February 8, 2023
Okay, there’s nothing resembling Spring in Chicago right now – although I did walk home from Physical Therapy in my shorts! People thought I was nuts…
I have two things in mind today – first is that eventually we should all take a close look at our clothes and accessories for the upcoming season to make sure that everything is in good condition. No yellowed whites? No run-down heels on our espadrilles?
And secondly, I want to have an outfit ready to roll if/when we get one of those freakishly warm days!
Earrings – Mignonne Gavigan; scarf – Harlan Collective; fuchsia tee – J.Crew; gold tote – Flora Bella; orange skirt – J.Crew; sandals – Vionic
If you want to pull together an outfit in unusual (or unusual for you!) colors, it might be wise to get an early start, before all of the really nice things sell out!
Pink sweater blazer – J.Crew; orange earrings – Toolally; floral shirt – J.Crew; white jeans – J.Crew; pink bag – Belle & Bloom; orange flats – 8 by Yoox
No flowers poking up through the snow here! But then again, no snow…
Maybe this is a good time to update some of your neutral essentials, and add a pretty accent color…
Heather stone cashmere sweater – J.Crew; blue chalcedony earrings – Gem Bazaar Jewellery; blue top – J.Crew; scarf – Jessie Zhao New York; gold flats – Sam Edelman; stone pants – L.L.Bean
Or maybe you have to dress like an adult…
Square earrings – Rachel Glauber; dark mink cardigan – Boden; frog prince brooch – Simon Harrison; black top – J.Crew; shoes – Linea Paolo; linen skirt – J.Crew
Do your black and white outfits need an update?
Black & white cardigan – Lands’ End; earrings – Milacolato; tee shirt – Aragona; tote bag – Tuckernuck; cropped chinos – Lands’ End; flats – David Tate
Maybe black and beige is much easier to wear in your life:
Tipped cardigan – Alex Mill; onyx earrings – Madewell; black tee – L.L.Bean; bag – Vince Camuto; flats – Vaneli; ecru pants – Alex Mill
I already have the cardigan above, and beige pants… I’m wicked tempted by a pair of spectator flats, or 2-tone penny loafers…
love
Janice
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Hope your PT is going well. I remember when I had my knee replaced 11 years ago, I cried one day when 3 therapists were pushing down on me. Fun times! I totally hear you about checking on the condition of our spring/summer clothes. Since I now live in year-round warm weather, my lighter clothes get much more washing and wear. I took my oldest white shorts, pants and tees over Christmas when we went to visit the family/grandkids in Australia and left them there. I’m in the process of updating a few items. I’ll never give up black, but am trying to find more things in navy blue.
This series is always such a pleasure to wake up to with the beautiful photos. I love love love the orange and pink – probably wouldn’t wear it, but I do love the bright cheerfulness! Most of these selections are more “dressy” than I would wear on a day to day basis. Love the variations on black and white/beige. Those colors look crisp and cool.
Love every single one of the outfits. Could and would wear any of them.
The beige/”sail blue”/gold outfit is just gorgeous (that scarf!) but the top gave me pause after seeing it on the model. It’s unfortunate that J. Crew only shows very thin models because it’s hard to visualize how an item like scales up. I mean, no doubt they have XXS 19 year old customers who don’t plan to wear a bra and are excited to see how it looks in that situation, but…
My other favorite is the orange + light pink outfit – trade in the white jeans for blue and I’d be all over it!
The phrase “have to dress like an adult” with the black/beige outfit…well, it makes me wonder…and it made me just a bit sad. I guess I don’t have such a strong or narrow sense of what it means to “dress like an adult”!
I’m thinking of the woman who has to meet with the Board of Directors, who will all be wearing suits! Many of my friends and acquaintances still have “those” meetings, in which it is appropriate for them to wear a suit or something similarly modest and sober. It’s not always fun…
hugs,
Janice
I always think of it as “dressing like a grown-up” when I have to wear business drag.. and I’m late 50s now so definitely a grown up!
When I was in my 20s at my first corporate job and feeling that impostor syndrome, I called my mom and asked how old you are when you start feeling like a grownup. She replied, “I’ll let you know!”
Ah yes, the “dressing as an adult” for those serious times when coming across with a professional presentation is key. I did like that she adding personality to her look with the pin!
Oh Sally, we can’t be expected to be ENTIRELY grown-up!
hugs,
Janice
In that case I’ve never dressed as an adult. My one and only suit was lilac wool with a stripey purple blouse! I wore it for my first interview, got the job and didn’t wear it as a suit again. My ‘business dress’ was a colourful dress or two-piece with a coordinating jacket or coat. Now I’d wear trousers and a blouse with a cardigan.
This all sounds lovely – I’m so happy that so many women were never forced into the “navy suit white shirt red wee floppy bow tie” look that haunts the 1980s for me.
hugs,
Janice
I love the orange skirt, pink tee combo. I often wore that in my twenties, and also a red/pink combo. Lovely in an Antipodean summer. But likely to overwhelm me forty years later :)
The fuchsia and orange scarf bringing together the fuchsia tee and orange skirt is just *chef’s kiss.* Even more impressive that they’re not from the same shop! Nice!
Janice you should get the two tone loafers from the other day (I think you showed them in brown/cream maybe, but they come in black/white too!). I took my off season clothes out of the two bins I have last night and sorted them to my spring color story (grey, navy, denim, pink, turquoise and yellow). I really think that I am set for clothes, with the exception of maybe sewing up some new basic tees that are wearing out. Where I am at a loss is for shoes! I just got shoe inserts (I have bone spurs on my heels) and figuring out what those fit in is a chore! I have found that Dr. Scholl’s shoes are just as comfy as wearing my insert. I think I will have to do a combo of shoes the insert fits with and some that are comfy without.
I’m afraid that pink and orange has always jarred with me. The only pieces I would wear would be the pink jacket and bag which I would wear with a white tee and silver grey trousers.