December 27, 2019
Remember our art/architecture Gothic specialist? She was a guest lecturer back in 2016, took a group of students to visit the Cloisters, and then was invited to lecture in Paris…
Nobody has the first clue how old she is; her white hair is braided into an intricate crown (how DOES she do that by herself?), her fingernails are always a practical length, but red and flawless… I still suspect that denim has never touched her body, except in passing!
She’s inspired by these 2:
The Saddest of Projects
sunglasses – Balenciaga; scarf – Etro; earrings – Sylvia Toledano; bracelet – Sylvia Toledano; cashmere sweater – Halogen; purple gloves – M&S Collection; boiled wool coat – L.L.Bean; suitcase – FPM; tote – Mulberry; rubber boots – Hunter; velvet skirt – Halogen
She’s off for a couple of days in Venice. Things are going to have to be moved, and she’s going to make some suggestions about what needs to go first… The flooding isn’t going to get better with time, and some things are going to be irreparably damaged by the relentlessness of the water.
She packs light; she only needs to check on a handful of places that she already has in mind. She’s prepared for reasonably high water; if things get out of control, she will have to borrow hip waders! That, in and of itself, makes clear how things have deteriorated.
But she still needs to look like herself! And she has at least 1 really nice dinner in mind…
Maltese cross brooch – Kenneth Jay Lane; pearl hoop earrings – Poppy Finch; black cashmere poncho – Halogen; gold earrings- Dina Mackney; pearl bracelet – Lagos; ivory cashmere turtleneck – Halogen; green turtleneck – J.Crew; black velvet pants – Lands’ End; black cashmere cardigan – J.Crew; mother of pearl necklace – Freida Rothman; evening bag – Staud; purple top – Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini; waterproof boots – Blondo; jeweled flats – Sole Society
She’s going straight to the Piazza San Marco; her taxi driver (taxi = boat, in Venice) will take her bag to her hotel… She’s not worried about what she will wear, because she has all sorts of cuddly layers to pile together to keep warm.
And 1 really pretty top for dinner!
Even though she wears a lot of black, her accent colors make sure that she doesn’t fade into the background. As if THAT was possible…
I don’t visit Venice anymore; I used to go 2 or 3 times a year… The tourist damage, and the ever-increasing flooding, make me sad. Sigh….
love,
Janice
p.s. 3 years ago, we were in the middle of a multi-day wardrobe build, based on a photograph of lightning… grey, brown and purple!
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Bookstores in Venice are also dealing with water.
https://www.thelocal.it/20191114/legendary-waterproof-venice-bookshop-overwhelmed-by-floods
Finally, my wardrobe plan! My dress wardrobe includes a nice black coat I’ve had awhile, black slacks, skirt, cardigan. Everyday wardrobe…navy, jean’s, casual slacks, cardigans, jackets, etc. The navy is most of my wardrobe.
Every top I buy has to go with black and navy, but not necessarily with each other.
Caramel leather goods go with either, although I have one small black dressy bag and 1 pr. Black dressy shoes, also older.
Jewelry, accessories are also neutral.
This has helped me have an easy time getting dressed for my life with no orphans in the closet and minimal expense.
Sue,
That is a great plan — segregating your neutral colors by color and function ! Do you ever look to combine the navy and black in a print or pattern ? I do a bit of the reverse with denim as my everyday color and various browns as my dressier items , which suits my personal coloring better than black .
Love this heroine’s story and clothes! Please, tell us what she might wear on a summer visit to Florence, or perhaps a spring weekend in NYC.
The situation in Venice is very sad, indeed, I hope our heroine is able to salvage some things. Whatever she faces, she has MANY very versatile clothIng options to consider during her stay.
Did anyone else notice the accent colors include the colors of the Italy? Very clever, indeed!
Colors of the Italian flag.
I haven’t been back to Venice in 20 years, but some of my people are there, so I get to see and hear about the acqua alta on social media when it happens. An amazing thing to be dry one day and wet to the shins the next. Yet Venice soldiers on…
This heroine is my favourite of all. And Venice…be still my beating heart. Could we please see the Everything Everything collection of this woman’s wardrobe? I’d love to see all of it at once.
I actually own those Hunter rainboots! They are one of my favorite pairs of footwear and a compliment magnet. Definitely worth their high price.
Some things are worth investing in, and I think that good waterproof boots qualify! I’m really tempted…
hugs,
Janice
The first story with this heroine had me imagining an older Dame Edith Sitwell with her mesmerizing features and commanding appearance. Probably because of the way she would fit right into the era of the painting. She was born out of her time, and transcended the norms of any age. Fearless. She’d fit right into a wardrobe and storyline like this and look right at home.
Hmmm! As a former medieval reenactor I am continually drawn to images of medieval clothing & Cranach’s images are an especial favorite. Thank you for this.♥️ I may have to revisit a few in search of my wardrobe inspo. Hmmm. I have a fair bit of grey right now, wonder which way I could go with that.
Grey with a rich, muted purple, or a dusty rose would be lovely… Just thinking out loud…
hugs,
Janice
Oh thank you. Such a beautiful wardrobe, and such a beautiful story. Venezia, mia Cittá! Flooding there is consistent, built on sand….layers of history gone under the water. I remember sitting on my balcony over a canal and visitors gliding by in gondolas. The gondoliers plying them with our songs. Sinking forever. Keep building on top: https://www.livescience.com/19195-venice-sinking-slowly.html
But, I wanted to say, I found another beautiful scarf, which I bought. I did like the purple/red/green one too, Lol, but this one is strictly red/green/black/gold, also Etro: https://www.comomilano.com/products/etro-scarf-black-red-green-gold-design-large-twill-silk-scarf-sale?variant=31284233437317¤cy=USD&gclid=CjwKCAiA9JbwBRAAEiwAnWa4Q9jiX2ZvX7wMfRxcHyr7emr6F4OvvqOtSyevebyFdbZgQTleH6TtOBoCkToQAvD_BwE
Thanks again dear Janice. You are a wonder to behold, creating such beauty in the world for the rest of us.
Lovely!! I had to chuckle at the thought of hip waders on this heroine, seeing as she has only velvet for her lower half!
I’m so glad that I took the opportunity to visit Venice 30 years ago. The memory of the golden domes of St Mark’s Basillica glittering in the sunshine is as vivid as ever. I love the rich colours of Medieval and Renaissance paintings. Inspiring.
Janice,
I hope that you are well and traveling somewhere that you adore ! Happy New to you and Belovedest ! I look forward to another wonderful year of picking your brain, and happily editing my wardrobe to a size that is right for my closet space, and that everything gets either worn or gifted to someone who needs it more than I do !