November 25, 2019
We’ve been accumulating a lot of solid-colored garments – which is the best way to build a functional wardrobe. But now, let’s mix up all of these and find something with a bit of pattern interest!
If you have a favorite motif (like I am with stars…) this is the time to find it!

Ivory dotted shirt – Lands’ End
With all of the upcoming festivities, a pretty blouse that can stand alone with pants and some jewelry could be a good choice…
Earrings – Ettika; silk popover blouse – Vince; brown velvet pants – True Royal; bracelet – Halogen; loafers – Børn; bag – Reiss
Or if you always wear a cardigan (or jacket) this time of year, a classic stripe underneath will work perfectly!
Earrings – Kendra Scott; ivory cardigan – Lands’ End; striped tee – Lands’ End; bag – Antik Kraft; boots – Naturalizer; charcoal heather corduroy pants – Lands’ End
A print that’s mostly your neutral, but that includes a fun accent color can give you a direction for some jewelry, or a pretty new bag!
Earrings – Kate Spade New York; floral shirt – Lands’ End; black velvet pants – Lands’ End; bracelet – Monica Vinader; oxfords – Vionic; bag – Treasure & Bond
If your style is casual, your new top can be something that you wear as an overshirt. In bitterly cold weather, a navy cardigan could be piled on top of the turtleneck and flowered shirt.
Floral shirt – Lands’ End; silver earrings – Narinee; white turtleneck – Lands’ End; navy loafers – Halogen; socks – New York & Co.; jeans – Lands’ End
For very casual wear, subtle prints or patterns can help tie together your other gear…
Ivory fleece hoodie – L.L.Bean; tee shirt – Lands’ End; watch – Hamilton; backpack – Rains; boots – Teva; jeans – Lands’ End
Or if you want a festive, but very relaxed, new outfit, consider a classic tunic in a timeless print; your accessories can be in the spotlight when you clothes are timeless.
Earrings – YACQ; navy striped tunic – Banana Republic; navy velvet pants – Lands’ End; tweed bag – Kurt Geiger London; navy flats – Jambu; bracelet – Alex and Ani
This wardrobe how has a LOT of prints – that 2nd row is kind of fun! I would wear the #21 shirt under the #10 sweater in a heartbeat…
white, black, and red cotton turtlenecks – Lands’ End; “snow” cotton turtleneck – Lands’ End; black cashmere cardigan – Lands’ End; flannel shirt – Lands’ End; striped Henley – Lands’ End; striped sweater – Madewell; floral cardigan – Lands’ End; black corduroy jeans – L.L.Bean; black stretch wool pants – BOSS; tweed skirt – J.Crew; black dress – Lands’ End
We can’t possible be almost halfway through this project already, can we? How time flies…
I have to admit; I had to pack a long-term staying with a family-member wardrobe, and I used this list as my guideline! Sometimes, I still struggle…
love,
Janice
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I’m a little confused as I thought it was week 21 – flannel shirt not week 22 – neutral print or patterned top which is next week? Or have I missed a week?
Apologies, I missed last week and today’s blue plaid shirt threw me, Arghh!
I should have known better than to use 2 plaid shirts 2 weeks in a row – I changed it! Thanks for calling me out on this one…
love,
Janice
I shouldn’t have used a plaid shirt for the header here; I’m just such a fan that I always look for them! I think I’ll change it to something very different!
love,
Janice
Thanks Janice for changing the opening header; it doesn’t take much these days to confuse me.
Oh, I hear you my friend!
hugs,
Janice
Janice,
Thanks to you I have a strategy for packing for temps here in PA in the low 30’s, but on a driving trip to NC with the highs in the low 60’s. I am employing your triple top method — a tee, either plain or striped, a button front shirt over it, and a vest over that, plus an outer layer of some nature. As the temps warm up during the course of the day , off come the layers one by one — rather like peeling an onion, but much sweeter ! The return trip to colder climes could be a reversal of this strategy, but might include a turtleneck instead of a tee as the bottom layer , so thanks again for the layering tip ! Minimal clothes with maximum usage ! That is whoppage in my book !
https://www.domino.com/content/reserve-home-rental-kitchen-makeover/
Janice,
I searched these shoes on google shopping– with the words -rose shimmer mules shoes.
What do you think the shoes are? Flats? Mules? Do they look rose to you? Scroll through the post until you see the shoes worn on the new tile floor.
I think they are simply beautiful and I am searching to find them and acquire them, if possible. How do you go about searching for shoes you see in pictures located on non-store sources???
I would appreciate any tips you can share to find these shoes.
Many thanks
Definitely rose, and definitely mules… They’re gorgeous. I think posting a comment on that blog post asking the question might be fastest, or look on Pinterest to see if anybody else has asked the same question, or posted them. I’m looking when I take breaks from working on posts, so I might find them. So far though, I’ve had no luck through my usual sources.
Brace yourself for the possibility that they’re a couple of years old, in which case you will have to look on Ebay, the RealReal, etc…
hugs,
J
They could have been from Need Supply; I saw some on Pinterest from there that look similar. Of course, they’re long gone…
sigh,
hugs,
J
Thank you so much for your quick reply. I do not have facebook so I cannot comment on Domino but I did place a comment on pinterest when I pinned it. Maybe the owner of the beautiful shoes will reply… someday….sigh.
I think it’s time for us all to run (screaming) away from Facebook. They do NOT have our best interests at heart, and thus I refuse to give them my support…
hugs
Janice
Hi Janice and Mimi, these look very similar to me, worth checking out anyway ?
Kathleen
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XDFGXQ9/ref=asc_df_B06XDFGXQ91574593200000?tag=merbethomgarshape-20&creative=395261&creativeASIN=B06XDFGXQ9&linkCode=asn&ascsubtag=400068008
Kathleen – those are really close! What a good eye you have…
hugs,
Janice
Kathleen, Thank you for providing a brand name for me to search for online. I’ve come across many styles and colors with this brand. I haven’t found the one pictured but that could have also had a filter on it, or not. Sigh… I’m contemplating another color by the brand. Thank you again for the help. It’s much appreciated.
No flannel or plaid, but I do have 2 patterned blouses I really like. They do add much needed interest.Surprisingly as I age, too much bulk, especially heavy sweaters and turtle necks. I added a light to medium weight base layer. I have cuddleduds in light colors and wool in dark, tops and bottoms. Blouses move nicely on the base layers and I can wear a lighter weight sweater. I love the look of my heavy cabled sweaters and cannot get rid of them so they get placed with the throws on the couch for snuggling.
I’ve had the same problem, I need MUCH smaller scale texture now, heavy cable knits are out for me. Instead, I look for marling or donegal knits.