June 29, 2020
Today’s my 60th birthday!!!! The entire weekend has been a series of carefully choreographed get-togethers with friends and family…
And I feel EVERY SECOND of my age right now!
But let’s look at getting our summer wardrobes sorted to our satisfaction, eh?
First up, this beautiful little top would be perfect for most of us who are using white or khaki as our summer wardrobe neutral:
I always have a few thoughts to share – mostly I’m always a big supporter of doing what you most want to do, and not buying and pretending to wear things that you don’t love…
Speaking of accent colors – this kind of tee shirt is perfect for introducing something out of your comfort zone (in this case, orange). There’s enough orange in the print that it doesn’t look completely nutty to wear orange sandals, but there’s not SO MUCH ORANGE that you feel like you’re channeling your favorite fruit…
Pearl earrings – Rebecca Minkoff; white cotton cardigan – Banana Republic; floral tee shirt – Marks & Spencer; sea grass shorts – L.L.Bean; sandals – Easy Spirit
For the leopard print lovers, this is the perfect time to indulge! And if you’re working to coordinate brown and black in your wardrobe, animal prints are an easy way to do that:
Bamboo earrings – Kenneth Jay Lane; brown linen shirt – Uniqlo; leopard print top – Banana Republic; black linen shorts – Caslon; sandals – Esprit
You might be concerned, when you see a top like this, that you’ll need something else yellow in your outfit to make it all work. But if you stick with the neutral colors in the top – in this case the grey and white – you can just enjoy the yellow!
earrings – Marianela Vargas; grey wisp heather Donegal cardigan – Lands’ End; floral top – Tommy Hilfiger; white linen shorts – Caslon; silver sandals – Seychelles
If the accent colors are included in a tie dyed top, you can stick with neutral grey and white for the rest of your outfit and look great. It’s fun to have a little bit of yellow in your wardrobe for the hot weather, but most of us aren’t eager to invest in a whole wardrobe in yellow:
Earrings – Jantana; white cardigan – L.L.Bean; tie dye tank top – Urban Outfitters; shorts – Zella; grey sandals – Kenneth Cole Reaction
Seriously, if you’re going to wear a top with yellow roses on it, is it wrong to wear yellow rose earrings?
Earrings – Danai; white linen cardigan – Eileen Fisher; rose print top – Billie & Blossom; black linen shorts – Caslon; sandals – Ecco
If you’re the kind of woman who enjoys keeping things lively, you could even wear your print top with print shorts! Shorts in a DIFFERENT print! It’s not for everyone…
earrings – Rachel Armah; white cotton cardigan – L.L.Bean; striped linen top – L.L.Bean; shorts – L.L.Bean; espadrille sandals – Chinese Laundry
In my personal, gradually evolving 13-piece wardrobe (in my dreams), I wold love to include a simple, timeless dotted top…
WWhite, black and pink tanks – Lands’ End; sleeveless white shirt – Lands’ End; pointelle cardigan – Halogen; white sleeveless tee shirt – Uniqlo; sleeveless dotted top – H&M; striped short-sleeved sweater – Max Mara; pink cotton cardigan – Lands’ End; black shorts – Lands’ End; black silk pants – Eileen Fisher; black skirt – Lands’ End; shirtdress – Banana Republic
We’ve only got 4 garments to go – we’re going to finish at the end of July! That seems just about right; I want to look at the collected 13 summer garments, and maybe even the 52 garments for a year, during August. Then in September we can think about the Weekly Timeless Accessory Wardrobe!
love,
Janice
p.s. Five years ago, we started with a painting of fluid beauty, and assembled a fall wardrobe in brown and orange for autumn….
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Happy 60th birthday! Sounds like you had a lovely weekend.
Happy Birthday!
Thanks for what you do here!
Happy Birthday Dear Janice! Hope you have a lovely day filled with beauty, happy memories and bring spoilt. Now put your feet up and sup champagne – you deserve it! 🎂🍾🥂
A very Happy Birthday!
Wishing you a Happy Birthday Janice.
I really enjoyed this series and I’ll miss it when it ends in July, but look forward to the accompanying accessories element in September.
A. Very happy birthday to you💋🍰🎁🎂enjoy the day x veronica
A very happy birthday, Janice. Your blog was a godsend to me in my 60’s – keep up the great blogging but have a rest for one day!
Happy birthday!
Thank you for your blog.
The 60s are a great decade!
Hope you have a wonderful 60th birthday, Janice! Here’s wishing you health and much happiness!
Happy Birthday from Germany, Janice!
And thank you for your Œuvre (your wonderful work with theviviennefiles).
I think you are litteraly read all over the world!
Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day!
Janice,
Happiest of Birthdays and may there be many more — all healthy and happy ! 60 really is the new 50, and maybe even 40 ! Enjoy this special day and time , you deserve it, as you have provided so much for us all to enjoy !
These tops are gorgeous ! The only one that would not be my choice is the tie dye , but that’s just my own personal preference.
Big Birthday Hugs !
Janice,
Your “ Flaming June” choices still delight my heart with both the colors and textural choices ! Bravo x 2 !
Many Happy Returns!!!
🥂 🥳
Kim…
Happy, happy, happy birthday, dear Janice! I hope you have a wonderful day. Thank you for all the work you do for us. -Sandi
It may be your birthday, but you’re the gift! Have a very happy day 🙂
Happy birthday! 🎉🎁🎂🎈
Happy Birthday! I know I am not my Mother’s 60… I love your blog, thank you for all the time and effort you expend each day.
Happy Birthday, Janice! All the best to you!🎉🎂🍾😘
My family tradition for adult birthdays was to put three candles on the cake, for health, wealth, and happiness – I wish you all three!
I love that – may I steal it for our family?
hugs,
Janice
I love that too! Thanks
Happy 60th birthday. It’s a milestone. Your blog is the first style blog I look at daily. You have taught me so much. I can easily make a capsule wardrobe, my packing is improving, I am a wiser buyer, I am learning about art, I can go on. You remind us that art is important, to treasure scarves and their power to change up an outfit, you can make beautiful outfits from what you already own, and you entertain us with cute stories. You are appreciated Janice, Happy birthday. patval
Many Happy Returns of the Day. I was lucky to retire at 60 but not you Janice because we can’t manage without you. Keep up the good work. X
Have a wonderful 60th birthday today! And here’s to many more! Thank you for blessing us with your talents.
Happy Birthday, Janice!
Happy birthday!
I hope your day is wonderful!
Happy birthday and thanks for your ongoing efforts to brighten our days and inspire us!
Wishing you a very happy birthday. I hope that your day is filled with happiness. Thank you for the colour and joy you bring to our lives. 🎂🍾🥂
Happy Birthday and thank you so much for your many years of generously sharing your thinking and creativity with all of us!
May your birthday bring as much delight as your daily blog has brought to your devoted readers!
With thanks and best wishes!
Happy Birthday, Janice! You provide so much to so many.
Happy Birthday! May it be the happiest birthday yet! I love what you bring us. I look forward to it daily. It’s so much fun. You write the best scenarios, choose wonderful art and scarves and generally ginger up life.
Wishing you a very happy birthday today and many more! Thank you for all that you do here! I don’t always comment, but please know that you have inspired me time and time again.
Happy birthday, Janice. May your day be filled with love, peace and happiness 🎁🎈🎉🎂
Thank you for today’s beautiful outfits, I loved them all.
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday. I hope that you are having a fantastic day. Thank you for the wonderful posts that I look forward to reading each day.
Happy birthday! And thank you for your blog. Sometimes I love the clothes, sometimes I don’t, but you always make me think about what I wear and how. My wardrobe is better for your influence.
Happy Birthday! Your posts are so much fun to read!
Happy birthday, adding one more. (Are comments like candles?)
If comments are like candles, I’d be thrilled to burn down the computer! (well, there are a LOT of days when I wouldn’t mind seeing my computer flame out…)
hugs,
Janice
Happy Birthday! 🎂 Have a fabulous day filled with everything you love best.
Happy birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day x
Dear Janice: Happy Momentous Birthday to you!🎂
Janice
Happy birthday…it’s my husband’s too, and son’s anniversary. I love your posts they brighten my day. If only we could travel. I’m reduced to jeans and t shirts for stay at home yard work. I dress up to walk the dog.
Happy Birthday to your husband!
And Happy Anniversary to your son!
It’s a great day – we’re alive, and here, and we have each other!
xoxo,
Janice
Happy Birthday, Janice! It’s nice to celebrate the milestones on the journey (and maybe especially during this time when it’s easy to feel very stuck). I hope you have a wonderful day.
You are so right about how fun a little yellow can be in summer! Here’s how yellow is working in my summer wardrobe…an illustration of my attempt to put what I’ve learned on this site into action.
I had decided that I wanted to make navy and white the core neutrals of my summer wardrobe. I am in good shape with bolder colors (e.g., aqua) but have wanted to add some flattering soft accent colors to wear near my face. Yellow has not even been on my radar as an option because most shades of yellow are really not great on me.
Nevertheless, I started the summer with two navy sleeveless tops with a small print containing yellow…one blouse with white rabbits and yellow and green flowers; one knit tank with white/yellow/green/blue flowers. I also have a yellow necklace and mustard-yellow ballet flats to coordinate. This has worked very well at adding just a bit of summery yellow to my wardrobe. I could have stopped there.
But last month, completely by accident, not searching for yellow at all, I happened to FINALLY find a summer cardigan in just the right pale yellow for me (“chamois dust,” haha). So I was able to bring in more yellow and make a little summer yellow French 5. I have really been enjoying this cardigan…it’s been a long time since I owned a yellow garment, and it’s summer perfection with these tops and my navy, denim, or navy/white striped bottoms.
This week I bolstered this yellow set with a well-timed Week 48 WTW neutral patterned top purchase. It’s a navy sleeveless blouse with an irresistible tropical bird/frond print that includes a pale yellow (available in straight, petite, and plus sizes; link below). And because Christopher and Banks is kind to its customers, it works perfectly not only with the yellow cardigan, but also the set of “sandstone coral” items (cardigan, knit jacket, denim skirt, and button up shirt) I already own from their summer collection and have made my primary accent color.
Now that I’ve found “my” yellow, I’m tempted to add a coordinating t-shirt or knit tank to make a twin set. But I hear the voice asking me, would I wear it (enough)? Well, this led me to examine my closet for other items with yellow in the print. Because I have not owned any yellow garments until now, I have mostly ignored yellow in prints. But behold…I have 3 skirts with yellow flowers in the print that would look great with a yellow twin set! (None are predominantly yellow but all definitely have enough yellow to support a yellow top.)
C&B also have various bottoms in this yellow available (skort, crops, or ankle pants), but thinking about it, that’s more yellow than I am looking for. A cardigan or a cardigan + top would be enough yellow.
Seriously, C&B are knocking out of the park for me this summer with their coordinating sets of items in the same accent color, available in a wide range of sizes. If they would only get their act together on flat lay photos, Janice could have a field day with them. 🙂
https://www.christopherandbanks.com/sleeveless-tropical-bird-plus-size-top-030030700004207.html?dwvar_030030700004207_color=0403#start=1
Is chamois dust what you get when you grind up chamois? What an odd name….
Try a twinset – it might be more yellow than you like, or it could conversely be brilliant. Sometimes, you can’t know until you get it on your body and near your face. Keep the packing materials and if you find that you just can’t support that much yellow, don’t keep the inner top!
Color names… shaking my head…
hugs hugs hugs,
Janice
Thanks, Janice. I will give it a try! 🙂
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HAPPY ♪ BIRTHDAY ♪ TO ♪ YOU
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clever!! – nancyo
Many happy returns of the day!! I’m glad that you were able to celebrate your milestone birthday with those you love, despite the pandemic. Welcome to the 60’s club. – nancyo
Happy happy birthday, Janice!!! I hope today is wonderful and full of all the joy you share with all of us. I’m trying to remember how long I’ve been following you—at least 3 years I think!!! I’ve got my 30th birthday coming up soon haha!
I’m so glad to have read your wisdom when I did. It’s clarified so much for me—I wasn’t buying other colors generally, but just knowing to limit myself to a nice palette (mine’s black/gray/white, navy/blue, turquoise, and red) has made my wardrobe work so well for me. I look forward to finishing my schooling and making a real income so I can truly get the excellent classics of the kind you share here.
Thank you again so much for all you do, and all the very best wishes for today, this year, and all time!
Happy birthday! Thank you for all of your work and great ideas.
Happy birthday from the UK Janice. Many thanks for your time and effort to inspire your loving friends,
big hugs
Rachel
I hope you have a blissful day filled with sunshine and flowers. I too will miss the series when it is over but certainly I will be referring back to it before Nordstrom’s annual sale! I am absolutely looking forward to the year of accessories. Can’t wait!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🎁🎉🎂🎊🎈 JANICE.. and many wonderful days in your future.
Hugs Cyndi
Happy Birthday, Janice! To me, you are a youngster! I’ve been following you for at least six years and have made much better buying decisions because if your advice. I even have done two ‘no buy’ years recently and have no more orphans in my closet. Even when I’m not in the market for any clothes, I still love to read your blog for ideas. Thanks for the immense contribution you make!🥰
Happy Birthday, dear Janice🌹!
Nina
Happy Birthday! May you have peace, health, love, and joy!
Happy Birthday Janice!
I’ve been reading from the UK for a few months now but not commented yet; I want to join in the chorus of appreciation and good wishes! Thank you for all the work you do, to give us something inspiring to enjoy daily. I am learning so much and thinking about my wardrobe differently thanks to you. I’m at a stage of re-evaluating what I want to wear after having had 2 kids; perhaps not your typical “heroine”, but a fellow lover of colour & scarves!
You are definitely a heroine, to me!
Happy Birthday, Janice. Mine is tomorrow so we must have signs in common; no surprise! Welcome to your 60’s and keep us in style!
Happy Birthday!!! I’m the least Cancer person EVER; I lack pretty much all domestic skills. My idea of an interior is the inside of a suitcase… ♋♋♋
Happy birthday Janice. I always find your suggestions so appropriate for my age, and today I realized we are the same age.
Visiting your site is a treat I have during my busy work schedule. Thank you so much for the daily inspiration, even if it is to work from home. A heroine can always dream of the day she will travel again.
Happy Birthday Janice, and may there be many more, not in quarantine anymore, with no more need to “carefully choreograph” the parties 😍
Happy Birthday Janice! Have a wonderful celebration and many many thanks for all you create here providing such joy for others.
Happy, happy birthday! I turned 61 two days ago and I have to tell you the best is yet to come! Cheers to you and a wonderful new year.
PS I love your blog. I love the art for inspiration.
Happy Birthday Janice, for this milestone Birthday! Thank you for both the creative and the practical inspiration over the years. You have helped me by bringing happiness into my wardrobe while saving me money and helping me make more carefull clothing choices within my budget. Thank you for the great sense of fun and friendliness that flows from your blog – it lightens my day. Wishing you all the best of life for your sixties.
Happy birthday, Janice! Like many other readers, I’ve been helped through these quarantine days by your charming stories, the spirit-lifting colours, and the feeling of wholeness (do I mean ‘completion’?) I find in your blog. I wish you many more birthdays and years full of joy and creativity.
Happy Birthday to a most special woman! Your artistic sensibilities never cease to amaze. Thank you for the delightful way you bring so much beauty into our lives. Here’s to a wonderful year ahead!
Dear Janice
I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Celebrate it with joy!
Happy Birthday, Janice! Have as much fun as you CAN!!!!
And thank you for all you do for us!
So inspiring!
Happy belated birthday, Janice! When I turned 60, I adopted this motto: Smile sweetly and do what you want.
It’s yours to use and to follow.
Happy extended birthday, Janice! I hit that milestone in mid-March, just as we were being told to stay home. I’m glad you were able to celebrate! Thanks for lifting our spirits with your spirited heroines and their beautiful wardrobes.
Happy Birthday Janice.
Happy, happy birthday from Zürich! Thank you for all of the work you do to make this little corner of the internet colorful, friendly, useful and fun.I wish you health and happiness, and your best decade yet!
Happy birthday, Janice! Wishing you much happiness and health. Thank you for sharing your brilliance so tirelessly with all of us!
Dear Janice,
Sending belated Happy Birthday wishes! I love reading your blog as I always learn something new and useful. You are truly unique! To your Health and Happiness!!!
many hugs
Irene
ps my dad’s birthday is on the same day
Apologies for the belated wishes … hope your birthday weekend is lovely!