July 25, 2022
Michigan Avenue was packed yesterday! I was out among them, checking out how many women were wearing dark colors…
I was wearing a black dress, which is normal for me on even the hottest days. I migrate to the shady side of the street as often as possible, and I DID notice that a lot of people were doing the same!
And while I didn’t see all that many dark dresses, I saw TONS of dark tee shirts and tank tops. Often, they were wearing their simple top with a glorious printed skirt:
Radiant navy tank top – Lands’ End; earrings – Kurt Geiger London; bag – Hedgren; skirt – ASOS; sandals – Kork-Ease
I saw all colors of sandals:
Earrings – Kurt Geiger London; black tee shirt – Lands’ End; skirt – Boden; floral bag – Ted Baker London; sandals – Circus by Sam Edelman
A few women had managed to find PERFECT handbags…
Black v-neck tee shirt – Lands’ End; earrings – 8 Other Reasons; bag – Dolli; sandals – Circus by Sam Edelman; skirt – M&S Collection
Some women were doing beautiful things with traditional color combinations, like navy and turquoise:
Earrings – Mounir London; radiant navy tee shirt – Lands’ End; skirt – M&S Collection; bag – Ostara; sandals – Schutz
One doesn’t see a lot of brown in the city, but there were a few stellar examples:
Rich coffee tank top – Lands’ End; earrings – 8 by YOOX; skirt – BA&SH; bag – Fenella Smith; sandals – Munro
Dark colors and pastels look surprising, and fresh:
Pink tourmaline earrings – Latelita; black v-neck tee shirt – Lands’ End; skirt – M&S Collection; bag – L2R The Label; sandals – Veronica Beard
I set out yesterday with the avowed intention of finding some Chic Sightings to share – I can always find a mini-trend walking the streets just a few blocks from home!
love,
Janice
p.s. Six years ago, we pondered the addition of accessories to a wardrobe of brown, khaki and pink. Shopping for autumn accessories might be something to keep in mind, now that the weather is full-on dead of summer!
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That was my last wardrobe’s signature look – I must be ahead of the trends! A beautiful bright patterned skirt and the plain top picked out some of the darker colours (brown, taupe, blue or orange).
The “chocolate box” wardrobe was one I was very smitten with at the time, it still looks fantastic. Swap the pink to orange and that’s my shopping spree done for the year haha. (7 capsules a year means I rarely want to shop for clothes as I always feel I find something new when I shop my wardrobe, you have saved my finances, Janice: thank you.)
These are all just lovely, and I could fit most of them right into my closet. That being said, for hot weather I prefer dresses so as to not have something around my waist. I’m awfully tempted on a couple of them though!
I’ve always dressed this way in the summer. A couple of swishy midi skirts in prints, preferably bias-cut for flattery, then tee shirts in several of the darker print colors. Easy-Peasy. Good to know you find it chic!
Cherry I have just had a nasty turn as on reading your post I couldn’t remember writing it. Thank you for doing it for me. What she said/\ lol.
Ha – another Cherry! And we think alike….
I have a pair of really loose floral pants that I wear a navy tee/tank with and I love it! I also just picked up a cute floral skirt to wear like this too. I just need to redo the waistband, it is a little tight. But it’s a maxi so that will bring it up to the midi length that I want.
The bold navy-based floral print skirt in the first outfit gives my heart a little pitter-patter!
Much as I love this chic look, it only works if you are 5 ft tall by getting the scale of the pattern right. I would wear the skirts in images 2-4 and 6. Ditsy prints, polka dots/small geometrics, or an all-over pattern in blended colours work best on me. Another one that works on a small frame is a skirt in a base colour with a pattern that is well spaced out. I would probably choose a lighter accent or neutral on the top just to keep the overall look light. Generally, I keep patterns for my top half.
I’m currently working out a small capsule for a seven day trip which includes my son’s Masters graduation on the first day followed by a six day holiday. My inspiration are two patterned dresses – one that I bought from Lands End after seeing it featured on TVF. So my colours are dark blue, light grey, light blue, aqua (blue and green) and white. Excluding my graduation outfit, I’m packing three pairs of trousers, two dresses (equivalent of a top and skirt) (or a dress and a skirt), four/five tops and three second layers. At the moment, the weather forecast is low 20’s C, sun/cloud with a gentle breeze. However, they is talk in the press of another heatwave at the weekend. I’m taking a pac-a-mac, scarves and a light ruana (for sitting on our small terrace in the evenings listening to the birds). I’m going to make sure that, on our day trips, I take a change of clothes and footwear for dinner. We are staying in a converted 19th century industrial building surrounded by woods. I’m looking forward to peace and quiet, watching birds and animals.
This sounds lovely!
Have fun Beth, and congratulations to your son on his Masters. I love the capsule you have sketched out.
I was on Michigan Ave this weekend too and also noticed more black than I expected. We then went to see Devil Wears Prada-The Musical. Interestingly, the costuming was uninspired! Very odd.
I think it’s a city thing…
xoxo,
Janice
The outfits all look lovely but the skirts are all so LONG! Great inspiration though, time to get out the sewing machine and make things that will actually fit me.
I loooove a print skirt and plain t-shirt or tank top. Absolutely my favorite fashion formula. In my climate I can wear this 8-9 months out of the year. Add tights, a cardigan, and clogs, and it’s a year round uniform.
Hi Janice and Everyone! Yup, these posts are me in the summer when I have to dress a little more fancy (e.g. Not t -shirts and shorts/capris w preschoolers). Love the colors in the skirt coordinated with the brown tank top. Too bad these hips don’t wear pleats.
I love these outfits and actually prefer dark tops and light bottoms or printed bottoms. Can you do a complete capsule wardrobe of only dark tops and lighter bottoms?