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Home » Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Nature: A Cardinal, in Cool Colors

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Nature: A Cardinal, in Cool Colors

February 17, 2016
 

There are a lot of cardinals in the park very near here – it’s my favorite detour when I’m out and about to go look for them. They are SO striking, and such a spot of cheerful color on these short, grey winter days!I’m always taken with the way in which the male and female birds are colored differently. He is very high-contrast, in cool colors:

Please, if you know the photographer, let me know!

I’m going to visit her color scheme too, but for now, I was in the mood for a small 4 by 4 wardrobe in these colors. Maybe a miniature winter work wardrobe? (for those among us who do miniature winter work?)

Cardigan – L.L.Bean; pants – L.L.Bean; Blouse – Faith Connexion; skirt – Diane von Furstenberg

 

Cardigan – L.L.Bean; trousers – Uniqlo; Shirt – Uniqlo; jeans – Citizens of Humanity

 

Since the red tops won’t ever be worn together (I don’t know, physically, if you could), they don’t have to be dye-lot matched. But they should all reflect that intense, vivid coloring of the male cardinal, in his preening glory.

 

V-neck blouse – Velvet; silk-trimmed top – Madewell; Red sweater – Balenciaga; turtleneck – L.L.Bean

 

In keeping with my theme of cheerfulness, I found some interesting, beautiful pieces.

 

Tunic – Isabel Marant Etoile; skirt – A.L.C.; Sweater – Ï Miss Sophie; dress – Just Female

 

And what would The Vivienne Files be without accessories? I channeled a bit of the exuberance of the cardinal when I chose some very… noticeable… shoes.

 

Stud earrings  – Alexis Bittar; watch – Anne Klein; tassel-trimmed scarf –
Lucky Brand; flat hoop earrings – Open Sky; circle earrings – Open Sky;
necklace – Lane Bryant; scarf – Hermes Ciels Byzantins; infinity scarf – Lieke van Opstal; bracelet – Lucky Brand; loafers – Ecco; pumps –
Trotters; red  loafers – Cole Haan; silver loafers – Bandolino

 

Everything hangs together, literally and figuratively, quite well. When arrayed like this, it’s easy to see options!

And when everything is together, you can see how the accessories really help everything mesh. These are the kinds of clothes in which I could easily (and cheerfully) live.

I’m going to work on the female cardinal colors, and try to get it out to you before I have to leave on my unexpected trip. Cross your fingers that the mysteries of the garment world are smiling on me!

love,
Janice

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02.17.16 22 Comments

Tags: black, capsule wardrobe, cool weather, Four by Four, Hermes scarf, red, Start With Nature
<<The Finishing Steps: Shifting Accessories from Cool Colors to Warm ColorsBuild a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Nature: A Cardinal, in Warm Colors>>

Comments

  1. Jazz says

    February 17, 2016 at 9:47 am

    The scarf is gorgeous, so I went to peek at the price, just out of curiosity, but alas the link is not working.

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      February 17, 2016 at 1:46 pm

      I will fix the link tonight when I get home. Thanks!

      Reply
    • Cee Pluse says

      February 17, 2016 at 12:06 pm

      Lucky Brand scarf:

      http://www.luckybrand.com/daisen-floral-square/617089382394.html

      Reply
    • Nancy/n.o.e says

      February 17, 2016 at 8:17 pm

      the link for the red Madewell top seems to be bad also. Love this 4×4!! – nancyo

      Reply
  2. Chris says

    February 17, 2016 at 11:37 am

    Which one Jazz? The red one? Trouble is our eyes are drawn to gorgeous! I love this and could happily live in it, and probably have, for a few years….. X Chris from Australia

    Reply
    • Chris says

      February 17, 2016 at 11:44 am

      I mean the colours!

      Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    February 17, 2016 at 11:45 am

    From Margie in Toronto – this colour scheme pretty much represents my winter wardrobe (with an addition of a few pink pieces) so I just love it! Seeing how the accessories pull everything together is a real education – I have lots of separate pieces collected over the years but very few "sets" – that's what I'm working on now – and I would LOVE that red scarf!

    Reply
  4. Pam @ over50feeling40 says

    February 17, 2016 at 12:17 pm

    I am inspired by nature all the time. My backyard is full of cardinals and blue jays…next time one flies by I will pull out some red or blue!

    Reply
  5. SusanG says

    February 17, 2016 at 12:46 pm

    Throw in some cobalt blue, and you have my closet! Thanks, Janice.

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    February 17, 2016 at 1:30 pm

    Love seeing bright red cardinals in the winter,and bright red splashes of red clothing on these dreary days.

    Reply
  7. francetaste says

    February 17, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    I love the red. It seems to make people happy.
    I really like that dress with the squares. Not too pattern-y but not solid. It could get years of work.

    Reply
  8. Gail says

    February 17, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    Such an easy flexible wardrobe…I could see someone living for weeks on end out of a suitcase packed with these wonderful garments.

    Reply
  9. Shrebee says

    February 17, 2016 at 2:56 pm

    Janice,
    While these are not my "warmie " colors, I still glean so much from your illustrations! One of those things is that the accent colors don't have to match each other exactly in hue, unless going for a twin set look, which has its own merits. I have thrown rocks in my own path trying to make everything all match exactly the same. Your 4×4's were what first drew me to your posts, and they continue to inspire ! I started pulling together my travel wardrobe several weeks ago for an upcoming tip, and I have found myself putting back piece after piece as unnecessary and excessive, and planned it around brown, beige, stone, coral, and aqua ( going to Barbados — yaaaa !) based on a 4×4 format. I shall wear each top twice and each bottom at least three times. It's a 12 day trip, so 6 tops, plus one in case of stains, 4 bottoms, and 3 toppers. Thanks or lightening my load !

    Reply
    • Shrebee says

      February 17, 2016 at 2:57 pm

      Make that for lightening my load

      Reply
  10. becky johns says

    February 17, 2016 at 5:14 pm

    Thank you for returning to a basic color scheme and helping us begin at the beginning, then learn what to add; this is a beautiful post, just what I needed. It made me happy that I have the basics and can move on to extensions and accessories!

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    February 17, 2016 at 8:23 pm

    Nice collection, though I prefer red on others. If I had to pick a bird to represent my colors, it would be the bluejay with all its lovely shades of blue.

    Reply
  12. Anonymous says

    February 17, 2016 at 9:57 pm

    I LOVE that print tunic! A little out of my price range but really pretty! I have always worn black and red so this is a favorite! _ Linda in Arkansas

    Reply
    • Nancy/n.o.e says

      February 17, 2016 at 10:33 pm

      I have been sighing over that tunic also! Not in the budget tho. – nancyo

      Reply
  13. Kay dancingbrushpainting.blogspot.com says

    February 18, 2016 at 4:46 am

    I sure got a chuckle put of "miniature winter work." Great post even though I'm a warm colors type. Love the cardinal! We don't see them in the Pacific Northwest.

    Reply
  14. Anonymous says

    February 20, 2016 at 3:54 am

    Feb. 19, 2017 10:50 PM
    I haven't been receiving daily emails for many days. This also happened in January; then about 20 articles came in one email. Is it my end or yours? I miss seeing them each day to enjoy. I found this on Pinterest so am taking a chance that you see my note.

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      February 20, 2016 at 3:05 pm

      It's on their side – I've tried to figure out what to do, and I've contacted them, but they seem to be unconcerned…

      Just assume that I'm posting 6 days a week, unless I've been called out of town for an emergency. That's my normal schedule, and I only deviate from it when family emergencies dictate.

      thanks for being so loyal to The Vivienne Files – it warms my heart,
      big hug,
      Janice

      Reply
    • Anonymous says

      May 31, 2017 at 7:59 pm

      I have for years done the separates/mix & match, without calling it a capsule wardrobe. AND I love red and black, but I would get tired of having 4 tops all in red. I'd mix it up with other colors to work with my neutrals: cobalt, bright aqua, purple, green in addition to the red. I never have anything but neutral shoes, so adding another scarf or jewelry would be pretty easy to coordinate each outfit. Packing 4 different colored tops would be as easy as packing 4 red tops, and I wouldn't yearn for change.

      Reply

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The Vivienne Files is a unique personal style blog with carefully-selected capsule wardrobes based on color palettes drawn from works of art, nature, and more. It helps women buy less clothing, and to love what they buy. Read more...
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