Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature
February 26, 2015 As soon as I did the earlier version of this painting (found here), people emailed me asking that I use a different mix of colors, and that I do a business travel version of a wardrobe. So I'm combining requests here - I hope it works out!
I kept many of the elements of the original travel outfit, just swapping out the sportier tee shirt with something just a smidge dressier, and then coordinating earrings and a scarf with this new top.
love, Janice ... View the Post
February 23, 2015
A recent request prompted this capsule: lightning up burgundy/grey/forest green into brighter cranberry, light mossy green and grey - specifically for a 3-week trip to France this spring. A lovely trip, and beautiful colors with which to work! Just for fun, I searched (and searched) until I found a painting to complement this idea:
For our purposes, I isolated these colors, but there's also clearly an opportunity for white, cream, and a gentle blue, as well as a touch a deeper charcoal. This painting could generate a palette with which one could live forever.
As always, our travel outfit includes closed-toe shoes, a cardigan, and a scarf. But this ... View the Post
February 19, 2015 I love this painting! And I still marvel at how many decidedly winter-themed paintings have been suggested to me in the last few weeks! Any other paintings you want to see? Leave a comment, and I'll do my very best.
You could certainly include a warm, dark golden brown here, and rust as an accent...
For these colors, I was thinking of someone who had to travel overnight for a special dinner. Not necessarily a work event - possibly a family fete? But this is definitely ideal for some cold travel in order to get to a lovely festive occasion. (note that in defiance of the cold, I included a floral-trimmed scarf, and floral ... View the Post
February 12, 2015 From the very first moment I launched the original post about this painting, I KNEW that I was going to have to look at this again, and pay full attention to the beautiful blue and green at the top of the canvas.
I decided to make this really simple, and concentrate on the opulent feel of the painting as much as the luscious colors.
I pictured this as someone who has to travel overnight for a quite formal event, and then make their way home the morning after. This whole capsule is all about velvet, brocade, cabled cashmere, and ornate jewelry. Sigh...
It wasn't at all easy to find these colors and textures, but I'm ... View the Post
February 9, 2015
Yes, three DIFFERENT readers sent me links to three different paintings about ice skating. What are the odds? (100%...) Some people have mentioned that they (a) don't wear cardigans, (b) want to have as many outfit options as possible from a 4-Pack, and (c) have to wear a skirt or dress for travel because they go directly to their work obligation upon arrival. I've tried to address all three of these concerns here, while at the same time giving a feeling of coziness to help with the inherent chill of winter business travel.
Square scarf – Hermes, earrings – Giuliana Valz-Gen, turtleneck – Brunello Cucinelli, skirt – Tulchan, watch – Skagen, tote bag – ... View the Post
February 6, 2015 She has to travel for business, but it doesn't have to clutter up her mind... One of the reasons that she is so good at what she does is her ability to cut through the noise and focus on the essence.
love,
Janice ... View the Post
February 3, 2015
I love this painting... if this doesn't make you smile, I can't help you.
While I strongly suspect that these nuns are wearing black habits, the habits look very navy on my computer, and so my imagination was strongly drawn to working with navy, white and cool pastels.
I've talked before about the usefulness of having six garments that are the same color, that give you a basis for getting dressed on Monday morning without opening your eyes. That idea has really stuck in my head, so I've decided that I want to build on it a few times. Let's start here:
Even if you get dressed out of here every Monday, you still have LOTS of clothes unworn, so let's toss in a few extra goodies ... View the Post
February 2, 2015 Today, our heroine needs a Four-Pack for a quick business trip. These few garments give her a couple of options for work days, as well as including a dressy dress for the inevitable cocktail party that seems to be included in these outings...
love, Janice ... View the Post
January 30, 2015 I love winter, and sometimes a perfect photograph will convey what my feeble words never can about the beauty to be found in this austere, crisp and bracing time of year.
I strongly suspect that either of these button-front shirt would look quite nice under the grey dress. It's a look that a little bit gamine for some women, but for others it can be charming.
love, Janice ... View the Post
January 29, 2015 When this painting was suggested, I wasn't sure it would even be possible to build a wardrobe, because I thought the painting was drab and monochromatic. Shows what I know, eh?
love, Janice ... View the Post
January 29, 2015 There's really no question that I'm going to be looking at warm weather clothing!
Although the overall look of this painting is very light and bright, I always feel more comfortable anchoring a wardrobe with a few pieces of dark neutral, so I took advantage of the birds to work a dark brown into the scheme. The rosy beige of the sky is my 2nd neutral, and after that, the sky's the limit - pastels taken from the grass, the trees, and the distant mountains are all possibilities. What lovely colors...
I would start collecting pastel, bone, earthy accessories...
love, Janice ... View the Post
July 27, 2015
The reader who requested this was particularly interested in the black, olive and camel parts of the painting, so I've taken the liberty of cropping the top third in order to focus on the colors in question. I'm sure Moreau will forgive me, since I'm such a big fan!
Any Moreau painting cries out for an exotic and Byzantine wardrobe, but I wanted to keep things in the realms of the wearable, so I've opted for velvet, silk and cashmere in order to express the more exotic and sensuous aspects of the painting.
Accessories are where you can really express the ornate impulses that seem to spring from this painting (and what that character in the painting is wearing!) - ... View the Post
