I thought we could all use something bright and cheerful today…
I love this color palette – using navy rather than black as the neutral here makes it feel very… different?
We’ve met this heroine before, last summer…
Another Art Fair…
Oh, this is not her usual style AT ALL! She represents emerging artists, and is normally dressed… eccentrically, I think might be the best way to describe it. But she has to travel, from time to time, in order to meet new artists and see what’s going on the art world. And she feels that she can be more effective if she’s not quite as conspicuous as usual…
So for travel she’s wearing a pretty traditional outfit, with some pretty UN-traditional accessories:
cardigan – Madewell; frog brooch – Talbots; earrings – The Met Store; tee – J.Crew: watch – The Met Store; briefcase – Mansur Gavriel; jeans – Lands’ End; loafers – Banana Republic
She expects to have to stick her suitcase in a corner for at least a few hours, but she’s not particularly worried that someone will sneak away with it; there is NO sneaking with this bag!
When she packed,she knew that she wanted to keep things as traditional as she knew how to manage… But a bright scarf, some fun earrings, and a very “off the beaten” path necklace personalize her suitcase perfectly:
red cardigan – Lands’ End; ball and bar earrings – Rachel Comey; navy planet earrings – Milk Tooth Ldn; painted shell necklace – Venessa Arizaga; striped top – J.Crew; navy tee – J.Crew; scarf – Franco Ferrari; green cardigan – Lands’ End; bag – Hiva Atelier; navy dot dress – L.L.Bean; navy chino skirt – Boden; pajamas – Hanro; navy ballet flats – Loft; slippers – Deluxe Comfort
She’s not generally too worried about what she packs – if items are in her closet, they’re meant to be worn together! But for this particular event, she does have a sincere business interest in looking pulled-together and professional – without hiding her quirkiness entirely…
A quick review reassures her that she has plenty of ways to get dressed for a long-weekend business adventure:
Does your wardrobe have “facets” in it? For example, this heroine is definitely emphasizing the “classic, timeless” facet of her wardrobe while including just a bit of the “creative artistic type” facet in her packing.
My wardrobe is a balance of tomboy, gym rat, opera-goer and trend-free traveler…
love,
Janice
p.s. Five years ago, we looked into the possibilities of a wardrobe that included all solid clothes, with patterned jewelry!
Like this article? Save it to Pinterest.
I love my purple Lipault roller bag. Stands out from all the black bags during my travels.
Janice,
What a fun heroine that I would love as a friend ! I’m enjoying her colorful approach to wardrobe and life !
Hope you are feeling MUCH better !
I love your phrase “…if items are in her closet, they are meant to be worn together…” An ideal to aim for with the neutral navy creating both the unity and also just enough distance between the colour blocks. Well done on presenting a bright but classic wardrobe with a touch of whimsy in the frog earrings.
I would also add the navy polka dot dress to my wardrobe and give some serious thought to a stylish briefcase like that, even though I don’t need one.
It is a thing of beauty and practicality.
William Morris, the Arts & Crafts designer said:
“Have nothing in your home (wardrobe) that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful.”
The briefcase fits both categories in spades.
Hope you are feeling rested, revived and recovered!
I really like this wardrobe; the basics in navy which I love, and some brights that at first look haphazard, but really all pull together! I really need to put a navy bag and shoes on my list! Thank you, and I hope you are feeling better!
This wardrobe really sings! – nancyo
What a vibrant, happy pallet to cheer us (and you)! Hope you’re feeling 100% better after your ordeal!
Oh, my, of course I meant to write PALETTE. Never ” sleepy-post” and accept auto-suggest!😳
It really does show the major impact that accessories can have on the overall look. Get well soon.
This post hit the morning after I saw a woman in a long taupe boiled-wool coat covered in cantaloupe-sized appliqués of bright felt flowers, with raspberry balloon pants and emerald booties visible. The look screamed, “I am eccentric!” It is wise for the art dealer to consider she is travelling to serve her client’s , not to draw looks to herself via a her quirkiness. When I worked in large corporations, there were definitely ways to express individuality but at the same time look professional, and a smart briefcase is always a good idea.
Janice: 2 things , I used your 4 x 4 plan to pack for a 2 week trip to Portugal (was a little worried I would get bored with the limitation – but my jewelry saved me) it worked out wonderfully! Way less stress about what to wear ! So today is wonderful. I started simplifying my wardrobe so I could wear my accessories – not a huge scarf fan and this post is very helpful in stretching my thinking. Thanks
I am so happy to see a colorful wardrobe this morning. The cardigans really caught my eye. I like the look of a blazer but I find I wear cardigans so much more, they fit my lifestyle and personality. I have a few brightly colored cardigans, they can help lift the mood of my outfit.
Jewelry is always cooler than a cozy scarf in warm weather! Also smaller to pack. It is a great souvenir from a trip that you will truly use and not have to dust!
So pretty…and no beige! Thank you!