September 10, 2021
When ImageDiary released this scarf, it was meant to be a “one of a kind” piece. I bought it immediately, but realized that she really SHOULD make more than just one… it’s that beautiful!
So Scottie has agreed to have 5 more produced, if there are orders for them. This scarf is huge, and breathtakingly lovely. Trust me…
This Year, She’s Going…
After her book was on the Times Best Sellers list for most of the winter and spring, she began to get invitations. She expected that.
But when she was asked to be the Grand Marshal at her college’s Homecoming Parade, and flip the coin for the big football game, she was… conflicted.
College wasn’t the party and socializing fest for her that it can be for so many people. She was, frankly, a wall-flower. And that was the only flower she could associate in her mind with higher education!
But she thinks, and realizes that she has something to share with at least some of the students at her Alma Mater…
She particularly likes the small written detail on her scarf – it speaks to all of the ways in which college was NOT what she had been promised…
She knows exactly what colors she wants for her small travel wardrobe; they are absolutely NOT her school colors of bright blue and white!
There’s a picnic dinner planned for the night everyone arrives. It’s not generally the kind of thing that would interest her, but she knows that the staff of the English department will all be there, eager to talk to her…
Cardigan – Benetton; earrings – Crystal Ice; sunglasses – Dolce & Gabbana; paisley shirt – Benetton; black corduroy pants – J.Crew; watch – Movado; crossbody bag – Honey & Toast; boots – Munro
The next day, she gets to be at the front of the parade, and then sit in some pretty conspicuous seat for the football game. She doesn’t even really understand football, but she is looking forward to seeing the crowds of students…
Pink cabled sweater – Benetton; rose quartz earrings – TJMaxx; black cashmere turtleneck sweater – Banana Republic; rose gold hoop earrings – Monica Vinader; wool scarf – Destin Surl; scarf – Nordstrom; flamingo crewneck sweater – J.Crew; pearl earrings – Effy; brooch – The Met Store; blouse – Zimmermann; wide-leg wool pants – J.Crew; evening bag – Miu Miu; skirt – Whistles; ballet flats – L’Amour des Pieds; pumps – Rockport
That evening is the Homecoming Dance. She is expected to make an appearance there for the first dance, but nobody has any expectation that she will stay 1 minute longer… This is the night for dinner with her advisor and a few other English Department staff – much more to her taste!
Sunday means brunch with the Homecoming organizers, and probably being hit up for a big donation…
How much do you have to donate to have a building on campus named for you?
love,
Janice
p.s. Six years ago, we started with a Hiroshige print, and the goal of a casual wardrobe…
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Oh this is so pretty and lovely. Burgundy and cameo rose. The blouse is delectable.
Great look back too (thanks to your Belovedst) taking one colour scheme and creating three wardrobes for casual, smart casual and refined dressing. I’ve always struggled with creating a cohesive wardrobe for all eventualities. I end up with specific clothes for specific situations – casual or smart (or for specific weather). Then I struggle with smart casual or ‘fancy chill’ (from yesterday) or inbetween seasonal dressing when it is neither warm nor cold but tepid and humid. This has given me inspiration and any colour scheme would work – two neutrals and two accents. Thanks to your Belovedst for the idea.
Morning Beth, the minute I saw this I thought of you. Now I know what people mean when they see something and say “Sheila, that looks like you”.
Beth T,
As the color scheme has stayed the same in these three examples in the look back, the differences that I see are in the fineness of both the fabrics and the patterns, or lack thereof . It has taken me many years to learn this !
Imogen Lamport has a great post out on this topic also under “ Levels of Refinement.”
I certainly could do with refinement. The problem is that fashion magazines and fashion newspaper columns do their best to push the unrefined look with lots of mixed messages: trainers or boots with tea dresses and satin or silk shirts with jeans and a baggy jumper…. No wonder I always feel as if I drsss wrong.
Beth T,
I don’t even like the combination look of a casual jeans jacket with a dress , even though it is seen everywhere — especially in commercials for various products . I much prefer the look of a soft blazer or a cardigan type of jacket with a collar , with the dress instead . That casual and informal denim on top of a filmy fabric dress just doesn’t go together in my opinion. Cowgirl boots added to that ensemble were the “ hot look” a few seasons ago , which is now passé . I tend to ignore what is the fad of the moment and stick with classic looks that are updated with current styles of garments. Some years ago a detail such as ruffles was in vogue and I added a piece or two with that detail. In the 1990’s , jackets over a skirt were very much longer than they are now , which is now a dated look . The very short cropped blazer a few years ago lasted all of a nano second — what a waste of money that would have been, besides looking absurd on someone my age ! Bell sleeves have also been popular, but how do you wear them under cardigan sleeves ? The cut out shoulder tops seem to have passed their peak and now look dated. And don’t get me started on distressed jeans ! But all of these things are fads , rather than levels of fabric refinement .
According to Imogen Lamport there are three levels of refinement. The least formal level is leisure and athletic wear, like sweats and denim. The second level are finer fabrics like textured knits and woven fabrics instead of chambray or denim . This is the “ business casual “ or “ country club casual” style that is often suggested for cruise dining. The third level is the very fine and most formal , with perhaps some sheen or sparkle, like satin or silk , or a very fine wool or cashmere . Texture tends to get finer the more refined the level becomes , as do patterns , which become more subtle as the refinement scale advances . For instance, a level 2 sweater might be a textured cabled look, but at level 3 it becomes a flat and fine textured cashmere garment. She advises that levels 1 and 2 can sometimes be combined, as well as levels 2 and 3, but never 1 and 3 ,without looking like you are trying too hard and looking like you got dressed in the dark , as were the examples that you cited .
An exception to this is the current trend to wear a dark wash pair of jeans and not the classic Levi blue jeans look, as a level 2 item , and wearing the ensemble out to a nice dinner. This would be more of a level 2 look. However, we were on an international cruise where all jeans after 6 PM were asked to leave the bar area .
Beth, I’m still getting a chuckle out of yesterday’s comment of yours and the replies. I’m so in agreement. Who on earth dreamt up fancy chill on an invitation? I keep a small select group of clothes just for weddings, going out, or the odd funeral. They don’t normally function as part of my usual day to day wear but they’re all either black or creamy off white separates and a soft celadon print dress reserved for occasions like weddings where my blacks and creams aren’t always appropriate. (Depends- nowadays black is being worn but I avoid creams and white) If the hostess gets her knickers knotted over my all purpose dress up gear everyone has seen before I figure she doesn’t belong in my social circle. ?
Please could you revisit the idea of a Three Way Wardrobe (look back) and accessories again for cooler weather. There is a principal involved in choosing the garment styles and materials which creates a wardrobe for all eventualities. Though I would have smaller handbags for work and refined dressing as well as a jacket and dress. Lots of ideas.
I second that idea!
I third it!
Near perfect. It just works. I’d be happy to open my suitcase and find all these items inside.
Oh, my goodness! This is my favorite thing you have ever done. The colors are gorgeous! The only thing – having grown up in Texas (and never received one of those (in)famous mums), it would probably be way to hot too wear these. LOL! I’m headed to school this morning (in central TX) wearing a pastel linen shift and white sandals. I WISH it would be cool enough to wear these gorgeous items. I actually just ordered the sweater pants in gray from J Crew hoping it will eventually be cool enough to enjoy them. I lust after that gorgeous scarf and that delicious expensive blouse.
It is a beautiful wardrobe and fun story but I couldn’t help but have the same thought- the pieces are lovely but certainly in the part of the state I’m in, there is no time of the year where it will ever be cool enough for some of these sweaters! It is a very pretty capsule though and, as always, great inspiration.
I was clearly thinking of Homecoming in Iowa – I went to a wee college called Wartburg (yes, named for the castle) and it would very likely be cool enough by October for sweaters!
Yes, homecoming in Texas is a different animal altogether!
hugs,
Janice
Guess all the Texans and likely Floridians too had the same thoughts!! Although you are spot on about the mums and the size of them. I worked in a high school for many years and we would laugh at the corsages that were practically pulling the girl’s top off. The streamers were tripping hazards. The scarf is gorgeous!!!
This is beautiful, and I relate so much to the heroine. I have to agree with some of the other commentors, though, that in the South it will most likely be too warm for these clothes. Now for a Valentine’s Day event, oh yes!
These ARE (almost) the colors of my Alma Mater in Texas: “Rose and silver” or burgundy and gray. A public, woman’s university with no football! Lovely.
Lovely post that resonates on so many levels! A Texas girl here, too, and college certainly wasn’t what I had been led to believe, either! I also really enjoyed the look back. In fact, I had been contemplating this very problem earlier this morning! Would love to see more posts like this!
My breath caught at the first glimpse of this color palette! I am in love with the burgundy and dusty rose shades right now. My only difference is combining it with either chocolate and saddle browns or navy; I don’t do much black.
These colours look fabulous with chocolate brown or a colour called black coffee.
Sounds like a lovely combination, Beth T. I can’t think of a neutral that these top colors wouldn’t go with. Charcoal, navy, taupe. Just such an elegant mix.
A Texas college with a football team and school colors of bright blue and white… I don’t think there’s any such thing. :D But it’s a lovely wardrobe for a lovely fantasy! It was interesting to see the range of pinks from a peach-blue to burgundy together in a travel wardrobe.
Oh how lovely, and what a great story!
Oh my! That $750 blouse is a triumph!! Linen, silk and puffed sleeves? I’m swooning! This entire capsule is just resplendent with its’ gorgeous, luxurious colors and style.
Janice,
I recall college era days and the big Spider Mum with the ribbons of the school colors pinned atop the jacket of a tweed or herringbone skirted suit , worn with tasseled Mocs or Penny loafers ( and nylon stockings) . An alternative would have been a boiled woolen jacket over a blouse , worn with a subtle plaid woolen skirt . Preppy to the max ! Sometimes pearls and / or pearl earrings or good gold ones were also worn . I loved that look — so classic and classy ! Old school ( I’m an old gal) ! I suppose that is why I enjoy the classic Ralph Lauren looks !
This colour pallette is lovely! I would swap the black with grey and be good to go. That paisley shirt is so beautiful and will fit beautifully into my wardrobe. Thanks for a beautiful post, as usual.
The blue and white school colors would fit a team here in Kentucky. Our heroine would need to get spiffy for a day of people watching and horse racing at Keeneland race track prior to the game! A glorious fall day!
I love the soft rose spectrum with black. Soft, cozy and elegant for fall. It’s turned into sweater weather here in south central BC Canada- and this is so appealing.
Hi Janice and Everyone! Lovely colors, and I loves that Zimmerman blouse. I just might have my 21pc challenge for September here….
Interesting info about ‘refinement’ though I think people may construct their own definition based on their personal circumstances. Refined for me is wearing a skirt to teach my college kids rather than shorts with my preschoolers ? . Some folks can’t even conceive, much less afford, a level 3 life.
To answer your question about donations Janice: $7 million dollars is a good start. At least that’s what the CEO of Datto have to his alma mater (RIT).
Gosh I loved this bittersweet story. Thankfully we didn’t have a “Mum” tradition in Ireland when I grew up… I can only imagine the majority who’d have been left out. The way some girls and boys were “elevated” as being the hot ones and so many other delicious people were overlooked. And I’m not the first person to say do you really want to hit your peak in High School? But that doesn’t negate those twinges of pain and envy that one had at the time.