November 6, 2023
Our final heroines for November! One of them is not at all concerned with getting dressed up, but the other is overwhelmed with invitations…
Let’s start with our very relaxed, earth-toned heroine:
Her wardrobe at the beginning of November was 32 pieces that were as close to fool-proof as a wardrobe can get; last month she bought a plaid cardigan that still hasn’t settled into place, but she’s patient…
This month, she doesn’t have any worries (yet?) about holiday festivities, so she finds an assortment of garments that appeal – the vest will be perfect with last month’s dark pants…
Earrings – Retro Chic; flannel shirt – Lands’ End; vest – J.Crew; tweed pants – Banana Republic; bag – J.Crew; oxfords – Jeffrey Campbell
She now is the proud owner of TWO plaid garments, and something in tweed too! Nonetheless, her wardrobe still looks consistent, and very versatile:
Her accessories could tempt all but the most hardened opponents of earth tones to make a change…
Her plaid flannel shirt is SO useful – dark outfits, light outfits, mixed lights and darks…
She KNOWS that her new vest will be just right with her dark brown pants, but she wants to experiment with some other possibilities, including layering her vest over a lightweight sweater…
Tweed pants? Heck yes – they go with all kinds of sweaters and shirts…
Our last heroine is quite good friends with the woman just preceding – but she has chosen to include green and navy, along with her earth tones…
Her 32-piece wardrobe at the end of October included only one skirt, and one rather summery dress. And this heroine is finding herself suddenly buried in invitations!
This often happens when someone to who you are very close is getting married – showers, rehersal, wedding, etc… suddenly you need to dress up 3 or 4 times within a month or two!
Shopping this month is focused all things dressy!
Earrings – The Met Store; cashmere sweater – Lands’ End; navy velvet dress – Boden; taupe skirt – J.Crew; navy pumps – Pella Moda; evening bag – I.N.C. International Concepts; taupe boots – Bella Vita
The navy dress might be a “stand-alone” item, but the taupe sweater and skirt are going to be worn A LOT…
Okay, those navy pumps aren’t going to be worn 3 times a week! But sometimes you buy an outfit and accessories knowing FULL WELL that it’s for a very special occasion. We’re allowed to do that!
She already has an assortment of taupe sweaters, but this neckline gives it a dressy feel, and the fact that it’s taupe means that it will go with EVERY PAIR of pants that she owns:
Her new taupe skirt can be worn any time of the year, dressy or more “medium dressy.”
She tries on her new navy dress… more than once! And she doesn’t even consider how else she might wear it. Maybe some day she will think of a different way to wear it, but right now she does NOT care…
I only own one dress which I wear just one way – a silk and velvet Eileen Fisher dress I bought for my niece’s wedding a few years ago.
I’m going to have it shortened to tunic length….
love,
Janice
p.s. Four years ago, we started with a navy and white core wardrobe, and then added yellow and green!
p.p.s. Earlier installments of these 2 wardrobes can be found here:
December Preview – Degas; Renoir
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Again, more beautiful brown combinations!
The dress and skirt in the second wardrobe are really lovely and that skirt comes in quite a few colours. It’s wildly adaptable.
I love your idea of shortening a dress to tunic length to revitalize it and extend its usefulness. Very clever!
WAY back in the day when I was young and cute enough to wear mini skirts and dresses that just barely covered my bottom – I didn’t have to make alterations when I decided that the dresses had to become tunics!
May I please have the source for the two pleated skirts?
Thanks,
DonnaMcDonald
Check prior month’s postings to see when they first were added to the wardrobe and the link will be there.
Love the additions to the Degas. Love the velvet dress on the Renoir. Not so much the Taupe. That’s just a personal preference, not a comment on whether or not it fits into the wardrobe! I can’t believe there’s only one month left. And rather curious as to what you will have for us in 2024. WOW, is that weird to say!
I was a person who does not have brown in her wardrobe. However, I could live in the combinations for the Degas painting. Who ever thought brown combinations could be so stunning. Thank you, Janice, for opening my eyes to new choices.
The velvet dress seems like one that can be pushed into more use. Would the knee-high tan boots and a less fancy pair of earrings bring it into another mood? She might decide she loves her taupe suede Bela Vita boots so much she has to have them in navy! Anyone have thoughts on how she might get more use from that dress?
What happens if the Degas heroine decides she would like to insert just one bright color into this neutral wardrobe? Not too much. Just here and there. What color could that be?
And, thank you so much for listing links to that past month. So very helpful! ❤️❤️❤️
Ooooh! You’ve posed some fun questions.
Finding more ways to wear the velvet dress:
Bringing in more casual elements, such as a non-lacy tank underneath, a belt plus boots – all picking up the velvet’s accent colour of persimmon?/tobacco? could be fun.
Also, I remember Janice talking about covering the top half of a dress, making it appear to be a skirt. As this is a warm fabric, a very thin sweater over top might work.
Maybe a lightweight sweater vest could give it another daytime option.
For your second question, teal (the deep, rich shade) was my immediate thought for an accent colour to add to the all-brown wardrobe.
I would wear that last velvet dress with combat boots to casualize it and maybe a denim jacket or bomber jacket.
X2! Combat boots and a matching cardigan with no buttons would be my pick for almost any dress!
Lovely ensambles as usual, I like the second one more.
I’m seriously considering creating a grey wardrobe. I find it to be such an adaptable neutral,, more so than dark blues.
I have noticed that shades of brown/gold are included in collections of party wear this year. It is nice to see another option to the usual black, navy, green, red/wine, and silver.
Velvet and satin can be dressed up or down. A satin shirt is a great work to party option. All it needs is a change of jewellery. Likewise velvet can be dressed up or looks equally lovely with a cosy jumper. My daughter wore a pale gold satin dress with brown suede boots when we went out for dinner last week. I wore burgundy velour trousers and a purple/pink/black velour blouse. I didn’t feel over-dressed.
Here’s a thought for the dress – take to seamstress and remove the top half. Then put a plain waistband on the skirt. For the top part, turn it into a velvet vest and wear with a bishop sleeve blouse. She could still use the skirt and vest with the blouse for dressy, but as separates there are other ways to dress each down and use more often.
I do like that navy velvet dress. Looks comfortable to wear, too.
I had a dress that was too tight at the top sewn into a skirt.
Skirts can be combined better and I would like to have the dark pleated skirt from the first capsule in the second one.
The second heroine still needs a brown bag.
Oh yeah…
We’re invited to a castle wedding next year. And I don’t want to buy a dress that I’ll only wear once. (and preferably made from a natural material) is very difficult.
Maybe you’ll make Janice another post about it?
How about something silk? where you like the “skirt” part a lot, and can layer a sweater over for more casual looks; or depending on the neckline, a turtleneck under and get a different casual look?
I can’t see myself wearing one of those “slip dresses” even once—to me they look like slips, not slip DRESSES. But they are everywhere in all price points and colors, and I’ve considered buying one to wear under sweaters, as a skirt. That could be very dressy, with the right seasonal sweater—dressy enough for a castle wedding, maybe?