Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature
December 11, 2013
As much as I love to use a scarf as an accent to an outfit, once the weather starts to get cold, I find that I often turn to my black, black and white, or grey scarves. A little bit of texture, a subtle print, or a pattern can lend a lot of interest to a monochromatic outfit.Tomorrow, I'll show you scarves from the other 8 neutral colors - I'm now including rust and teal as neutrals!
love, Janice ... View the Post
October 3, 2013 So, I decided against an eternity scarf, and decided to purchase this beauty instead.
And as I admired how really pretty it is, and how nice the accents in ruby are, in the middle part of the scarf, I got to thinking about how this could be a really great focal point around which one could build their autumn wardrobe. What a beautiful color scheme it suggests:
I already have my autumn wardrobe well and completely purchased, but if I were to go on a big shopping spree, this might be a fun splurge.
Wool coat- Vanessa Bruno, earrings – Novica, sweater- Cuple, flannel trousers – Carven, silk blouse – Emporio Armani, bracelet – CoriNa Mardari, tee ... View the Post
July 31, 2013 Start with these beautiful scarves (mixing a cool blue with a warm russet red) to choose a small, uncomplicated travel capsule wardrobe that would see you from a dressy dinner to a very casual day sightseeing. Enjoy!
love, Janice ... View the Post
July 12, 2013 These scarves are sufficiently beautiful that they would make a compelling focus for one's wardrobe. Even if you didn't wear the scarf every day, using the colors in it as a unifying theme for your purchases could be a brilliant idea...
Ruffled silk scarf – Anne Selby
Olive coat – Jil Sander, olive sweater- Ralph Lauren, Earrings – Georg Jensen, Silk top – Jil Sander, Grey cardigan – Tsumori Chisato, Taupe cotton velvet jeans –Brunello Cucinelli, Taupe sweater – Nina Ricci, Suede skirt – Jitrois, Bracelet – Gag and Lou, Bag – TSM The Swedish Model, Loafers –Geox, Pumps – RSVP, Grey jeans – BLK ... View the Post
June 13, 2013
It's tempting to starting thinking of each scarf as being "married" to (or at least going steady with) a particular outfit that you own, and moreover, to always reach for the same scarf when you put on a favorite outfit. I do this often, and I'm trying to break out of this habit, and shake up my scarf/clothing combos a little bit. So I took one outfit that I wear a lot (this sweater is linen, so it can be worn through all but the hottest summer months) and tried to see how it would pair up with a variety of scarves.I show Hermes scarves here, but PLEASE bear in mind that this exercise is true of any scarves you own. Vintage from a thrift store, hand-crafted from a street fair, or heritage ... View the Post
June 11, 2013 So one of you recently purchased a very beautiful scarf, and now you're feeling.... stuck? unsure? It's a common situation, and one that's pretty simple to remedy.
This is the lovely object in question, entitled "Crack of the Whip". Striking graphics, and an unexpected juxtaposition of yellow in the middle of the purples and blues - those Hermes people are good... First thing you have to isolate is what color or colors drew you into this scarf? If it was the turquoise, for example, you might find that you already own the following items, to complement your scarf.
Further, let's assume that you own some version of The Common Wardrobe, a couple of simple dresses, and a ... View the Post
June 10, 2013
Many people ask me how I choose the scarves I buy... (I can hear my mother, replying "Veeeeery carefully!") Most important, absolutely, is that you should LOVE the scarf. Not just like it, not just think that it goes well with your wardrobe - you've got to feel strongly, and perhaps in a way that you can't explain rationally. The appreciation of beauty is a gut-level reaction that can't always be verbalized, and can never be faked. This is as true for an inexpensive scarf picked up at a street fair, just as much as it's true with an Hermes - it should be true for anything that goes into your closet, frankly...
So, hypothetically, you've narrowed your choices down to six different scarves. All Hermes, all ... View the Post
May 11, 2013
There was one more color combination waiting to be addressed in the beautiful Hermes Pique Fleuri de Provence - Turquoise and Hot Pink. And that got me thinking that these three accent colors (don't forget Orange), on a base of black and white neutrals, would be a perfect wardrobe scheme for... well, for everything, forever. I see the symbol for this wardrobe like this:
And with this as your focal point, you can just combine garments and make purchases with confidence...
So one last trip, with the Hermes scarf as the initial inspiration:
Piqué Fleuri de Provence silk scarf - Hermes, silk “Neon Love” scarf – Marc Andersen
Shirt – J. Crew, jacket –Faberge & Roches, ... View the Post
So if you love the scarf, but hot pink isn't your favorite, what about turquoise?
Piqué Fleuri de Provence silk scarf - Hermes, cashmere and linen wrap – Etro
Orange knit top – Weekend MaxMara, jacket - Carven, earrings- Jamie Joseph, watch – Skagen, white linen pants – Nicole Farhi, espadrilles - Zara, white tote- Longchamp, rolling bag – Diane Von Furstenberg
Necklace – K. Amato, dress – Roksanda Ilincic, earrings – Bounkit, bracelet – Anton Heunis, pumps – Butter, sweater – J. Crew, skirt – No. 21 cardigan – Vanessa Bruno, tee shirt- Majestic, white capris – Dorothy Perkins, ballet flats – Dr. Scholls
... View the Post
Yes, traveling with white pants might seem sort of nutty... But they look really great! Just make sure they're washable, right? And this would certainly work well with black in the place of white.
Piqué Fleuri de Provence silk scarf - Hermes, dip dyed linen scarf – Sperry Top-Sider
Orange knit top – Weekend MaxMara, fringed silk poncho- Ralph Lauren Black, earrings- Fossil, watch – Salvatore Ferragamo, white linen pants – Nicole Farhi, flats – Manolo Blahnik, white tote- Longchamp, orange tote - Bodhi
Silk necklace – Nangara by Julia Fusinato, dress – Reiss, earrings – Ben Amun, bracelet – Stella and Dot, pumps – Jimmy Choo, hot pink tee - BurberryBrit, skirt – Versace, ... View the Post
I received a very specific request for a travel plan that was mostly navy, but accented with hot pink, and which wasn't "stodgy". This plan built on a "core of four" in navy: pants, skirt, cardigan and tee, and tossed in a navy dress too. A white tee shirt, a bright cardigan, and a couple of whimsical tops negate any possible worries about being too mumsy... Some fun jewelry, and you're away!
Promenade au Faubourg silk scarf - Hermes, silk wrap – Stella McCartney
Tee shirt - Hugo, cardigan – Vanessa Bruno, earrings- Michael Kors, watch – Mougin & Piquard, pants – Lucza London, loafers – Brooks Brothers, bag – Solomon Appollo, suitcase - Rimowa
Necklace – J. Crew, dress – Philosophy ... View the Post
Silk scarf - Hermes, linen wrap – Etro
Tee shirt - Hugo, cardigan – Jardin des Orangers, turquoise stud earrings- Jamie Joseph, watch – Kate Spade, pants – Lucza London, loafers – Brooks Brothers, bag – Saint Laurent, suitcase – Samsonite
Necklace – Stella and Dot, dress – Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, drop earrings – Sandra Dini, bracelet – Kelly Wearstler, pumps – Jimmy Choo, sweater – 3.1 Phillip Lim, skirt – Toast, cardigan – DKNY, silk blouse – Skunkfunk, sleeveless top – Prabal Gurung, ballet flats – Bloch
... View the Post
