October 2, 2020
This month, I’m concentrating again on more casual, warm clothes. This year, we need to stay home much of the time, and if we’re smart we’re going to try to avoid running the heat 24/7… With computers running all day, and people around our home, we should be able to stay warm without consuming tons and tons of fuel, right?
Another year, we’re going to be REALLY REALLY dressy…
I have to say this: if you’re in love with that really plush, fluffy, poodle-fabric that’s so common now in jackets and tops, please don’t launder these garments very often, and when you do, use a fiber-catcher of some sort. Those garments feel like wearing a cloud, but that fabric sheds tiny micro-fibers that pollute water, gather in the organs of sea animals, and just generally are harmful. We have to quit wearing things that are ALL about us, and hurt other living critters…
So let’s bundle up! Looking nice while wearing a sweatshirt or sweatpants is NOT impossible!
scarf – Aspinal of London; mask – Nordstrom; deepwater blue fleece-lined flannel shirt – L.L.Bean; classic teal blue turtleneck – L.L.Bean; socks – Smartwool; sweatpants – L.L.Bean; scarf – Sofia Cashmere
What a wardrobe…
Since we’re not having to go into offices or do a lot of things where we’re in front of tons of people, we all can take the opportunity to experiment with how we combine the various garments in our closets:
Ah, revisiting the absolute prettiness that IS this scarf…
scarf – Aspinal of London
If the weather’s going to be cold, we might as well wear warm colors, right?
Scarf – Aspinal of London; sailcloth/hazelnut flannel shirt – L.L.Bean; mask – Nordstrom; white cotton turtleneck – L.L.Bean; marled socks – American Eagle; camel knit corduroy pants – L.L.Bean; cashmere scarf – Marks And Spencer
I still believe that this heroine was (or still is!) blonde:
Don’t forget that a flannel shirt makes a wonderful jacket in the summer…
Another version of the same scarf, with a VERY different color palette!
scarf – Aspinal of London
I have a huge alpaca wrap that some friends in Bolivia sent me about 30 years ago. This is the year it will live on the foot of my bed… these wraps are cozy and give you a certain feeling of swashbuckling swagger!
Yes, it’s the perfect mask!
scarf – Aspinal of London; cashmere ruana – Halogen; mask – J.Crew; white cotton turtleneck – L.L.Bean; socks – UGG; sweatpants – Lands’ End; neon fuchsia hooded sweatshirt – J.Crew
A wardrobe like nothing I’ve ever done:
But as unusual as this is, there are always plenty of outfits that can be pulled together…
On to our classic combination of warm and cool…
scarf – GISY
THIS wrap looks so appealing…
scarf – GISY; mixed-fabric sweatshirt – L.L.Bean; silk mask – Night Mulberry; birch white flannel shirt – Patagonia; wool socks – L.L.Bean; pull-on knit pants – L.L.Bean; plaid wrap – J.W.Anderson
I keep looking and LOOKING for a print or patterned garment for this wardrobe… to no avail. But I will keep trying…
I’m always amazed at how many different possibilities there are here!
What seemed like it might be the future of my wardrobe, back in January, is not DEFINITELY where my colors are landing… I’ve always suspected that black and red would eventually become grey and pink!
This heroine has so much pink in her wardrobe; it’s about time we concentrate on some real workhorse black and white!
scarf – Aspinal of London; flannel shirt – L.L.Bean; mask – Lands’ End; white cotton turtleneck – L.L.Bean; socks – Smartwool; sweatpants – Lands’ End; scarf – Lands’ End
It might take 2 suitcases, but I could travel pretty much forever with this wardrobe:
As always, the 3 new pieces of clothing can be worn in a variety of ways with the things already in this wardrobe:
Classic scarf, somewhat unusual color palette!
If you look at 700 plaid flannel shirts, the 701st one will be the PERFECT colors….
scarf – Aspinal of London; flannel shirt – Uniqlo; mask – Joie; plush ribbed tee shirt – Old Navy; socks – Darn Tough; sweatpants – Lands’ End; scarf – Free People
Unusual, but still very efficient and pretty!
Remember that any button-front shirt can be worn under sweaters, jackets and cardigans, or OVER tee shirts and tank tops. If you really want to get your money’s worth out of your clothes, keeping these things in mind can help:
Are you still liking your favorite color combination? I believe that I can say with some assurance that I’m sold on black and pink (which is a good thing, given the looks of my closet!).
love,
Janice
p.s. Five years ago, I was spotting the “blonde version, brunette version” of white pants…
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A top for the Earth Mandala wardrobe
https://blue-platypus.com/lasses-in-glasses-v-neck-in-rust-olive-9-sizes/
Nice find! I would 100% add it to the wardrobe.
‘Teddy bear’ fabric looks good on taller straight shaped people. If I wear it at 5 ft and pear shaped, well I just look like a Teddy Bear!
You are right about the plastic and fibre shedding of man-made fabrics. I wonder if it is less if you wash garments on a cool short wash with a slower spin speed? Have any VF readers found an optimum wash cycle for these fabrics?
I loved your ‘Teddy bear’ description ?
I, too, am 5 ft and pear shaped, and definitely look like that Teddy Bear!
Dear Janice,
Thanks for not being just about the Look, but reminding us the impact of our choices on the environment.
By the way, I love the pink wardrobe, but I think hot pink looks much better on me. However, I feel hot pink can’t look as dressy or serious as other more common accounts. Any thoughts on how to do it in a more grown up way?
Hi Aurora
Perhaps look for the hot pink in luxurious fabrics or fabrics with a sheen in vintage or charity (thrift) shops. It was a popular colour in the 1980’s as my mother wore it a lot. My choice would be a satin or silky material shirt, chenille jumper or velvet jacket. In fact I have a deep orchid pink velvet jacket that I bought in a vintage shop! It always attracts compliments as it is so different.
Happy hunting
Beth T
Now to look at how these wardrobes are coming along.
I thought I’d start with the last one and scroll my way back up.
Aspinal Signature Shield. I’ve always liked this gentle wardrobe though I dont wear these colours. As we move into Autumn/Winter I would likr to see our heroine experiment with leopard print in the clothes and richeer coloured accessories – perhaps tortoiseshell?
Robin Scarf – my favourite ? I will be adding dark magenta to this one. Love the snowflake scarf.
Mandela Scarf. I dont wear the colours but this is a well balanced wardrobe. Carlene has found a great top. I love patterns that give one impression further away but have a fun twist closer to. The plaid shirt you found for the Peppermint A scarf might fit here. Maybe you might have more luck with patterns that combine two of the three colours? The plaid wrap is genius! Just the thing to wear as an extra layer when hunched over the computer working at home but give flair for online meetings! I think that wraps, ponchos and capes will be popular this year.
Yellow Mustard A – I’m not a fan of this colour scheme, I have to admit but my eye has always been caught by the deep plum in the flowers which I know looks fantastic with the yellow because my daughter wears plum and mustard yellow in the autumn and winter.
Peppermint A. I’ve always thought this needed more items in the accent colours and also some deeper toned accents. I feel that it’s looking a bit wishy washy for this coming season. The butterflies in emerald green and a darker bright blue would add depth to clothes and accessories.
Lion and Peacock – WOW ? This is splendid. Perhaps find a pattern that brings in cobalt blue and darker brown?
All of the collections are just so beautiful. The Peppermint A group is closest to “my” colors, but the Lion and Peacock group is even more appealing with the turquoise and navy. I love that these are leaning to the casual side, as I have not worn a dress for decades, and now that no one is dressing up anyway, I really enjoy seeing clothes that are casual and comfortable but still beautiful.
Thank you so much for the environmental PSA. Maybe if people treated their teddy furs like actual furs, only brushing when they get dirty, and hanging them out to air occasionally, it would dramatically reduce the fiber pollution. I don’t have any experience with that fluffy fiber, but I do have a faux persian lamb jacket from the 40s, and this may horrify some, but I believe it has never been washed or dry cleaned. Three generations of women (soon to be four) have worn and cared for it and it still appears to be in perfect condition.
Loved seeing the addition of more casual wear to these wardrobes. My favorite pieces are the teal plaid shirt (of course!), the bright pink sweatshirt, and the plaid wrap (my, aren’t the bridge accessories doing a lot of work in that wardrobe!).
Every month, I am more sold on the lion wardrobe. I don’t like to wear beige next to my face, and I’m not a huge fan of beige pants, but still…add a couple scarves in shades of blue and I would be happy. My #2 favorite, the mint, has gone too camel-heavy for this blonde. The robin wardrobe intrigues me a bit with the combination of black and white with the light pinks. I love lighter pinks with grey, but I struggle a bit with the contrast against the graphic black and white. I would prefer to tone down some of the stark black pieces into grey.
My dissatisfaction with the mint wardrobe and Beth T’s analysis prompted me to take a look at the variety of bottom colors in each wardrobe.
The lion is good with a balance of beige/camel and navy. I personally would love to see a white skirt here as another option with the white T and the various blue and navy garments (I know it’s not part of the palette, but would be such a useful addition). I would also change one of the beige pants to medium wash blue jeans.
Mint wardrobe, why must you have so much beige and camel? I would love to see some of them switched out for a dark-er (not necessarily dark) neutral…dark wash jeans, a denim skirt, lighter navy pants.
The mustard wardrobe has so much grey, but at least there is a range of shades. With no patterns in the tops, a couple print bottom pieces would be nice here.
The mandala wardrobe has an okay balance of dark (olive) and light (beige) bottoms, but all that stark plain olive would be boring long term. Something like a beige/olive print or a heathered olive option would go a long way.
The robin wardrobe is dominated by black pants. Even a single pair that has a subtle print (I have a pair of grey/black herringbone pants that are incredibly versatile) would ease up the monotony.
Shield set, you are the winner of the bottom variety analysis! 3 light neutrals, 5 dark neutrals, and 2 accent colors is very nice. Of course I could always argue for a print to mix things up, but the balance of colors here is good enough that I’m not even going to do that. :)
Thanks Sally for the ‘bottoms’ analysis. It’s useful to do this when sorting out our own wardrobes. Some people, like me, need to disguise our lower half with dark, plain bottoms with pattern on top to draw the eye up. For others the reverse is true. I would agree that patterned skirts or trousers would add a degree of versatility as might matching separates or a patterned dress. Certainly, I can see leopard print with the Signature Shield, exotic jungle prints with the Mandela scarf, black and white houndstooth with the Robin scarf, summer florals with the Peppermint A, peacock print with the Lion and Peacock. Though the Mustard A still baffles me….
However, I expect that Janice has been stymied by the fact that clothes manufacturing went into lockdown in Spring and a whole two seasons of clothes never made the light of day. Once manufacturing began again, they seem to have made the mistake of trying to catch-up rather than looking ahead to Autumn, so I’m still seeing summer clothes and swimsuits in October when it is now Autumn and Christmas catalogues and magazines are now out. Also, clothes manufacturers are still trying to persuade us to buy clothes for going out, special events or the office when we are being told to stay at home, limit social mixing, events are cancelled and your office is at home. We can make do with what we already have and we are conscious of sustainability and natural fabrics. With the pandemic coming in for a second wave, we now want and need clothes that are comfortable and easy to wear. Leisure clothes in luxurious fabrics are my choice right now.
https://sugru.com/buy/guppyfriend-washing-bag?gclid=CjwKCAjwn9v7BRBqEiwAbq1Ey9Vn7YKsGI2W_Fe0w3sy1U9EFXHN6JKmYfn94wDA-yN9BJ7Z06uBXxoCMfUQAvD_BwE
The link above is for a laundry bag designed to collect microfibres (personally I generally prefer natural materials)
Hi Janice and everyone: While I was packing for a (postponed) trip in the camel/black/cream/peach combination, it came to my attention that I do not have many print or patterned tops or blouses or shirts, especially if the long-awaited variety. Why is this, one may ask-?
I am wary a print/patterned piece will become an orphan in due time.
I do not buy many l/s shirts particularly, as they always seem to feel right across the shoulders.
I seem to get more matching mileage out of solid l/s shirts and tees than print/pattern ones. Plus, I would like to find pr/pt long sleeve shirts that are warm.
Some people look very sporty in flannel shirts. Somehow I look like a lumberjack.
Thank you for listening to my tale of fashion woe.
*long-sleeved (silly auto correct)
Linda P, yes, I can easily imagine how long-sleeved shirts would be a fit issue. For some time, I didn’t have any button up shirts at all because they fit me strangely and did not feel comfortable. Then my size and shape changed a bit and now I can fit them much more easily and comfortably. I may look a bit like a moderate height plus size teddy bear lumberjack in them, but it’s all good :D
Hooray! Our (postponed) trip to Saranac Lake has been rescheduled for next weekend!
Hi Linda!
I live in the area, so happy you’re coming to visit! Not sure if you’ve been before, but our nights are chilly — think 30s and 40s. Mornings are cool, with our days in the 50s and 60s. Temps drop the higher you go, so bring layers if hiking or going to the Olympic venues. And we love lumberjacks here, so don’t worry about the flannel!
Ah, the patterned/print orphan. Good point. I’ve recently started to try thinking of my print tops as novelty items. I shouldn’t pay too much for them. They do act like a scarf though, in that they can tie the colours of an outfit together. I do like a print top on travel days too. If I spill something on it, then it’s less noticeable with a print.
BTW for the plaid, flannel shirts, there are some solid flannel shirts out there (eg.,Uniqlo). Not a lot, but there are some. Cozy and luxurious!
*tight across the shoulders (°¥°€√°π!)
Hi Linda P
‘Brushed cotton”, ‘thick cotton’, ‘flannel’ or ”warm handle’ are the words and phrases you need to look for warmer weight shirts and blouses. Also corduroy shirts are warm. Hunt online for them. Country stores or online stockists of country clothes are a good place to look for shirts and blouses in attractive patterns and checks that dont look lumberjack.
Happy hunting
Beth T
Janice,
I am puzzled by your fabric description that is environmentally unfriendly . Can you please be more specific in what fabric types names that you mean?
Are you referring to polar fleece ?
It’s the really soft, sort of shaggy fabric that’s being used a lot in jackets right now. Some places call it poodle fabric. But I think that there are probably quite a few fabrics that we should know about that shed a lot of microfibers – I wish that information was provided at the point of purchase! Something like a numerical score that shows has much care of a garment in the future will contribute to global water pollution…
Off to do some research…
hugs,
Janice
I believe we call it “Teddy” here in Canada!
All the discussion of bottoms! :) I have an issue w/printed bottoms and never seem to wear them – even if they’re in a versatile print as someone mentioned above. That being said, I almost always wear printed tops, and sometimes mix prints with my top and sweater/jacket or a scarf. Hence the aversion to adding more print via pants or even shoes…..My solid bottoms are workhorses. Have a lovely weekend
I love the pink robin wardrobe, which fits well with my wardrobe. I’d definitely add more charcoal. – nancyo
The mustard wardrobe looks striking but certainly highlights the limitation of having accent colours that don’t look good together. I suppose there would be some people who could and would wear them together!!!!
I too think a coloured bottom in each would be great, aqua skirt, pink and yellow skirts or pants, red pants. I recently had a two week trip with all black and white patterned tops with black pants. Fine but I really wish my red pants had arrived in time, just would have given a different vibe.
And ladies I have a generous booty and belly but still wear coloured and wildly patterned palazzo pants, a longer top covers the bits I’d rather disguise ?
Hello, just found your website and love it! I’d love to create a capsule wardrobe but I’m already stuck at the first step – colour schemes. I can’t decide! Is there a tool which might help? I would so love to do this!!! Oh and you’ve forgotten the Swimwear – I’m in the Tropics of Australia, so it doesn’t get below 15deg C daytime temps ever. :-D