Our oh so lucky heiress! She found out about her inheritance back in the late winter, and began searching around for a 2nd home. She visited Mexico, and loved it, and then she visited Paris, and really loved it! But she’s still undecided…
Friends suggest that she stop by Ireland for a few days… THIS is a great idea…
So she studies her signature painting, while she thinks about packing for a few cool, damp days:
She knows that she should plan for cool, rainy, sunny, breezy – basically anything’s possible!
cardigan – L.L.Bean; earrings – Robert Lee Morris; scarf – Loewe; turtleneck – L.L.Bean; hobo bag – Jimmy Choo; watch – Timex; suitcase – Vince Camuto; corduroy pants – L.L.Bean; trench coat – London Fog; waterproof boots – Blondo
She’s just setting the stage to go back for a longer visit, so she doesn’t need to pack much… But when you’re going to Ireland, it’s always wise to have warm pajamas, a hat and gloves or mittens, and a sheep brooch? There might be no place better (except maybe New Zealand?) to wear a sheep brooch…
flower earrings – Meadowlark; heavy turtleneck – Free People; print scarf – Faliero Sarti; camel scarf – Joseph; cotton layering turtleneck – Lands’ End; sheep brooch – Banana Republic; mittens – L.L.Bean; hat – L.L.Bean; beige pants – L.L.Bean; pajamas – Lands’ End; boucle sweater – Low Class; loafers – Kelsi Dagger Brooklyn; crossbody bag – Patricia Nash
She’s still faithful to her color scheme… And when she takes a look at her travel wardrobe, she’s very pleased with what she sees!
She wants to be warm and dry, and to feel very much like herself. When you’re “test-driving” a 2nd home, it’s important to be very much yourself, rather than try to change yourself to fit into a new town, city or country. At some point in time, you’ll become homesick for yourself…
How will her travel capsule wardrobe work? She has a few outfit ideas…
She likes sheep – maybe a place in a small town along the Wild Atlantic Way?
Where would you decamp to, if you were going to make a huge move? We are indeed looking for something in the west of Ireland…
love,
Janice
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You can’t beat West Cork. O.k the weather is not perfect but the outfits you have chosen for this post are perfect although depending on how long she’s visiting she may want some wellies.
A sheep brooch would indeed go down well here in New Zealand even though sheep numbers have fallen from their peak in the 80s. At that time we used to think of ourselves as the country with 3 milion people and 60 million sheep. Love the tangerine and teal.
I’d go to Hawaii. Not the tourist traps, mind you -there are also quieter spots.
I wouldn’t like to live there full time, but part of the year…oh yes! For the rest of time, renting my place would be easy…
Living in a four-season climate with wardrobe full of neutrals and quiet hues, I sometimes wonder what would my tiny wardrobe look like if I lived in seasonless tropical climate…the most beautiful maxi dresses I could find, five pairs of slippers and not many more shoe options in totalz, and of course a flower in my hair every day. The only downside I can think of is that I’d probably wear my Hermès scarves mostly as makeshift bags. I think that just for a few months per year, I could live with that, too. Yep, except for the money part, I have it all figured out…
I’ve recently visited western Montana, and now I fantasize about a lovely home near a river with mountains available for my contemplation (and hiking!) every day!
It is a fantasy though – I am too connected to my Midwestern family (and a grandbaby on the way) to think about leaving just yet.
Have money will travel – maybe someplace could make me change my mind….and like our heiress, i’d love to find out!
I love this painting and this color palette a lot!
Ireland, west coast, where my family is from.
I’m torn – I’m a city girl and love Vienna – but – I’m originally from Scotland so somewhere in he Western Isles appeals.
I was born in South Florida, and I love it here, but I could never understand why people came here year after year for weeks on end (as opposed to varying their travel destinations). Then I moved to Maryland for several years and found out about endless grey days in the winter. And shoveling snow. And driving on the ice. So I understand the yearning for a tropical paradise.
(By the way, that was not an attack on Maryland, which is a great place! It was an expression of empathy for Northern visitors to Florida.)
I don’t aspire to having a second home, because the responsibilities of home ownership would be doubled. If I were lucky enough to receive such an inheritance, I would use the money for travel to a wide variety of places.
But if I were going to move, my choice would be a university town. A well-educated population, lots of cultural opportunities, and usually a reasonable cost of living. A great base for all those world travels.
Book Goddess,
I quite agree on your university town idea ! Always something stimulating to see and do, and the youthful vitality can be contagious !
Hi Janice, is you move a permanent one, or as a second home? I know you really love Ireland, so was just wondering..
Love the wardrobe, but she would definitely need so wellies or similar – the beige boots wouldn’t stay that colour for long!
Alice
At this point we plan to split our time between the 2 places, but we would like to settle permanently in Ireland, sooner or later. So many factors to consider before we can spend the majority of our time there!
hugs,
Janice
You’d have to find an American university town worth living in. Ann Arbor, Champaign-Urbana, South Bend or Bloomington would not be on my list; maybe avoid the Midwestern US, where I’m from? I’d look for a town that engages me every day, rather than waiting to take off elsewhere.
@bookgoddess: A recently-retired friend moved from MD to Quebec City, Canada for 6 months/yr, other 6 in Denver.
Ardara, County Donegal. Was it the beauty of the Glengesh Pass, the gorgeous handmade tweeds made on a loom right in Eddie Doherty”s storefront shop, the incredibly friendly locals with the best Irish brogue, Whatcha Mc Collum’s food truck at the curb for a late night snack after a session? All that and more in a picturesque little town of less than a thousand people. A little slice of Heaven on Earth! Consider the Nesbitt Arms Hotel if you need a place to stay.
Sligo. We were there this summer and loved it so much that we’re looking for jobs there. The landscapes are breathtaking, and it has the benefit of being a small-ish city so there’s plenty to do.
Janice,
As you might expect, the colors in this capsule are right up my alley ! Or rather in my closet, don’t know why they would be in the alley ! What a strange phrasing when you think about it ! Thanks so much for posting it !
I love both the story and the palette—neither could be mine, but so intriguing. What is especially captivating is that these colours are hard to find in ‘good’ clothes, which skew to the extremes, the ecru or black camp.
I love that sheep brooch…so adorable! I dream of a waterfront home somewhere…not sure where lol. Like you my daughter dreams of Ireland.
What variation would you make in this travel capsule for a two week tour of Ireland in late June to early July? Sounds like I should expect pleasantly warm, some cool, and rain. This past summer I was expecting warm in Nova Scotia and got some very cold rain.
Love the cosiness of this capsule, roll necks are my favourite go to jumper in the winter. The colours aren’t for me, but they do play nicely together don’t they? Definitely my style (smart casual) and great for getting out in the countryside on a blustery, chilly day. Where I live you have the coast, rugged moorland and a university city all within a 10 mile radius. However, the climate is damp and we both love southern Europe, so I suspect we will be doing more travelling there for longer periods when we retire, but still keep our home in the UK.
Strasbourg, in the Alsace region of France. Has a University, has the European Parliament, close to the German border mixing French and German food, architecture and culture; excellent wine growing area. Vienna would be my close second choice, currently ranked #1 for Best City for Quality of Life. No cars needed living in either city as well as pedestrian and cycle friendly with great public transit. Have often visited both as a female solo traveler too (when husband can’t join me).
I think I just left this comment on the wrong post accidentally! Oops! Idk how that happened. I meant to comment here, so let’s try this again.
I second County Donegal! My boyfriend and I went to Ireland for the first time this past summer and it was so beautiful I can’t stand it. We spent the first few days in Doolin and then spent the rest of the week up north in Narin. Doolin was wonderful, but our hearts belong in Narin. I can’t describe it, but it feels like home. We want to move there someday. If anyone is interested in visiting, I highly recommend Edenvale B&B (and I recommend Daly’s house if you visit Doolin). Doolin was quite a bit more touristy than Narin, which is probably why we fell more in love with Narin. It was more relaxing. We visited the surrounding towns Portnoo, Rosbeg, and Ardara while we were there and walked to thre island Inish Caoil during low tide. It was everything we imagined Ireland would be and more. Side note: I totally used your blog post around the Pimpernel fabric to help me pack for that trip! Thanks for the help!
Feel free to delete the duplicate comment if you find it!
For me it would definitely be somewhere in The Netherlands. Such fabulous people.