and light neutrals. The difference between the light and dark greys is so much less than between, for example, the navy and white or black and white see often see. In this vein, I personally would prefer the hoodie in a more mid rather than light value grey, even though the lighter one is totally fine.
The use of more berry reds and ocean blue is unusual and very appealing here.
Janice, did you squeal aloud when you found the red/blue marl socks??? They are perfection here, and this is a situation in which the heroine’s socks are likely to be more prominent than usual.
No squealing – but ONLY because my mother was asleep in the next room! Let’s just say I squealed in my heart!
hugs,
Janice
Sally in Saint Paul,
Great observations on the sliding scale of value contrast in the gray family ! That is something that I pay attention to when Janice presents a warm version of a “ Common Core” post , as I am a warmie . There the family common color is in the various hues of tans and/ or browns.
LOL–I have been there! Up before dawn to peel something before early sessions. Thanks for the laugh this morning. A spa experience does sound wonderful right now. And I love the cozy clothes. Will definitely order some things through your links.
Dear Janice,
I, too, love reading your vignettes. Could you write one about being prepared when the weather forecast is often wrong? Unfortunately, in my home state (Alaska) the weather forecast is not reliable. When the weather forecast is snowfall above freezing, and in reality, clear skies and well below freezing, I need guidance in how to manage my clothing needs. Many others must face the same concerns in winter. Thank you for your efforts to enlighten and amuse your devoted audience.
Janice,
The lightweight sweatpants— is this the same as what I am currently seeing referred to in the marketplace as “ joggers” ? I purchased several pairs of these last year in a local store in my various neutrals and I absolutely live in them ! So comfy, yet appropriate enough for leaving the house to run errands or out to a breakfast at a country restaurant !
These could be similar to what you’ve seen, but in the absence of any sort of consensus on what the term “joggers” or “sweatpants” actually means, it’s impossible to know. The only common ground I feel somewhat comfortable assuming is that they probably all have elastic waists, and most likely have drawstrings at the waist.
Casual sweatpants and leggings have absolutely taken over the world of clothing below the waist; I struggle to find anything more dressy than corduroy, until you get into the satin and velvet stuff…
sigh…
hugs,
Janice
I work retail and do a lot of the ordering. What I often see labeled as “joggers” are sweatpants with cuffed legs — bigger ribbed cuffs, not the little elastic ones from the ’80s. Teens and young adults seem to prefer that style. “Sweatpants” nowadays often have a straight leg, no cuff, like the ones shown here. I’m not sure what the old school athletic type are called now, if you can still find them. All usually have a cuffed or elastic waist with drawstring.
I’d recommend reading the description carefully before ordering, since these terms do have some fluidity.
I don’t get fur lined slippers or woolly clogs with shorts—just seems wrong to me. Maybe it’s because a disliked cousin’s signature look is cowboy boots with shorts.
I wouldn’t recommend that for street wear, but I thought that running around at a spa retreat, it would probably fit right in! I envision our heroine dashing to the pool/sauna/massage area, and kicking them off as soon as she arrives…
Thanks for sharing your dislike of something – it’s important that we know what we HATE as much as what we love,
big hugs,
Janice
Good point! I haven’t been to a spa since the Heartland closed, so what do I know?!
I just bought the LL Bean Ultrasoft Sweatpants in charcoal, and I live in them, and highly recommend the purchase. They are 95% cotton and indeed very soft. I think they’d be great for travel. The LL Bean 1912 Sweatpants that are linked above in the heather gray are a 60/40 cotton polyester blend, which I wanted to avoid. (Also, heads up Janice, the LL Bean link for the charcoal sweatpants is incorrect/broken) – nancyo
I love this combo which is perfect for around the house, quick grocery store run or walking the dog. Thanks for the addition of a warm hat!
Completely love this. These are some of “my” colors, from stores I generally shop. I actually have some of the items already in different colors. These are also the sort of things I wear at home all the time, that need regular replacements. So, I went on a shopping spree!! I used your links, you get the benefit!!
This is a cozy, but stylish wardrobe. I love all the colour!