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Home » Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits – May 2018

Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits – May 2018

May 1, 2018

Always my favorite day of the month, for The Vivienne Files! And since today (April 30th) is actually somewhat warm in Chicago, this doesn’t feel like an insane outfit to bring into our capsule wardrobes!

If you haven’t seen these before, the general idea is that I start the year with 6 Hermes scarves, and for each of the 12 months of the year, I choose an outfit to add to a growing capsule wardrobe. Some of them turn out really well, and others… need some year-end adjusting! But it’s a fascinating process…

Let’s get started; one of the things that I liked most about this scarf was the juxtaposition of the surprising yellow, green and blue against the black. Not your usual accent colors!

green and black summer outfit

Scarf – Hermès Fouets et Badines; earrings – Monica Vinader; tank top – Lands’ End; cardigan – Eileen Fisher; bracelet – SOKO; shorts – Eileen Fisher; sandals – Vionic

This wardrobe is starting to come together well; I’m going to have to look for more accent blue and yellow, I think…

capsule wardrobe based on Hermes Fouets et Badines

Just to make certain that I haven’t driven off in some crazy direction, I want to use each of my 3 new garments in other outfits –  just to be sure I’m making sense. The black cardigan gives this wardrobe a “black suit” of sorts, and that’s always a good idea!

3 outfits from a black and green capsule wardrobe

The 2nd wardrobe is getting prettier with each addition:

beige and blush summer outfit

Scarf –Hermès The Horsawards; moonstone earrings – Monica Vinader; tank top – Lands’ End; cardigan – Eileen Fisher; bracelet – Nadri; shorts – Eileen Fisher; sandals – Paul Green

The entire wardrobe has so many possibilities:

capsule wardrobe in beige with blush and green, based on Hermes Horsawards

Does this heroine own a normal-color pair of shoes? Heck NO!

3 outfits from a beige, blush and green capsule wardrobe

I’m really loving this navy wardrobe – this outfits with shorts is almost dressy… It certainly could go a lot of places in warmer weather, without being inappropriate…

summer outfit in navy and teal

Scarf – Hermès Les Tresors d’un Artiste; earrings – Lalana; cashmere & linen cardigan – Nordstrom Signature; bracelet – Cahya Krisna; tank top – L.L.Bean; shorts – Lands’ End; sandals – Gabor

If your packed these pieces for a trip, you’d be set for most things, I’d say!

capsule wardrobe in navy with burgundy, grey and teal

Lots of combinations possible with these 3 new additions:

3 outfits from a capsule wardrobe based on Hermes Les Tresors d'un Artiste

Now, to the really difficult wardrobe! I’m not quite sure what I was thinking when I chose this scarf, except that it was going to be a challenge…

But I love this outfit – the contrast between the structured cardigan and the relaxed tank could be fun!

warm weather outfit in olive green and beige

Scarf – Hermès Merveilleuses Lanternes; lantern earrings – ASHA by Ashley McCormick; tank top – Caslon; cardigan – J.Crew; bracelet – J.Crew; shorts – L.L.Bean; sandals – Valia Gabriel

This wardrobe includes such a range of shades of green… I think more beige might be needed in the future in order to keep all of this harmonious. And it would be nice to find that pretty, cool pink in another top or two…

capsule wardrobe based on Hermes Merveilleuses Lanternes

Even with all of the various greens here, it’s still not at all difficult to build lots of outfits from these pieces:

3 utfits from an olive, beige and pink capsule wardrobe

How about some pretty blue and white for a warm day?

blue and white summer outfit

Scarf – Hermès Jardin a Sintra; earrings – Rafael Antonio Zurdo; tank top – Banana Republic; cardigan – Eileen Fisher; blue topaz bracelet – Kadek Wijanegara; shorts – Lands’ End; sandals – Reiker Antistress

This wardrobe is coming together beautifully; I’m not a pastel person, but this could change my mind!

capsule wardrobe in grey and blue based on Hermes Jardin a Sintra

And so many possibilities…

3 outfits from a capsule wardrobe in blue and grey

I have a soft spot for this wardrobe because of the sheer unconventionality of the colors! Nothing outrageous, but still not outfits that you see coming and going on every street…

Spring and summer outfit in white and brown

Scarf – Hèrmes Ndop; wood earrings – Lele Sadoughi; tank top – Lilly Sarti; cardigan – L.L.Bean; bracelet – Chan Luu; shorts – Eileen Fisher; sandals – Hush Puppies

The leather makes so much difference, doesn’t it?

This is another wardrobe that might need a little bit of help to come together, but so far I think it’s pretty versatile:

capsule wardrobe in grey, green, brown and white

You could get dressed pretty easily if you had these pieces in your suitcase!

3 outfits from a capsule wardrobe in brown, green, grey and white

This month, I’m gravitating toward the beige and blush wardrobe, but I’m sure that will change again by the 1st of June. Which is your favorite? And has it been the same choice each month so far?

love,

Janice

Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits - May 2018

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05.01.18 14 Comments

Tags: 12 Months - 12 Outfits, capsule wardrobe, Start With a Scarf
<<Lily of the Valley! The Birth Flower for MayStart with AN OWL! Building a Wardrobe 1 Step at a Time>>

Comments

  1. Robyn says

    May 1, 2018 at 6:16 am

    Oh this series is fun. This month I’m particularly attracted to the Ndop Scarf’s wardrobe. The colour combination is so unusual and you’ve chosen lovely pieces for it. Yes, I’m bouncing around from month to month, from Horsawards to Jardin de Sintra, from Les Tresors d’un Artiste to Merveilleuses Lanternes. And it’s only April!

    Reply
  2. Lisa says

    May 1, 2018 at 7:06 am

    I look forward to this every month, they’re all so beautiful! With the exception of the black wardrobe (I don’t like wearing black) I would wear every single wardrob theme, they are perfectly curated and interesting color combinations <3

    Reply
  3. Nathalie says

    May 1, 2018 at 7:10 am

    Hello, I love the navy wardrobe, but the pastel ‘jardin à Sitra” is going more and more attractive. Have a good day (in France it’s labor day, today)!

    Reply
  4. Elma says

    May 1, 2018 at 9:10 am

    Love, love, love the gray-, navy-, and black-based ones.

    Reply
  5. Nancy B. says

    May 1, 2018 at 12:27 pm

    I always look forward to the first of the month and this series.

    Reply
  6. Pam says

    May 1, 2018 at 9:14 am

    Your new site looks lovely!

    Reply
  7. Mary The Pouting Pensioner says

    May 1, 2018 at 9:35 am

    Congratulations on your sleek new blog, Janice!

    With this year’s capsule series i find myself switching scarf allegiance as the months roll out and pretty new pieces are added. I’m certainly being kept on my fickle little toes!

    Hugs from Mrs Fickle! x.

    Reply
  8. Lily says

    May 1, 2018 at 10:17 am

    My favorite clothes this month are the olive/oatmeal capsule. I don’t like open/long/waterfall/boxy/over-sized cardigans. This one looks perfect! The colors are pretty,the weight seems perfect for spring, the online reviewers like it and the price is right! I would wear all of the pieces selected for the capsule.

    Reply
  9. Janice Collins says

    May 1, 2018 at 12:03 pm

    I love the blush/tan and the grey/blue but the navy wardrobe items are always checked! I love the touch of grey in that one but the red/wine color does not suit me, so a different scarf. I’m in love with the colors of the Hermes Le Grand Prix du Failbourg in azure/bleu and I’ve been carrying a print of it in my wallet. The colors of navy, light grey, and various blues and teal really appeal and I love the subtlety of such a wardrobe. I intend to gradually get to this color scheme as I eliminate tan and brown clothes. So look forward to this series each month. Your wardrobes are so wonderful! Janice Collins, Washington, DC

    Reply
    • nancyo says

      May 1, 2018 at 6:04 pm

      what a beautiful scarf and color palette!! gray, navy, blues, and teal are strongly represented in my closet. – nancyo

      Reply
  10. michelle says

    May 1, 2018 at 12:53 pm

    I gravitate towards the navy based wardrobe. What I love about these monthly updates is the pieces you add each month. It is not wildly out of budget to purchase one outfit each month, or parts thereof. For example I already own navy shorts and cardigan, but will fill in gaps with tank top, and sandals.
    You guide us along to thoughtful purchases which will round out already existing wardrobes. Love it!

    Reply
  11. nancyo says

    May 1, 2018 at 6:06 pm

    The navy continues to be the most appropriate wardrobe for me, but this month I am really drawn to the last wardrobe – I love those colors combined with the crisp white. – nancyo

    Reply
  12. Janet says

    May 1, 2018 at 8:39 pm

    Always the olive of Hermès Ndop and the browns of Hermès Merveilleuses Lanternes!!

    Reply
  13. Sally R Wood says

    May 6, 2018 at 5:03 am

    I love it all …. thank you

    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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