October 11, 2021
Ah, some prints! Even those of us who normally introduce prints into our outfits with a scarf will need a printed garment from time to time…
Earrings – Ross-Simons; muted purple corduroy shirt jacket – L.L.Bean; muted purple floral ¾ sleeve tee – L.L.Bean; denim pants – L.L.Bean; loafers – Jack Rogers
A pretty tee shirt can be a great excuse to buy a cardigan, sweater, sweatshirt or jacket in a color that you love… (why yes, this purple corduroy shirt-jacket cries out to me, although I don’t need it!)
And you never have to tuck these shirts in – this one is actually a tunic:
(and this one isn’t long-sleeved – these rules are pretty flexible!)
Earrings – Talbots; ivory cardigan – J.Crew; striped tee – J.Crew; pants – J.Crew; loafers – Talbots
The various colors that appear in a print can make it easy to assemble your outfit – match a color with your pants or skirt, match another color with your 2nd layer, and you’re done!
Earrings – Nordstrom; cashmere cardigan – Lands’ End; sneakers – Ration.L. tie-dyed tee – Bikind; pants – L.L.Bean
So what might a 13-piece Weekly Timeless Wardrobe look like if you are trying to dress like the colors of Lake Michigan visible from my apartment window?
Lake blue and white tee shirts – L.L.Bean; light grey heather tee – L.L.Bean; gray heather flannel shirt – L.L.Bean; faded chambray gauze shirt – J.Crew; heather dove cardigan – J.Crew; winter mountains sweater – L.L.Bean; grey Shetland crewneck sweater – Benetton; plaid flannel shirt – WSL; grey dove jeans – J.Crew; indigo slate corduroy pants – L.L.Bean; sky blue sweater – Paisie; coal grey corduroy pants – J.Crew
This heroine may or may NOT go cross-country skiing with everyone; she could be the person who stays home and bakes cookies, or lasagna, or just takes a nap!
And that skiing might be hiking; while there’s almost certainly not snow right now, there’s no telling when it will arrive…
But she’s going to look lovely, no matter the weather!
I’m actually wearing shorts as I write this – we had a few days of autumn, and then “poof” back to warm weather!
love,
Janice
p.s. Just last year, we revisited a heroine who was giving church tours – at least when she wasn’t gazing lovingly at the Choir Director…
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Oh, Janice, my word! “So what might a 13-piece Weekly Timeless Wardrobe look like if you are trying to dress like the colors of Lake Michigan visible from my apartment window?” What an inspiration!! :-)
Love the abstract purple, teal and blue printed top that headlines this WTW post. The first outfit is me to a tee (please forgive the pun!) The purple cord shirt is the same colour as a purple boucle chenille cardigan I’ve just bought. I could also wear the top with teal.
I like the flexibility of printed tops as bridge pieces for wearing with alternative bottoms and a complimentary accent colour second layer. It mixes things up and provides possibilities for new colour combos. Light blue with light olive green might not seem a natural pairing but the patterned top brings them together. If wearing a second layer in a different accent seems too bold, then I pick it up in my jewellery or scarf.
Love the look back. One of my favourite stories and wardrobes – what happened next…?
Although I have a preponderance of purples and reds in my wardrobe, I’ve been introducing these blues and grays for about a year now. I’m still not sure they are my “best” colors, but I find myself very drawn to them. Thank you for another Monday morning treat!
Woke up yesterday to the first skiff of snow on the hills here in BC so sweaters and layers are on my mind. Your lake Michigan inspired wardrobe would need only a few tweaks, I prefer v necks, and it would do me just fine for the next while. I always find something lovely in your choices but that entire set is perfect. Thank you as always for the lovely start to my day. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!
I too prefer v-neck tee shirts but I always pack a cozy long soft scarf to wear around my neck. (Thurns a v- neck into a year- round tee shirt.)
I just ordered a print long sleeve tee from LL Bean after reading your post. They are having a 10% off sale through tonight, so I stocked up on a few basics too. I used the link through your site – I hope that you receive a commission.
Oh, dear Jackie, I DO get a commission – thank you so much for thinking of me! Missing days of work doesn’t do my income any favors….
big hugs,
Janice
I ordered that top, too via the link. A lot of TVF readers must have loved it because it’s now on back order! See what an influencer you are? I also bought a grey cardigan and a butter colored long-sleeved cotton T. I once had an entire grey and yellow capsule ordered from Carlisle when I was skinny. It’s really a lovely combination!
I placed another LLBean order last night through your link. Since the pandemic, I have been purchasing most of my clothing online – I will be mindful to use your links in the future!
Thank you for all you do!
The muted purple floral T and the mountain sweater are stand-out pieces, but the ivory + sandstone outfit is really calling my name. I’m not usually a big fan of wide-leg pants, but I like the sailor pants cut to these, and the whole outfit has a jaunty quality that I enjoy. (The J Crew wide-leg pants link is missing, by the way.)
I love the Lake Michigan wardrobe and I very easily could see these pieces fitting into the wardrobe of the Paysage de Neige by Renoir heroine (one of my favorites).
Just so happens that I’m wearing soft light blue and light grey today. I find these colours soothing and undemanding. The ski sweater would be a great alternative to the ubiquitous ‘Christmas jumper’ as it has longevity either side of Christmas.
I absolutely ABHOR Christmas sweaters! Unless it’s decades old (like from the ’80s) and whimsical or gaudy, I don’t want to see it. I know people who buy a new one EVERY YEAR and wear it 1 day, and then have them ALL collected in a cedar chest… It’s the perfect example of wastefulness, to me.
hugs,
Janice
I abhor Christmas sweaters too but when I had to wear one for various Christmas events, I thought outside the box.
I like garments in winter to be embellished with embroidery, crystals, beads, velvet and faux fur in the winter. Luxury and elegance.
So I searched for quite a while before I found a red cardigan edged with black velvet on collar, cuffs, and bottom edge. It was in a vintage shop. and is a US brand from the 1980’s. It stood out from all the other gaudy creations. The front of the cardigan has tiny beaded holly leaves scattered around. The black velvet has embroidered and beaded red cardinal birds. It’s elegant, distinctive, pretty and can be worn for winter events not just Christmas.
I also have a purple jumper with a pearl and crystal collar, and a silver long coatigan with faux fur collar and trim.
I’m with you 100%! It’s much less expensive to just add a stylish holiday brooch to a pretty winter cardigan. Or an elegant winter patterned silk scarf.
I am building my wardrobe in the direction of the Lake Michigan palette. I love every piece you chose for this presentation! I am finding that dove gray is drawing me in, while charcoal gray is too dark for me. I want it all!
I placed another LLBean order last night through your link. Since the pandemic, I have been purchasing most of my clothing online – I will be mindful to use your links in the future!
Thank you for all you do!
This is timely with our first light snow in Calgary yesterday. Cross country ski season is coming up and we’ll be hiking in the meantime. Thanks for these outfit possibilities.
However I was looking forward to seeing more printed long sleeve t shirts. Maybe you are having as much trouble as I am finding a long sleeved t with a print. It’s what I wear most in cool weather, under a cardigan, fleece jacket or flannel shirt. The search continues.
Thank you Janice!
I am on the track of a great cashmere sweater and the best value I have seen for one so far is one in this post for $80. I confess I was very unprepared for cashmere prices. In you opinion, what is the best cashmere sweater deal I am likely to come across?
Dear Teri,
For years, I felt that Lands’ End cashmere was the best value for money; I have a twinset from them that is at least 15 years old, which I machine wash, which looks good as new. But I haven’t bought one from them for a while… Maybe put a comment on today’s post – maybe ask a few times over the next few posts? – and see if any of our friends here have more recent experience, or a better suggestion.
Hugs,
Janice
Sorry. Not this post….your last post…