The Weekly Timeless Wardrobe, Week 36: Textured, printed or patterned short-sleeved top

It’s starting to feel (some days!) as if spring is on the way; I’m trying to have my wardrobe primed to go from the first hint of warmth…

A sweater with a bit of sparkle might be a fun little wardrobe update, eh?

shimmer sweater – Banana Republic

As with last week, the only real goal here is to provide an additional “top” that gives you some variety. It’s much harder to really find something with texture in warmer weather, but there are always interesting options like stripes, prints or maybe a touch of shine…

Even if it starts to become too warm to wear your silk scarf, you can always continue to build your wardrobe around the colors! (and don’t discount the idea of tying your scarf to your handbag…)

navy lion and peacock scarf – Aspinal of London; camel cashmere sweater – H&M; mustard “A” Floral scarf – Aspinal of London; gray striped sweater – Banana Republic; Magenta Robins scarf – Aspinal of London; grey washable wool sweater – Banana Republic

Yes, the mint green sweater is NOT short-sleeved, but I really wanted to be sure that you all saw it before it sells out – it’s currently on sale, and it’s WASHABLE wool. For me, that would mean cold water on the delicate cycle, the same way I wash cashmere…

mint green “A” Floral scarf – Aspinal of London; mint washable wool sweater – Banana Republic; Earth Mandala scarf – GISY; ecru sweater – Banana Republic; shield scarf – Aspinal of London; terracotta sweater – Banana Republic

Ah, black and white can truly be accented with just about any color; imagine a spring and summer during which you really committed to wearing bright pink!

earrings – Gloria Vanderbilt; sweater – J.Crew; white sweatshirt – L.L.Bean; cotton no-wrinkle pants – L.L.Bean; canvas shoes – Keds; straw tote – Sensi

Straw bags start to appear this time of year; if you have a particular vision of what you would like in a summer handbag, NOW is the time to look! As with so many things, if you wait until something is actually in season to buy it, you could come up empty handed (but find a great winter coat in July!).

earrings – JAI; sweater – Eleventy; sweatshirt – Topshop; olive no-wrinkle cotton pants – L.L.Bean; tote – INC International Concepts; canvas shoes – Roxy

Every time I go to Paris, I see women wearing long-sleeved shirts (just a standard button-front cotton shirt) with a short-sleeved sweater OVER IT, kind of like a vest, only with sleeves?

I need to try this; it always looks really cool on other women…

And yes, sparkly Keds are great; I have a pair that are the perfect touch on days when I’m dressed in a really subdued outfit and feel like a bit of… well… sparkle!

earrings – Majorica; cashmere sweater – Lands’ End; sweatshirt – Patagonia; granite canvas pants – L.L.Bean; bag – Travelon; sparkle sneakers – Keds

How fun to find a bag with trim in your favorite neutral color?

earrings – Farra; sweater – J.Crew; sherpa hoodie – Todd Snyder; pants – Lands’ End; shoes – Pikolinos; bag – INC International Concepts

Spring is always the best season for those who wear and love navy! And if you’re smart, you can find things that can be worn all year; this striped sweater would be perfect in the dead of winter under a navy cardigan…

infinity earrings – Oscar Figueroa Escorcia; striped sweater – Banana Republic; sweatshirt – L.L.Bean; wrinkle-free cotton pants – L.L.Bean; backless sneakers – Keds; bag – Marks & Spencer

Okay, this is NOT short-sleeved. But someone somewhere in a really warm climate needs a sleeveless top, and lots of us can enjoy the idea of a bit of lace trim….

earrings – Alexis Bittar; lace-trimmed top – Banana Republic; sweatshirt – L.L.Bean; twig chinos – L.L.Bean; shoes – Josef Seibel; bag – Sonoma Goods for Life

This 13-piece wardrobe moves ever so gradually into spring…

white, black and red tees – Lands’ End; floral tee – Lands’ End; linen cardigan – Halogen; shell pink linen shirt – L.L.Bean; striped tee – Banana Republic; striped short-sleeved sweater – Max Mara; cobalt cashmere cardigan – Lands’ End; black cropped pants – L.L.Bean; black pants – L.L.Bean; skirt – Marks & Spencer; striped sweater dress – Banana Republic

Here’s our master list:

Have any of you found anything new for warmer weather yet? I’ve got a new summer dress from Eileen Fisher, from a few seasons ago, that I found at her “Company Store” in the Chicago suburbs…

And I was REALLY practical, and replaced 2 tank tops and 2 pairs of cropped pants!

Bring on the SPRING!!!

love,

Janice

p.s. EIGHT YEARS AGO (oh my…) I posted about what I was packing for Paris back then. I’m still packing the same argyle cardigan…

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