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Home » A Color Palette for All Seasons? Start with an Earthenware Plaque by John Bennett

A Color Palette for All Seasons? Start with an Earthenware Plaque by John Bennett

September 21, 2018

I saw this at the Art Institute of Chicago last weekend, and was instantly smitten…

1. John Bennett earthenware plaque

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:

2. John Bennett earthenware plaque with 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…

3. John Bennett earthenware plaque with autumn color scheme

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!

4. autumn outfit in brown and russet red

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!

5. John Bennett earthenware plaque with winter color palette

6. 2 winter dresses in wine red and dark camel

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:

7. John Bennett earthenware plaque with spring color palette

8.spring outfit in pink, green and white

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…

9. John Bennett earthenware plaque with summer color palette

10. summer work outfit in olive and pink

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

A CAPSULE WARDROBE COLOR PALETTE FOR ALL SEASONS INSPIRED BY AN EARTHENWARE PLAQUE BY JOHN BENNETT

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09.21.18 17 Comments

<<Another “Gentle” Project 333 Wardrobe – 30 Garments based on Navy & GreyWhat Are You Buying for Autumn? I’m All Finished…>>

Comments

  1. Sharon says

    September 21, 2018 at 6:22 am

    Very 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.

    Reply
  2. bukauser says

    September 21, 2018 at 6:33 am

    Great article.

    Reply
  3. Nicole says

    September 21, 2018 at 6:56 am

    Please 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

    Reply
    • Janice says

      September 21, 2018 at 6:57 am

      I 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

      Reply
      • nancyo says

        September 22, 2018 at 4:07 pm

        maybe a wardrobe for cool weather, but using that Treasure & Bond scarf for inspiration? I wonder if that would work for nicole? – nancyo

  4. Janet says

    September 21, 2018 at 7:59 am

    Love 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.

    Reply
  5. Vicki Cook says

    September 21, 2018 at 9:21 am

    I 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.

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      September 21, 2018 at 3:56 pm

      It’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.

      Reply
  6. Suzyn says

    September 21, 2018 at 9:25 am

    What a gorgeous piece! I find that color combinations that occur in Nature are among the most beautiful. Mother Nature is a colorist par excellence!

    Reply
  7. rb says

    September 21, 2018 at 3:46 pm

    Ooh 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!

    Reply
  8. Robyn says

    September 21, 2018 at 3:59 pm

    Another 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 …

    Reply
  9. Anne says

    September 21, 2018 at 5:32 pm

    Would 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.

    Reply
    • Liz H says

      September 21, 2018 at 9:51 pm

      Hi 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.

      Reply
  10. Judith G Essex says

    September 22, 2018 at 12:44 pm

    Whether 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!

    Reply
    • Janice says

      September 22, 2018 at 2:41 pm

      I love this – B.J.! I’ve become an era in the measure of time!
      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
  11. Sania says

    September 23, 2018 at 5:54 am

    Thank 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!

    Reply
  12. depobola says

    September 26, 2018 at 8:51 am

    An 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.

    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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