Durer was, unquestionably, a genius:
There are only about a TON of colors here (yes, ton is not a number, but you know what I mean…). I actually went back to the Internet to look at photographs of the actual bird in order to get a sense of what they really look like! 
Wing of a European Roller by Albrecht Durer
There are only about a TON of colors here (yes, ton is not a number, but you know what I mean…). I actually went back to the Internet to look at photographs of the actual bird in order to get a sense of what they really look like!
Uncompromising
She knew that she had some… difficult… preferences.
Even though her wardrobe is largely black and white, she prefers brown leather. She doesn’t care if anyone else thinks it’s a good idea…
Her favorite accent colors are two different shades of blue, which don’t particularly work together. Her friends tell her that it isn’t very efficient to stick so stubbornly to both colors…
tee – L.L.Bean
She’s been known to wear both silver AND gold jewelry. Sometimes she wears them AT THE SAME TIME. Shocking…
Her friends need to realize that the “Fashion Police” don’t really exist…
love,
Janice
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I LOVE this. Gold and silver – black and brown. Make the dark blue a bit darker, so that it goes better with the light blue/turquoise and throw in a bit of bright red/burgundy and you have my wardrobe 🙂
Oh – I just noticed that the bright red can actually be found in the picture too. I think I just found my spirit animal 😉
Janice — recently when I visit your site, something loads in the background that causes my computer fans to come on and seriously overheat. I love your site, but have started avoiding it because I don't understand what is going on. Best wishes to you.
Who says black and brown don't go together? Especially with a little ecru accent. So classy!
And I love both of those blues with brown.
I thought of you so much Saturday at the market in Carcassonne. One lady: simple dark gray dress, very much like the one you showed Friday (hers was sleeveless). She had bright red patent leather ballerinas, a tiny red cross-body bag, and big, red, Iris Apfel glasses. She looked marvelous.
Another woman was in a bright orange top, with white pants, and as she turned her head I saw that the edges of her glasses (not the temples, but the edge of the rims only) were orange. Very subtle yet very out there.
I also saw a woman in kelly green trousers, with a kind of palm-leaf print top and a green cardigan thrown over her shoulders. Green bag. Don't recall the shoes…
Lots and lots in all white.
Love love love black and brown together b/c why not and it looks and feels soooooooo rich. Also wear gold and silver jewelry together b/c ditto above 🙂 xoxoxox
Such fresh colors…the addition of one black cardigan could really expand this traveler's options!
Janice,
As I am preparing to pack for a week away, I am breaking this post down into its components, as I am prone to do ! I'm seeing 3 bottoms, 4 twin sets, a print top, and a spare cardigan to balance the bag and shoes. By twin sets, I mean the 2 cardigans and their matching tees, and a white shirt with white tee, and black shirt and tee. There are so many mix and match possibilities this way for weeks of outfits ! If I could add one more thing, it would be a print that adds more cognac within the print, but I love how your feathered print top repeats the bird theme ! Excellent selections, as always !
I forgot to add, that I appreciate your color scheme circles, and parts thereof, as you show how you develop your color selections !
This is a beautiful set of colors, although not what my eye and coloring would choose. I would substitute charcoal gray, dark teal/petrol, dusty sea glass, soft white, cognac (leather) and a dash of coral-read. I would keep the gold and silver jewelry.
What colors would others select?
Lesley
This sounds wonderful!
I love it!
Sania
I like this gal! I love the look of black clothes with brown leather accessories. It breaks up the somber attitude of the black and makes it more playful. I like the two blues worn together too. If it works for a peacock, it works for me. I would prefer a more tealy turquoise, but that's just me.
I love the way this woman thinks! As Rikke mentioned, add some red and this could be my wardrobe. After some recent intense apparel shopping for a Labor Day weekend trip, I realized that I too prefer brown leather to black (but black is so much easier to find!). And although I have a penchant for silver jewelry, gold actually looks better on me.
I would also probably wear the turquoise and bright blue together. After all, if it looks good on the bird (and on that marvelous bracelet you found), why wouldn't it look good on me? That's the way I think, anyway! Scarves seem to come in every color combination imaginable, so I could probably find one that combines both blues to help the outfit coordinate.
Now if only I could find some pants in the same shade of brown as the leather accessories…
Yes, the two blues work together in my world as well 🙂
– Kaci
True. If it's good enough for the bird it is good enough for me. Also isn't the first scarf in the "12 months – 12 outfits"-posts pretty close to this?
Yes! I have been keeping my eye out for that brown color in pants/jeans/corduroys. I too wear all these colors (with red and fuchsia), as well as gold and silver jewelry, although truth be told, the cooler colors/metals are better for my coloring, so I have gray, taupe and denim blue as well. – nancyo
I have noticed that brown is very hard to find this fall so far. Even on online sites with big names, there are very few brown pants. I find this very curious.
Deb from Vancouver
I woudl wear the blues together too!
Hello Janice!! I truly loved this post since my favorite colors also don't really go together either – and I mix gold and silver all the time!! BTW… Love the new "sharing" bar – thank you!!!!
Wonderful post, Janice. If the black was instead navy and the bright blue more of a deep teal, this would be a large part of my watdrobe also. I'm intrigued by the inclusion of the golden brown leather accessories, which would look similar with navy. I already have booties and clogs in that color so I'm really thinking of purchasing that Patricia Nash bag. Would love to know if you think this brown will also go well with medium to light grey? Also ,I found another bracelet I love on the site that sells the Gas Bijoux bracelet,I need one adjusts as my wrists are too small for most bracelets and there is a lovrly cuff bracelet there. Question: if we purchase something else when we click on a site from your blog, do you still get credit? I want to support you as much as possible for giving me so much inspiration over the years, thank you ! Janice Collins, Washington, DC
Agreed on the genius of Duerer, and it takes a skillful such as your to make these colors work so beautifully. Not sure I could have done this.
Cornelia
that was a fun one, and I LOVE the last line!
There's orange in the piece — a dash of orange would also work to expand this wardrobe, for a brave person…
Love the black and brown! I would wear both blues together as well! I often mix gold and silver too. We are just a bunch of rebels!! LOL I really like those booties! I wish we had a Nordstrom's. I hate buying shoes without trying them on!
So nice!
Brilliant! Thank you so much for using my suggestion.
I have a pair of gold and silver earrings I wear often.
So sophisticated! Love the black and cognac together. If I could, I'd pack every single item in my travel bag – no substitutions!
It all looks great to me! I already own lots of black, so now I just have to work on the brown! Love those Frye boots! Thanks for doing all the leg work for us!
I'm off to pack for a visit to La Bella Italia, cant wait to see the photos from your trip!
I was actually surprised with the large amount of black, presumably seen in the original art. I see only a small amount of black compared to the number of black garments. I would use the gold camel colour in the background as a base neutral. But then I look horrible in black and avoid it most of the time.
Nice post, things explained in details. Thank You.
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