November 3, 2021
I’m sure we all have different experiences with this right now, but Chicago has finally gotten to cold weather. Real, honest to goodness “gloves and scarves” cold…
No need, quite yet, for waterproof boots, but that will be soon enough!
Even though the cold weather season gets shorter each year, it still arrives, and we either have to be prepared to dress for it, or prepared to stay in OUT of it…
So let’s look at coats…
Coat – Ted Baker; hat – Colorful Standard; scarf – Silver Pink; pearl ring gloves – TJMaxx; boots – Cougar
This first wardrobe has ZERO purple, so far. Purple is terribly hard to find – I look for it all the time, and one is more likely to find burgundy or maroon or lilac or almost anything but TRUE PURPLE.
Just sayin’…
But it’s a coat – if you wear it fastened, it doesn’t much matter what you’re wearing under it, above the waist!
As a reminder, this is our inspiring color palette and scarf:
Chrysalis silk square – Echo
When we “hang” our new coat in this wardrobe, it definitely stands out. I’m not convinced that’s a bad thing:
And her new accessories blend in as if they belong here!
A new coat doesn’t really add new outfits to your wardrobe, but at least the new scarf opens up a few possibilities:
Depending on where you live, your winter coat may resemble a sleeping bag in many respects! This is good – being cold is never stylish!
And yes, many of us sacrifice our hair in order to save our ears, when the temperatures drop…
Stadium coat – Lands’ End; hat – Echo; scarf – Jo Cranston; gloves – Echo; waterproof boots – Tommy HiIlfiger
I love the spring color of this winter coat, and how true it is to our heroine’s preferred color palette:
It looks right at home here!
Even this scarf can bring a combination of warmth and color to your wardrobe! Wearing a warm scarf to a meeting might make it clear that the conference rooms are TOO COLD…
Of course, I found AMAZING purple boots AFTER I replaced my old snow boots. Rats…
Cocoon coat – J. Crew; hat – Stand Studio; scarf – Rebecca Minkoff; cashmere gloves – Forte Cashmere; waterproof boots – UGG
I’m still loving this palette – I think more and more that this would be where I would migrate, if my entire wardrobe suddenly were… stolen? Vandalized? Vaporized by aliens who hate black sweaters?
Lofty plaid ruana – Echo
Ah, the harmony of all of these purples, grounded in the most classic neutrals…
I would want this wardrobe if only to have all of these great scarves!
This scarf looks great will all kinds of purples…
Mix those shades of green – pretend that you’re Mother Nature!
jacket – L.L.Bean; earmuffs – Portolano; scarf – Arctic Fox & Co.; gloves – Pendleton; waterproof boots – Teva
This scarf doesn’t have a ton of green in it, but it has enough for us to use olive as a key neutral!
This wardrobe is turning out well, I think…
And the accessories! The scarves are delightful…
Our heroine’s new plaid scarf is just the right touch with a variety of outfits:
I love this jacket – there’s nothing quite as durable as a waxed jacket…
Waxed cotton down jacket – L.L.Bean; beret – Paul Smith; scarf – Kinalba; cashmere gloves – Portolano; boots – L.L.Bean
This color palette continues to confound me, but maybe we just accept that some people like having a wardrobe with 2 distinct facets?
scarf – Echo
It’s not like this wardrobe is completely unwearable, right?
This heroine has a great excuse to own lots of accessories – she needs them to tie together her wide-ranging wardrobe!
Her new scarf is such a lovely bright touch for autumn outfits:
A traditional grey cocoon coat is the perfect base for a pretty plaid scarf that just happens to include a couple of our favorite colors in this wardrobe:
Grey cocoon coat – J.Crew; stone blue hat – Colorful Standard; scarf – The Tartan Blanket Co.; mittens – BULA; boots – Hunter
This palette continues to improve with our scrutiny:
I would wear all of this, and NONE of this is “my” colors! Flexibility is underrated…
If you like blue, this is for you!
Those coral tops languishing in this closet can be very useful for layering with our heroine’s new plaid scarf:
So next month is the last month for these wardrobes – should I analyze them and choose wardrobe additions that fill in gaps?
Or do you have something you would like to see?
love,
Janice
p.s. Three years ago, I added “chrysanthemum colors” to a range of outfits, to see how the deep red and radiant gold would work as accent colors…
p.p.s. Echo is having a sample sale – you MUST go visit…
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Love the PURPLE ?????. I am the person wearing all purple – coat, hat, scarf, gloves and boots!
Though I have a question: How cold does it have to be before you can look right wearing a faux fur coat? I love faux fur but if I wear it in autumn, I feel out of place.
I’ve typically worn my faux fur coat from December to March but would pull it out earlier if there was snow on the ground.
I have a faux fur vest that I love wearing over a black fit and flare dress with ankle boots and tights (makes me feel so powerful!). But I don’t even think about wearing this combo until there is snow on the ground or I can see my breathe outside.
Thanks Wendy and Lena. I suppose my uncertainty is because my mother and grandmothers only wore fur in the evening or for special daytime events. Wearing faux fur for ordinary wear feels odd. We also don’t tend to get snow till Jan/Feb where I live in the UK. Most winters are wet and mild. Maybe when the day temperature goes into single figures (Celcius), that would be an appropriate time to wear faux fur. However, our weather is also unpredictable and changeable, so we rarely get more than a few days of very cold weather. I also asked my daughter and she said that she’d wear her faux fur coat from November if it felt chilly or just because she wanted to wear it. She doesn’t go by fashion rules.
I live in Southern California so I do not need a purple coat, but you’ve inspired me to think about a purple blazer – either fabric or knit. Thank you!
Fall has finally arrived in Boston. I love all the scarves in this month’s post. I find it extremely helpful when you do the year end analysis of the wardrobes. I do a similar review of my own wardrobe each season to look for gaps.
Also, I have a request that you consider using Echo’s Abstract Landscape in chambray as one of your featured scarves next year. I purchased it a few months ago. It’s a lovely blend of warm and cool colors.
I also like the year-end analysis. November is traditionally the stormiest month here in the Pacific NW, so gearing up. I have a preponderance of purple in my wardrobe. While it often makes things easier – like a packing list for next week in San Antonio (to see our son graduate from AF Basic training) in the same purple and black I used for Hawaii packing last year – I do find myself sometimes a little bored with it. I do have other colors in my closet, so I can branch out when needed. I also just love the Mt. View scarf wardrobe. The additions this month are just lovely. thank you!
You had me oohing and ahhing from the purple coat right through to that scrumptious soft blue plaid scarf in the last group. The Land’s End stadium coat is totally in my wheelhouse – long, Aqua and warm – but the sizes only go to an XL.
For December, it would be nice for you to fill in any gaps you’ve noticed and, perhaps, also some winter (not Christmas-themed) pjs/nightgowns. Maybe even thrown in housecoats too. I find most of the housecoats/robes for sale are made of two-inch thick fabric (only a slight exaggeration). They’re too warm for many 50+ women and they’re less than flattering.
Just a couple of ideas. I enjoy all of your posts!
A post on nightwear would be great. I like to colour co-ordinate it too. I feel the cold, so I have a fluffy fleece dressing gown but the pale colour looks grubby quickly, so I recently bought another dressing gown to alternate. This us thinner fleece which is lighter to wear but just as warm. When it’s very cold, I have an ankle length poncho with a hood.
The stadium coat does come in Plus sizes. Just search “stadium coat.” LE almost always has the plus size, but they have a link to them instead of displaying them with the missy sizes.
I own the Lands End stadium coat in 2X and love it. Just be sure you are looking for that level of warmth because it’s a no joking around WARM coat.
It’s weird how Lands End displays straight vs plus sizes separately but I assume it has to do with the fact that they charge more for plus compared to regular/petite/tall sizes. If you follow Janice’s link to the straight size page, to the right of where it reads “REGULAR/PETITE/TALL” there is a link “Available in Plus Size.” If you click it, it will do the search for you. That’s how I access plus size on the LE site from Janice’s links.
A plus size heroine looking for a very warm red coat could do worse than the red stadium coat for $80, just sayin’.
I LOVE the idea of a wardrobe with 2 facets. I do need more variety in my wardrobe than some of the capsules provide (as beautiful as they are!) I would say my ‘main’ capsule is navy, burgundy, grey with light blue and pink accents. But I also have a ‘rogue’ section of my closet that’s rust and caramel. The rust works with the navy and the grey quite well and the caramel works with the burgundy and the navy. While I do not have a scarf that ties all the colours together (yet), I feel like this really works for me and satisfies my desire for variety without requiring a whole new capsule. There’s lots of crossover between the two facets.
These wardrobes are all looking so great as the year winds down! That olive, red and tan wardrobe could not be further away from my colours, but I just love it. I feel like it has come together the best of all of them.
Your a women after my own heart having a separate wardrobe of rust and caramel!! My base is navy and i do the same!!
You knocked it out of the park with the selections this month, Janice. I love them all! Although not my colors at all, I am really feeling the vibe of the wardrobe with the coral patchwork scarf. The tranquility of the Mountain View and the cohesion of the ruana collections are also winners for me.
And yes, I would love your expert evaluation of the wardrobes to finish out the year.
I have enjoyed seeing the Echo scarves you have featured. Unfortunately Echo only ships to the US and does not ship to any other countries. As beautiful as these scarves are, they leave a lot of your faithful readers out in the cold. This is just a friendly comment from one of your longtime followers.
Lizette, in ? Canada
Well, ratznfratzn! I don’t know how I missed that detail. *sadly wanders off to de-wish-list some Echo items*
Kate (from Edmonton)
That’s reason enough that I won’t use Echo scarves for the “6 Scarves” project next year – do NOT dis my Canada friends!
hugs,
Janice
All that being said, it was wonderful to have affordable options vs $400-$500 Hermes scarves… IMHO
Another vote for an end of year gap analysis on these wardrobes! The analysis is always my favorite part.
I love the Analysis too… though it’s been clever how these wardrobes are finally coming together.
The Vivienne Files is absolutely the most relatable fashion blog on the internet. I love the way you find examples for the lives we actually lead and show us how to look polished, pretty and together in the real-life situations most of us experience. I love it that we can share our own fashion hacks here. And in today’s blog I love the reference to sacrificing our hair to save our ears in cold weather. My kind of thinking!! ❤️❤️❤️
PS- definitely year-end analysis. It helps my ADHD brain to see examples of analytical thinking.
I’ve been following along each month using my light summer palette based on the Echo patchwork scarf that I won a few months back and I concur that the blue-green shade is one of my favourites and seems to be readily available this year.
I too enjoy the analysis part of all your scarf series so would like to see a December gap hunt for each wardrobe and although I won’t be partying this Christmas, I’ll still be entertaining at home and will be on the look out for a simple outfit that is both practical and comfortable with a nod to the occasion.
That purple coat!!!
I’m also looking forward to your end of year analysis, particularly the Chrysalis scarves.
Even though I live in the Southern Hemisphere and seasons are reversed I love that someone other than me likes camel, beige and turquoise. Turning these wardrobes into one of your 4×4 wardrobes would be informative and great for travel. If we can ever get out of Australia. B
Oh Analysis, please. I find that it always helps. Filling in gaps or replacing “fails” is critical as far as I’m concerned. And as mrsrba says “That purple coat!!!”
These are all great additions to the wardrobes. I think another bag could have been thrown in, too. To me, both of the patchwork scarves sets have come together very well. Love the stadium coat and I might see if they have a lighter squall jacket in that color. It’s seasonless. On the other hand, both of the chrysalis sets seem a little more difficult, no offense to Janice. The ruana set has rather grown on me, as my neutrals are navy and grey. All that said, the Mountain View wardrobe is still my favorite and the one I would be most likely to wear. My life is very casual.
I, too would like to see the gap analysis, as this is where I can learn the most from Janice’s genius. I’d also be interested in PJs, but maybe a separate section. I have gone the lazy route where most of my sleep wear and robes are navy. It’s very easy, but slightly pathetic and I would love to branch out a little.
A year end analysis sounds interesting, but also maybe something a bit dressier for the holidays? These are lovely. Thank you for the hard work, Janice.
Janice, These are my favourite posts each month. I too love the purple wardrobe with the more casual denim one being a close second. I bought the echo scarf as I am happy to have a wardrobe with a long scarf (some of us don’t have long enough necks to do square scarves well. Just wondering if you have ever thought of doing a plus size wardrobe. I know there is more and more clothes available and many who wear larger sizes or like me hover between the top end of the regular sizes and the lower end of plus sizes. Thanks for brightening my days!
Is the accessories image missing for the second scarf, or is that just something wrong on my end? I think that may be my favorite group this year!
Dear Glenda,
It was! Thanks for asking – I just fixed it…
hugs,
Janice
I would love that stadium coat in just a little bit lighter weight, otherwise it has everything I’m looking for in a coat. Anyone knows of a shop who might have something similar who is in the EU?
I also love the purple accessories and the blue and grey wardrobe.
As always thanks for the blog and this time your p. p. s. about the Echo sample sale. I don’t see myself as a “scarf person” so I got the Patched Bandana Silk Square in Denim Blue to dip my toe (neck?) in the water.
Bonjour !
J’aime votre site. J’ai eu l’année dernière un déclic pour améliorer ma façon de m’habiller et en cherchant des informations sur ma colorimétrie j’ai trouvé vos tableaux très inspirants. Je n’ai pas encore eu le temps d’explorer tout le site.
J’aimerais bien découvrir la garde robe d’une héroïne française, la quarantaine, Maman de deux filles de 5 ans et 2 ans qu’il faut arriver à suivre dans des tenues confortables.
Je suis en recherche d’inspiration pour une garde robe pour nous 3 ! Et oui cette héroïne doit aussi réfléchir à plusieurs garde robes à la fois avec l’envie que lors des sorties toutes les 3 soyons en harmonie (pas forcément avec les mêmes couleurs !) et habillées avec des matières naturelles pour respecter leur peau de bébé.
Je travaille sur cela avec l’avantage ou le casse tête (?) des vêtements à racheter régulièrement car elles grandissent : beaucoup de shopping en perspective chaque année il faut TOUT remplacer, pas comme les adultes qui complètent leur armoire au fil des ans !
Je vais essayer de me plier à cet exercices de la garde robe annuelle pour elles !
J’adore votre site ! Merci pour ce partage poétique.
D’ailleurs pour cette héroïne, le foulard serait peut être un lange ? En effet j’ai toujours un tissu pour me permettre d’allaiter. Je crois que c’est justement ce carré de tissu qui est le lien entre nous 3. Je vais peut être réfléchir soigneusement comment le choisir cette année comme base pour nous !
Mon cerveau est en ébullition ! Merci merci !
I love this month’s additions for the two faceted wardrobe! – nancyo
I love the wardrobe with the green stadium coat from Lands End! It is close to my own palette.
Is there a link to the previous stages of these 6 wardrobes? I’ve been away from the Vivienne Files for a while and would like to catch up on those beautiful collections.
p.s. Just found the archives link for it. Thank you!