July 17, 2023
Please note – there is NO WAY that I can include truly seasonal clothes right now, since they’re all marked down, and sizes are limited, colors are sold out etc. etc. Retail seasons do NOT correspond to the world…
The only thing she’s sure of – she’s going to pack these bracelets! Other than that, she’s not sure, yet…
Her favorite neutral is navy… Navy goes well with both of these accent colors! The bracelets have grey in them, but she doesn’t wear grey…
But white goes with everything, and she loves to wear navy and white together! Maybe she has her color palette?
She’s not worried about getting dirty, since they’re driving. And she really LOVES her hooded cardigan – if the air conditioning in the car is too cold, she just covers up!
Cardigan – L.L.Bean; earrings – Argento Vivo; bracelets – Sterling Forever; tee shirt – L.L.Bean; weekender bag – Fenella Smith; scarf – Lauren Ralph Lauren; loafers – Eastland 1955 Edition; white jeans – J.Crew
So, if one wears a navy cardigan, navy pants are logical to pack.
And if one wears white pants, a white shirt, or jacket, or sweater, just makes sense!
And that leaves her 4 more garments to pack… 2 in each of her accent colors is an obvious thing to choose.
Assemble some outfits, add the necessary and lovely accessories, and you’re ready to go!
White cardigan – J.Crew; rose wash tee – L.L.Bean; rose wash cardigan – L.L.Bean; paisley square scarf – Nataliya Nova; pink earrings – 2028; turquoise earrings – Barse; bracelets – Fierce Lynx Designs; crossbody bag – Giani Bernini; landscape scarf – Jessie Zhao New York; navy pants – L.L.Bean; turquoise shirt – Rails; turquoise jeans – Rails; sandals – Jack Rogers; pink loafers – Trotters
She started out feeling pretty uncertain about what she was doing, but now that she looks at her travel capsule wardrobe, hanging on her clothes drying rack, she’s delighted:
But just in case, she works her way through six outfits; she might be in the mood to wear navy and white a lot. She might want to wear lots of pink. And she might feel like head-to-toe green (turquoise, teal, whatever this color is called) is just right. She leaves herself lots of choices, so she can wear what feels right to her when she wakes up each morning…
It makes sense to pack enough to give yourself options that make you happy and comfortable. This is possible without actually bringing your entire closet with you, isn’t it?
love,
Janice
p.s. Eight years ago, I was pondering what to buy at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale… If you’re interested in browsing this year’s version of the sale (and you don’t mind if I get a commission!) you can start here, with something that appeals to me…
Like this wardrobe? Save it to Pinterest!
These colours are beautiful together – I can only imagine how mood-boosting it would be to have a wardrobe like this. Both scarves are gorgeous but the paisley one makes me weak at the knees.
Beautiful bracelet. This would also look good with the grey, but I suspect grey clothes are a bit scarce as well just yet. It is time to start working transition clothes, for me at least. This is a good reminder. So today I am dragging all my cool weather clothes out of storage to see what needs to be done.
This is a beautiful assortment of clothing! I’d wear all of it.
Janice,
Love, love, love !
Oh my goodness, just love this capsule! Colors and pieces are perfection.
These are wonderful choices for a capsule wardrobe. The bright aqua is a great color for the end of summer into fall, and I adore the cozy tie front hooded sweater. Beautiful collection! – Amy
This is an exquisite capsule. She can travel for two weeks with this with just one more skirt and a few more accessories! Right? It’s not that difficult to hand wash a few items. Is there such a thing as too many striped, classic tees? 😍
Even though it’s hotter than two cats fighting in a wool sock here, yes, my eyes are turning to the transition season.
There was a writer – Laurie Colwin – who lived a few blocks from Belovedest in New York City. She ALWAYS wore striped tee shirts… She was a wonderful writer; I recommend her books of food essays!
love,
Janice
That’s such a great wardrobe. Got me thinking…
Lovely capsule. The scarves also give more options for a third accent if the trip is extended. I found a glorious chunky necklace with shimmering teal beads in a charity shop yesterday.
I wasn’t sure how the light accent colors would stand up to high contrast of navy and white, but that bright teal is absolutely gorgeous with it (and the pink is lovely with either navy or white). I think the choice of colors/garments here is spectacular:
-Dark neutral outer column
-Light neutral outer column
-Print top that brings the neutrals together
-Accent color inner column
-Accent color twin set
Regardless of how one feels about this particular color palette or pieces (the wider leg jeans are wonderfully on trend but not everyone’s cup of tea, for example), the above template is extremely versatile! If the two accent colors play nicely with each other, as these do, even better.
This would be so easy to expand upon also: a white T, some denim/chambray, a bit of grey (if the heroine likes it…perhaps the bracelet will increase her interest in it over time), silver flats, a print skirt (I’m thinking floral print),…
I absolutely love that this shows an example of taking an inspiration piece and thoughtfully selecting a palette drawing on it but not being limited by it. We don’t have to be overly literal with these things! And while not every single neutral works perfectly with every single color palette, they really can be added fairly liberally to a capsule…as the navy here demonstrates.
As for the grey, it works beautifully in the bracelet, and it’s not like the fashion police will arrest someone for wearing jewelry/scarves/print garments with an extra color or several in it (or I’d be in big trouble). I find that the grey blends nicely into the silver, which is used throughout the capsule’s jewelry, so it should satisfy even the most harmony-seeking heroine.
Sally in St Paul ,
Like me, you seem to enjoy analyzing the individual garment selections and format ! It’s my favorite part of Janice’s posts, besides seeing her color combinations !
I know it would be extremely difficult to find the pieces at all, let alone with decent photographs, but I would love to do this one with a very dark green (a blue-tinged green) or dark teal in place of the navy. Maybe someone who sews could manage it!
Someone who can sew has the world at their feet, wardrobe-wise! I agree that (1) this would be beautiful and (2) I would stick pencils in my eyes in frustration, trying to find green or teal pieces like that! Maybe in a month of two, though…
hugs,
Janice
Those of us that sew do have a lot of options, but we are still bound by the colors/textures we can find in fabric. Which seem to go with the color trends as well. But I do love how I can try to create things that I will love… right now I am shopping for fall fabrics and I’m so excited!! :) I did take everything out of my off-season bins and play with my clothes to see what kind of holes I have and the things that need to be replaced. I love the colors of this capsule, mine are just in cooler shades of pink and turquoise/teal (my daughters and I can never agree which is teal and which is turquoise!)
Yes, & fabric shops are similar to RTW, in that black is waaay over-represented. We who sew have to be patient in finding other neutrals, even charcoal and navy, in the desired fabrics. But it is good to have the choices in how we put fabric & style together. Not that it always works out! I love the colours & the garment choices in this capsule. And I’ve also developed the habit over time of looking for the inner/outer columns, twin-sets etc. in any wardrobe. No wonder it’s easier to get dressed now!
Or maybe this woman still has her teal pieces from Harvey Nichols: https://www.theviviennefiles.com/2017/10/can-corporate-wardrobe-have-personality.html/
At least we can prove that someone, somewhere, once upon a time, made teal garments!
hugs,
Janice
If I ever had to work in a really dressy business atmosphere I would just copy that wardrobe!!! Perfection :)
Love these colors and I have most of them in my wardrobe with the pink being a bit peachy.
Love it when I can shop my closet. Navy and white are my core summer neutrals and I have linen button down shirts from JJill in the green and pink from a few years ago. JJill also had linen blend cardigans in white and green. I’ll sub in white capris and navy linen pants for the season. Still over 110 here in the West so my transition is from shorts to bathing suit to dresses for occasional work. In a couple of months, it might be time to bring out some toppers and long pants. Any shopping would be focused on accessories and a new navy background striped tshirt.
Janice, your blog is timeless and can be enjoyed and used for inspiration at any time of the year no matter what is available in the store. Thank you for all of the research and for sharing your creativity.
I am late adding a comment, but wanted to let my thoughts steep a little. The entire wardrobe is great…it feels very finished. For myself, I would change the navy to a lighter indigo and the pink would become a soft yellow. I love wide leg pants year round, but in white for all summer long, it is such a classic nautical theme…so very 1930s and the French Riviera. The wide leg pants are also nice for those of us that truly cannot get a straight cut pant to fit correctly. It was great to see a pant with this cut. Thank you Janice. I admit to having 2 pair in white, but would love to have a few more in colour.
Hi-
FYI – the links from google search take me to July 7 post.
Selecting Home keeps me at July 7.
The links attached to the FB posts take me to the correct posting.
Glad you are well. Just the links not connecting. -LeeT
This is very close to my summer color palette, only make the accent colors magenta/fuschia and cyen/bright aqua. I do love these choices. I would say if it is longer than a 2-day trip she definitely needs white and turquoise tee shirts, and a navy-based print skirt would be lovely. I’d also add a white sneakers and a tote or backpack to carry everything. If we were going to make this seasonally appropriate I’d also add a navy sleeveless top, shorts in dark denim and silver sandals as someone else suggested. Then she’d be set for a week or more.
I am NOT excited to see fall items in the stores already! We had a late, cool spring during which I was both traveling and recovering from surgery, so I feel like summer only just started! I enjoy my summer wardrobe so much, so I am not anxious at all to be done with it. I will be traveling again in Aug, to an even hotter, dryer climate. Gimme all those tanks, shorts, sandals and summer skirts for a while yet!