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Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe from Scratch Step 12: A Winter Coat, Boots and Scarf

July 8, 2015   For many of us, a really SERIOUS winter coat is a necessity in the capsule wardrobe.  Realistically, I couldn't get through the winter without my parka that sort of resembles a cross between a sleeping bag and a wee portable padded room...   But let's focus on getting a more attractive, more widely useful winter coat.  I've chosen a mixture of accent colors and neutrals, and tossed in yet another scarf because it's difficult to have too many scarves!   My friend in black and brights wants a statement coat to stand out in the crowd of black - and this blue should do the trick, eh?  

  My lady in navy is looking for a dark neutral coat, but some pretty flowers for an ... View the Post

A Winter Capsule Wardrobe, and the Full-Year Assortment, from Ma To-Do List: Dressing

May 2, 2014   Let's see if we can jointly make sense out of all of this, shall we?  First off, working from the list of garments in Ma To-Do List: Dressing, I chose these garments as the Winter Capsule:  

Yes, they suggested sleeveless tops for layering.  The authors are in France, not Chicago...   In order to anchor all of this in some neutrals, I'm going to pull in seven simple, neutral garments to act as the core of all of these lists.  

So I pulled out the outerwear and the swim suit, and this is the ensemble wardrobe that you have if you take their four "capsule wardrobe" suggestions together:  

Frankly, I think this isn't a bad wardrobe at all.  There are enough ... View the Post

An Autumn Capsule Wardrobe, from “Ma To-Do List: Dressing”

May 1, 2014   It's become apparent that many of us aren't clear on what exactly this book intends for us to actually DO with these lists...  My approach, with the choices that I've been making, has been to assume that someone has a very basic, simple "whatever's clean" wardrobe, and that these are the additional garments, season by season, that are added to that wardrobe in order to fill it in and make it sing and dance.  Tomorrow, when I show the winter wardrobe, I'll also show all of the clothes together, and I think it might become a bit clearer what the authors have in mind.  I think.  Maybe its just what I have in mind...  

love,

Janice ... View the Post

Three Garments – Four Seasons

April 1, 2014   The clothes I bought in Paris are going to have to do a lot of heavy lifting, so I've been giving some thought to how many different ways I can wear them.  Here are my ideas, so far...   First up, the dress that I bought at French Trotters.  It's not available, but it's rather similar to this dress (mine has a bit more clearly defined pattern).  I know that I can wear this with a turtleneck layered underneath, warm tights, boots and a scarf - I did that in Paris!  But I can also scale it back to just leggings and flats, or sandals and bare legs...  

 

 

  Next, I want to make sure that I get maximum utilization from my new striped tee shirt. ... View the Post

Chic Sightings: Variations on a Sweater Theme

February 26, 2014   Yesterday's double posting was, in fact, a mistake on my part - the pattern mixing post was supposed to be this morning's post.  But I'm having well-documented issues with Blogger, and they chose to give you the gift of two posts yesterday; who am I to argue?   So today I thought I'd share a small post with a few quick observations I made in New York.    First, most women in New York are NOT amazingly beautiful and well-dressed.  They might be slimmer than the national average, but that might just be because one walks a lot in New York. (and if you take the subway, you climb a LOT of stairs...)   Secondly, pretty much the entire city wears black coats.  Maybe grey. ... View the Post

How to Pack for Slushy Streets

February 14, 2014   Lucky me - I'm going to New York for a few days next week!  Belovedest has to go to a series of meetings there, and we had a free plane ticket, and so...   But this is a particularly dicey time of year to travel - there's no telling what I'm going to find for weather.  So the first thing we have to always plan is what the "drop dead" plan is for cancellations, i.e., at what point do we go back home after a number of delays. But once that's settled, I also have to face that fact that I'm not going to be happy slopping around Manhattan unless I have serious footwear - specifically, my Bogs.  And they're... bulky... really, really bulky...   I could wear them on the plane, but I'm going ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Packing Outfit by Outfit: Pink, Maroon and Black, for Business Travel

January 21, 2014  

The weather's cold, and you've got to go on a business trip.  A SERIOUS trip...Start with a comfort garment - the favorite cardigan will make you happy, and will suggest your color scheme too!  Choose a couple of outfits that ensure that you bring all of the pieces of your black suit, add a couple of jazzy red garments, and you're all set for business events.  One simple dress, and everything will fit in a carry-on bag.

A black winter coat, and some gloves, will be needed here, of course:

  First day in the home office - better look serious!  

And you know they're going to take you out to dinner...

   Second day in the office is a lot more mellow, ... View the Post

From Desk to Dinner Party: Cardigans go Solo

December 24, 2013   Sometimes, the easiest way to prepare for an evening out is to take a moment behind closed doors, slip out of your blouse or tee shirt, and button your cardigan (not quite all the way up!) over bare skin.  If your cardigan is lightweight, not at ALL scratchy, and buttons up far enough for you to be comfortable, it's a great option to consider wearing it on it's own.  Add more festive footwear, and some beautiful jewelry, push up your sleeves a bit, and smile!  

  Even if you are a VERY casual person, sparkly shoes and a serious necklace will elevate your jeans to an evening-appropriate ensemble.  

  love, Janice ... View the Post

From Desk to Dinner Party: More Silk Blouses

December 18, 2013

When combing through your wardrobe for something to use as the "key" piece in a day-to-night transition, remember that most of the focus will be on your face, especially if you're sitting at a dinner table.  Look for the key ideas of shine, sparkle, shimmer, any kind of texture-y interest, and don't forget that sleeveless often conveys a sense of occasion...Velvet pants are among my favorite garments - I wear them all fall and winter, for regular days as well as festive moments.  This mix of brown and black is a great opportunity to wear smoky quartz jewelry...

  A beautiful lace blouse is comfortably businesslike under a knit blazer, but can stand alone with feminine dash after business ... View the Post

Petrol, Black and White: A Twelve-Pack for Uncertain, Mostly Cool, Weather

December 14, 2013  

 Yesterday we packed six garments, for a short week or long weekend, and for uncertain weather.

 Today, I'm assuming that we know our trip is going to be longer - up to two weeks or more, and that we know that most of our weather exposure is going to be colder. So in addition to the original six garments we packed, I'm adding six more carefully chosen items, and a few accessories.  The clothing items are chosen in pairs - sort of like adding outfits, but with an eye to being sure that we can use each item in a variety of ways.

Another pair of pants is very important in cool weather, so black jeans are my first addition. With the black cardigan, it's a long line of black that can have ... View the Post