January 6, 2023
Lots of things are on sale, and some new clothes and accessories are arriving in stores; this is the time to make sure that you’ve got the perfect outfit for that upcoming event…
If your upcoming event is meeting with your tiny friends on a branch, bright blue feathers are in order!
![](https://www.theviviennefiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1.-tiny-blue-birds-image-by-Cheryl-Rose.jpg)
image – Cheryl Rose
If you live in jeans and sweaters, this is the time to be sure that you’ve got the right jeans, and timeless shirt, and a beautiful sweater! Accessories that flatter your sweater are a good idea too…
If you love clogs, THIS is your year; Nordstrom has dozens of styles!
Iced latte sweater – Banana Republic; earrings – Jenny Bird; shirt – Banana Republic; bag – Thale Blanc; clogs – Dansko; jeans – L.L.Bean
Maybe you’re like me, and you rely on a black core day after day. Check your sweaters and pants – are they in good repair? Do you need new loafers, an updated bag, or maybe earrings and a scarf that seem made for each other?
Black cashmere turtleneck – Lands’ End; black pearl earrings – Milou Jewelry; scarf – Elizabetta; bag – Hymness Studio Denmark; penny loafers – Koio; pants – Banana Republic
I could cuddle up in this wee house with Belovedest:
image – teenyabode.com
It might seem early in the year to find a perfect chambray dress for spring, but if the dress is just right, why not?
Cardigan – L.L.Bean; earrings – J.Jill; ivory tights – Target; bag – Veganologie; flats – Toms; dress – J.Jill
Do you have an appropriate outfit to wear to something serious/somber? It doesn’t have to be a big investment! But you want to be sure that you have the right shoes, bag, earrings etc. before you need them.
Navy cashmere cardigan – Orvis; garnet earrings – Tom Wood; scarf – Elizabetta; bag – Brahmin; pumps – Naturalizer; navy skirt – J.Crew
Maybe you’re lucky, and the views in your neighborhood are this beautiful:
image – livescence.com
If you’re going away to someplace warm, you REALLY want to go shopping now, before everything gets picked over and the best things are gone!
And don’t forget that warm weather will come to all of us, eventually…
Tunic – La Femme Mimi; hat – Eugenia Kim; earrings – Adornia; white jeans – J.Crew; bag – Saborka; sandals – Vince
Some destinations this time of year require you to be flexible – shorts and a shirt with sleeves rolled up during the day, roll down the sleeves and pull on a sweater when evening falls:
Sweater – J.Crew; earrings – The Pink Reef; blue flowered shirt – J.Crew; white shorts – J.Crew; sneakers – Vans; tote – J.Crew
Don’t forget to slow down and admire the beauty of winter, even if it’s NOT your favorite season:
image – baptistpress.com
My big investment so far this year is a ponte skirt from Wool&… I wear skirts or dresses in any weather!
love,
Janice
p.s. Six years ago, our heroine was getting away for the weekend to a solitary farm house in the snow…
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Beautiful photos. I do love winter in the sense that I am able to wear my favorite things – cords, sweaters, and scarves. In fact, this past week I’ve put together some really nice outfits – thank you Janice! Odd, I was just thinking that other day that should a “somber occasion” appear in my life, I have everything but shoes. Something I should take a look at. How did I end up without any dress shoes? TGIF Have a good weekend everyone.
Thanks for showing purses. That is one thing I’d like to upgrade/update.
Adding to my occasion wear is my goal this year but not at full price. Finding branded items on sale or in charity/vintage shops will be the way forward. If its brand new with tags, that’s even better.
This is a good reminder for me. I always put off updating my basics, and my black core pieces are definitely looking shabby. I love those Vans, they’re one of my accent colors this year. As for events, I have a black tie optional wedding in Miami coning up next month, including a cocktail attire dinner the night before and a trip to the beach in the morning. It definitely won’t be a somber occasion, but I’d better get shopping!
I bought stuff in the post-Christmas sales, so I’m sitting here now in a new fleece vest and feeling very happy about it. Happy winter to all!
So pretty. And to respond to your wool& company comment: I like everything about them from helpful answers to my questions to the first class packaging, to the clothing, and to the Happy Returns.
La Femme Mimi? I had to click on that. Great name and an interesting story about the designer. I would love to see more of her clothes. And the wall art behind the models is wonderful. Your post this morning is like going on a lovely, serendipitous vacation. Thank you, Janice.
Both birds and snow are a happy place for me so I loved these photos. (We’ve had 12″+ of snow so my view from my apartment of the frozen Mississippi River covered in immaculate snow is just gorgeous. The birds, however, are elsewhere.) That female northern cardinal glaring at the snow gave me a much-needed laugh.
My favorite outfit is the bright blue + white for warm weather. I’ve pinned that one as a reminder to wear my azure blue sweater, white skirt, blue ballet flats, and a print scarf once the weather warms up!
I also really like the chambray dress with grey/ivory outfit, and I appreciate seeing an options for the tights a person could wear with it. I think it would also look great with medium grey tights and ankle boots, if the ivory tights aren’t your jam.
I used to carry a big Cuyana tote every day because I had to haul my laptop back and forth from home to office and home again.
Now I work from home, for myself! And I still need the big tote from time to time but I carry smaller bags day to day. I like the selection you’ve shown here and you’ve introduced me to some brands I wasn’t familiar with!
Thank you for your inspiration.
The next day I wore a teal wool jacket with a red and blue scarf with black, tan and teal accents, and black shirt, pants and shoes. What an awesome color pop! Would never have done it without having seen your ideas!