December 20, 2013
Many of you ask me about incorporating a brightly color blouse or shirt into their neutral wardrobe, particularly for evening events. So I’m using the same basic “suit” type garments that we’ve seen before, and bringing in bright red, emerald green, and ruby…
Note that, while it’s tempting to echo the color of the accent in shoes or another accessory, it’s not strictly necessary. So long as your accessories are festive, your look will be coherent and beautiful.
More tomorrow!

Grey cardigan – 3.1 Phillip Lim, loafers – Born, grey trousers – Viyella, tee shirt – Weekend Max Mara, silver bracelets – Achara, satin pumps – Adrianna Papell

Cardigan – Authentic Original Vintage Style, navy loafers – VC Signature, navy trousers – Chloe, green silk blouse – Gigue, chandelier earrings – Julie Tuton Jewelry, gold lace bracelet – Julie Tuton Jewelry, navy sparkle flats – Adrianna Papell
Blazer and skirt – Eastex , pumps – Trotters, ruby blouse – BGN, earrings – Alexis Bittar, bracelet – Alexis Bittar, bronze sandals – Pelle Moda
love,
Janice
Thanks for showing these, Janice. Although I enjoyed your first post, these are more like my colours: I particularly loved the middle outfits!
I do, too. For years I was convinced that I could not wear green, because that's what my mother always said. Especially when paired with navy, which my mother also disdained. :)
Sheer genius!
These blouses are eye candy and could make me forget that I don't need many dressy blouses. Talk about temptation!
The ruby blouse is to die for! I checked … they don't have my size. It they had, it would be been under my tree!
Hi Janice,
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, joy and peace to you and all you love. Thank very much for your wonderful commitment to your blog and to your grateful followers, It's quality and consistency reflects countless hours of hard work, talent, skill and creativity. You also are a firm voice for self restraint, dignity and integrity. That is reflected in so many subtle ways, but particularly in how you respond to less than dignified comments!!
Deb from Vancouver
Ooh, lovely! I know what you mean about the focus being on your top half at dinner and those gorgeous blouses would do the trick. I saw a lovely red blouse recently… maybe I should go back and snap it up…
This post reminds me that I have a pretty blouse I should wear for Christmas. Thank you. You have been such an inspiration to me.
I LOVE these desk to dinner posts. They're so workable and are really lovely. The ruby blouse with the taupe skirt is just gorgeous. Perfect for this time of year with the many after-work events.
Happy Holidays!
I've been reading and looking at Janice's posts for quite awhile and have viewed them on different types of devices (PC, iphone, iPad, etc). And this morning, I feel compelled to urge readers to view the clothing posts on a larger screen, if possible. I find it so much easier to see the detail in the items and yet understand them better as wardrobes or outfits on the big screen.
Thanks Janice!
I find the gem tones really are a "buttermilk' thing- you love t or hate it. When I prepped women for TV appearances, the ones in the fashion industry would not wear gem tones for anything, even though they look great on camera. They thought them "suburban mall". They would love your metallics (next post). They all wanted to look like Carine Roitfeld!
But I could get business executives into gem tones and they looked beautiful (and feminine) on camera. There are rather hash greens and nearly electric blues that are draining ,but a rich teal, deep red or plum adds colour without the screaming effect of some gem tones.