July 6, 2022
Image – Kimchee and Catnip
It’s not the worst of the summer heat, not yet! But it’s quite hot enough during the day that shorts and tee shirts are essential…
So she’s headed to the lake, alone. She’s rented the world’s tiniest lake house. She can only be in 1 place at a time, so a 1-room house (let’s be frank and call it a cabin, eh?) is perfect for her…
Red headband – Natasha; earrings – Seol + Gold; sweatshirt – J.Crew; gold floral top – Boden; shorts – Alex Mill; espadrilles – LifeStride
She might run into other people – it’s not as if she’s renting the entire lake! But she’s going to dress for herself – cool shorts and tops for the day, and a sweatshirt for sitting outside after dark, watching fireflies…
Plaid top – Caslon; earrings – Jilzarah; cashmere cardigan – Barrie; white shorts – J.Crew; bracelet – Maison Monik; sneakers – Puma
There’s a certain calmness that comes from being able to lie in bed at night and see EVERY SQUARE INCH of your cabin… She’s seriously considering sleeping out on the deck; it’s cool enough at night that there are no mosquitoes. And she should be able to see the stars through the trees…
She’s bringing just a couple of books with her – she wants to read slowly, and carefully. She would love to take the time to re-read sentences and paragraphs that are special…
Spike earrings – Panacea; hat – Nike; tee shirt – Per Una; sweatshirt – M&S Collection; shorts – J.Crew; sandals – J.Crew
Her cabin is close enough to town that she can drive in every few days and get a stack of take-out food. She’s not really interested in what she eats – cold pizza and hot coffee will go a long way to keeping her alive!
Green top – Boden; earrings – Nicole Miller; shorts – Sanctuary; bag – Jelavu; sweatshirt – Colorful Standard; sandals – Birkenstock
She can see the lake from where she sleeps… it take a few minutes to get used to THAT!
So many mental adjustments that are so good for her: getting used to being (1) in the country, (2) alone, and (3) in a small space. She learns a lot about what’s important to her, and what she can easily live without!
White hat – Kate Spade New York; print shirt – M&S Collection; earrings – Gui Jewellery; navy shorts – L.L.Bean; white cropped hoodie – Outdoor Voices; espadrilles – Bueno
Linen blend tee – Per Una; earrings – Milou Jewelry; shorts – Tommy Bahama; bracelets – Fierce Lynx Designs; sweatshirt – Bingerlily; sneakers – Keds
Mostly, she’s learning that nature is a good companion…
How would it be for you, alone in a cabin for a few days?
love,
Janice
p.s. Five years ago, our heroine based her entire travel capsule wardrobe around her swimsuit! And she made a very sensible decision about what colors to pack…
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Such a well intentioned and beautiful wardrobe. I hope our heroine wears these outfits joyfully. I usually end up rewearing the comfy outfits I’ve packed and go home with several unworn items. All the books will have been read though!
Same!
This sounds like a vacation I would definitely enjoy. And the clothes. Although I am a sissy and would want some screen between myself and the night.
I’d not go out without long trousers and long sleeves. Midges in the UK are viscious, even through clothes!
Love these little groups, particularly the pink/green and the purple.
I’d love to go somewhere secluded with a balcony and a good view. But no midges. Pack the citronella!
I love love love these! (with the possible exception of pink and green) Oddly enough, we started our road trip yesterday, and I am currently sitting in a hotel room with a beautiful view of a river and mountains. Serendipity. The bugs got to be too much for me last night! But it’s gorgeous. I ended up in sweats and a t-shirt for dinner last night- but I bought both of them after seeing them on your website, Not exactly stylin’ but this is a very casual place. Thank you Janice, – unexpected surprise on a Thursday (it is Thursday?) and I absolutely love this post. You are amazing.
oops just realized it is Wednesday – wow, need more coffee……
Each of these outfits is so beautifully put together. I would switch out the shorts for skirts. The only colour combo I wouldn’t wear is the yellow and red but it’s so nicely put together. I’m especially drawn to the white and lavender.
It would be an interesting experiment to see how I would deal with staying alone in such a sweet cabin for a few days.
I like the pink and green. Then again I also like purple with green. I wouldn’t wear shorts either as I always get bitten and being redheaded I need to keep out of the sun. I would choose loose trousers instead or a longer skirt.
Love the yellow, though I’d look like an Heirloom tomato if I made the choice to pair with red. Love the green, but would reconsider the pink. I have nothing against either pairing…in fact, they look very bold and summer-y. The red-yellow makes me think of table linen from Provence that I saw in a glorious photo years ago.
I so, so need some alone time! There’s a little motel in the California desert I have in mind.
P.S. I finally got my closet organized using the clothes I wear all the time method. Down to (almost) 33 items til October first.
I did this last night too! I have a few more pieces that are for sleeping/leisure/exercise but my core wardrobe is about 33. And it wasn’t as hard as I thought it might be. So we’ll see how it goes! I am thinking mine will last until school starts (I’m a teacher and that changes my wardrobe a bit) in September.
I’m curious. what guidelines did you use when getting your closet organized? I assumed you’re using a method from this site but I can’t seem to find it nor any information about it. Thanks in advance.
I used the weekly common wardrobe for spring and summer (because it’s not super hot in the PNW so some cross over) and then filled in the rest with mostly tops I love and and extra cardigan or two. I think you can find the weekly common wardrobe under the articles tab at the top of the page. Good luck!
Shout-out for the pink birkenstocks – I have them and they are delicious – as is the thought of a week alone in a cabin with these clothes!
Janice,
Would you have packed all of these disparate color groups ?
The cabin in the woods sounds lovely, but I am bear phobic ! I would prefer the company of my husband ! At least I would have a sense of potential reinforcement !
Nope – I was offering all kinds of options for all kinds of heroines! But she might pack 2 of the color combinations?
hugs,
Janice
I love this post… and that $1000 cashmere cardigan! I live in a 180 square foot tiny cottage and I love it for many of the same reasons as your protagonist. My favorite hobbies: reading books, curating my capsule wardrobe, painting. Least favorite activities: cooking and cleaning. I think I spend only about an hour a month keeping my cottage spotless, and the money I save by having a tiny footprint allows me to buy all kinds of delicious things to eat!
Spending time in nature in the summer without mosquitoes (or midges, biting flies, etc.) would be so wonderful that I wouldn’t care what I wore!
All of these clothes speak to me in such a calming way. The pink cardigan is gorgeous, but definitely a fantasy buy.
Thank you, Janice. This is the kind of simplicity I would enjoy. While ours is a lot more upscale, our Island home provides a clean, quiet, easy sanctuary from the city – we are headed there today. Not much to pack because everything is already there – and we will watch the fairly lights on theferries and ships as they travel back and forth tonight in front of our windows. I always think of them as “party cruises”.
And this wardrobe is perfect. Happy summer.
the “fairy lights” on the ferries and ships passing by – good grief!
I am currently nursing a one year old and am literally never alone. A guilt-free hour alone would be divine— let alone a weekend. Reading about your heroines and looking at the pictures you’ve collected is a mini vacation for me. Many thanks.
I would love a weekend alone in a cabin by the lake. With good books, my favourite chocolates and beautiful outfits like these. I’ll just swap the shorts for skirts or pants. I love the pink and green and CA see that gorgeous top with a lovely pink skirt. Absolute heaven!
Just back from a week at our lake house. Lot’s of fun but not so relaxing! Ha ^ grands and their parents and all meals need to be prepared there or you need to drive half an hour! Everyone except hubby and me left by Tuesday so we did have one peaceful day. These outfits are adorable and I did spend the week in shorts and tees, all of them based on red white and blue for the Fourth.
Oh this post is absolutely about me! The wardrobe not so much but the story and the location and the heroine are absolutely. I have an Orvis cashmere hoodie that cost more than I’m used to, but my husband and I jokingly refer to it as my “fishing sweater“, because, before I made my purchase, one of the reviewer‘s mentioned that it’s her favorite fishing sweater. And I would absolutely pack it for this scenario you have presented!
Janice, I don’t write much, but I never miss a post! I have learned SO much from you and I’m grateful for your work with wardrobes, heroine stories, and especially packing!! (Plus, my daughter used to work at Sweet Mandy B’s!!!!! 😍)
This question is a little off topic for today, but I’ve been wondering about it. While we’re out enjoying beautiful summer clothes and cabins, what happens to our sweaters??
What’s the appropriate way to store a cardigan that was worn once just before summer hits? Do they need to washed to make it through the summer intact and ready for Fall? Or just aired?
I’m concerned there could be spots I didn’t see until they were stored for a while, but I don’t want to wash them too much–as I know we Americans are wont to do.
Any help from anyone??
Thank you!
Camille
P.S. Yes, I have a few in a pile now. : /
Dear Camille,
I have to confess that I wash all of my sweaters before I store them, because I live in a GIGANTIC building (55 floors) with hundreds of people. If there aren’t wool moths in this building somewhere, I will kiss a pig! But I err on the side of caution…
You can put them in the freezer for 72 hours, which will kill anything in a sweater. Then you could store them without fear of tiny livestock eating your favorite clothes!
hugs,
Janice
Dear Janice,
Tiny livestock!!!? Yikes! 😂
Thank you SO much for your answer, my building probably has the same. I think I’ll go start the washer….
Here’s hoping there’ll be no pig-kissing!
<3 Hugs,
Camille
Hi Janice and Everyone! I WANT that cabin, with a screened in porch. I appreciate the thought and time that went into these capsules but I could not wear white shorts unless I sat very still and didn’t eat anything. I would throw in some hiking boots for the same reason, and keep the white sneaks for town.