June 23, 2021
As much as I loved these wardrobes, THIS is where the fun starts! Even accessories as simple as earrings and sandals can make SO much difference…
Remember this wardrobe?
Beige linen blend cardigan – Banana Republic; flax linen shirt – J.Crew; seersucker plaid shirt – Chico’s; rust sequoia cardigan – Nordstrom; pale sand, dark twig and burnished pecan linen tees – J.Crew; striped tee shirt – J.Crew; cream button-back sweater – Madewell; coastal tan cropped canvas pants – L.L.Bean; pale sienna pants – L.L.Bean; flax linen skirt – J.Crew; linen shirtdress – J.Crew
We need accessories for this, but I don’t want to just jump into things willy-nilly! This isn’t a definitive list for every woman alive, but it’s a nice start for our purposes:
With this very general guideline in place, I’ve assembled 4 outfits from this wardrobe, and put accessories with each of them. Of course, I didn’t really stick to the shoe suggestions…
I know some of you can’t imagine wearing a cardigan AND a scarf right now, but today in Chicago it’s going to top out at 70 degree Fahrenheit, so indoors it will probably be cold enough to snow…
Subtle outfits just need a touch of shine…
There was no way on Planet Janice that I was NOT going to show you this sloth family necklace…
And I think this bag is glorious… You might want a higher heel on your sandals, or even a pair of gold sandals; that wouldn’t be wrong at all…
Wardrobes just look so much more integrated and interesting with accessories, to my way of thinking, at least!
And while we’re looking at gold, let’s go back to this wardrobe too:
Green cardigan – Old Navy; beige embroidery top – Rebecca Taylor; striped tee shirt – Chico’s; beige oatmeal cardigan – Caslon; crocheted cardigan – Vince; dusty ivory and light mint tee shirts – J.Crew; embroidered top – Old Navy; topiary green gauze shirt – J.Crew; cotton knit tank – Club Monaco; heritage linen cropped pants – L.L.Bean; pale cypress pants – J.Crew; pleated skirt – Mango; sleeveless dress – BP.
I wasn’t actively looking for abalone or shell jewelry when I started, but these appear to be amazingly perfect. And the sandals are subtle, but glittery!
Why yes, the handbag does appear to match perfectly! How often does THAT happen?
The young people wear sneakers with skirts – why can’t I?
Just in case your dreams are flying around untethered, a dream catcher necklace seems wise!
If someone handed me all of this in a suitcase, I would be pretty tickled, even though these are NOT my colors. I can be flexible…
I am going to accessorize at least a couple more of the wardrobes from the last 2 weeks, but first I have a bracelet to share….
love,
Janice
p.s. Just 2 years ago, Pantone treated us to colors for the Autumn of 2019…
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These are all just amazingly gorgeous! The scarf in the first wardrobe is just stunning. I wish I wore these colors. Or can I?????? And that sloth necklace might be too good to pass up – surely I could blend it in with something?????? Awesome. Thank you Janice!!!
Oh, Sheila! Just go for it! I didn’t think I could wear those colors either. You might be surprised!
Yes! I too fell in love with the tiger scarf and the sloth necklace!
I adore the mix of shades in the first outfit. I often prefer colors that tone like this in an outfit instead of being too matched. I would be perfectly happy with this wardrobe if the color balance were reversed with nine rust and four beige.
Great accessories. You could lose yourself in the first scarf – the image really draws you in. Perhaps one yo consider for a future Start with a Scarf?
The sloth necklace is quirky but you have to look closely. I had a look at the rest of the brand offering which is full of novelty and elegance at reasonable prices.
I’m struck how a chic bag (gold with a bow which looks like shimmering raffia) elevates a simple linen dress. Like Dawn, I prefer blended wardrobes with twice the number of accent shades to neutrals.
Love the soft green and beige wardrobe; the accessories are lovely.
Abalone shell is perfect. I would also wear opals. I’m thinking of getting an open work necklace – perhaps a Yree of Life. Wedge heels are elegant but stable to wear. Not sure about all green in an outfit – I would resemble a tree!
You could easily blend both wardrobes together or add another accent.
Could we have hats in the next one, please? My current collection includes baseball, bucket, panama, ambassador, picture, captain and flatcap. Needless to say, I don’t wear earrings and have a more rugged taste in shoes than those shown today. My current “necklace” is my house key on a lanyard and “bracelet” is my gym access band.
Hats are my biggest accessory for actually accessorizing.
Janice,
Thank you so much for featuring the sloth necklace. My daughter just had her 12th birthday and was specifically interested in necklaces. This will be a perfect late addition!
Oh, that will be such a great gift! If you want, let us know how she likes it :)
I fully agree that the accessories MAKE these wardrobes. That sloth necklace is so cute.
Lovely! The last thing I need is another pair of shoes but those nude glitter wedges are lovely and would go with so much!!! Accessories do make a difference. Sometimes just changing shoes and jewelry makes it look like you have on a whole different outfit. I wear a lot of hats in summer to protect my scalp and face and agree it would be fun to see some. That tiger scarf is gorgeous just not my colors.
Lots of fun scarves at the Wolf and Badger site (the sloth necklace link)!
I look forward to perusing a bit more. Thank you for always presenting such varied and interesting clothing options, Janice. I always find something here that makes me smile. And often causes me to think as well!?
I *probably* could have resisted that necklace except it’s called the Slothlorien! I was powerless in the face of this.
I am loosely basing my summer wardrobe around your warm brown/beige capsule. I found great handmade copper/brass jewelry at a craft fair. Faux tortoiseshell also looks great with it. That’s my favorite shade of green – matches my eyes. I give this post 5 stars!
I love browsing craft fairs and I bought a necklace at the weekend with a pendant based on a William Morris design. Great to support local crafts people.
I absolutely love the feel of these two wardrobes. So fresh and gentle and clean neatly put together! The accessories list, with clear visual examples, completes the picture in a way I can really get my head around. With these examples in mind, I feel like I could put together the perfect little travel wardrobe to almost anywhere.
Sneakers with a dress. I am loving the challenge!
My vision is to think of the dress as just pants without the gap in the middle. Hahaha.
Also, I am in love the sloth family. That’s a lot of love right there.
Melinda in Tasmania
I (mid fifties) wore sneakers with a dress the other day and my colleague (late thirties) was very positive so I think I passed the mutton dressed as lamb test and it was so comfortable!
Ah, eye candy indeed, gazing at these wardrobe vistas! I find it so restful. In reality, I get bored being restricted to wearing only 2 or 3 colours for more than 3 or 4 days. And in spring/summer in particular. But I do thank you, Janice, for another delightful post and all your hard work!
I third a request to please include hats – always! No doubt because I knew, or know of, several people who died as a result of a skin melanoma on their scalp or face. Having a thick head of hair helps, but isn’t enough. By the time you notice it, it can be too late. Depressing subject, yes, but important. Let’s bring back hats in a big way, if we can. Just as important as eye protection. I wear a hat, myself, about ten months of the year. For seven of those it’s a close fitting toque of some sort, lol. I hate having an exposed head and ears in our long winters and cool, windy spring and fall. Summer, of course, for protection from sun and heat, and I know it probably should be every day. I have various types in my two favourite neutrals as well as a few accent colours. Thanks again, Janice!
Yes to hats too! I wear broad brimmed straw hats in the summer; fleece or faux fur in the winter. I also love hats for weddings and other special occasions.
Oh, the delight of this post!! Janice, you are brilliant and I love the whimsy! Now, to shop those links!
Just love both of these capsules and accessories!!
Just love both of these capsules!!