September 6, 2021
yes, there’s no Weekly Timeless Wardrobe this week; of course the schedule got tossed in the bin when my back started acting up! But this doesn’t work out badly – the 13 weeks of Autumn clothing will nicely align with the dates that feel like Autumn to me…
When I looked at these wardrobes and pondered what I might want to add at this point, I was (as always!) drawn to a nice neutral sweater, something to wear under it sometimes, and a skirt. Of course, you can swap out the skirt for pants, the shirt for a tee shirt or lightweight layering turtleneck, and the v-neck sweater for crewneck, or cardigan, or whatever is best for you!
But I’m pretty thrilled with my finds for some of these wardrobes…
Let’s start as we always do, with this lovely scarf:
I was pretty tempted to pile in more black for this wardrobe, but I think the grey is softly pretty, like the haze over the lake on cool autumn mornings…
Chrysalis silk square – Echo; pearl earrings – House of Elliott; gray sweater – Benetton; grey crepe blouse – Lands’ End; scarf – Nordstrom; washable wool skirt – Lands’ End; pumps – Rockport
Each wardrobe now has 25 garments, which would be a great wardrobe for a very VERY long stay somewhere – like a sabbatical?
This heroine’s accessories are SO pretty; I could be persuaded to wear grey if someone tossed a grey beret and some silver loafers my direction!
At this stage in building wardrobes, no new garment should feel at all like an orphan; if you’re considering adding something that can’t be worn at least two additional ways (on top of the outfit that you buy), you need to rethink either your purchase or your overall plan!
How will this quintessentially summery scarf work for a cooler weather outfit?
Beige! Let’s think of it as “light camel!” And note that this shirt is actually a soft apricot color – it blends in beautifully…
Patchwork Painted Floral silk square by Echo; peach earrings – Mirramor; beige sweater – Benetton; shirt – Rebecca Taylor; scarf – Allsaints; pleated skirt – H&M; pumps – Walking Cradles
This wardrobe feels more balanced with these beige additions, I think…
And her accessories are so appealing… who doesn’t love a little bit of turquoise from time to time?
Although her new outfit is pretty monotone (which is NOT a bad thing!), she can easily add touches of coral, turquoise, or yellow to brighten things up:
Next is my favorite wardrobe; I don’t know if everybody has heard the rumor, but I do indeed have purple highlights in my hair! I have NEVER received so many compliments from total strangers as I do now; people stop me on the street to tell me how much they like it.
Honestly, I may have it this color until I die; I love that kind of feedback!
Some days, you just get lucky looking for shirts… and I did treat myself to this scarf!
Lofty plaid ruana – Echo; earrings – Samuel B.; scarf – Nordstrom; dark blue sweater – Benetton; print shirt – GAP; skirt – COS; suede pumps – ARA
I’m feeling very at home with this heroine’s wardrobe:
These accessories give you a real feel for what this heroine likes…
Is there a better feeling than coming home with what feels like an extravagant bunch of new things, and then realizing that you have in fact added a LOT of new choices and possibilities to your wardrobe?
These colors feel quite right for the end of summer and the beginning of fall…
If your skirt is sweatshirt fabric, you can absolutely wear loafers with it! And I love the juxtaposition of sweatshirt fabric with a silk shirt…
Patchwork Painted Floral silk scarf – Echo; earrings – Melrose and Market; military green cotton sweater – Benetton; ivory silk shirt – Nordstrom Signature; scarf – Nordstrom; sweatshirt skirt – H&M; loafers – Tod’s
I love the way this all looks together; imagine all of this hanging together in a closet:
This heroine has options from very muted beiges to bright red – that’s a nice situation!
And getting dressed as the weather cools won’t be a problem for her:
Now, to the bane of my blogging existence!
I realize now, way to late to fix anything, that this heroine should have concentrated on grey clothes with brown leather accessories. Learning from my mistakes is smart, I guess!
But this month, I was able to find beautiful brown…
Chrysalis silk square – Echo; smoky quartz earrings – Savvy Cie; cardigan – GAP; pink shirt – Lands’ End; pink magnolia watercolor scarf – Nordstrom; skirt – P.A.R.O.S.H.; pumps – Naturalizer
But I’m still feeling like this wardrobe is lopsided… Not that this has never happened to anybody else in the world, right?
Her accessories are equally out of balance, but that’s to be expected in a wardrobe that leans in 2 very different directions!
Happily, her new brown and pink outfit mixes in with her existing garments very nicely…
As always, we close with this most beautiful of scarves, and this color palette that is unfailingly pretty:
THIS SCARF! HOW PERFECT IS THIS SCARF?
I get really excited sometimes…
Mountain View Wrap – Echo; blue agate earrings – VUE by SEK; blue cashmere sweater – Lands’ End; Van Gogh scarf – The Met Store; grey flannel shirt – L.L.Bean; skirt – Treasure & Bond; ballet flats – SoftWalk
This is a wardrobe that could get you wherever you wanted to go, so long as you’re not playing rugby, or having tea with The Queen…
If I had to start with absolutely no clothes at all, this wardrobe would tempt me; it’s so relaxed and easy…
So many options…
For me, I’ve finally determined that the purple and navy wardrobe is where I would probably cast my vote… I think!
Have you changed your preference during this year?
love,
Janice
p.s. Four years ago, our heroine was inspired by a photograph of the Central Cygnus Skyscape! Try saying that 3 times, fast…
Janice, you’re back! I’m so glad you are feeling better.
Don’t know how salvageable that bane is, but the choices this month have certainly helped starting to correct the balance.
On the subject of the Autumn edition of Weekly Timeless Wardrobe, could you do some more WTW building by capsule posts with various colour combinations, please? I was looking at the one you did last year, but found the colours used distracting. (Greys, browns, plums and olives preferred).
Rex.
Janice, It’s good to see you are better!
Oddly enough my second favorite has changed from the cooler patchwork scarf to the warmer patch work scarf. I think I’m getting into the fall frame of mind. The whole pumpkin spice latte vibe. I’d probably feel differently in March. The favorite remains the Mountain View. The textures this month are cool weather cozy. Flannel and cashmere, and those flats are great. The brown additions to the Bane Chrysalis are helpful. The flashback wardrobe is also very appealing; navy, denim and all shades of rose, burgundy and wine. Even better are the accessories on the next post from it.
I am so happy you are better!
My favorite this month is the Mountain View. The Van Gogh scarf is divine and blends in perfectly in the rest of the wardrobe. I also love the silhouette of the skirt. I have been searching for a pencil knit skirt like it for some time to fill a gap in my wardrobe.
Morning All, Janice so happy you are feeling better. I absolutely adore the warm patchwork and wish wish wish I were still able to wear those colors (gone salt and pepper now). The purple and the Mt. View are still for me. I also have purple/lilac in my hair and get compliments ALL the time. It’s very subtle. I think that’s the trick. I was going through some recent back posts while you were “away” and noticed a discussion on scarves for next year (already!). You mentioned perhaps going back to Hermes. I’d like to put a vote in for at least some of them to be the more affordable Echo or even Wolf and Badger. As frustrating as it is for our UK (and other) friends not to be able to buy Echo, that’s how I feel trying to “copy” whatever scarf you select from Hermes. They are impossibly unaffordable for me. I’ve been much more engaged having things within my price range. Have a great day and so happy to see you back!
I’m glad you’re back! I enjoy all of these and I think the brown is a great addition to the Chrysalis.
It’s unfortunate you couldn’t find it earlier as I wonder if the same person would wear the warm brown and the cool gray & pink. Would you consider using scarves for each of the seasonal color palettes (autumn, spring, summer & winter)? Castanohel and Emma Shipley (through Red Leopard) offer them.
I really like this idea! Those color palettes are a great starting point and Can be a great help in creating a coherent color scheme.
Ohhh…I really like this idea too! And thanks for the sources, I can’t wait to check their scarves out!
Welcome back!
I just love the Mountain View wardrobe. It gets better each month. I would happily take it all and not look back!
Glad Ur better & back
Xx vee
So delighted to discover this fabulous blog! My Catholic school girl uniformed self loves the classic navy and gray, but the other palettes are completely swoon-worthy and interesting as well. Fave is the brown Chrysalis – yummy.
I’m so glad to see your post – it signals that you’re (hopefully!) on the mend. I’m tickled that you treated yourself with that lovely purple and white scarf! You deserve it and it will surely work perfectly with your purple highlights.
The purple ruana wardrobe is definitely in my wheelhouse – I’d happily live in those colours for a long time – but I’m also enjoying the development of the pumpkin-toned patchwork scarf wardrobe and the one based on the Mountain View wrap. They’re so varied and interesting.
On a personal note, we’re now setting into our little apartment in Poland. We’re on a steep learning curve but it’s lovely here and the people are wonderful!
One of my second layers – a really flattering grey blazer – was lost on the second flight or the third airport. I haven’t lost or forgotten a garment in forty years! Arghh! I’ll make things work without it but I definitely see what you (Janice) meant about crafting a travel wardrobe that can work even if something is lost or damaged.
Hi Wendy, sorry to hear that one of your key garments went missing. I hope that you can replace it or work around it. At least you are in a place with decent shops. I remember an occasion when we went on holiday without coats as we’d had really hot weather but the temperature dropped to near freezing (in summer!). I remember that we all got rather invested in helping you create your skirt based wardrobe, so please continue to post little relevant updates about your wardrobe and whether your choices turn out to be good ones. Hope you have a wonderful time.
I’m glad you got there ok albeit minus a beloved grey blazer. Have a wonderful time! (Margery from Kamloops BC)
You have been in my thoughts and prayers. Hopefully you feel much better now. Wow! this is such a beautiful piece of work. I marvel at your talent. Such inspiration. I bought the purple ruana and I am looking forward to fall to give it a test run. The purple one is my favorite too. patval
My picks remain the same: #1 purple ruana and #2 mountain view. I could happily start from scratch with either of them. I was happy to see your post this morning and I hope it means your back is feeling much better.
So happy to know you’re feeling better! I had my first experience with a back spasm a year or so ago, and I was astonished at the level of pain.
My favorites are still the patchwork blue and the Mountain View. Just lovely! So much inspiration there.
Hello Janice and Everyone! It’s good to be back visiting with you again. Between work, company at the house, and travels, I haven’t had a moment to sit and savor all your lovely posts.
Summer fashion capsules: black&white&olive&peach/apricot for July (worked well), blue&gray&pinks&white for August (didn’t quite stick to the 21-piece guidelines because it was SO hot I had to dig out every sleeveless top I had.
To Janice: Our road trip to Wisconsin took us by way of Chicago, where we barely. moved. for. an. hour. I love Chicago while I visit, but not driving in it. Kudos to you for making your way every day. I also hope you are feeling better. Back issues are the worst.
Janice, I’m so glad to hear your on the mend!! I prayed for you. I still love the navy,soft camel, peach to coral, aqua and soft yello scarf. Sone of the ardrobe pieces are fantastic for me. For example, The soft camel pieces today. The dressier pieces basically. So looking forard to a Autumn ardrobe!!
I’m so glad you’re back! I really hope that you’re feeling better and taking all the time you need to get well.
My favorite wardrobe is the one based on the warm toned patchwork scarf. From my perspective, it has the most contrast and balance and interesting colors.
I must say that all year long I have wanted to change the color choices for the floral scarf with a black background. I want to replace the gold color with a pretty leaf green, and use hot pink instead of pale pink. I think that would be a fabulous wardrobe. As it happens, my coloring is best suited by bright colors and high contrast. ?
Dear Janice, I’m so glad you’re back doing what you love. The warm and cool patchwork scarves are definitely my favorites. The brown Chrysalis is a real challenge. I appreciate your sticking with it and learning from the trial. Often, the best way to learn is to really struggle. I love the beautiful brown pieces you found. And I agree with you; the wardrobe has fallen into two distinct groups. The brown and orange are so perfect for fall. The Chrysalis scarf reminds me to trust my instinct and go with my gut feeling.
Take care Janice and continue to heal.
Welcome back, Janice! The purple and Mountain View wardrobes continue to be my favorites, but the outfit added to the brown/grey wardrobe today is absolutely stunning (and that scarf is perfect for it).
Glad you are feeling better Janice. Sitting at a computer is really tough with a bad back, so kudos for carrying on.
I’m still craving the Blue Mountain wardrobe. Love the casual vibe of the skirt made of sweatshirt material. I was drawn to the pearl earrings from the first capsule; they will also work with this wardrobe, and my grey hair!
So glad you are back, Janice! I hope that means you are free of pain now. As a monthly fan of the Mountain View scarf, I find myself liking the coral patchwork more and more. I believe the style is more me, even if the colors are not. Also, I just cannot embrace gray in my wardrobe. I think if I replaced the gray in the Mountain View with the ivory in the patchwork coral, I might be set. I gain so much from every post! Thank you again!!
I think I might be the only one voting for the black & grey chrysalis wardrobe, tho I’d need to have a darker pink and a more charcoal grey. Purple is a really good color for me, but I wore so much of it during my pregnancies in the jewel-toned late 1980s that it has taken me a while to begin to regain my joy for that color. But purple is my granddaughter’s favorite, so I am getting a little more enthusiastic! – nancyo
Would love to hear your thoughts about wardrobe one and the lack of purple. 2/3 of the way through the year, it feels unbalanced. The purple wardrobe is lovely.
I’m so pleased that you have recovered sufficiently to continue. Sometimes, we need to forget schedules and look after no.1.
I looked at this yesterday and it was balm for my soul after a fraught day listening to someone unprofessionally moaning all afternoon. Then suffering appalling customer service from a company that cornered and dominated its market in the 1970’s and has now decided, after last year, to largely abandon the specialist services only they provided – not that they bothered to tell us that!
Enough ranting, this is more important! I’ll start with the two Chrysalis scarves because they are a bane. I agree with “book goddess” that the pinks need to be brighter and deeper in both. The purple is jarring with the brown and absent from the black. Emerald green would be a better complimentary colour for both. The yellow/oranges work better with the brown, now that you’ve introduced it. The purple might work better with the black. Overall the black wardrobe has too much grey and not enough bright accents. The accessories in both are dominated by pale pink with the black but perhaps need more intensity and more yellow/orange accessories. The accessories are more balanced with the brown.
I think many of us have struggled with these wardrobes along with you.
Maybe, you could collate our comments on these two scarves and do one of your useful analysis and improvement blogs where you swap things around and introduce better colours.
Now compare those scarves with the Patchwork wardrobes that are getting better all the time. Is the difference in approach because the neutrals and accents are more defined in colour blocks, so it is easier to see what works? However, patchwork blue perhaps needs some more aqua green or light teal garments and more coral accessories. It might feel a bit light going into autumn/winter but could capture the Ice Maiden vibe.
Patchwork orange – a masterclass in tonal dressing. This is so lovely to look at. All the colours and tones meld and it is completely balanced. The garments and the accessories all work together in numerous combinations. I can’t wear these colours but one can take inspiration from it.
Mountain view – another balanced wardrobe, though I feel that it lacks a bit of depth. Perhaps some darker tones and more teal green/blue for autumn/winter as well as winter white.
The purple ruana wardrobe is gorgeous. It fills my heart with joy. Need I say more? Nope.
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So happy you’re feeling better Janice! Quite a long time back you did a post on how Vivienne would change her red and black wardrobe as she aged, moving into softer tones of grey and pink. That first capsule at the top reminds me of that.
That’s been happening to me starting around 61 or 62. This spring at 65 I let go of most of my red accents. Contemplating why, I realized I’ve been pulled strongly to grey & pink for quite a while. I’ve wondered if some of us are naturally drawn to softer tones without even realizing it. I clued in when I just couldn’t wear my usual Christmas red accents in large doses last year even though I was doing a really small tight project 333. In spite of little other choice I was really creatively avoiding the reds.
I’ve kept small stuff- a scarf, a cardinal pin, a shawl but the tops, purse and jacket are gone.
I’ve gotten rid of pretty much all of my red too! Of course covering up my grey hair with purple highlights has made the red in my wardrobe look a little bit strange… But I’m with you that I’m called to pink and grey, and SKY BLUE!
It’s probably going to take a couple of years, but I can clearly see what direction my wardrobe is taking.
hugs,
Janice
I first started dyeing my hair crazy colours cos I was doing a high pressure, high stakes job with horrific management but was primary breadwinner so needed an outlet somewhere… what surprised me was how much JOY my hair brought to those around me and now I do my hair for myself and others. I can imagine that Silver and Purple is a stunning combinations. Of course you might play with Sky Blue highlights too like an ice-dragon!
It’s not just hair colour that changes but skin tone too. I’ve also shifted from the brighter reds to burgundy, wine and plum which look fantastic with pink and grey! A couple of years ago, I laid
out all my clothes, coats and scarves in those three colours and was amazed at how many items I had – half my wardrobe!
I’ve just bought a burgundy handbag for every day and I’m looking out for a wine coloured winter coat. Bring on Autumn!
I’m glad you are on the mend, Janice! For the brown and gray wardrobe and anyone else looking for brown, I happened to notice that Eileen Fisher has some brown pieces out right now.