August 4, 2023
Let’s see what our other 3 heroines have going on in their wardrobes…
Our first heroine’s wardrobe from last month was 23 pieces that gave her a good range of options…
This heroine was thinking of another skirt; as much as she loves her navy one, she would like one in olive! And while she’s at it, she just wants to fill in some more olive in her wardrobe.
And she knows that if she wants olive tall boots, she’d better get on it!
I know that it seems really early to look at tall boots, but if you need a pair, don’t delay! You’d be amazed at how many pairs of boots I almost added to these wardrobes, only to find that they’re already sold out in a lot of sizes… sheesh!
This is what our heroine shops for this month:
Earrings – Ilaya Adriana; waffle tee shirt – L.L.Bean; cashmere hooded sweatshirt – Marks & Spencer; boots – Bos. & Co.; scarf – Orvis; skirt – Marks & Spencer
Yes, the earrings are a bit dressy when shown with this outfit, but she doesn’t necessarily plan to wear all of these things together…
Her wardrobe isn’t really different now – just a bit more balanced for colors, and offering more options:
And these accessories might tempt one to re-do their entire wardrobe!
Being a practical sort of woman, she gets her new clothes home and IMMEDIATELY tries on new outfits…
Next up is our very autumn-hued painting; I’m still always forgetting that this is Renoir, because it’s not what I expect from him. Shows what I know about art, eh?
This is such an interesting color palette – our heroine could concentrate on navy for dressy/office clothes, and green for leisure… There are lots of ways to make this work!
Her wardrobe last month is lovely, but doesn’t have a real core in any color.
While navy would be the easiest color to find in stores, our heroine decides to look first for some brown, and an ivory top…
Ivory tee – Alex Mill; horse brooch – Fable England; cashmere cardigan – J.Crew; boots – Børn; scarf – Susi Bellamy; corduroy pants – Lands’ End
Wow! The 2 additional brown garments suddenly make this a very “brown and beige” wardrobe…
Her accessories could use a little bit more focus too… That takes time!
Putting her new clothes in outfits is a little bit challenging, given the wide range of colors in her wardrobe. Shoes are kind of tricky…
Last, let’s visit our vibrant friend with the black-based wardrobe:
When this heroine looked into her closet at the end of July, she found that she has plenty to wear, if she’s happy wearing pink A LOT. And frankly, she’s feeling just a little bit Barbie, which is fine, but not what she wants long-term.
She realizes that she could REALLY use some black classics…
Black cardigan – J.Crew; scarf – Luna & Avery; earrings – Latelita; tee shirt – L.L.Bean; boots – Aquatalia; skirt – J.Crew
Her updated wardrobe looks more like she actually HAS a neutral base…
I wouldn’t mind if each and every one of these accessories showed up on my doorstep! Except the whole storage space issue…
Even though she feels confident that she hasn’t put a foot wrong in this shopping spree, she still comes home to make certain that everything hangs together in the way that she images. Sometimes things don’t look the way you think they will, and you want to know that before you’re 5 minutes from heading out the door!
Now that these are wrapped up, I have to admit that the last wardrobe is very much like my own (only with a LOT less black!).
But I could still be tempted into the all-brown wardrobe, if I had to start from scratch!
love,
Janice
But seriously, I remember a winter in which I looked high and low for boots (I wasn’t living in Chicago at the time, and it was in the days before the internet!) and found that so many of them were sold out in my size. It wasn’t fun…
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Dear Vivienne
I’m a new subscriber and finding the ideas really helpful, although of course the UK doesn’t always have those exact clothes . Living in London there is more pressure to keep up with fashion so our trousers are getting wider and tops fuller/shorter, but it is lovely to see so many choices for different colours as otherwise I tend to sink into navy/black/grey with the occasional scarf to jazz things up! I also love art , so your entry to clothes through paintings suits me perfectly.
My main difficulty is that only a few of the clothes seem to have info attached (perhaps I need to look at past posts for that). For instance, where are those nice olive ankle boots from and how much do they cost? Perhaps if I understood Pinterest better I could get an idea, but whenever I look on that site I’ve also been baffled. It will be so nice if you see this message and have time to reply and lead me to understand your site better. Meanwhile greetings from Amanda
Hi there!
I’m not Vivienne, but I still might be able to help you out. For the Six Paintings – 12 Months posts, the link info for the clothes tends to appear only in the posts where that item was originally added. I’m not sure when the ankle boots were added, but if you go back through each month’s post for these wardrobes, you should be able to find where those boots first appeared, and the link for them underneath the image.
I hope this was helpful!
Morning, to get the information on a product you’ll need to go back to the original post when they first appeared in the wardrobe. There will be a link underneath the picture of what’s being added for that particular month that should get you the info. I usually do a search for “Six paintings, 12 months” and can usually tell by the thumbnail what items were added in any particular month. If that makes sense.
Found the boots in January post
Sadly none of these appeal to me. I ought to love the Kirchner but the fluorescent pink just seems too bright against the soft and muted shades of blue and purple. Black just seems too overpowering. I’m hoping that you’ll find a patterned shirt or tee that will bring the colours together on the Rothko – navy shirt with yellow flowers and olive leaves? I’m surprised that you didn’t expand the green in the Renoir as it now looks lacking.
However, I loved the look back. The purple scarf is a favourite.
So fun to see everything laid out in colors! Like paper dolls……I need to find a way to do this in order to see which works with what, and what seems to be lacking, not to mention what seems to be unnecessary! A good and interesting exercise. Thank you!
Beth T – Glad to have you back, I have missed your comments. Regarding the boots debate, my son’s girlfriend has been wearing white knee high cowboy boots for the last month or so – even in our 80 degree weather. And Pink! Pink is just everywhere right now! Ok, all that being said, my own closet is most like the Rothko or the Renoir. Navy, Brown, Olive – not the copper or beige though. I have some orange accents and prints with orange and navy, and I just added a French Five in lavender. I never noticed those abalone earrings in the last wardrobe – those are amazing. Never hurts to add more core items – the workhorses of a wardrobe. Have a good weekend everyone.
The Lollapalooza crowd, who have taken over downtown Chicago, are rocking white cowboy boots. I just hope that their foot hygiene is up to snuff!
hugs,
Janice
Hi,
Help, please! I’ll be walking “The Camino “ this October. Days are spent walking, evenings at beautiful Spanish cathedrals. I purchased an Athleta pleated skirt but I don’t know how to pack it in my small carryon, different hotel every night.
Any, and all, suggestions from you beautiful ladies would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Pat
Aww thanks Sheila. 😊 It’s been a rum couple of months but I have been following VF.
It is a sanctuary of peace and loveliness when life throws a wobbly. I think we might just have some sun in the UK next week – better late than never.
Once again, you’ve found an exquisite range of accessories for each capsule.
I get the feeling that many retailers are caught a bit flat-footed on pink this fall. The “just arrived” items I’m seeing on websites are veering into all kinds of colors, (Brown seems to be making a stronger appearance.) I’m amused at how some websites are frantically calling anything that’s not a true red or orange red a pink! One retailer had a color that looked like a hazy maroon which it called pink.
😏. I would happily wear the right pink a lot.
Lovely to watch how the additions offer possibilities. Just changing the shoes can really change the tone. I have to say two pairs of blue flats isn’t too many if they are comfortable and they go with your chosen colors. I’m willing to bet that many women have two pairs of black flats! Sometimes a particular color becomes difficult to find and one needs to strike when one can. Monet and Kirchner are my favorites with Rothko very close.
The black and white based wardrobe has an intensity that I really like, but the first one with navy, olive, and yellow is probably the one that would suit me best. The color palette of the second one is promising but the actual wardrobe is developing with way more of that warm brown than I’d want to wear. The navy and olive are starting to look a little orphaned, but no doubt that can be remedied in the coming months.
These are all lovely wardrobes on their own terms, for the right person. If you look good in muted and/or warm tones, this should be a bonanza for you. I do appreciate your featuring a warm weather option.
The Kirchner is the exception to my generalizations, and I was looking forward to fuchsia and deep purple. I know that you’re limited by what colors are available, but I’m not in love with the bright pink.
As it happens, the Kirchner was featured in an art book that I am studying for my docent training at the Norton Museum of Art. In my reproduction, the blue on the sides of the painting appears to be teal. Which would be a very happy addition in my view.
We’re all different, and that’s a wonderful thing, but I’m yearning for brighter, cooler, and more varied colors – red, blue, green – and higher contrast.
As always, the scarves and accessories are amazing!
Thank you for everything you do!
I LOVE the colors in the Renoir, but the items are too casual for my lifestyle…. I still go into the office every day.
It is really fun to track the items you find, Janice. You really know how to extract the gems from the internet!
I have been working into the Renoir color scheme, slowly, over the summer. I am really, really liking it. I didn’t know I would like olive so much. With four neutrals that play fairly well together, it has been easy to vary it according to season. Getting browns is easier this time of year, so strike when the iron is hot, as they say. I suspect the navy core pieces will appear when the weather turns. I have used beige or light tan for hot weather items and it has been amazingly easy. I am also wondering if different shades of olive would work. Lighter, maybe sage-like for warm weather. Like the brown that veered to rust in the capsule. I also found the post before these two, about what to pair with olive to be very useful. Can’t wait to see the accent colors.
For anyone who wants to add some brown linen, Lands End has some pieces on sale (varying availability w/r/t size): https://www.landsend.com/products/womens-linen-long-sleeve-oversized-extra-long-tunic-top/id_379574?attributes=21012,44256,44967 and there are matching cropped trousers for plus and petite sizes.
Of the six wardrobes, I like the colour-scheme of the Monet the best for myself. And the painting. But I have been finding it fun to try out the other wardrobes on differently-complected friends, in my mind. I have a brown-haired, brown-eyed friend who would look gorgeous in both the Renoir & the Rothko. And a strawberry blonde (still!) friend who would suit the Degas (? – all the browns & creams). If I don’t like the garment style in a particular colour, I imagine another garment in that colour. I’ve also been having fun anticipating what the monthly additions might be. Sometimes I’m right! very exciting, like with the black neutrals for the Kirchner today.
A day late to the post, but had to say that the brown in the Renoir is making me like that capsule so much more. Also wanted to share for the olive fans that Talbots has a lovely machine washable cotton cardigan in what they call deep moss, but I think is olive. It is also in a lovely blue called lakeshore. As someone who is generally cold, I think having at least three basic cardigans is important. I know how hard it can be to find basics in non black at a mid level price…so wanted to share the info. I can’t be sure if this is one of their good guality pieces that will last a dozen years or only 3. I have had good luck with most of their things, but 3 years ago ended up with one dud of a sweater that did not wear well. I wear it only at home because it looks as if it has been in a war zone.
Hi Ann – my best suggestion for the Camino is use one of the services that takes your luggage to your next destination – they’re very cheap and efficient and saves your back – especially if the weather is very hot! I would never bother carrying it again unless you really are going to be happy in a few hiking outfits.
Not everyone will agree – but I was pretty darn happy to have a clean dress/sandals to wear each evening!
Yes, Kris, I agree. Hotels, luggage transfers are in place. I just don’t know how to pack a pleated skirt in a small bag. Any thoughts to help prevent creases. May have to steam in the bathroom.
Thanks?
Pat
Very late to the discussion here, but I’m amazed that our Kirchner heroine does not yet have a “little black dress”. In fact she’s the only one who doesn’t have a dress at all! I suppose the pleated skirt and the tank top could serve, or maybe the skirt and the long sleeved tee.
I loved today’s accessories. I’m really reining myself in when it comes to that horse brooch! Impulse buys are my downfall. But it’s very small, and affordable, and totally adorable. Quick! Someone stop me before I buy!
I am really enjoying watching how the Rothko comes together. In a weird way, it’s sort of like my fall wardrobe– if the yellow and olive swap places, the olive becomes a burgundy/rose blend and the yellow turns into forest green, it would actually look a lot like what I have in my closet.
I think that heroine needs a pair of citrine earrings for a little sunny sparkle :-)
I love the Renoir but those colors are, alas, just the sort of colors that make me look ill. The Kirchner is in my colors but I like those colors so much more in February than I do in August. Right now I’m just not feeling it.
The