September 20, 2024
I can’t believe that September is 2/3 over! You’d think I wasn’t awake every day…
Our heroine has looked at her wardrobe with cores of denim and black, and then with cores of denim and brown. Today, we’re going to see how EVERYBODY’S favorite of denim and ivory looks…
This is our heroine’s starting point – 27 garments in three “neutral” clusters, and then three “accent” clusters.
First, let’s take a last look at her hard-working core of denim garments, with yet ANOTHER group of accessories. Wearing things every week is the fastest way to get your “cost per wear” for garments down; you can buy exceptionally nice clothes and still get good value if you wear things consistently!
The ivory wardrobe core got some new accessories too. The scarf just delights me, for no reason I can explain…
For our heroine’s first week of travel, she is taking her burgundy accent cluster:
This is the entirety of her travel capsule wardrobe – it’s clear that she won’t struggle to get dressed!
But as all wise heroine will do, our heroine du jour determines ahead of time what four outfits she may wear. Doing this may help you avoid forgetting the right shoes, or hosiery, or something else essential!
The weekend is for relaxing, doing laundry, and making certain that nothing needs to be mended… Our heroine will be happy to see evergreen clothes take the place of burgundy!
Swapping three garments and three accessories from her first week wardrobe makes a LOT of difference:
Her planned outfits for this week were easy to choose:
And the week that she’s really eager for – her camel accent pieces surge to the fore!
This wardrobe pushes all of her buttons, in a good way!
As with all of these wardrobes, it would be extremely difficult to assemble a truly bad outfit from these clothes…
Here’s what her 19-piece wardrobe looks like with denim and ivory as her core neutrals. While this would be a lot for a travel wardrobe (although if she wears 3 garments, she’s only packing 16…), but it would be pretty fun!
I’ve got all kinds of things in mind for next week, but week after next, I’m going to tackle this whole idea again. What colors for neutrals? and for accents? The only clear indication I’ve received so far is that rust seems to be a popular accent color in the autumn…
love,
Janice
Nonchi says
Well I hope I’m not in the minority wanting to see Navy in some shape or form.
Sandy b says
Nonchi, I second the navy!
Elisa says
I’ll add my vote for navy as well.
Mary says
I’d like to see navy as well.
Jennifer says
Yes to navy. And that ivory again.
Jeri b says
This is definitely my favorite.
For next time: maybe a darker wash denim, if your sticking with denim for the base. Neutrals could be: navy, of course, gray, light gray could be the light grouping or charcoal if that suits for a dark neutral, green, either sage or olive.
For accents: rust, warm yellow or mustard, and maybe a different warmer red than burgundy. Lilac would be lovely too.
Jeri b says
PS
Coral for an accent. That would look lovely.
Chris in Indy says
My vote is navy, gray and Olive for the neutrals; accents of purple and…….dealers choice for the second neutral! Citron? Looking forward to it!
Jennifer says
I second the purple request.
Sandy b says
Purple could be good!
Ezzy says
I second the navy, gray and olive. maybe with coral/pink and green/teal
Wendy says
I second the vote for a dark wash denim theme in the new, “switcheroo” wardrobe. Maybe I’m crazy but I interchange my navy pieces and dark denim pieces, considering them all as navy… some more casual than others.
I love the idea of a clear dove grey or white as the light neutral and the accents could be rust, mid-tone purple and verdant/emerald green.
Judith says
I like the demin wardrobe a lot, but would like to see another less casual dress, perhaps a knit one, in one of the accent colors. Also a brighter accent, like lilac, coral, bright pink or green. (I know it’s not classic fall, but still.)
Lorraine says
I love this concept! And, the change of accessories is brilliant.
For me, the neutrals would be navy, dark wash denim, light gray, olive, white (white jeans are year round for me as I live in Mississippi.) Accents: plum, white, pumpkin, rust, red, fuchsia, pink. The rust and pumpkin look fabulous with navy, camel and ivory. Love the possibilities, my mind is whirling!
Janice, you are a genius. Thank you so much!
SewLibrarian says
I’d like to see navy, gray, and ivory/winter white as neutrals, and I’d love to see a clear red as an accent.
Ezzy says
I’d also like to see this variation dressed up one notch (6 piece in navy for business casual), accents for the working world; and (separately) dressed down one notch ( denim is great for the 6, darker wash preferred; accents more for vacation/retired mode – think hiking, yoga, painting, gardening, some social time …). Colors are fabulous and make our eyes shine but I think this system has more value to be unearthed for different phases of life.
(To offer a colorway or 2: navy-charcoal-olive-ivory-pink/maroon-orange-sage/forest-chambray)
You are, as always, a generous genius Janice. Happy Friday all!
Kathy C says
I love all of these denim groupings! Denim and chambray are some of my main go-tos! I like the idea of navy/dark denim for formal/casual, with accents in cream, dark gray, some kind of purple, and a smidge of hot pink or fuschia or maybe orange? I sometimes need a contrasting pop of color somewhere.