An upcoming “trailing spouse” trip for one of you… and some amazing colors, inspired by ceramic tile! As if we needed a reminder that capsule wardrobe color palette inspirations can be found literally anywhere…
I’m going to assume that the little dot of red is going to be nails and lips…
Our trip is to a destination that will be cool-ish (Oslo!), so sweaters are going to be important! While I’m working with navy as the core of this wardrobe, I chose to use this cardigan, although it’s a more “marled” blue. It blends well with all of the colors, and it’s cozy cashmere, which could be helpful for this trip.
I’m packing in stages for this trip – starting with the core of navy pieces. The lucky reader who’s actually going on this trip has specified a preference for skirts and dresses, but I think 1 pair of pants might be useful for an outdoor sightseeing adventure in the countryside.
This is the accent color portion of our packing – I’ve played sort of fast and lose with shades of green and teal, because the various tops won’t be worn together. (if you can get that cardigan on over the striped jersey, you’re more talented than I am!) If you want a more rigorously “whatever’s clean” wardrobe, just match the shades of green, and make sure that your cardigans are always roomy enough to wear over your various tops.
If you need a few more pieces in order to feel comfortable, a purple blouse would be a nice addition. A grey tee shirt is always useful for layering, and a turtleneck in green, teal, or purple would be beautiful… 
Tiles found at www.goantiques.com
I’m going to assume that the little dot of red is going to be nails and lips…
Tiles found at www.goantiques.com
Our trip is to a destination that will be cool-ish (Oslo!), so sweaters are going to be important! While I’m working with navy as the core of this wardrobe, I chose to use this cardigan, although it’s a more “marled” blue. It blends well with all of the colors, and it’s cozy cashmere, which could be helpful for this trip.
And flying in a skirt? Well, it has a “hidden comfort waist,” and it can’t be as binding as a pair of jeans would be… I’ve flown in skirts and dresses, and they can be very comfortable.
suitcase – Zero Halliburton
I’m packing in stages for this trip – starting with the core of navy pieces. The lucky reader who’s actually going on this trip has specified a preference for skirts and dresses, but I think 1 pair of pants might be useful for an outdoor sightseeing adventure in the countryside.
This year, I don’t expect to buy ANY fall and winter clothes, but this dress (in black, of course) tempts me to distraction…
This is the accent color portion of our packing – I’ve played sort of fast and lose with shades of green and teal, because the various tops won’t be worn together. (if you can get that cardigan on over the striped jersey, you’re more talented than I am!) If you want a more rigorously “whatever’s clean” wardrobe, just match the shades of green, and make sure that your cardigans are always roomy enough to wear over your various tops.
If you need a few more pieces in order to feel comfortable, a purple blouse would be a nice addition. A grey tee shirt is always useful for layering, and a turtleneck in green, teal, or purple would be beautiful…
For a one-week trip, this wardrobe has plenty of possibilities:
I’ve never had the chance to be the trailing spouse, although Belovedest got to go with me on a couple of business trips. Is there anything better than someone else paying for the hotel?
love,
Janice
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Beautiful colors!!!
This is a lovely, very useable wardrobe. I'm going to argue against the choice of the LL Bean skirt for travel. I own that very item in two colors, and they are fine, but I would never choose them for a long flight. It is a very straight skirt with slightly bulky fabric, and I find it confining to sit in, especially when wearing tights that may cause the fabric to "grab". It's also on the short side, so I'm always tugging the hem down when sitting. If I wear a dress/skirt on a flight, I want one with a long enough and full enough skirt to allow me to sprawl a bit in my seat. I wouldn't remove it from the wardrobe, but I'd choose something else for the flight.
Love everything! I've been toying with adding a green cardigan to my navy section of the wardrobe – not a colour I wear often but it just makes the navy pop in such a wonderful, fun way.
Many years ago my husband and I traveled with his sister to Oslo and I chose to wear full longer skirt on the flight over (with elastic in the back waistband). My sister-in-law couldn't understand why I didn't wear jeans but I think jeans can be somewhat binding on a long flight and I was comfortable. I agree that a longer skirt is easier to wear on the plane, recently I flew to DC wearing a knit maxi skirt, both ways and felt great in that too.
I love Oslo, such a beautiful city right on the water. There's loads to do and see there plus wonderful shops! "Ha det bra!"
Wonderful colors, wonderful travel wardrobe. And I especially covet that dress in gray….
The link to the long dress didn't work for me but it is almost perfect I think for so many occasions. I am seriously considering making a long jersey skirt to wear on a very long flight from vancouver to Bueanos Aires next spring. I would wear flight tights under it and would be able to curl up as best I can in my seat.
Those are beautiful tiles, what an inspiration. I love their art deco(?) influence ad would want to use that in my clothes and jewellery.
Deb from Vancouver
The tiles are beautiful inspiration and the color palette is so pretty. I agree with Deb from Vancouver – art deco jewelry would be beautiful with this wardrobe.
Janice, would it be possible to add the color names to the graphic with the color scheme circle? Computer monitors render the colors differently from machine to machine and I would find it very helpful to have a clearer idea of what colors you had in mind… ie pine green vs kelly green or turquoise vs peacock blue, etc. Plus it might help in searching the internet for items that coordinate. Thanks for another beautiful travel wardrobe!
Have you spotted the key words at the bottom of the post? I find this useful when I can't tell if the base colour is navy blue or black or suchlike.
If anybody is in love with Art Nouveau (I am), Brussels and Nancy are particularly full of marvelous architecture. We have a few lovely examples in Carcassonne, too. But it can't compare with Square Ambiorix or the Horta museum or the Ultimate Hallucination (name of a bar/restoin Brussels).
Beautiful collection!!! You must have been reading my mind. I have been wanting to incorporate my jade/teal tops and some purple pieces for a while now and I have some scarves with this colour combo, but still wanted it to look controlled. Thank you so much, it was exactly what I have been dreaming of.
Angela in West Aust
I agree, these are truly beautiful colours! I especially like the off-white in the purple tile, which reads to me as a light warm grey-green (and I second Lena's request, some names would be really helpful). I'm tempted to try to put together an autumn capsule from pieces I already have based on this, I might just about be able to….
Alice
Thank you, thank you! This inspiration is truly helpful. I love it!
So beautiful!!!
I would like to see names of the colors used, too… I often miss that information.
Beautiful, as always! I had already been eyeing the sweater dress, but can't choose between navy and grey… Unfortunately, my lifestyle cannot argue for both. Alas!
Beautiful colors. Now I want to go shopping for antique tiles.
I wouldn't travel in a short skirt either. It would be fine for the trip otherwise. I travel in dresses but they are usually a loose flowy type that I wear with leggings. Very comfy! Very pretty colors!
I'm another art nouveau fan and I love the colours you've chosen. I too would be looking for period jewellery and some art nouveau patterning in scarves, plus longer drapey shapes in cardigans and skirts. The swirly dress captures that perfectly. Teal and olive green in the one suitcase – I wouldn't have thought of it but you show how they both work with the other colours. A nice pointer to the difference from a 'Whatever's clean' wardrobe. A non-wrinkle (jersey or similar) midi skirt is wonderfully comfortable for travel, plus you feel nicely dressed when upright.
Lovely inspiration, thank you Janice.
Robyn in Tasmania
So excited! These are MY colors! Thank you, Janice!
Christine
Really loved this one!
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