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Home » How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe with Accessories 1 at a Time: Blues, Grey and Black

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe with Accessories 1 at a Time: Blues, Grey and Black

May 19, 2016
 
Casual, but really nice…Remember, we started with a simple black column of clothing, with a great blue cardigan; of course, we need shoes:
 
How to add accessories to a capsule wardrobe in black, blue, and grey

tee – Lands’ End; pants – L.L.Bean; cardigan – Halhuber; top shoes – Bǿrn; middle shoes – Cole Haan; bottom shoes – Earth

And I usually have earrings added pretty early in the process. For this wardrobe, I tried to stick with a feeling of linearity, to echo the subtle stripes in the cardigan:

How to add accessories to a capsule wardrobe in black, blue, and grey

Tee – L.L.Bean; pants – L.L.Bean; cardigan – Halhuber; top earrings – Oscar Figueroa;  middle earrings – Pichaya; bottom earrings – Luis Banda

 

Scarves! I love scarves…

 
How to add accessories to a capsule wardrobe in black, blue, and grey

Tee – L.L.Bean; pants – L.L.Bean; cardigan – L.L.Bean; top scarf – Collection XIIX ; middle scarf – Treasure & Bond; bottom scarf – Caslon

For those who do not want to wear sandals, a simple low-heel or flat casual shoe will be just as suitable:

How to add accessories to a capsule wardrobe in black, blue, and grey

Tee – L.L.Bean; shorts – Polo Ralph Lauren; cardigan – Halhuber; top sandals – Kork-Ease; middle sandals – Munro; bottom sandals – Born

I love wearing an inexpensive watch sometimes – the look on someone’s face when they admire your watch, and you tell them it’s a Timex, is priceless. And it’s an important reminder that good design can be found at a variety of prices (and the expensive does NOT automatically equal well-done!)

How to add accessories to a capsule wardrobe in black, blue, and grey

Sweater – Uniqlo; pants – L.L.Bean;  top watch – Braun; middle watch – Anne Klein; bottom watch – Timex

A cross-body bag that keeps your hands free for pushing the grocery cart is always useful:

How to add accessories to a capsule wardrobe in black, blue, and grey

tee – Lands’ End; pants – L.L.Bean; sweatshirt – Uniqlo; top bag – Patricia Nash; middle bag – Deux Lux; bottom bag – Rag & Bone 

 

A simple, timeless bracelet might be something that you slip on literally every day, at the same time you put on your watch. A small, personal signature…

 
How to add accessories to a capsule wardrobe in black, blue, and grey

Sweater – Uniqlo; jeans – L.L.Bean; top bracelet – Luis Banda; middle bracelet – Aoy; bottom bracelet – Achara

Small earrings can be worn with anything – even shorts!

 
How to add accessories to a capsule wardrobe in black, blue, and grey

Tee – Oasis; shorts – Polo Ralph Lauren; top earrings – Pichaya; middle earrings – Carlos and Cynthia Rendon; bottom earrings – Priscile Canales

 

I’m so happy that casual canvas shoes are becoming more accepted as a legitimate leisure option. They don’t have to look like you’re running the marathon, either.

 
How to add accessories to a capsule wardrobe in black, blue, and grey

Tee – Uniqlo; jeans – L.L.Bean; sweatshirt – Uniqlo; top shoes – Taos; middle shoes – Josef Seibel; bottom shoes – Keds

 

A simple necklace with a linear feeling can be worn with everything in this wardrobe – that first necklace is a PERFECT complement to the cardigan!

 
How to add accessories to a capsule wardrobe in black, blue, and grey

Tee – L.L.Bean; jeans – L.L.Bean; cardigan – Halhuber; top necklace – Khun Boom; middle necklace – Carlos and Cynthia Rendon; bottom necklace – Sarote Lochotinunt

Don’t forget the usefulness of a solid or subtly patterned scarf in your accent color – sometimes it’s just the right touch of color:

 
How to add accessories to a capsule wardrobe in black, blue, and grey

Shirt – Uniqlo; pants – L.L.Bean;  top scarf – Barneys New York; middle scarf – Contileoni; bottom scarf – Faliero Sarti

 

Tote bags don’t have to be amazingly “blinged out,” nor do they have to cost the moon. They’re designed to carry things, really….

 
How to add accessories to a capsule wardrobe in black, blue, and grey

Tee – Oasis; jeans – L.L.Bean; cardigan – Uniqlo; top tote – Phase 3; middle tote – Matt & Nat; bottom tote – Herschel Supply Co.

 

Sunglasses – ALWAYS!

 
How to add accessories to a capsule wardrobe in black, blue, and grey

sweater – Uniqlo; skort – Made for Life;  top sunglasses – Gentle Monster; middle sunglasses – Ray-Ban;  bottom sunglasses – Wildfox

 

And in the interests of being prepared for cool days, or slightly dressier activities, a pair of closed-toe shoes are useful:

 
3 shoe options to wear with jeans and a tunic

Tunic – Tommy Hilfiger; jeans – L.L.Bean; top shoes – Dansko; middle shoes – Wolky; bottom shoes – Arche

Looking at this REALLY makes me feel like going to Ireland, or Scotland, or Maine… 

 

16-piece travel capsule wardrobe in blue, grey and black

love,
Janice

How to add accessories to a capsule wardrobe in black, blue, and grey
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05.19.16 17 Comments

<<How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe 1 Piece at a Time: Black, Blue and Grey, for LeisureBuilding a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Study for the Muses by Brice Marden>>

Comments

  1. Taste of France says

    May 19, 2016 at 8:30 am

    A great collection of accessories that would work well in so many situations and with so many combinations.

    Reply
  2. Margie from Toronto says

    May 19, 2016 at 10:29 am

    A perfect "dressy/casual" collection and you have inspired me to have a blue/grey/black day myself! My Fall grey dress pants, my new bright blue Summer cardigan and black shoes & accessories.

    Reply
  3. Shrebee says

    May 19, 2016 at 12:19 pm

    Janice,
    I feel naked without earrings. They are a must every day ! Yes, this post feels "New Englandy " , comfy , casual, yet dressed, and not scruffy. To me, distressed jeans have gotten to the point of the absurd.

    Reply
    • Shrebee says

      May 19, 2016 at 3:43 pm

      Janice,
      I am vertically challenged and pear shaped. How do I style a tunic without it cutting me in half ? Use the same color top and bottom as to give a column of color ?

      Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      May 19, 2016 at 5:14 pm

      Keep the colors close – they don't have to match exactly, but they should have the same general strength or value. In this wardrobe, that would mean wearing the tunic with the grey jeans, rather than the black. The grey and the blue are both softer, while the black creates more of that contrast that you want to avoid.
      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
    • Shrebee says

      May 19, 2016 at 5:17 pm

      Sage advice, as always ! Thank you ! I have been avoiding tunics for my issues as listed in my post, but this opens me up to take another direction.

      Reply
  4. Anita Latte says

    May 19, 2016 at 1:51 pm

    I think these past two days will serve as a template for my summer into fall wardrobe. I sew. I recently bought too much fabric when one of the fabric store chains went out of business. I've collected some ideas and sewing patterns and this wardrobe will make such a wonderful guide for me! I will make a few changes, of course; I live in the south and would have warmer weather in mind, but surprisingly enough, you absolutely need layers anywhere air conditioning attempts to overcompensate for the heat and humidity.

    Question though…would you wear a scarf with a hoodie? How?

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      May 19, 2016 at 5:16 pm

      Absolutely – I do it often! I just tie it around my neck, inside the hood, and either tuck it into the body of the sweatshirt, or let it hand out. Sort of like wearing a scarf with a hooded parka or trench coat. Check out the 2nd man at this link to see what I mean:
      http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/i-love-what-an-hermes-scarf-can-do-for-a-man-milan/

      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
    • Anita Latte says

      May 19, 2016 at 8:14 pm

      Got it. Love it!

      Reply
    • Anita Latte says

      May 19, 2016 at 8:14 pm

      Got it. Love it!

      Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    May 19, 2016 at 2:43 pm

    Hi Janice,
    Do you think you could repeat this selection with same comfy,casual,coordinated, almost elegant, feel using warm colours? I can do my best to visualize it but it would lack your skilled touch.
    Deb from Vancouver

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      May 19, 2016 at 5:16 pm

      Heck yes! I'm on it…
      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
  6. lrlincks says

    May 19, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    The accessories match perfectly! I usually wear earrings and bracelet(s) everyday. Sometimes I add a watch and a necklace. Depends on the outfit. Thanks for all your hard work on our behalf!

    Reply
  7. Jak says

    May 20, 2016 at 12:23 am

    I'm just de-lurking to say that I love seeing your support for canvas shoes. They've been a staple in my casual wardrobe and I smile every time I see them integrated into your wardrobes. They're more comfortable than flats for my feet

    Reply
  8. Coco Colmani says

    May 19, 2016 at 9:52 pm

    Ahhhh watches you can tell the time by, it's such a cool concept! I wonder why the watches in the magazine ads ever get bought …
    Robyn in Tasmania

    Reply
  9. MJ Faust says

    January 20, 2021 at 5:47 pm

    What LL Bean and Lands End pants do you recommend?

    Reply
    • Janice says

      January 21, 2021 at 9:16 am

      I wear jeans from Lands’ End – in every fabric that they have offered in the last 10 years. Right now I don’t personally own any pants from L.L.Bean except maybe sweatpants…

      That said, I haven’t heard anything bad about any of their products, so I would think it worthwhile to at least try anything that appeals. Just make sure you keep the packaging, and buy yourself a good roll of packing tape…

      hugs,
      Janice

      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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