October 15, 2018
She’s a mediator. A negotiator, but her position in any discussion is in the middle, trying to bring the 2 conflicting sides closer together. She loves her work, even when she has lengthy, complicated projects! Her personal life doesn’t suffer because of her work, though – she’s been to the beach back in the spring, and she and her spouse make the time to do some excellent dining, too. Her packing is always spot-on, because she focuses her purchases carefully around her favorite painting:
It’s the Longest Strike Anyone Can Remember…
People in the downtown area are used to walking past the picket lines; lots of businesses have cancelled any relationship with them, because they won’t cross the picket line.
She’s been talking to the picketers for a while, and then she started researching the business side of the dispute.
She’s convinced she has an answer. Her supervisors agree, and have managed to get her a meeting at corporate headquarters, with the Head of Operations, and with the Union Representative…
earrings – Pichaya; navy knit dress – J.Crew; scarf – BP.; watch – Shinola; red trench – Burberry; boots – Sam Edelman; briefcase – Troubadour; suitcase – Briggs & Riley
Since she’s sort of shoved herself into this dispute, she needs to hit the ground running! She wants to be comfortable, somewhat “neutral” in her demeanor and appearance, and see how things play out…
She always works in dresses. Always has…
red shirtdress – J.Crew; earrings – Rachel Jackson London; square bracelet – Ekria; necklace – Lily & Roo; striped dress – Snobby Sheep; ring – Ekria; blue ribbed dress – Lands’ End; navy cashmere cardigan – Lands’ End; red pumps – Nic+Zoe; red bag – Elena Ghisellini; scarf – Victoria Ragna
She’s prepared to be a strongly visible and assertive part of the discussion, if necessary. She’s also ready for a more relaxed, almost casual environment, and also for a warmer, almost cozy, situation, if her hunch is right and the dispute can be settle with just 1 adjustment…
Her suitcase isn’t big, and it isn’t really full! But each of her dresses can be worn in (at least) 2 different ways, depending on what she thinks is most suitable for her role in the settlement conversations.
If this goes as she has (so very carefully) planned, she is going to be famous around town as the woman who finally got this settled.
Wouldn’t you love to be a professional peacemaker?
love,
Janice
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Beautiful! I love such a vibrant red. I’d love to see more wardrobes with that cool palette.
Wow- I think it would take a strongly assertive woman to wear that red dress. An interesting colour choice for that type of role.
A power pack, there’s no doubt about it!!
I like that she dresses for assertiveness. If the strike has gone on for awhile, demure isn’t going to work.
Now to go check out those dresses…. the navy and gray…
Gads! Love this capsule … and pretty much wear those colours. It’s unfortunate the scarf is only available through Nordstrom … there isn’t one of those in Glasgow (UK). Checking out Debenhams and John Lewis for something similar …
Love the trench. In spite of their attempts to go teen-age and trendy, Burberry still does the best macs.
I wish I could get that painting in fabric! Such great inspiration!
Love this! The story. The clothes. I want to be her! ??
This is the closest color scheme to my wardrobe (goal, that is). I love the red and blue with white and navy or black accents. It looks like that last color is a bit of a green brown. My other accent color is olive green and I wondered if it is close enough to the painting’s brown to fudge it. I am a SAH mom and have denim and olive green which both go well with the red. So it makes an easy base wardrobe with a nice pop of color. I am the typical peace-maker first born personality who also likes to be a little bit unique when expressing my creative side. So I really like this heroine. Thanks!
I like the form and geometry of this artwork, the repeating rectangles and angles and corners, and that the heroine (ok, you!!) are able to echo that in accessories and in dress shape, too – no circles, not too soft and flowy, still keeeping structure.
I think this wardrobe with these colors would look very different without that geometrical pattern kept to and repeated.
Thank you!
Hi Janice! This comment isn’t specific to this post, but I thought you might enjoy knowing about an “accessory” choice I made on Saturday. I have cranberry red titanium glasses which go very well with my saturated color wardrobe. I had noticed how you used nail polish as an accessory, so I decided to match my toenail polish to my glasses. I love it! Also, they are thematically similar as the glasses shape is a rounded rectangle and so are my toenails. (I live in South Florida, so I wear sandals all year round.) Thank you so much for your wisdom and generosity in teaching us about style!
I love this! My pedicure currently matches the purple streak in my hair…
hugs,
Janice
Hi, Janice – I just noticed I rarely see belts as accessories in your wardrobes – I was thinking that navy knit dress from J. Crew could really use one. Is this just personal preference?
I think this is one of your best yet.
* the crystal dividers of each vignette.
* the use of colored accessories to change the attitude of each dress and almost the color temperature of each dress.
* how the accessory colors change the proportions of each outfit.
No surprise how you followed the overall geometric theme of the painting into the accessory shapes.
Love it even though these are not my color palette.
Sassy and eye catching, or red rag to a bull – could go either way. The style of clothes and geometrically shaped accessories are very much to my taste, although I prefer the grey and navy with a touch of red in the scarves with the white metal jewellery. Another great post.
Love this, Janice. Such a good visual in showing that each dress creates a different look with a simple change of shoes and scarf. With the cardi and she gets another four outfits. And if she puts the change of shoes, bag and scarf in that capacious briefcase (for she’s done her homework and it probably contains little more than an ipad and phone), she can move from arbitration meeting to dinner date with a just a five minute trip to the ladies for a quick change and tidy up! A fabulously elegant, simple and versatile travel wardrobe! Thank you. Hugs, x.
I love this dress wardrobe ! (although not in my colors). I’d like to see more no pants wardrobe ideas, both for business and casual activities… just saying.
Thank you for this lovely blog.
I love all of this red! I buy and wear a lot of red because I find it as flattering as it is empowering. The plaid is just the icing on the cake; that one scarf you chose zings up everything else in the capsule. I just got a floor length tartan red coat and I feel like all of my Christmases will arrive when it comes :-D