March 1, 2023
I’m somewhat gobsmacked that it’s already March…
Let’s see what our heroines are up to!
Our first heroine is a pretty casual person – she would like to add some olive green to her wardrobe, in separates that she can wear with everything else in her wardrobe.
This is what she finds:
Earrings – Banana Republic; tee – L.L.Bean; wheat cardigan – Burrows & Hare; bracelet – Banana Republic; pants – L.L.Bean; wool slip-on shoes – Woolloomooloo
Oh, she now has so many possibilities! Relaxed, warm, but nicely pulled together…
She obviously can wear her new clothes together as 1 outfit, but she has other possibilities:
I love the autumn-y feeling that seems to permeate this wardrobe. This makes sense, once you look at her favorite painting!
Our next heroine has decided that she wants some dressier garments – not necessarily an outfit, but maybe just pieces that will elevate the dressiness of an outfit.
This could certainly be an outfit, although that wasn’t the original goal!
Earrings – Loca; yellow cardigan – J.Crew; olive ruffled shirt – Alex Mill; navy poplin skirt – Alex Mill; bag – Betsy & Floss; navy espadrilles – Patricia Green
The limited colors in the wardrobe might eventually get to be a problem, but for now our heroine seems to have assembled some nice, versatile things!
What’s she going to do with those new clothes? Let’s look:
Our next heroine is also looking for some pretty things. This isn’t surprising; this entire wardrobe could easily be described as pretty!
One can’t really wear these 3 garments together; I could see this as 2 outfits:
Chalcedony earrings – Syna Candy; light blue cashmere t-shirt – J.Crew; striped, ruffled shirt – J.Crew; straw bag – LIKHÂ; icy blue ballet flats – J.Crew; linen skirt – J.Crew
Yes, her earrings are very expensive. But if you’re going to wear this shade of blue for the rest of your life, you can make the excuse!
What a lovely wardrobe!
And her new garments expand the versatility of her wardrobe by quite a bit:
If you were given 1 of these wardrobe – entirely in your sizes, of course – how would you feel wearing one of these for a week or two? Or maybe traveling with one of these?
I like to think that I could wear any of them, but I wonder if I would miss wearing black…
love,
Janice
I was wearing pretty much the exact same outfit as the Paysage Algérian choice last week! Sub in grey for the navy and fiddle with the browns a bit and I would happily give it a try. I wouldn’t buy it, but would try it if I was given it.
Here’s another gem to save to our list of wise advice from Janice. I’m old enough to know that a tasteful pair of earrings in a stunning signature color will end up in your ears repeatedly, year after year. 😍
“Yes, her earrings are very expensive. But if you’re going to wear this shade of blue for the rest of your life, you can make the excuse!”
I think I would have to go with Paysage Algérian, mainly because of the skirt and blouse added to the Rothko. Switch those out for something less “fussy” in a blouse and a pair of pants and I’d be good with that one…. So look forward to these posts every month. Have a good day everyone!
ps about missing black. I haven’t been wearing my black much at all. BUT when I think of getting rid of it, or not buying any more, it occurs to me that many times items will come in black and not any other color. Eileen Fisher – I’m looking at your staples! Not that I buy a ton of Eileen Fisher – but best example I could think of! Black can be easier when you’re looking for something.
By the same token, *not* wearing black and this having fewer choices helps to curb unnecessary spending. None of that “well I can always use another pair of black pants” thinking.
I can see both sides to this “not wearing black” issue. I agree that it can definitely cut down on shopping/spending when you can just ignore that large swathe of black on the market! I think that’s how my “not buying more black for summer” policy is working for me. But for some women, it can also be a little too limiting. I’m esp. thinking of women who struggle to find items in a size/fit, style, print/texture, fabrication, comfort level, sustainability quotient, quality level, price point, etc., that works for them. It could be that once you eliminate all the black items, it becomes a lot of harder to find items that check all their boxes. And we know that compromising on some of these elements can lead to a cycle of buy, don’t wear, purge, buy, don’t wear, purge that is unhealthy for the wallet and the planet.
This makes me think that a “how to wear those few black items in a wardrobe that isn’t really built on black” could be interesting and helpful both to those who sometimes buy black because that’s what they can find that checks their boxes and those who may have some beloved black items they would like to keep wearing even though it’s not a big part of their current color palette.
The “pretty” ivory plus pastels wardrobe is the closest to my wheelhouse in both colours and vibe. I’m a skirt and dress wearer so I just mentally change the pants to skirts and it’s all good!
Janice, you had me smiling reading your ending question. You would 100% miss wearing black while wearing one of these wardrobes for a week or two! They’re very far removed from your happy place.
I could absolutely wear the Renoir wardrobe for a week. And I do! Although similar to the Rothko, the yellow in the Rothko turns me off. All the colours of the Renoir wardrobe work for me and play well with my gold jewelry. I’d like to find an olive dress.
Wearing any of these wardrobes for a week or two would feel like a dream.
Passage Algerian is lovely but would swop the brown for pale blue and keep the brown for leather accessories. The Rothco I would swop the yellow for pale blue again. The Paul Klee is altogether too pale and wishy washy for me and I would need a darker colour to anchor it down. Again navy would do this perfectly. Those blue ballet flats are calling my name though.
I should say thank you – these wardrobes inspired me to build a green and blue capsule at the start of the year.
I can clearly say that while I can wear olive green and denim blue together, I hate it. So for me, while the autumnal first wardrobe has so much appeal as a painting, the wardrobe will not. I much prefer the lighter colours, so the last wardrobe appeals, but not the pink. None of them feel like “my” style either, which actually I’m thrilled about as it means I’ve learnt a lot about not only my colour preferences but also my style preferences over the years of reading you!
This was not my in-box, should I just resubscribe or something else going on?
I’m having chocolate coated FITS with email right now – try to resubscribe and see what happens!
technology challenged hugs,
Janice
The Renoir color wheel is my color palette exactly! I prefer faded denim blue to navy, and have more rust-colored items than beige or tan, but I would be happy to wear everything in this wardrobe except the plaid scarf as I do not care for plaid. BTW, the koala scarf in the Rothko wardrobe also suits the Renoir collection (I loved that scarf so much when you first posted it here that I stalked it for about a year and finally managed to get one on sale!).
None of these appeal to me as a travel wardrobe. I never wear olive green, and the Klee, although close, relies on beige rather than white as a neutral. Beige never enters my wardrobe. But I’m looking forward to Wednesday and the Berlin Street wardrobe with the vibrant pink!
Relaxed, warm, nicely put together – sounds like my style goals! I would choose the wardrobe based on the Renoir.
The Renoir, 100%, both in style and colorway. I am actually trying to incorporate more green and gold/camel into my wardrobe. I am a total “wine-o” and am no longer allowing myself to buy anything in that color, and I topped up my browns in the last year or so.
The last wardrobe, although not at all my colors, really impresses me. You’ve got the pastels without it looking too Easter bunny. Also, I think if the sizes were right, you could (and some would) layer that cashmere tee over the blouse, so it *could* be an outfit
I really love the casual vibe of the Renoir outfit even if the colors aren’t quite right for me. That would be my choice. Janice, just a heads up, when I clicked on the navy Rothko skirt link it took me to the ruffly blouse. I like how you have included bottoms with a lot of color variety this round and the outfits have more colors in them (I am a multiple outfit color kind of girl!).
Dear Kristi,
Thanks for letting me know about that link – I can’t check them all, or the powers that be think that I’m somehow cheating the system. Sheesh!!!
hugs,
Janice
The new additions to each wardrobe are beautiful! I can see myself wearing each item with sheer delight. You’re so right about the chalcedony and diamond earrings; they are a real find! Thank you so much. 💓
Amy
If I had to choose one of the three, I’d go for the Rothko blue/green/yellow, even though I don’t think I wear yellow well. I’m looking forward to seeing what our iconoclast is up to.
As far as black, I’ve all but given it up. I wear navy as my main neutral now. But sometimes you need that black for seriousness, and I’ve held onto a few black pieces for those moments. My favorite work blazer is grey and black and I have saved black pieces to wear with it so I can keep it in my wardrobe.
I would be happy to wear the Renoir any time. It suits my style and complexion.
There is something jarring about the Rothko I can’t quite explain as I do like the green and yellow but cannot find myself liking the navy.
The Paul Klee pretty wardrobe is indeed pretty but too insipid for me.
I agree with ceepluse that the koala bear scarf suits the Renoir outfits. It is something I could easily incorporate into my outfits.
Regarding wearing or not wearing black. I don’t wear it as a general rule although I have a good suit, another timeless style smart jacket and a jumper, a few tops and linen trousers. All are rarely worn but kept for those occasions when I need them.
Janice,
Paysage Algerien for me — worn in Autumn . I have found that I tire of olive green in the other three seasons and even though it limits my choices somewhat, I restrict it to late Summer and all of Fall and early Winter . I can’t tell on my monitor — is the darkest neutral here black or navy ? I would have to sub out both for a denim blue or a chocolate brown color as even navy has become harsh and too dark for me to wear , and black is just not me . I tried wearing black, because it is ubiquitous in the marketplace, but it just did nothing for my warm , light coloring .
I am loving the Renoir group Have shopped my closet for this one It has really helped me pull outfits together. As for the Rothko offering this month, I feel like the pieces are incongruous with the simplicity of the painting. Somehow I don’t see the ruffled shirt and gathered skirt here. This painting screams streamlined to me. The yellow sweater is way too electric in color.the Rothko is my favorite group and I look forward to the months ahead! Such a fun project to follow.
Your Files have given me a different way to look at my clothing needs. As a recently retired RN, I’ve purged my wardrobe of uniforms & ill-fitting items. I’m using your Paysage Algérion selections to supplement what I currently have.
I would like to make one small request… could you make some suggestions for pants with a selection of leg lengths. My inseam is 35 – 36 inches long and I have a very difficult time finding pants appropriate for me. Thank you!
I am 100% behind the Paul Klee wardrobe. I would take that one at the drop of a hat! I love that you have a wardrobe with white as the neutral, and the only accent color I don’t wear is yellow. It’s basically my wardrobe!