January 9, 2019
Solar panels. She designs installations for solar panels – big installations, small ones – whatever is ordered, she will optimize both the appearance and the productivity. She’s very proud of what she does…
So when she saw this painting, it spoke to her – the angles, the bright sunny feel, the combination of grey (like metal frames) with orange and green – the colors of things that grow and bloom:
She decided to choose a color palette that she could use for all of her travel wardrobes (and maybe all of her clothing, eventually):
One challenge she always faces is that she travels to place where it is inevitably warmer than where she lives! So she dresses warmly for her departure, and packs somewhat less bulky garments for while she’s on site:
grey fleece jacket – Lands’ End; earrings – Mini Mini Jewels; striped tee – Eileen Fisher; watch – Henry; scarf – Nordstrom; slip-on sneakers – JSlides; grey jeans – Lands’ End; backpack – Sherpani; suitcase – Calpak
When she’s on-site, she might have to meet with owners, or investors, or maybe actually go out to the construction site to help figure out something. She’s never there for more than 2 or 3 days, but those days are always full of unexpected activities and events!
Orange top – Karen Kane; grey sweater – Uniqlo; solid earrings – Uno de 50; open square earrings – Beblue Jewellery; bracelet – Anchor & Crew; scarf – The Met Store; russet waffle-knit Henley – L.L.Bean; pants – Uniqlo; green top – Three Graces; skirt – Uniqlo; ballet flats – Fitflop; sandals – Toms; bag – Thacker New York
She never over-packs – you’ve never met anyone like her who could look at a pile of things and estimate the cubic volume to within a few inches! She can scan blueprints for a house and – in her head – calculate how much of their electricity can be generated by the sun. She’s really quite amazing…
She doesn’t worry too much about what she will wear once she’s at her destination – she has plenty of options:
And yes, she also knows a lot about battery storage! She knows full well that the sun doesn’t shine every day, nor during the night…
love,
Janice
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Your choice of artwork is perfect for your heroine. Tortosa is halfway between Barcelona and Valencia, and the brick factory shown seems itself to be baked in the sun.
The orange really wins me over with this collection. The perfect contrast with the gray.
There’s a typo in the title of the painting. One place says bruqueterie and one says briquieterie.
Beautiful colors. I love the cohesiveness with the square shapes.
Thanks! Spellcheck never picks up mistakes in French… And clearly, I don’t catch them all either!
hugs,
Janice
I LOVE the green top! Does anyone know where to find a less expensive version?? Maybe I should work on my seamstress skills….
The top looks like a simple cropped, twist and tie design which you could make yourself with some lovely fabric (the one shown looks like a cheap crinkle cotton) at a fraction of the price. Alternatively, take a copy of the pictures (front and back) to a local dressmaker/seamstress/tailor and have them make one for you. Prices vary, but it will still be cheaper than buying retail.
I really hesitated over this top, because of the price, but the color was perfect, and the angular construction of it just felt perfect for this heroine. Sometimes, I have to make exceptions to my own policies!
My hunch is that you could make this – you’re an intelligent woman, so there’s almost nothing you can’t do…
hugs,
Janice
Thank you for the encouragement!! Xoxo
I also saw the shirt (and the price) and immediately starting hunting for a commercial sewing pattern that could approximate it. I do this often, as I am comfortable with customizing patterns. This is the best of what I found:
Vogue V8825 (would need to be cropped and made with short sleeves)
McCall’s M7810 (captures the spirit, but is intended for woven fabric)
Thanks for sharing – this is a really brilliant idea.
hugs,
Janice
New Look 6560 looks similar in the short sleeved version. You’d just have to make the waist tie a bit wider to get that really dramatic wrap.
Thank you! I so appreciate your time to find that for me! Xoxo
I love how you’ve made good use of the tonal range of grey which is becoming one of my favourite neutrals as I’m getting older. As a ‘summer’, orange doesn’t feature in my palette as it makes my face look florid, which is a pity as I’m really drawn to its fresh, happy vibe.
Also, not a huge fan of cubism artwork, but I do like this heroine, so I’ll be watching to see how her wardrobe develops over the coming months.
Janice,
I love what you do with capsule wardrobes and I love the stories you create!
I work in a technical field related to energy and the environment. When I am in the field, I wear what is practical – hard working denim and canvas pants with lots of pockets for tools and equipment, technical wear that I can layer – think wicking fabrics and fabrics that screen the sun. When I was a young person, I found that “dressing up” (even business casual style) set me apart too much from my male counterparts – I was seen as not fitting in! So I dressed like them – denim and tee shirts…but as I’ve grown older and now that there are a lot more women in technical outdoorsy fields this “not fitting in” is much better. Also there are now companies such as Duluth Traders and Carhart that are making heavy duty clothes for women construction workers, and women who work out of doors. Check out Duluth Traders at https://www.duluthtrading.com/women/ – they have wonderful hard working clothes that make me feel stylish, but also ready to tackle any job!
Denise B
Love this perspective – thanks! – nancyo
I often look at Duluth Trading, thinking that their things might be idea for hiking or for cold days in Chicago. I’m glad to know that their things are good!
And what a fun work story… you’re a trailblazer!
hugs,
Janice
As a woman in this field turning 40 – THANK YOU!
As a woman who used to also walk construction sites and landfills may I add, that footwear is important–closed toed lug soled shoes at bare minimum, construction boots at best.
I love this palette! Gray is my very favorite neutral, and these soft shades look very fresh. Thanks for featuring it! I also love the perfect combination of cohesion and variation in the clothing choices. Our heroine doesn’t look like she’s wearing nearly the same thing every day, yet it all works together seamlessly. The shoe choices are excellent — I’d buy every pair.
I have a question. Since the tan or camel color in the pallet is so dominant, did you consider using a small portion of that color as an accent? I don’t see the orange as pure as you have isolated it. I see the paining’s orangish colors as going from camel to ochre.
I love this so much!!! I feel like you answered my request for a palette for gray-haired women with warm complexions. It is so nice to be heard.THANK YOU so very much for sharing your considerable expertise with me and other women like me. The color range of warm greys, cool browns, light tans, accented with oranges and greens, are perfect for those of us whose complexions are cooling. This fits the bill perfectly and I’m so excited to see what our heroine will be doing and wearing this year. Of course, I still enjoy and follow each and every one of your heroines, but it’s nice to be able to see myself in your stories :-).
What a treat! Inspired by your series of wardrobes from “A BRIDGE IN A SNOWY LANDSCAPE”, I have been working towards a blue, gray, and orange capsule for Spring. Trying a few winter white pieces but I’m afraid I maybe too messy for that to last and am reworking with tones of light gray and charcoal gray.
I am enjoying this take on light and dark gray with orange accent as well! Thank you!
Also, when I enlarged the portrait to get a better look at the color variations, I saw some maroon, pink, dahlia purple, violet, and cool browns which will definitely inspire my accessories search for the expansion of my scarf and fashion jewelry collections. Oh, the possibilities!!!
Janice,
While grey ( gray ? ) is not my color, I am loving how you selected two values of it for this capsule ! Sometimes wearing all of my browns in the same value, though slightly different styling, feels as though I’m wearing exactly the same pants every day ! The green and contrasting orange accents offer the variety that I seem to crave ! Well done, once again !
Hi Janice. I like the colours in this wardrobe but would probably expand with beige neutrals.
Also, since I live in sunny South Africa, I can attest that some of the outfits you show would not work in our heat. We spent a week in December in the Northern Cape provine and temperatures were above 40 degrees Celcius most days. It is HOT in summer. Cardigans – even light ones – will probably not be worn and as for scarves – way too hot! The same for 3/4 skeeve tops. I would love to see a wardrobe for a really hot climate. I love your heroines!
Me also. I come from a cooler climate but live in the tropics so I love looking at all your capsules but would like to see something for a hot climate. Actually light cardigans are worn sometimes. Think air conditioning