September 14, 2022
Remember our heroine, the photographer who was going to go hang out at the observatory for a few weeks?
This is what she is using as her inspiration for her travel wardrobe:
When we left this heroine, she had decided to pack this:
Hooded sweatshirt – L.L.Bean; earrings – Sorrelli; Arctic blue tee – L.L.Bean; blue chalcedony earrings – Alok Jain; cashmere sweater – At Last; chamois shirt – L.L.Bean; short-sleeved tee – & Other Stories; white shirt – Mango; long-sleeved striped tee shirt – Caslon; Arctic blue chamois shirt – L.L.Bean; cardigan – Caslon; scarf – Jessie Zhao New York; 2-toned scarf – Elizabetta; hollyhock purple Henley – Gap; socks – Nordstrom; sweatpants – L.L.Bean; knit cords – L.L.Bean; jeans – L.L.Bean; wool sneakers – Therafit
She discussed her plans with a number of other science photographers, and realized that she was probably going to be at the observatory longer than she had initially planned! For one thing, a pretty well-known astronomer is going to be visiting for a few days at the end of September, and she would be insane to miss the chance to meet him.
And there are a couple more astronomic events expected, so she just decided to stay two weeks longer. There’s going to be a (sort of) posh dinner for the famous scientist, so she decided to pack a skirt, just in case!
These are the clothes I see her taking adding to her initial travel capsule wardrobe:
Dahlia cashmere sweater – J.Crew; navy and white striped shirt – J.Crew; white cotton turtleneck – L.L.Bean; navy velvet skirt – Boden; navy wool sweater – L.L.Bean
But now she needs more accessories – especially shoes! She arranges a half-dozen of her outfits – from VERY casual to wearing her skirt – and accessorizes them as needed. That seems to take care of everything she might need:
Navy cashmere beanie – Cocoa Cashmere London; scarf – Talbots; boots – Spring Step
This is a wardrobe that could get most heroines through the majority of the winter!
If she ends up staying in a really utilitarian dorm-like room, she can always spread her scarves out somewhere to brighten things up!
Could you imagine being somewhere for most of a month, working on your favorite thing in the world?
If I had no other obligations, I might actually write a book!
love,
Janice
p.s. Seven years ago, I did a post for men! Specifically men with cool coloring, who were dressing for cool weather. Men’s clothing is SO much easier than women’s…
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This colour combo is sooo me! Thanks for always considering colours for those of us who loves them. Especially these days that everywhere I look for inspiration, I just feel drown in a sea of browns, light or dark.
Oooo a new post as a surprise!
And unsurprisingly it is beautiful as always!
I could see this level of formality working in a lot of hybrid offices these days! And what great bright colors! Please revisit this heroine in spring to see if she goes for pastels or in the heat if summer to see how she handles shorter pants and shorter nights!
Thank you!
That watch is so perfect for this heroine! I can’t believe how well it fits the theme.
I appreciate how with a few just a few additions to this curated wardrobe, the heroine of the story could focus on those new opportunities.
You asked about a month doing some loved thing; lambing season is that for me. Even though my flock is small, I appreciate the block of days I don’t schedule anything but farm chores, planning and especially as I age, recovering from late nights. Not sure why I don’t work more “structured” quiet time into my usual calendar, but I find lambing season restorative and a good start to spring. And after a few weeks of long underwear and insulated overalls, I love getting dressed up and visiting with friends.
Thank you for keeping the thread running.
The watch is a genius find. And the Katchmagic scarf iss, indeed, magic.. This is a brilliantly cohesive capsule.
Alas, this shade of pink does not like me – I love the rest of the pieces though! The watch and scarves are truly amazing.
I am intrigued by the beautiful chamois shirts, so practical as a transition piece in fall and warm and cosy with a turtle neck sweater in our cold Canadian winters. I love our heroines colour choices ❤️
I love this wardrobe! The only change I would make, if I could, would be to use a deeper blue violet in place of the lighter blue. But that’s not an easy color to find. Fuchsia, on the other hand, seems to be popular just now and I have bought several pieces. I adore all things celestial, so the accessories are perfect. And the scarves are divine, even though I don’t usually wear them.
Thank you for a lovely wardrobe story!
Enjoy the start from nature series. I would love to see a fall travel wardrobe using early James Webb telescope image of the Carina nebula as it’s basis. I would use cognac and navy as my neutrals but find myself wondering what would Janice do?
I sooo love this post. These colors are beautiful and I’m prepping for a trip to Italy in the spring …. this may be my start!!
I have been away for a couple of years personal then covid and I have missed seeing your posts! I’m so happy to be reading them again!
Yes, write a book! You know we all will buy one. 🙂
The navy velvet skirt? Perfection! Janice, you find the most amazing things! Thank you.
I love this continuation! These are some of my favorite colors and styles to wear. :)
Thanks Janice!
Thank you!
I was just doing the laundry from my last trip and realized I took three navy and white striped Ts. (and a red and white one, and a navy and white striped T-shirt dress.) I never felt like it was a problem on the trip, but I was feeling a bit sheepish about it, now.
And then I saw this post. If multiple navy and white stripes are good enough for one of your heroines, then I’m not going to fret that maybe I’m boring or in a rut.
Thanks for the confidence boost.
Lois
🤣 I had to go back and check. My eye (and brain) skipped right over the fact that three of the tops were navy and white stripe. Awesome. Works for me!
Look up the WONDERFUL author Laurie Colwin. She wore striped tee shirt pretty much all the time… And she wrote wonderful columns for Gourmet Magazine that were collected in 2 volumes. I loved her…
hugs,
Janice
It’s interesting because I’m a large woman, and we’re supposed to avoid stripes, but there is something about navy and white stripe that doesn’t work like that. It seems to break up all that expanse of one color without shouting. Helps that all of my Ts are v-neck I suppose.
I love this image and the colours. Some of the accessories are inspired – the watch, the lapis starburst brooch and the Elizabetta scarf.
Stars fascinate me. My son was showing me the Starwalk 2 app on his phone – point your phone anywhere in the sky and it will tell you which stars/planets/constellations in view. Light pollution is a real problem in the UK. Some areas are becoming Dark Sky areas. It’s amazing how many more stars and the Milky Way you can see.
Thank you for the look back for the men in our lives. I looked at the next one for men with warmer colouring. I found it a bit limited as a palette. My husband wears warmer colours as he has Auburn hair – all shades of cream/beige/camel/brown, olive/forest green, rich red/burgundy, rust/deep orange, petrol/teal blue, plum/deep purple. He also looks great in a black dinner suit.
Oh yes! Thank you for adding to this capsule. I love this so much, it may well become the basis of my own fall/winter closet. You do find the most amazing, beautiful, perfect accessories. I especially love the watch and the brooch. I was just reading an article about the royal jewels and how Queen Elizabeth would choose which brooche to wear based on the meaning or history behind the piece. Fascinating! I still think our heroine could use a backpack or tote, a mid-weight jacket, and maybe a more utilitarian watch as well. I would love to see how she would pack in other seasons.
That watch is utter perfection for our heroine!
Lovely cohesive wardrobe with accessories. Especially the watch!
I mentioned recently that I will be spending a winter week in Chicago and have no winter clothes. In my summer week I realized that I really didn’t have time for shopping, so I am resorting to online shopping. That pink and purple scarf from Elizabetta will tie together some pieces I have been considering so it’s on its way to me. Now I need to know what are the best sort of boots for walking/public transportation in the loop. Your heroines are always inspiring.
Warm and waterproof! Or you could just get rubber boots (less expensive!) and layer socks under them. If it has recently snowed here, the streets – especially the gutters – are often awash with slush. Ankle-deep slush. It’s wet, it’s filthy, and it’s cold, so be prepared…
hugs,
Janice
Yes PLEASE write your book!