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Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Trumpet Creeper by Abby Williams Hill

Isn’t this beautiful? One of you sent it to me, and it captivated me immediately. The vertical layout, the soft background, the muted shades of green and blue, the accents of warm rust, gold and orange – what a wonderful painting. There are so many things about this that could serve as inspiration and focus: the colors, the organic nature of the image, the soft blending of the background colors, the use of about a billion shades of bluish green – there’s just no end to the ideas that can come from this one work of art. (but that’s probably true, for the right person, of any work of art, right?)

Trumpet Creeper – Abby Williams Hill


This was my chosen color scheme – a base in very dark navy, accents of all those shades of soft teal green, and just a dash of the bright golden orange.

Trumpet Creeper – Abby Williams Hill



Given that it’s freezing cold in Chicago right now, I envisioned a woman going on a weekend visit to family, from one cold destination to another. This is a woman who’s not (on the outside) all about frills and ruffles, but who does carry the motif of the flower, and of colors from nature, in her heart. Note the subtle floral motif in the earrings…

This coat has a wool exterior, but is filled with down, and the boots are amazingly warm. Bundling up is a priority for this travel capsule wardrobe!

Wool coat with down filling – Uniqlo, ombre
sweater – Windsmoor, gold floral earrings – Giuliana Valz-Gen, 
jeans – Frame Denim, scarf – Yuh Okano,
gloves – Echo Design, boots – Bogs, navy tote – Longchamp


As always, you get a core of solid neutral garments from me – warm dress pants and a cardigan that can be worn on it’s own, or over other things. The blouse contains just a touch of the warm accent color from our painting, and note that, again, our earrings are just a wee bit flowery (and have a beautiful ornate setting). The pastel sweater also can stand alone or be layered, and combines fluffy warmth with the softest color from our painting. The bag – a beautiful shade of blue, and a feminine but not girly ornament.

Navy cardigan – Uniqlo, cross body bag – Dareen Hakim, sapphire earrings – Kohl’s, navy dress
trousers – STUDIO Tahari-Levine Co., navy ankle boots – Hush Puppies,  floral blouse – Sugarhill Boutique, v-neck sweater – Vanessa Bruno Athe


Although you’re only traveling for a weekend, you do have choices in how to dress, depending on your activities, and on the weather that greets you at your destination. It might be worth including a pair of loafers in your bag, if you don’t want to wear your ankle boots constantly!  If you are staying a few days longer and need more choices, a navy skirt and blouse or tee shirt would add about a dozen more options to these few garments, and you still would only need a carry-on or tote bag.

Beara Beara
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Comments

  1. I can see this as a wardrobe for Christmas in Connecticut. I love its soft practicality.

    The link to that pretty floral blouse didn't work for me.

    Reply

  3. Thank you, Janice! I think you've captured the color palette perfectly. I would be very happy in this capsule wardrobe. The colors are so rich and luxurious.

    The link to the ombre sweater isn't working either, I'm afraid :-(.

    Thanks again!

    Reply

  6. The trumpet vine print is stunning. We have thousands of those vines growing wild in my area of E.TX, which unfortunately we tend to take for granted until we see a print like this and recognize we live with this beauty! The colors you picked to use are stunning as well – I gravitate toward the deeper shades as I 'fade out' wearing pastel shades – but what a lot of colors from which to choose. Thank you !

    Reply

  9. Once again, a lovely way to start the day. ".. she is not about frills and ruffles, but does carry the motif of the flower, and of colors from nature, in her heart" describes my style exactly. Also the subtle, but not always dark, colors. Thank you!!!

    Reply

  11. This is a wardrobe made from my most favourite colours, with just the right amount of feminine details. I am trying to move my wardrobe into this vein – thank you for showing a Christmas travel wardrobe to emulate!

    Reply

  12. I just love the gloves. I am from Australia so real woolly woolly clothes are not part of my wardrobe but the gloves are beautiful! The colour!

    Reply

  14. My favourite colours too – with a little taupe and grey, it would be all I need. I particularly like the balance of feminine and practical in this capsule.
    Alice

    Reply

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