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Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Nature: The Common Shelduck

When I say there’s inspiration everywhere, I’m really NOT exaggerating! My recent trip to Florida is a good example – I saw these lovely guys all over the place (although they are not, in fact, indigenous to the area I was visiting – someone imported them! Someone with good taste….)

The color scheme was so easy! 

Come Sit on the Veranda…

Well, the invitation was a little bit more fleshed-out than that! It went more like “we have great internet down here, so you can work during the day, and then in the evenings, we’ll sit on the veranda with a bottle or two of wine, and watch the birds on the lake until it gets dark. Then after dinner, we can come back out and look at the stars…”

Her toes were perma-frozen. How could she resist the opportunity to thaw, drink wine, bird-watch, and star-gaze, if only for a long weekend?

Cardigan – Uniqlo;
tiger’s eye earrings – Kevia;
loafers – Cole Haan; 
tee shirt – Uniqlo; pants – J. Crew; scarf –
Givenchy; watch – Coach; 
belt – Frye; crossbody bag
– Lodis; suitcase – Longchamp



She’s a very black and white sort of person. Square corners, neat edges, everything in its place. Not that she wasn’t a lovely person – she just really liked things tidy!

This trip was going to be different; she didn’t need clothes. Heck, she wasn’t going to need clothes for a long time to come! But it was time to shake up the routine, and the image… What would be natural, beautiful quality, eye-catching yet tasteful, and would show her warmth?

Leather… not black, studded, “too hard too cold” leather. Brown, burnished, lustrous, supple leather…

note that she packed her “star-gazing” tee shirt!

Leather bracelet – Cole Haan;
white shirt – Hugo; white cropped pants
 – J. Crew; long-sleeve tee – Lands’ End; black hoodie – Uniqlo;
unmatched
 leather earrings – CAIA of Sweden;
star tee shirt – Marcus Lupfer; black skirt
 – Uniqlo;
sandals – Sam Edelman; ballet flats – Sam Edelman; “Impulsive”
 lipstick – Butter London; “Her Majestys Red” nail lacquer – Butter London



I think the earrings look like stylized sailboats…

This was everything she had with her, but she didn’t feel at all deprived, nor concerned:

Being the methodical woman that she is, she had thought through the cool evenings, sunny days, possibilities of weather changes:

Wine glass in hand, scarf tucked around her neck to ward off an errant chill breeze, she thanked her friends sincerely. And wiggled her red-polished toes, in her new brown sandals, and marveled how much fun it was to be able to feel one’s extremities…

love,
Janice

Beara Beara

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Comments

  4. From Margie in Toronto – Love this post – so classy looking. I've got a few pieces in the brown/camel family that I have to start pairing with my black clothes more often – and definitely a colour to add to my "accessories needed" list.

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  6. Just love accessories…..they always look so classy. I don't wear black but love tan with denim….and I think navy. That is definitely one I have to explore.

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  7. Lovely clothes as always. But as far as "although they are not, in fact, indigenous to the area I was visiting – someone imported them! Someone with good taste…" is concerned, the ecologist has to point out that importing nonnative species and letting them loose in an area is almost always a bad idea. Fortunately, the common shelduck doesn't seem to be causing problems in Florida.
    – Kaci

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  8. This lovely post makes me sad that I can't wear black anymore…. my consolation is that the gorgeous chestnut (?) leather will look good with charcoal and navy.

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  9. This lovely post makes me sad that I can't wear black anymore…. my consolation is that the gorgeous chestnut (?) leather will look good with charcoal and navy.

    Reply

  11. Much as I love this – and I do love it – I was sad not to see more red! I think the red/cognac combo is so unexpected and exciting. That said, I really love the simplicity here. I too love things tidy (though the inspiration board of all the things I'm drawn to might argue otherwise).

    The Cole Haan shoes are fabulous. I recently indulged my bucket list item "own Cole Haan shoes" by buying gently used on eBay. I love them and plan to buy more!

    Reply

  12. So simple and chic! While I love admiring high contrast ensembles my personal choice is more monochromatic. Many of your fans (me included) would love to see your take on dressing tonally, Janice.

    Thanks for sharing your wonderful, imaginative, mind and for all you do.

    A faithful fan,
    Pat

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    • I agree on the monochromatic/tonal dressing. I dont wear a lot of contrast. It doesn't suit me. I love to see your take on tonal dressing too.

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  13. I love the classic colors and items in this post. While I have built a mostly black wardrobe, my heart yearns for cognac brown. Thank you for showing me great possibilities!
    Kelly in North Carolina.

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  15. I agree with the others .. The leather items look wonderful with navy. Janice, you once featured a beautiful navy silk scarf from Brooks Brothers with leather bound hem.. I fell in love and ordered it.. It's now a staple in fall/winter and just gorgeous .. The idea of leather earrings is being considered 😉 thank you for being such an inspiration . Janice Collins, Washington, DC

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  16. Let me be the first to say that this is "just ducky"?! Lovely Janice. BTW the Coach link for the watch is not working. You have inspired my outfit for today. I am keeping my fingers crossed that part dead includes some red. Now if I could find a tank style watch with a large face and a bold second hand I would be in heaven. Those missing or very slim hands on watches do vex me so as I try to get vital signs on a sleeping child in low light.

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  17. I am not a black and white person either in clothes or politics but This is very appealing to me. Thanks to some of your commenters, I am thinking that charcoal grey and burnished leather would be very attractive but what would be a contrasting third colour?

    Deb from Vancouver

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    • I'm also cautious about wearing white or other pastels, I think turquoise or aqua would look really lovely here stunning with the tan accessories, and the black/navy or charcoal grey. But would that then make the overall outfit too dark for the hot weather leg of the trip?

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    • You could just switch out charcoal for all the black here and leave it exactly as is – charcoal and white is lovely and classic. Another option is to go for a more tonal look and do charcoal with pale silver. Just two options out of 10,000 possibilities. Pair your charcoal and leather with everything you can lay hands on until you find something you like!

      Reply

  23. I loved this post! It offered a fresh idea on how to use the useful black and white basics I have put together since I started reading your posts. The scarf is the perfect colors to unify the outfit!
    Each day I am excited to open your post and get helpful ideas presented in a unpretentious but often amusing way. I like your classic styles and freedom from fads, yet stylish and put together looks. Each day I jot down the clothing items you use…I look to see if I have similar items in my closet. Sometimes I make a note that I could buy a certain item. I always check your links to see if they would work for me. Today in looking through my scarves I found one with black and warm brown that I seldom wear! This will be a fun color combination to try out. Refreshing in the cold winter days after the holidays to try something fresh. Thank you for your hard work and wonderful taste. You are elevating our style one person at a time. Please know we appreciate you and your decision to share your expertise with us!

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  24. It seems to me that tortoise shell earrings, bracelet or necklace might also look well with some of these outfits.I like them for all day wearing because they are lightweight.

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  25. I really like this wardrobe. The brown really warms the black and white. It's so classy. I love that you snuck in the red of the duck's bill in the nail polish.

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  26. I love the classic colors and items in this post. While I have built a mostly black wardrobe, my heart yearns for cognac brown. Thank you for showing me great possibilities!
    Kelly in North Carolina.

    Reply

  28. Yes!!!! I love caramel/luggage colored leather! It's my go to neutral for my boots, shoes, bags, etc. when you said she's very black and white and wanted something to project "warmth" I laughed out load! That's me!

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  29. Love, love, love this wardrobe!!! One of my all time favorites! I have boots this color now I "NEED" some sandals and flats! LOL! This is gorgeous! I have more cream than white to mix with my black and I do have a scarf with the black and chestnut. The wheels are turning! 🙂 I am going to add some accessories in this chestnut color this year for sure! Thank you Janice!

    Reply

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