January 18, 2021
Remember this lovely scarf?
And this 21-piece “Garde-Robe du Mois” (Wardrobe of the Month) that started with 12 black garments, and then to which we added 3 accent garments, in 3 colors:
rust cardigan – American Eagle; black cardigan – L.L.Bean; blue sweater – Banana Republic; heather khaki sweater-blazer – J.Crew; pearl-trimmed ruana – Echo; black and white turtlenecks – L.L.Bean; flannel shirt – L.L.Bean; Burnt caramel brown blouse – Banana Republic; camel turtleneck – J.Crew; black and white tee shirts – L.L.Bean; blue plaid shirt – BP; black cashmere v-neck sweater – L.L.Bean; mulled cranberry red tunic – Banana Republic; knit pants – L.L.Bean; skirt – Express; mid-rise skinny chinos – Banana Republic; corduroy pants – J.Crew; blue knit cords – L.L.Bean; black jeans – L.L.Bean
As great as any wardrobe might be, it will require at least a minimum of accessories – few of us can manage without something on our feet, and it’s a rare woman who won’t want a bag, or a pair of earrings…
So let’s look at a generous sample of outfits from this wardrobe, representing both black and white outfits, and outfits that incorporate the 3 accent colors, and let’s add accessories to each of them!
First up, the most classic of outfits is a perfect base for an amazing scarf. Timeless earrings and loafers finish things off without complication or clutter:
cardigan – L.L.Bean; white turtleneck – L.L.Bean; knit pants – L.L.Bean; earrings – Seol + Gold; scarf – The Met Store; loafers – Massimo Matteo
This next outfit really uses accessories to balance to introduction of camel… The shoes and bag make the camel cardigan look deliberate, and the lighter shoes balance the lightness above the waist.
And if you’ve got lapels, you’ve got a chance to wear a glorious brooch!
Heather khaki sweater-blazer – J.Crew; black tee shirt – L.L.Bean; corduroy pants – J.Crew; brooch – The Met Store; bag – Topshop; loafers – Sperry
Another way to balance camel in an outfit is to include some gold jewelry! This outfit assumes opaque tights, so our heroine is both dressy and warm:
Sweater – L.L.Bean; skirt – Express; earrings – Gemondo; ruana – Echo; boots – Frye
Yes, these are slippers! And yes, I wore mine while walking all over the downtown a few days ago. They’re warm and waterproof – why ever not???
Plaid shirt – BP; white tee – L.L.Bean; corduroy pants – J.Crew; earrings – Anne Klein; cashmere scarf – Halogen; slippers – Blondo
Maybe I’m rushing the day a bit, but some heart accents are never a bad idea… We could use a LOT of Valentine’s Day vibes this year!
Ruana – Echo; tee shirt – L.L.Bean; jeans – L.L.Bean; earrings – Ann Taylor; necklace – The Met Store; socks – J.Crew
This outfit could include the boots, rather than slingbacks, if the weather is cooler…
Turtleneck – J.Crew; skirt – Express; onyx and pearl earrings – Vintouch Italy; scarf – The Met Museum; slingbacks – Pelle Moda
A little bit of subtle red makes all of this look balanced and elegant…
Cardigan – L.L.Bean; mulled cranberry red tunic – Banana Republic; corduroy pants – J.Crew; ruby earrings – Latelita; scarf – Rebecca Minkoff; loafers – Massimo Matteo
I know at least 1 of you hasn’t had a haircut in 10 months! For many of us, a snappy headband might be a reasonable indulgence – I know that my curls are getting on my LAST nerve…
Sweater – Banana Republic; shirt – L.L.Bean; corduroy pants – J.Crew; earrings – Anne Klein; striped headband – Tasha; slippers – Blondo
A lovely evening bag might be an indulgence, but they never go out of style, and won’t wear out! Why not get a gorgeous one? I use mine to carry jewelry when I travel. Remember traveling?
Burnt caramel brown blouse – Banana Republic; skirt – Express; earrings – Lizzie Fortunato; bag – Lizzie Fortunato; slingbacks – Pelle Moda
This is truly the easiest outfit in the world… the earrings are just dressy enough to elevate the entire ensemble…
Sweater – L.L.Bean; turtleneck – L.L.Bean; pants – Banana Republic; onyx and pearl earrings – Vintouch Italy; ruana – Echo; loafers – Massimo Matteo
Our heroine loves William Morris scarves – having more than one makes sense!
Cardigan – American Eagle; turtleneck – L.L.Bean; jeans – L.L.Bean; earrings – Gemondo; scarf – The Met Museum; boots – Frye
I really like the look of a lovely necklace in the neckline of a v-neck sweater:
Sweater – L.L.Bean; knit cords – L.L.Bean; necklace – Ela Rae; backpack – Longchamp; slippers – Blondo
An uncomplicated black outfit is far from boring when you make sure that your ruana has pearls on it, and your headband is striped!
Ruana – Echo; tee shirt – L.L.Bean; corduroy pants – J.Crew; earrings – Seol + Gold; striped headband – Tasha; boots – Frye
Here are all of our heroine’s accessories. Can you imagine traveling for a month (maybe a month-long consulting project in your favorite city?) and having all of these lovelies with you…
sigh…
love,
Janice
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Black & camel always looks so sophisticated together – it’s a pity I can’t wear neither.
I really like the look back today. The nine building blocks plus the seven accent pieces all combined in the 4 x 4 template. While I was there, I also checked out the denim & khaki posting and then the ‘four paintings, four different ways’ post which showed four friends having the same core pieces, but styling and accessorizing them in their own unique ways – fabulous!
Janice, would it be possible to revisit this series and do a couple more examples in other neutrals e.g. navy & light grey and maybe taupe & ecru, with some gorgeous accent colours? Many thanks.
My addled brain read that one line as “your husband is striped…”
I don’t think most of us would coordinate that fanatically!
That brooch is really something. If I could make it work in my wardrobe, I would have bought it straight away, but as it is, I must admire it from afar and hope that it will be well loved by those lucky people who can rock it.
That looks a pretty perfect amount of accessories for a month, except that I might try to survive with just three pair of shoes due to packing issues. I think one month might be the upper limit of how long I’d be happy to dress with my standard travel wardrobe of 10 out-and-about- garments.
Yes, the black and camel are lovely. This is such a great wardrobe of neutrals and accents. I’m moving into spring with more purple, some light blue, and of course my trademark red. And maybe even some gray and yellow!
Hi Janice! I am not a big accessory person but I really like your choices for this wardrobe. I like your including a brooch as there are about 5 of us left on the planet who do not have pierced ears.
Yes that brooch is the star and it has associated items – earrings and two necklaces. My only addition to this collection would be a red necklace. I like the way, you have reused the pieces for different outfits. Not sure about the sling backs at this time of year.
I have cold feet so the slippers are a plus, though I can’t imagine going out in them apart from putting out the bins. If it was that wet, I’d put proper boots on. I have seen people shopping in pyjamas…. I might have a pyjama day occasionally but if I had to go out, I would get dressed or at least put a tracksuit on over the top (has been known when picking up my daughter late at night!)
I had the slippers on with pants, so they really looked just like any other pair of fleece-lined boots. I didn’t frankly even think about it until we were almost home – it wasn’t sloppy wet outside, and my feet were toasty warm, and they weren’t conspicuously BOOTS with little bunny ears… Not that it wouldn’t be fun to wear bunny slippers around the Loop these days!
hugs,
Janice
?? I have to confess that I have some slippers with ears on but they are definately not waterproof! They make me smile and we all need that now.
True story, right now I am wearing a pair of teal socks with large white rabbit heads wearing Groucho Marx glasses/nose/mustache. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.
“Like.”
The scarf alone has the magical power to turn 2021 into something it is not. It’s William Morris, and this century is not happening. Oh, you mean what feels like a century, but was actually 10 months?
I love the black and camel with the gold jewelry especially the brooch. This capsule is really interesting to look at.
Lol Janice, you asked if we remember travel. I have vague recollections of something known as travel but it’s all dim and misty. Overlaid with the crusty detritus and sediment of last year! But George keeps signing us up for future cruises and hope springs eternal. ?
Linda, I must be one of the five who don’t have pierced ears, either! But I do find lots of treasures at the second-hand stores now from all those who later must have pierced their ears. (And did you know you can convert pierced earrings to clip with a cheap kit from Amazon?)
Ditto. I look for screw earrings in antique shops and collectors fairs.
Outfit #2, black column with beige sweater blazer, accessorized with lovely beige leather and THAT BROOCH, is the stunner in this collection. It is so elegant! I am impressed with how well integrated the outfit is with only the merest speck of black in any of the accessories (I see a tiny bit of black on the edge of the bag strap, I think). On a light haired heroine, substituting say winter white for the black would still look smashing. Or if a heroine prefers navy or burgundy…there are a lot of possibilities. The cranberry tunic and black “suit” is my second favorite, though I prefer a different style of shoe…I have a pair of black Oxfords with a mix of matte leather and a velvety suede that would be fun with a pair of statement socks.
The scarf had me thinking of a deeper, warmer, more golden sort of camel originally, but this lighter, cooler beige color is lovely. I would be very eager to put the cool beige through its paces with the slate blue. Beige pullover sweater, slate blue cords, original scarf with the brooch, the beige leather bag and shoes, and the simple gold loop earrings would be the very first outfit I’d want to try…and I don’t even like turtlenecks!
I wish the bag came on grey….
Lovely wardrobe and accessories, Janice!
Question: What type of hosiery do you ladies wear with sling back heels? I can’t imagine going bare legged in the winter, but not sure how pantyhose would look. Thanks!!
As a big William Morris fan – I used to live near Merton Abbey Mill in London, where William Morris established his workshop in 1881 – I’d love it if you would show a garde-robe based on the Compton scarf, especially as I don’t have much black in my wardrobe. Even better if you could use his Daffodil print, as I have a Daffodil silk scarf!