I saw this at the Art Institute of Chicago last weekend, and was instantly smitten…
Our heroine saw it too, and noted immediately that, even though the colors here are all beautiful together, they also offer a range of possibilities for choosing garments for every season! First, she identified her “overall” color palette:
She then started thinking about what she would choose for autumn, from these colors. All of these colors, in their darker and richer incarnations, are perfect for the approaching cool weather…
She pulled together a perfect outfit without a lot of work… An entire wardrobe capsule in colors from this art wouldn’t be tough at all!
sweater – Eileen Fisher; necklace – Kendra Scott; wrap – Nordstrom; cardigan – Eileen Fisher; pants – Eileen Fisher; boots – Frye; bag – Staud
With this success fresh in mind, she thought she might look for a couple of warm dresses to have in hand for the upcoming holidays!
red dress – Uniqlo; earrings – Madewell; tobacco dress – Uniqlo; bracelet – Stephen Dweck; bag – Sam Edelman; pumps – Eileen Fisher
Although finding spring clothes in the Northern Hemisphere is far from simple, our heroine determined that she would look around (maybe in her own closet?) for an outfit that picked up on the fresher, lighter colors available in her chosen palette:
pink rhodonite earrings – Kendra Scott; rose tee – Lands’ End; malachite earrings – Cult Gaia; green tee – Ann Taylor Factory; bag – VR by Violet Ray; pants – Sanctuary; watch – Olivia Burton; flower-trimmed sneakers – Paul Green
Why stop now? She knew that she was going to need work clothes for the spring and summer, so she thought she might as well look at those possibilities too…
cardigan – L.L.Bean; earrings – Baublebar; tee shirts – L.L.Bean; scarf – Treasure & Bond; linen pants – L.L.Bean; bag – Lodis Los Angeles; shoes – Jack Rogers
A wardrobe color palette won’t work well unless it accommodates all of the weather, locations, events, and other requirements in your life…
love,
Janice
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Sharon says
September 21, 2018 at 6:22 amVery autumnal, loving the rosy red jumper (although on closer inspection is more rust than pink) with the two-tone burgundy cashmere wrap and the muted pink tops. I could see me wearing those with a mushroom coloured pair of cords and taupe suede booties or a pebble grey chino with loafers.
bukauser says
September 21, 2018 at 6:33 amGreat article.
Nicole says
September 21, 2018 at 6:56 amPlease I beg you to do a wardrobe based on the treasure and bond scarf with the “warm weather work” clothing you have shown. How easily could you use ivory, denim and a smokey blue with the pink and green? Casual, no dresses?
Also I agree with others who have commented recently about not always being able to see all the possible outfit combinations from a wardrobe. I think it might be a little easier if I had the actual clothing and accessories in front of me but I still wouldn’t see things as clearly as you do. Outfits by numbers please.
Your posts make my day. I never miss reading a new one as soon as I get home from work in the mornings. Ty
Janice says
September 21, 2018 at 6:57 amI might have to wait a few months to do anything with warm weather – it’s getting difficult to find photographs of anything that’s not wool, cashmere, or some other swelteringly heavy fabric. Which, given yesterday’s temperatures in Chicago, is nutty!
hugs,
Janice
nancyo says
September 22, 2018 at 4:07 pmmaybe a wardrobe for cool weather, but using that Treasure & Bond scarf for inspiration? I wonder if that would work for nicole? – nancyo
Janet says
September 21, 2018 at 7:59 amLove it! Another color combo you won’t see coming and going. I’m totally all in on the olive or sage green trend with brown. I’m a blonde with hazel eyes who loves to be in the country, so these colors of nature are comfortable for me. I experimented with pink as an accent color last winter and a turquoise blue this summer. I haven’t decided which way to commit.
Vicki Cook says
September 21, 2018 at 9:21 amI like the idea of using deeper colors of the same palette for fall/winter, lighter colors for spring/summer. It would make transitioning between seasons seamless. I tend to transition by piece as the weather changes. Whenever I put away my summer clothes and put in my fall clothes (or put away my winter clothes and put in my spring clothes), I inevitably have to pull something back out because the weather is warmer or cooler than normal.
Robyn says
September 21, 2018 at 3:56 pmIt’s the same for me Vicki. I live in a cool temperate climate so cool-weather top layers stay at hand before and after the warmest summer months. Janice’s blog has helped me deal with this in a more coordinated way, and to choose clothes by colour strategically. But it’s sometimes just difficult in practical terms to accommodate everything for those transitional seasons.
Suzyn says
September 21, 2018 at 9:25 amWhat a gorgeous piece! I find that color combinations that occur in Nature are among the most beautiful. Mother Nature is a colorist par excellence!
rb says
September 21, 2018 at 3:46 pmOoh I just ordered that cardigan. I have it in the navy/nutmeg already and love it. I also have the clove wool separates from last year (top and skirt) so i will be all set and the Mayor of Matchytown!
Robyn says
September 21, 2018 at 3:59 pmAnother strategic approach to wardrobe building and coordination! I really like the art and the outfits shown here as illustrations of the strategy. More food for thought …
Anne says
September 21, 2018 at 5:32 pmWould you be able to do a wardrobe for an older (60’s) retired women who likes strong blues (navy, marine, cobalt, turquoise) and white and greens? 70% casual 20% dressy casual 10% dressy? Activities include movies, quilting class, activities with grand kids, beach/pool, lives in hot climate, 30kls south of Gold Coast Qld Australia) mild winters. Wears mainly trousers, 7/8th, cropped and longer legged shorts. Thanks in advance, I love your blog always interesting whether the colours and styles suit me or not.
Liz H says
September 21, 2018 at 9:51 pmHi Anne, have you had a look at the wardrobes (I think there are three) under Start with Art: Jimson Weed, by Georgia O’Keeffe? That has some lovely relaxed styles in those types of colours that you mention, and is more pants-based. It would be easy enough to swap out the denim for a lighter weight fabric for summer.
Judith G Essex says
September 22, 2018 at 12:44 pmWhether the exact scenario fit me or not, these stories stimulate my imagination as concerns my wardrobe. I am infinitely better organized than “B.J.” (Before Janice!). Sad to say for the first time in my life I have a “wardrobe” and not just a collection of things I bought! HA!
Janice says
September 22, 2018 at 2:41 pmI love this – B.J.! I’ve become an era in the measure of time!
hugs,
Janice
Sania says
September 23, 2018 at 5:54 amThank you Janice for making the post in almost all my colours!! I’m so happy altough I enjoy all wour posts, seing is beleiving! I also love how you included a range of colors under one accent color. That was exactly what I needed!! Now I hurry back to study this post in more details. I think I could adjust the green range to include olive green and slate blue instead of lighter greens.
hugs!
depobola says
September 26, 2018 at 8:51 amAn impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a
friend who was conducting a little homework on this.
And he in fact bought me breakfast simply because I discovered it for him…
lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!
But yeah, thanks for spending the time to discuss this subject here on your website.