July 22, 2019
Maybe bright, maybe a soft pastel. Heck, maybe the SAME color as last week, in a different neckline or fabric! Wardrobe accents are where you get to show your preferences, so listen to your heart!
tee – J.Crew
As always, owning this garment is NOT a life requirement – think of this rather as a suggestion for building a wardrobe that makes life easier, and makes you look better…
And yes, we’re going to get some patterned, printed or textured garments before the Autumn segment is finished! These early pieces are to help ensure that you’ve got the basics covered – both literally and figuratively!
For many of the following outfits, you might notice that I’ve used much of the same pieces as our heroines were wearing last week. Yes, that makes my life somewhat easier (never to be scorned!), but it also shows how versatile simple garments can be… Getting your money’s worth out of a purchase should be kept in mind, eh?
If I owned this necklace, I would want to set a simple background for those pearls….
necklace – Farra; tee – Lands’ End; cardigan – Lands’ End; socks – Paris Texas; jeans – Lands’ End; loafers – Minnetonka Moccasin
I’m starting to really be convinced that all colors look good with grey! If the scarf doesn’t appeal, some silver jewelry with a blue stone might be a nice touch…
scarf – Emily Carter; cardigan – Vince; tee – Lands’ End; flats – Taryn Rose; pants – L.L.Bean
Autumn colors! Tiger eye is so lovely with brown…
necklace – Farra; cardigan – Lands’ End; tee – YMC; loafers – Naturalizer; pants – Lands’ End
Maybe you wear a lot of navy because it’s appropriate for your work, but you would like to bring a warmer autumn color into your outfit:
scarf – Victoria Ragna; tee – Kettlewell; cardigan – Lands’ End; skirt – Lands’ End; ballet flats – Vaneli
Beige is not just for warm weather…
scarf – Klements; cardigan – Cotton Emporium; tee – L.L.Bean; loafers – Taryn Rose; pants – L.L.Bean
This last outfit includes a cardigan and tee shirt that are NOT from the same company, but which appear to blend nicely together! Don’t forget that when you have 2 different textures of fabric, the color won’t ever “scan” the same way anyhow… And there are no color police to penalize you for blending rather than “dye-lot matching” your garments…
scarf – Treasure & Bond; cardigan – Halogen; tee shirt – Lands’ End; shoes – Eileen Fisher; pants – L.L.Bean
Have it occurred to anybody else that a 13-week “season” will give us 13 garments, which sounds suspiciously as if we are building a “Whatever’s Clean 13” Wardrobe? I have to admit that I never imagined that the number 13 was going to be so important to The Vivienne Files. But I have always, when packing, assumed that I would wear 3 garments, and for some reason the idea of packing 10 things just seems tidy and easy to do.
Hmmm….
love,
Janice
p.p.s. If you struggle to find shoes that accommodate your “tall” feet (i.e. the top of your foot is often irritated by shoes that are too “flat”), I suggest these. They’re blindingly expensive, but look as if they would be very comfortable. And they were designed by the owner of Hanig’s shoes, so you KNOW he knows what he’s doing…
oxfords – Thierry Rabotin and Peter Hanig
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Janice,
Thank you for “ permission” to have an accent color garment in the very same color, but different styling ! I have done this in prior purchases and have wondered if I have been excessive in my number of choices ! It helps with one in the laundry, and one in the closet, ready to be worn !
Janice,
Would you consider doing a “ Whatever’s Clean 13”, using 4 bottoms, 4 toppers ( 1 light, 1 darker, and 2 different accent colors ) and 5 tops ? Thank you !
That Emily Carter scarf is delectable! And I laughed over “the 13 thing”. It’s such a good number for wardrobes and packing! (And where would the Fibonacci sequence be without it …)
I’m following along and didn’t have any suitable long-sleeved t-shirts to take me into Autumn/Winter so I have just taken advantage of Marks and Spencer’s 3 for 2 offer on their t-shirts. I’ve purchased them in white, navy and claret. My colour palette also includes pink, so I’ll keep an eye out for another top with maybe a different neckline. I’m also enjoying seeing how you are styling all these tops and looking forward to the coming weeks.
I love The Weekly Timeless Wardrobe feature! My closet is always a huge mess! This has been a treasure hunt for me! I actually discovered 4 long sleeved tee shirts! The neutrals are perfect and the accent colors okay! I will be shopping to replace those but I don’t have to! Thanks so much! I am a plus sized mature citizen but I don’t want to be frumpy! I look forward to the next treasure to find!!!
Melanie
I’ve been doing a version of this wardrobe for a few years. The neutrals have changed but the principle stays the same. Pink and chalcedony green wth grey are my current choices. I am “unretired” now and I get an early morning phone call for work. My “whatever’s clean” means I’m always ready to go.
There’s something satisfying seeing number patterns show up in every day life.
I like the idea of 13 – 16 for a seasonal capsule. Fun to see it coming together.
Ah, but the color police are in my head, and always with me.
They are unwelcome, but persistent, aren’t they?
hugs,
Janice