December 28, 2023
Struggling to pull together a new outfit from existing garments? Looking for an inspiration for a new accent color in your wardrobe?
I’ve got ideas – thanks to Echo’s 100 Limited Edition Scarves…
First scarf? Black border, bright colors, and an arresting image:
When one distills the scarf down to the colors that are most prominent, this is what you get:
Want to get away for a weekend? This scarf could be where you start!
Paprika cardigan – Alex Mill; scarf – Echo; earrings – Toolally; black denim jacket – Alex Mill; ecru pants – Alex Mill; ivory tee – Lands’ End; sneakers – Nike
Our next scarf is also an image of a fascinating woman – it’s interesting to me how some of the ideas of these 100 scarves seem to recur…
The colors here give you some interesting possibilities – you can pair the soft blush with black, or the denim blue with red, etc…
A couple of casual days are easy…
I chose the earrings because they echo the mosaic-like pattern in the scarf…
Red sweater – J.Crew; mosaic earrings – The Met Store; black sweatshirt – Lands’ End; lakeshore wash jeans – J.Crew; scarf – Echo; black tee – Lands’ End; knit sneakers – Arcopedico
This is a scarf that some of you have thought of as being difficult to wear. (but I have an idea!)
Yes, the color palette is limited, but what if you think of this scarf as silk jewelry? Maybe pearls, set in rose gold? If you have jewelry like that, you would wear it with all KINDS of things…
A couple of days in the city, in grey and ivory, while wearing blush pink as your accent color:
Sweater – J.Crew; earrings – Kate Spade; ivory sweater – Lands’ End; pants – J.Crew; scarf – Echo; skirt – J.Crew; flats – Bernardo
I love the elegant simplicity of this scarf!
Of course, there are really four accent colors here, but I’m only going to use two in this tiny wardrobe cluster:
If you’re going away for a casual weekend, but you still want to look nice, here’s an option. Notice that I changed the color palette at the last minute!
Gold sweater – L.L.Bean; red bow earrings – Talbots; ivory sweater – Lands’ End; scarf – Echo; black jeans – L.L.Bean; cropped red jeans – Levi’s; shoes – Rieker
Today’s last scarf is another that has been considered to be hard to wear… But maybe garnets and pearls?
I’d have to have the scarf in hand to be certain about the precise shade of burgundy/maroon…
Based on what the scarf looks like to me, this is how I would wear it for a couple of days…
Burgundy Donegal sweater – Lands’ End; earrings – Vintouch; burgundy shirt – Lands’ End; black pants – L.L.Bean; scarf – Echo, velvet tee – Lands’ End; loafers – Frye
Burgundy’s hard to find, but Lands’ End has quite a few items in this color!
Tomorrow, we’re going to see five more scarves, and then Monday I’m going to visit our new paintings, and our new heroines!
love,
Janice
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The burgundy and black palette is luscious. The blouse and velcet tee, maybe long sleeves for the tee, would be gorgeous to dress up or down. Add a pair of black jeans and black suede ankle boots and I can live in that wardrobe.
I came on to say the same. I would also add either a blsvk blazer or a black long cardigan. I actually have a different scarf that looks the same when worn. I’ll be thinking about this one when planning future outfits.
The burgundy and black palette is luscious. The blouse and velvet tee, maybe long sleeves for the tee, would be gorgeous to dress up or down. Add a pair of black jeans and black suede ankle boots and I can live in that wardrobe.
I love all of these – looking forward to tomorrow – and Monday of course! I love starting my days with your column. You know, when I saw the first scarf on it’s own I initially dismissed it as something I would want to own even though I like the print. However, looking at your capsule, I have all of those items (or similar) in my closet. Maybe I need to reevaluate. Always looking for something to combine w/that pumpkin sweater! And green looks great on me. But really, all of these are just amazing.
Gosh you are brilliant! I could wear all of these outfits if I could afford them. PS is it snowing there? We are getting some In Kenosha WI.
It’s very interesting that some of the scarves look like paintings that should be framed and hung on the wall. I imagine that is what makes people find it difficult to see how the scarf could be worn.
However, as soon as you fold it up it is easier to choose the right colour pallet and select the clothes.
.looking at a scarf as a piece of jewellery is inspired.
I am undecided about my favourite. Can’t choose between the first and second outfits
Am excited about tomorrow’s post.
I’m always gobsmacked at your ability to find really attractive shoes and others impactful accents.
Is is my imagination or do I stumble across burgundy way too often when I’m searching the web? There’s this one deep, deep burgundy the retailers seem to adore that almost looks like brown. Sadly, it is an unkind color to me.
You had my jaw dropping at the “silk necklace” and “pearls with rose gold”. I just love how you perceive things from different angles, working through colour conundrums. Bravo! The ballet scarf is beautiful and its capsule wardrobe is so classic and classy. 🤍🩶
beautiful
The last scarf suits me well, I love this dark red and it suits me wonderfully. When it comes to scarves, I first look at the color and only then do I see the motif (which you can’t really see anyway)
I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
The silver, ivory & blush colour palette is so beautiful.
It’s been useful to learn to fold the scarf as it would be worn, in order to see what colours remain visible. Up until now I’ve dismissed many a scarf that is “OMG far too busy”.
It does seem a shame that a lovely picture can disappear once the scarf is folded for wearing :(
These are great little clusters, and in every case, I already own a scarf I prefer to the one featured (shop your closet for the win, right?). The black/red/denim one is my favorite, and that scarf is the best of the lot in my view. But it’s clear to me that the choices made by the designers in this scarf series are producing a lot of the kinds of scarves that I do not like (e.g. photorealistic images of people, drawings of people, minimalist designs in neutrals)! Nevertheless, these clusters definitely show that they are wearable.
That said…Janice, when you do the next post featuring the 100 scarves, I would love to see the Robert Rabensteiner scarf combining the woodland deer scene with the vibrant pink and orchid “framing.” This one has the potential to support some very interesting color combinations!
Hello Sally,
I think we already had it on November 24th.
Do you mean that?
https://www.theviviennefiles.com/2023/11/festive-attire-in-untraditional-colors-start-with-a-scarf-3-limited-edition-echo-scarves.html/
Oh thank you, Maria – I had missed that post!
A funny thing happened on the way to…. I meant to Google Echo scarves to see more of their collection. But I typed in Eco (magic fingers) and found another interesting collection. The Eco scarves are Canadian indigenous works and appear on a few sites but the quickest way to find them is to go to native northwest.ca.
Thank you for sharing! I just spent entirely too long on that site – there are some real gems there!
I just had to return that burgundy donegal sweater! It was beautiful and really well made (I have two other cashmere sweaters from Lands End and love them) but it’s a very dark, almost dried blood shade, not the more reddish burgundy that suits me. Waaaaah. And though I can’t say I care at all for that scarf, it’s a great color and mini wardrobe.