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Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting With a Scarf: Navy and Burgundy

What if you bought a new scarf, and you liked it so much that you decided to make EVERY clothing purchase, for a year, based on the colors of the scarf?
I get lots of questions about red, white and blue wardrobes, so when I was asked to address this scarf specifically, I thought it could be great fun.  

This looks like a tremendous amount of shopping, but do bear in mind that the average American purchases 68 garments and 7 pair of shoes per year, and that it’s entirely possible that you already own a few of these items…  This budget is pretty extreme, but I’m pretty confident that you can find beautiful items for just a bit less money!

scarf – Fat Face

A parka, during the after-holiday sales, some warm boots, and spiffy gloves…  For Valentine’s Day, a festive blouse?

Freesia Floral Print Scarf – Fat Face, parka – Joseph,
jeans – Mango,
gloves – Pierre Darre,  boots – Bogs, watch – Timex,  silk blouse – Marc Jacobs, tweed skirt – Tory Burch, pumps – Stuart Weitzman


March isn’t warm, but at least it can be floral!  April might not be much warmer, but I’m certainly more than ready to haul out some white trousers by then.  

Freesia Floral Print Scarf – Fat Face, floral blouse – Stella Forest,floral
earrings – Kenari,
navy trousers – Chloe,
boots – Purified,  bracelet – Brooks Brothers,  striped sweater – Dash,
winter white trousers – Haute Hippie,
ballet flats – Stuart Weitzman

A great dress breaks in spring, but is grounded with navy shoes and a beautiful bag.  When summer truly sets in, stripes are the perfect ticket, paired with a white skirt.  (do befriend your dry-cleaner…)

Freesia Floral Print Scarf – Fat Face, dress – Marc Jacobs, bag – Cambridge Satchel, pumps –
VC Signature, bracelet – Made Sriasih, striped tee shirt – Burberry Brit, skirt – Planet,
sandals – Aerosoles

We’re mostly still working during July, so another dress will be useful.  For your brief summer break, navy shorts, along with spiffy sunglasses and canvas shoes all still blend beautifully with your chosen color scheme.

Freesia Floral Print Scarf – Fat Face, earrings – Caipora Jewellery, dress – Planet, gold bracelet – Kamryn Dame,
sandals – LifeStride, sunglasses – Balmain,  tee shirt – T by Alexander Wang,
belt – Isabel Marant, shorts
– A.P.C.,
canvas flats – Keds

Yes, I would definitely wear white loafers in September, if only just to shock the bourgeoisie.  October is the time to get some gorgeous boots…

Freesia Floral Print Scarf – Fat Face, cashmere sweater – 360 Sweater, earrings – Majorica, 
tweed pants – Svek, white loafers –
Trotters, bracelet – Caipora Jewellry, cardigan
– Brooks Brothers,  navy suede skirt –
Ruffian,
boots – Frye

A plaid shirt is quintessentially autumn, but velvet pants change everything.  And a white dress for the winter holidays?  We’re shocking the rest of the world…

Freesia Floral Print Scarf – Fat Face, plaid shirt – Velvet by Graham Spencer,
navy velvet pants – Windsmoor,
cardigan – Dorothy Perkins, loafers – Tods,
earrings – Matta, ring – Neeru Goel,
winter white dress – Valentino,
slingbacks
– J. Renee

And by the end of the year, all of your purchases will make up a beautifully organized and coordinated wardrobe!
And boy, do you have options!
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Comments

  3. That's my scarf! Thank you so much, dear Janice, for this amazing post. I do have a similar striped sweater, navy trousers and white trousers, so that's a good start. I've had several emails advertising the end of the sales, and we're going to our nearest city of Murcia on Saturday so I can browse the shops there too. I think I'll print off the collage and take it as a reminder. Now, who's selling those white loafer?

    Reply

  8. Gorgeous as a whole and many of the individual items are spectacular. I like the way this wardrobe stands out and yet it is based on mostly neutrals with just a little red here and there. One could wear most of this in any major city in the world (even the mostly black/beige only cities) and look sophisticated and polished, yet not boring.

    Reply

  10. I would love to figure out a way to view my own wardrobe this way, preferably on my iPhone as I shop. It would be an excellent way of judging how an item would fit with what I currently own.
    Any ideas?

    Reply

  11. I'm thoroughly shocked by this bit of data you cite: "The average American purchases 68 garments and 7 pair of shoes per year." That's more than one garment a week. Maybe the data include purchases made for growing children??

    Reply

    • I got stuck at that comment, too. I sent it to my BFF in Chicago and we had to compare notes. Not counting any accessories (she wears none) or underwear or work clothes or exercise clothes or pajamas or anything like that, she has a TOTAL of 24 garments and 8 pairs of shoes. And I thought I was doing well with my TOTAL of 78 garments, and 12 pairs of shoes. She says she has a limited bunch of clothes but not a real wardrobe. And I say I need to get rid of more.

      Reply

  12. Funny, I'm pretty much doing this now. Bought a beautiful scarf at a local shop a couple of months ago. Once I got home I realized most of my scarves have at least one of the colors found in the new item so I'm using it as the basis for all new purchases this year. It's actually been quite fun and seriously curbed my splurge purchases 🙂

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  13. Great idea! I do this when I travel…pack my wardrobe based on scarves. I don't know why it never occurred to me about my larger wardrobe. You're a genius, as always!

    Reply

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