July 22, 2020
Well THAT went well… Yesterday, our heroine was caught off guard when she realized that she needed to pack and leave for the weekend in 5 minutes!
She managed, using this painting as her color inspiration; she felt that the swirling and diffusion in this painting accurately represented the state of her brain:
The photographer and crew from the famous food magazine LOVED her sister-in-law’s B&B. They loved it SO MUCH that they’re going to come back in a few days, and film a half-hour video about them for their You Tube channel.
Panic ensues. And our heroine and her partner and enlisted to come stay at the B&B for… well, for the foreseeable future!
They’re both leaving everything that they packed up at the Inn, and are driving back to their home to do laundry and pack more!
This is what she already has there, that she’d packed yesterday:
cotton cardigan – Marks and Spencer; mask – AGGI; floral tee – Old Navy; straw fedora – Allsaints; black satin sleeveless top – Max Mara; denim shirt – L.L.Bean; white cabled sweater – L.L.Bean; pearl & velvet headband – Lele Sadoughi; mask – AGGI; watch – Nixon; pearl pendant – Mirabelle Jewellery; black earrings – Julie Vos; bracelet – Gorjana; onyx & pearl earrings – Vintouch Italy; sunglasses – Rag & Bone; dress – Lands’ End; black pants – L.L.Bean; handbag – Staud; black loafers – Samuel Hubbard; gold ballet flats – Aerosoles; sandals – Band of Gypsies
After the disorganized wildness that was her style yesterday, she’s now going to be VERY methodical…
First, she decides that she will be happy with 16 garments in her travel capsule wardrobe… And then she plugs her garments into a 4 by 4 Wardrobe Template, to get her bearings:
black satin sleeveless top – Max Mara; black pants – L.L.Bean; dress – Lands’ End; cotton cardigan – Marks and Spencer; beige pleated skirt – H&M; white cabled sweater – L.L.Bean; floral tee – Old Navy; denim shirt – L.L.Bean
Then, as laundry was finishing, she very methodically, logically, carefully chose her second 8 garments:
Whew! Laundry done, all clean sheets on the beds for when they get home, clean towels in the bathroom – they want their return home to be easy and pleasant!
And her travel capsule wardrobe? She thinks it looks great!
Black linen shirt – Theory, black satin sleeveless top – Max Mara, black pants – L.L.Bean; black dress – Lands’ End; cotton cardigan – Marks and Spencer; white shirt – Lands’ End; beige pleated skirt – H&M; beige pants – L.L.Bean; white cabled sweater – L.L.Bean; floral tee – Old Navy; denim shirt – L.L.Bean; blue tee – H&M; white bow blouse – Uniqlo; blue sweater – Banana Republic; striped tee – H&M; denim shirtdress – Tommy Hilfiger
But in her head, she takes the time to assemble a handful (or two!) of outfits. She tries to use every garment, and she tries to think of a range of probably activities in store for the next few weeks:
This is going to be interesting, exciting, possible embarrassing (being in a video????), and great fun….
And she can wear her denim dress as a bathrobe, if she forgets pajamas again!
love,
Janice
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I’m appreciating this wardrobe more today, and agree with comments yesterday on it resembling the core wardrobe. I wouldn’t be able to wear the beige color and the light blue might be iffy. I’d have to replace it with some color. I do love my color! I think I have most of the core wardrobe – might be worth a revisit though! Thanks Janice.
I like how the denimish blue functions as a neutral. Still love this palette. I guess I’m sort of a minimalist, in that I could really live without accent colors. Good realization.
What an interesting perspective, that the mid-blue/denim is a neutral. I look at this wardrobe and see those as the accent for this particular wardrobe Maybe it’s because they dont inhabit one row in the scheme of things! I have a lot of shades of blue – navy to light in my wardrobe and I suppose it is a neutral for me in all its many shades. You’ve given me something to ponder on today, Sandy.
To me, at least, it is a simplification. I have gone down the rabbit hole of over thinking the whole color palette thing. Trying to use my season as a guide and being frustrated by it.
These colors are more of what I actually wear. Plus they can be found at retailers easily!
Beige is starting to creep back into my Navy and Grey wardrobe. It feels like summer to me – maybe associations with camp?
I had to run out yesterday in the 94-degree heat to buy new shorts and pants (on the plus side, I can now finally say I make a mean biscuit and scone. Quarantine baking!)
Sweaters and long sleeves are all on the shelves. I can’t imagine dining outside in what’s in the stores.
I love this wardrobe and the colours. I would change the black to navy and be so happy to wear it.
I like the idea of a common wardrobe but it seems very prescriptive and looking at colour analysis, there isn’t one type that could wear black/navy, beige, white and denim. I rarely wear navy apart from at work. I dont wear beige and look better in ivory than white.
I love the blue corner and could easily create a core of four and then have grey as my second core of four. Then I come unstuck….
I don’t where to begin creating a common core wardrobe for my Soft Summer colours but it would be useful to have identified a group.of clothes that I could ‘grab and go’ if I ever needed to pack in a hurry.
Would it be possible for you to reinterpret the Common Core Wardrobe for the four principle colour analysis seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter? Am I the only one who is confused by this idea.
This is a great idea!
Beth, I love the “Soft Summer” palette. I base my own wardrobe around soft, muted colors. That said, I couldn’t live without my black leather jacket and white tees. I always felt the “Six Hermes Scarves” series skewed towards the “Winter” season. Perhaps it’s the nature of the bold graphic prints Hermes scarves feature.
I suspect Janice doesn’t feel qualified to do a post based on color analysis? It would be popular though.
I could try but I’m NOT qualified, and I’ve had such mixed experiences with the whole analysis thing that I’m not a keen fan…
hugs,
Janice
I’m too new to know what the “common core” is … but I find Janet’s “3 Neutrals” template, combined with my “season” for accent colors – and a scarf or art for inspiration – to be a powerful toolkit for packing, choosing outfits, etc. I appreciate how much this blog brings joy from my closet!
The idea behind the whole Core thing is wearing a top and bottom in the same color, and then putting anything you want on top of this neutral column. It’s a really easy way to get dressed, and I went through a couple of weeks YEARS ago when I explored all kinds of possibilities…
hugs,
Janice
I love the painting and the wardrobe you have chosen. Black, beige and white feature strongly in my own wardrobe and I also have lots of blue but I prefer a clear blue not denim blue except for jeans. I can make a core of 4 (at least) with all these colours as they all blend so beautifully together.
I think colour analysis is ok but it doesn’t take in the personality of the wearer. Technically I thing I should be a summer but I never ever wear soft colours. Perhaps I am a peacock but I love the drama of black and white and whatever colour I wear it has to be a clear version of that colour. I cannot wear brown or orange and strangely enough grey doesn’t look good on me either but beige does.
Absolutely, but the Summer palette of colours has some bright and intense colours.
It’s not wishy washy at all. But you can see the blue undertone to all of them. Have a look at the Kettlewell Colours website subdivides its collections by ‘the seasons’ Their tonal charts are interesting too grouped depending on the depth and clarity of your colouring. I have soft muted complexion and hair. I used to wear a lot of the brighter colours such as red and bright blue when I was in my 20’s. Now my hair is going white and I can’t do bright but I can wear the darker colours like fuschia.
Kettlewell Colours have some fun quizzes to help you choose.
I looked at the Kettlewell site yesterday, based on a comment here. It was inspiring to see the range of colors and styles that would suit my coloring. Since silver white hair has become a defining feature, it’s been a challenge to find that middle ground between pastels that make me fade away and dark neutrals that now look too harsh. The wardrobe here will provide a good base for a long vacation. Am I the only one who wants to see some prints to add some interest?
yes, definitely to prints! I think leopard print would be amazing, maybe in shoes. – nancyo
Maybe there will be an accessories post for this wardrobe? Here’s hoping! And I would personally replace beige with gray, or a deep caramel/cognac – nancyo
Yes, I agree, this wardrobe screams for some accessories! I would replace the beige with grey (and so the black/beige floral T for a black/white polka dot one). Then I would definitely start my accessories list with this gorgeous scarf I have recently fallen in love with that would go with *every single garment* in the wardrobe:
https://www.wolfandbadger.com/us/silk-scarf-in-blue-with-forest-raining-afternoon/
I will say that I am struck by that beige pleated skirt every time it appears. It comes in a lot of colors, but strangely, I like the beige one best. If it looks as good in life as it does in photos, it’s a steal at that price.
Oh, that scarf is absolutely gorgeous!
And now I’ve loked at Wolf and Badger, I see that the PJ Accessories Hydrangeas scarf is on sale…..!! Oh, dear!
Okay, wait ’til tomorrow, when you will feel like a genius….
hugs,
Janice
Sorry I am a little late with this, but you mentioned dyeing white garments yesterday. I have always dyed fabrics to get the colours I want, but as I discovered to my cost dyeing ready mades is very hit and miss. The problem is that even though a garment may be in cotton or linen which take dye very well, so many manufacturers use polyester or other manmade fibre threads which do not take dye well, and the result can be different and strangely coloured top stitching, etc!
Julia, thanks for sharing your experience. I hadn’t thought about how the thread might not take the dye properly! Sounds like this dying-ready-made-clothing approach might be better saved for situations in which you don’t mind taking a risk.
I took a simple, short-sleeved, thick cotton jersey shift dress on our trip to Scotland a couple of years ago. Even though it had a back zipper, the neckline was large enough that I could throw it on easily. I used it instead of a robe when answering the door for room service or going down the hall to the bathroom at a B&B. I also wore it to breakfast several times. It was so handy and I felt more “appropriate” when seen by staff than I would have in a robe. I highly recommend it.
What a great idea? I shall consider my options when I next go away. Even a throw on maxi dress would do.
I never get dressed at home until after breakfast, so why should I have to do it on holiday?
I’m still waking up over breakfast. Decisions about what to wear depend on the weather, my mood, activities for the day, meetings, work, etc. Sometimes, on holiday, we have a range of options and decide on the day. I get flustered if I have to change after breakfast again.
I love this series! Thank you so much! I love these color, guess I will add more denim to my wardrobe.
I love the grab and go Seasonal Colours idea!!!
Hi! So I just took the Kettlewell color quiz and, as expected, I am an autumn, which means I have been shopping my colors accurately. The style quiz describes me as ‘minimalist’ . Hey, anything that puts me in the same column as Amal Clooney and Anne Hathaway and Kate and Meghan is fine with me.
Do have a look at their tonal charts too. There are probably other colours you could wear depending on the clarity of your complexion.
By the way, has anyone bought anything from the company. I’m just wondering what the quality is like, whether they wash well and how the sizing comes up. They are a bit pricey but I’m tempted by several things in their sale…
Not that I have a lot of experience in this area, but when you are going to be on tv they [used to at least] recommend that you not wear black, white, or small prints, especially stripes, which go fuzzy on camera.