December 11, 2023
She’s got FOUR books to read before the term starts in January. These aren’t lighthearted novels – these are serious studies of political philosophy…
She can do this!
And she’s not even nervous about it, because she has a plan.
She’s going away for the weekend, to someplace beautiful, but otherwise not the kind of place where there are lots of things that she likes to do! She’s not going to hike, or cross-country ski; she’s going to sit in her room by her fireplace (yep!) and read. 3 hours in the morning, 3 hours in the afternoon, at least…
She will dine, beautifully, in the dining room of the hotel, and then make an early night of it! Maybe more reading in bed?
3-stone earrings – Vir Jewels; grey sweater – Lands’ End; watch – Olivia Burton; coat – L.L.Bean; cashmere scarf – Scarves by Franci;grey pants – Lands’ End; bracelets – Fierce Lynx Designs; loafers – Aerosoles; tote bag – Campo Marzio Roma 1933
She’s not going to stay in her room ALL day – she will walk outdoors for lunch, and a quick breath of fresh air. But she won’t linger – she has a goal!
Square stone earrings – Latelita; necklace – Belpearl; rectangle stone earrings – Zohreh V. Jewellery; Foulard patch 42” tassel scarf – Echo; cashmere cardigan – L.L.Bean; cashmere turtleneck – L.L.Bean; Henley top – L.L.Bean; larkspur quarter-zip top – L.L.Bean; fleece-backed pants – L.L.Bean; larkspur tee – L.L.Bean; boots – Sorel
She knows that, when tackling a complex subject, it’s better for her to really immerse herself in it. Wallow in the terminology. Saturate her brain with the concepts. Sleep while wrapped in the history and analysis of her chosen subject…
She’s approaching it all with an open, welcoming, calm frame of mind. She’s excited to read these books, and she’s thrilled to have this opportunity…
To a younger person, this might seem like a burden – a chore that is worth avoiding.
To her, it’s a chance to know something. Understand. Absorb and emerge with a better grasp of a subject important to her!
Wise woman!
love,
Janice
p.s. 10 years ago, I was thinking about how one might pack when the weather at destination is uncertain…
p.p.s. I feel that it might be illuminating or interesting if I tell you about preparing this post.
When I started, and for at least 10 hours, I wasn’t able to find ANY garments at all in our shade of soft bluish purple. None.
When I got up the next morning to finish the post, I went to the L.L.Bean site to look for the last 2 garments for this post. I’d resigned myself to an “all-grey” wardrobe.
This tells us something about patience, I believe…
p.p.p.s. (I’ve got a lot on my mind, don’t I?) Two books well worth reading on current political trends – one quite simple (On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder) and one quite difficult (The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt.) I’m reading the Arendt currently…
Funny you should mention Arendt’s book. My VERY favorite political science professor assigned it to us many decades ago. I suspect Snyder’s book would have ended up on his class syllabus today as well. How I wish I could be in a class discussion with that professor again. There’s a lot to absorb in both books to be sure. Timothy Snyder has a few more books out which are on my reading list. (For those who aren’t familiar, Snyder is a professor at Yale.) I really must re-read Arendt.
I could live in LLBean most days. The style, quality and comfort suit my lifestyle and our winter climate. I had not been buying Bean’s clothing for awhile because their buyers have leaned hard toward muted shades, which make me feel faded. Can’t have THAT as I approach 70! Just recently discovered Bean’s alpine blue and fell in love all over again with the joy of wearing their cotton turtlenecks! I would dress head to toe in their alpine blue if offered.
L L Bean are fabulous. I discovered them visiting a relative in New England many many years ago, and loved the stuff I bought. Sadly no more trips across the pond, but perhaps I should investigate the cost of shipping to Europe, it could perhaps be well worth paying a bit more… I can buy Lands’ End, which I also discovered on my trips, here but L L Bean have always had the edge for me.
I’m in my mid-60’s & read the Arendt book as a political science major too.
Be still my heart – this almost could have been lifted from my closet. I love the larkspur color though I don’t have these particular pieces. I love LLBean. I have a coworker who recently moved here from Texas, and has been admiring my sweaters. I keep telling him “LLBean, man”. He told me last week he had their catalog and was marking the pages for a wish list. I wish I were going away for a reading weekend! Great way to start the day Janice, thank you.
That larkspur is absolutely delightful and would surely work with a multiplicity of neutral colours. Thank you, Janice, for persevering until you found it!
Also, that tote bag is calling to me….
Not just patience — persistence! Thank you, Mr. Bean.
This color scheme is made for silver-haired, cool-toned and blue/gray eyed me!
Same!
Me, three! I bought the bracelet!
I’m getting a set too – I’m VERY excited! Just enough purple for me…
hugs,
Janice
And me! This colour palette is adorable.
I think I could live in LL Bean’s larkspur and alpine blue with a base of light gray and white, and the occasional accent of baby pink and lavender. Lol. Such beautiful colors!!
I’m with all of the above; love this whole outfit and ordered the tee in larkspur and alpine blue immediately. Our political climate of angry hatefulness makes me despair.
When I was a poor student, I would have relished the opportunity to take my politics books away for a weekend and just read! How I struggled through the Arendt book back then….maybe I should reread it now. Lovely wardrobe and story….I will check out Timothy Snyder.
I absolutely love this whole wardrobe. LLBean for the win! Patience, persistence and a plan. The lessons I’ve learned from reading your blog. Thank you.
I have a larkspur blue polo neck and cord over shirt from LL Bean which I bought last month as a present to myself, The postage to Scotland is free over £75, taxes are already included in the price, so no nasty surprise costs on delivery!! It is very, very easy to spend that amount in LL Bean.
I love this wardrobe. Larkspur is a shade lighter than periwinkle. If she needed an extension the throwing in slate blue/light denim and lilac/lavender would do very well. I’m wearing a Liberty floral print in these colours. Soft and muted.
I’m not sure that I could read even one page of something so heavy as political theory. Social history is about as academic as I can get.
There you are! I’ve missed you! The Larkspur does have a definite lavender/lilac hue to it. It’s so pretty though.
Hi Sheila! Life suddenly got hectic in the past month – daughter’s wedding, meetups with friends, rehearsals, concerts, parties and Christmas is looming! I’m dragging out my sparkly outfits.
I should make it clear – the Snyder book is NOT difficult at all. Which is quite the accomplishment for him, because he’s a brainiac! But it’s short chapter – what one might call bathroom reading???
hugs,
Janice
If you enjoy reading Timothy Snyder in short bursts, check out his Substack, Thinking About…
https://snyder.substack.com/
It’s free or you can choose to subscribe to support his writing. And the comments section is filled with thoughtful reader commentary that followers of TVF may enjoy.
He also has made his Fall 2023 Yale lecture class, The Making of Modern Ukraine, available to all. Link to the syllabus below. Weekly lectures on YouTube (link to the videos on the syllabus page).
https://snyder.substack.com/p/syllabus-of-my-ukraine-lecture-class
As for our heroine’s wardrobe – it’s the perfect pack for “Think Week”. I’m planning my first scheduled Bill Gates recommended Think Week for 2024. Very excited! I’ve got a long list of books to choose from. Love the idea of doing three hour reading blocks interspersed with lovely meals and breaks for fresh air. Sounds wonderful!
Larkspur. Just the color I was looking for for my winter capsule. Ordered five pieces.
LL Bean and Lands’ End clothing suit my more casual, retirement lifestyle. And, because I’ve ordered from them for years, I know what sizes to order and always check their comment section just to be sure.
I did order 4 Larkspur garments from LL Bean – turtleneck, elbow-length tee, cable-knit cardigan and soft twill checked shirt (on sale now!). While Larkspur is a softer color than I usually wear, it is lovely enough that I will make it work in my wardrobe. If looking for Periwinkle, Larkspur leans purple while Lands’ End Chicory leans blue and is more vibrant.
Following Vivienne has taught me to focus more on solid garments. Now, when a color is available in my palette, I purchase a few pieces so they can work together. In the past, I’ve purchased a lot of prints and coordinating solids but prints aren’t as versatile when putting together a travel capsule wardrobe. Travel was the main reason I started following Vivienne, along with a love of working with colors.
Re: Fierce Lynx Designs which is based in Canada. When you order from them, the total you see at checkout is in Canadian dollars but your credit card statement will have a lower (20-25%) amount because of the exchange rate. The company has great customer service with quick response, and the product is nicely packaged.
Thank you so much for the kind words about Fierce Lynx Debra! Yvonne and I do our very best to make shopping with us a great experience. The exchange rate is definitely in your favour if you’re spending USD these days. I’m thrilled this bracelet set has been so well received. I adore these colours too and have more of these sets coming asap!
What a wonderful weekend plan. What a wonderful wardrobe to execute it in. Love the Larkspur, though it is a bit muted for me. The Alpine Blue is better but doesn’t speak to me like the Larkspur.
I’m seriously considering getting the bracelets. They are too beautiful for words.
Oh, Janice!
Could you possibly expand on this fabulous wardrobe? This looks like it was created just for me!
Perhaps adding navy…? Or whatever your imaginative brain can come up with?
Warm regards, Karmen
Beautiful wardrobe. And fun story. I love both the flower and the colour “larkspur”.
Another (pretty accessible) and great book is by wonderful writer, historian and Pulitzer winner Anne Applebaum “The Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism”. “Explains why political systems with radically simple beliefs are appealing, esp. when they benefit the loyal to the exclusion of everyone else” Sounds a bit familiar.
I need to add these books to my reading list! “Democracy Awakening” by Heather Cox Richardson is another one I want to read as I read her daily newsletter.
I love hearing specific shades of blue people are finding. Lately, Lands End has been my go-to for a lot of my wardrobe. Their no iron shirts are amazing as well as their 5 pocket active pants. Their deep sea navy is a lighter navy that I really like. I still want to try one of their cashmere sweaters.
Another daily Letters From An American reader here! 🙂
You might also like Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines by David Pepper. David is a writer, lawyer, former elected official, and served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021.
Thank you! I will check that out. I live on the Kentucky-Ohio border and am somewhat familiar with him.