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Home » Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits – August 2017

Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits – August 2017

July 31, 2017

Although most of us in the Northern Hemisphere still have at least 8 weeks of hot weather in front of us, you can’t tell it by what’s in the stores. Cashmere, leather goods, lots of winter coats… Sigh…

But the August outfit last year, and again this year, is oriented to the season ahead:

a skirt outfit in camel, black and white with an Hermes scarf

As always, I like to see how the newest additions look when arrayed with the earlier pieces in each wardrobe:

a capsule wardrobe based on Hermes Carre en Boucles scarf, in black, white and caramel brown

It’s always wise to make certain that you can wear any new garment in at least 3 different ways, so I like to check on this too!

three ways to style a white shirt in a capsule wardrobe

three ways to style a whiskey brown cardigan in a capsule wardrobe

three ways to style a black skirt in a capsule wardrobe

I went a bit mad dressy here… sigh…

a skirt outfit in ivory and beige, including the Hermes Flanerie a Versailles scarf

Such lovely colors…

a capsule wardrobe in beige, blue, pink and green, based on Hermes Flanerie a Versailles scarf

three ways to style a beige cardigan in a capsule wardrobe

three ways to style a beige skirt in a capsule wardrobe

three ways to style an ivory top in a capsule wardrobe

I went a bit overboard here too, I suspect…

wine cardigan, foulard-print blouse and grey skirt with the Hermes scarf Au Bout du Monde

a capsule wardrobe in shades of blue, red, and grey based on the Hermes scarf Au Bout du Monde

3 ways to style a wine cardigan from a capsule wardrobe

3 ways to style a navy print blouse from a capsule wardrobe

3 ways to style a grey skirt from a capsule wardrobe

The brooch costs more than everything else in the outfit combined… VERY illogical!

an olive skirt outfit with orange accessories

a capsule wardrobe in olive with blue and orange accents, based on the Hermes scarf Collections Imperiales

3 ways to style an olive cardigan in a capsule wardrobe

3 ways to style an olive top in a capsule wardrobe

3 ways to style an olive skirt in a capsule wardrobe

a skirt outfit in grey, white and blue with the Hermes scarf Etude pour un Irish Arc-en-ciel

a capsule wardrobe in grey with accents of blue and orchid based on the Hermes scarf Etude pour un Irish Arc-en-ciel

3 ways to style a blue cardigan in a capsule wardrobe

3 ways to style a white shell in a capsule wardrobe

3 ways to style a grey skirt in a capsule wardrobe

If you’re not going to own a lot of skirts, maybe a really unusual one is worth considering?

a sequined skirt outfit with the Hermes scarf Chemins de Corail

a capsule wardobe in shades of beige and brown, with orange and red accents, based on the Hermes scarf Chemins de Corail

three ways to style a persimmon cashmere cardigan in a capsule wardrobe

three ways to style an oatmeal tee shirt in a capsule wardrobe

three ways to style a brown sequined skirt in a capsule wardrobe

When I start looking at 3 ways to wear each garment, the power of this approach becomes really evident…

love,
Janice

p.s. please note that a few of these scarves have become available again – in some cases there is only ONE scarf available. If you’ve been looking, strike while the silk iron is hot!

For more in the 2017 “Build a Capsule Wardrobe – 12 months, 12 outfits” series, check out the following articles:

  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
  • Evaluating our 2017 wardrobes…

Looking for more ideas? Follow along as we build a new capsule wardrobe in 2018.

Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits - August 2017

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07.31.17 12 Comments

Tags: 12 Months - 12 Outfits, capsule wardrobe, Hermes scarf, shopping, signatures
<<How Do I Choose My Favorite Colors?What I’m Packing For Ireland, August 2017>>

Comments

  1. Jazz says

    July 31, 2017 at 10:12 am

    Some of the items you have chosen this month are simply stunning the Ulla Johnson cardigan, the CLB NYC Brooch, the grey pleated skirt and that bronze J Crew skirt. It's interesting how much a pizzaz a single special piece can add to the total capsule.

    Reply
  2. Abigail says

    July 31, 2017 at 11:55 am

    How do you suggest wearing that orange brooch?

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      July 31, 2017 at 12:27 pm

      On the lapel of the olive cardigan – you'd have to really coordinate lipstick if you wear it! But it would be a real pop of contrasting color…
      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
    • Ivy Bromius says

      August 1, 2017 at 1:39 am

      I'd attach it to a clip and wear it in my hair (though orange and olive are the two worst colors for me, so as beautiful as this wardrobe is, maybe not). :)

      Reply
  3. Nancy/n.o.e says

    July 31, 2017 at 1:42 pm

    What a fun surprise to see August's post this morning! Such a great outfit for the last – brown – wardrobe. That bronze skirt! I love the dark red of the cardigan you added to the navy wardrobe. The first wardrobe – the black – continues to be my favorite, though. A pair of leopard shoes would be amazing with that collection of clothing. – nancyo

    Reply
  4. The Bride says

    July 31, 2017 at 4:30 pm

    I love this series – I look forward to it every month. Thanks.

    Reply
  5. Gail says

    July 31, 2017 at 6:00 pm

    Stunning outfits here, Janice–and I find dressier capsules far more useful and inspiring than stodgy LLBean wardrobe templates. If we need something to garden or vacuum the house in, well, ok, we can find that easily ourselves.

    Reply
  6. Deana Sanders says

    August 1, 2017 at 12:07 am

    There is something about fall clothes, isn'''t there? Lovely selections…

    Reply
  7. Janice says

    August 1, 2017 at 2:43 pm

    I also look forward to these posts. I've just gone through my fall-winter wardrobe and found some items needed to complete it. The pre-season sales are on now so ffor me it's not too early. I love how you incorporate more expensive items with standard basics from Lands End or LlBean and how you make elegant outfits with these. I've found real quality from surprising retailers by choosing well. My favorite here is the lovely beige wardrobe. Janice Collins, Washington DC

    Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    August 1, 2017 at 3:23 pm

    Thought you'd like this article! Washington post style section 8/1
    http://wapo.st/2tXd9BE
    Pat Smith, Pat's Addition

    Reply
  9. Anonymous says

    August 1, 2017 at 10:19 pm

    I'm another fan of these posts both for the visual interest of seeing the wardrobes build and for reading your thoughts about the whys and wherefores. It's useful to me personally to see the lighter coloured wardrobes too, since I became grey-haired. Funnily, I was wearing a pastel blue cable-knit jumper the other day (it's the middle of winter here) and enjoying compliments, when a former New Yorker who wears only black said disapprovingly, 'But it's not really a winter colour, is it.' Pah! I'm also enjoying the dressy components in these wardrobes – it's fun to gave some pizazz in the mix.
    Thank you Janice, from Robyn in Tasmania

    Reply
  10. roth phallyka says

    August 11, 2017 at 8:36 am

    I look forward to it every month. Thanks.

    หีฟิต

    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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