March 8, 2023
Insect with daffodil by Kako Morita
I can’t really make a good connection between emerging insects and a well-planned wardrobe… except…
Maybe we should start thinking about how we will dress when we can bring our knees, ankles, elbows and other body parts back out into the fresh air! Heaven knows that my knees haven’t seen sunlight in months!
If you’re in the mood to freshen up your warm weather wardrobe, THIS is the time to start looking. I think that the hang-over from the pandemic has made retailers reluctant to stock up on merchandise; I’m seeing lots of things sell out, far before the clothes are in season. Hmm…
Pink chambray shirt – J.Crew; pink quartz earrings – Smilla Brav; striped tee – J.Crew; natural chinos – J.Crew; stone shorts – J.Crew; flip flops – Ipanema; ballet flats – Patricia Green
I think it makes good sense to take a careful, critical look at things like flip flops, white pants, and anything that might look more worn now than it did at the end of last summer! How does that happen?
Cabled sweater – J.Crew; earrings – Latelita; blue tee – J.Crew; blue shorts – J.Crew; scarf – Elizabetta; white jeans – L.L.Bean; gold sandals – Sam Edelman
Image – Country Living
You can brighten up your wardrobe a lot without committing to clothes that can’t be worn until July:
Green tee – J.Crew; green onyx earrings – Shivam; cotton hat – Fréya Hats South Africa; fleece anorak – J.Crew; striped tee – J.Crew; white Bermuda shorts Tommy Bahama; white flip flops – Fitflop
You might stumble on an entire wardrobe cluster at 1 website! This would make a great core for a spring/summer travel capsule wardrobe:
Striped tunic – Orvis; earrings – LOFT; blue moon and white tee – Orvis; blue moon shorts – Orvis; striped shorts – Orvis; navy espadrilles – Sea Star Beachwear
Image – Gardeners Path
Sometimes, adding an accent color is as simple as finding a tee shirt and sandals that match!
Black & white gingham campshirt – Alex Mill; earrings – Tabots; white cotton cardigan – L.L.Bean; festival pink tee – J.Crew; black Bermuda shorts – Banana Republic; hot pink sandals – Cole Haan; black & white sandals – Birkenstock
And if you swim, NOW is the time to look for a new suit!
This is my annual opportunity to tell you all about the wonderful swimsuits from Lands’ End. I have a 2-piece one, very much like the suit shown below, and it makes me look taller, thinner, and fitter – it’s sort of amazing! They have wide ranges of sizes, and their information about finding the right size is perfect. I can’t recommend them enough!
Turkish cotton beach towel – Lands’ End; pink flower earrings – The Pink Reef; swim top – Lands’ End; hot pink swim skirt – Lands’ End; tank top tunic – Lands’ End; capri pants – Lands’ End; navy flip flops – Fitflop
Image – Patch
I had my swimsuit on this morning – I wear it when helping in the shower! But otherwise, I really need to take a hard look at what I have for spring and summer…
love,
Janice
p.s. Eight years ago, we started with some grey, and accented it with blush peach…
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Very timely. I”m working on a navy and green travel capsule and found pieces at lands end and the loft. My challenge in the summer is bottoms – I’m not fond of shorts and much of the linen currently has the wide legs I prefer to avoid. Loved the pussy willow photo. They are blooming here, though nothing else is – yet. Have a good day ladies.
How about a start with nature with the pussy willow picture but with sage green.
I love tne timing of these – they’re spot on for Chicago this year. But I’m a also gardener & that sure looks like a Japanese beetle (popillia japonica)… quick, get it before it eats all the roses!
Just pulled my spring and summer clothing out. Several pieces of linen have faded from wear last year. Sadly I have to let them go
Your post has given me ideas for replacement
I very much concur about Lands End swimsuits. Being able to mix and match tops and bottoms is very liberating.
I also do not like to wear shorts, and have found culottes and skorts to fit the bill in warm weather.
I love my Land’s End board shorts and sun shirts. They also pack especially well.
I cannot wait until I can have my knees and elbows out….or until I can go to the beach in my (Land’s End) swimsuit again. They really are great swimsuits.
That pretty shade of blue is especially appealing and is making me wistful for warm, snowless days. ☀️
What a delightful observation by the Japanese to note when insects are emerging. Truly a sign of spring but not often remarked upon.
Lands End swim wear is wonderful! Wears like iron. I replaced at the end of last season. I love these posts and the smart suggestions. Living in TX my summer clothes take a real beating and are never put away. I rotate linen and corduroy but that’s about it. I can see everything all year long. (Lucky me big closet) but rotate corners. Since we have been having low 80 degree temps already I’ve started the process. I refuse to wear shorts until May because I’m still wearing them in September and October! Have a wonderful day ladies. Yeah Women!!
Shorts and flip flops? I just got my lighter gauge merino wool sweaters out of storage! For me, in my climate, it’s heavy woolens, winter boots and parkas for months on end.
I just rotated my spring wardrobe in, not because it’s really warm (50’s) but because it’s sunny and I’m craving the color. I think I need to brighten up my winter wardrobe next year a little. Thanks for these pops of color! I have a Lands End swim skirt that is maybe 10 years old and still going strong!
We woke up to snow this morning which is rare where I live because we are almost at sea level, despite being 75 miles from the seaside! I’m still thinking of cold weather clothes. Warm weather won’t get a look in until at least April at this rate. Sadly this cold snap could cause frost damage to the magnolia buds which are beginning to appear. It’s good to hope for warm weather. I’d also love to see a wardrobe based on the beetle picture.
I’ve lost 35 pounds since last summer and need a new swimsuit or two. I buy the 3 piece ones also. Mix and Match gives me multiple looks I love lands end for swim suits. No matter what your size they have got you covered
It’s currently snowing so I am happy at the idea of warm spring weather arriving and am vicariously enjoying the warmer weather some readers are experiencing already. I transition to a lighter/brighter color palette around March 1 to bring some spring vibes to late winter, and all these colors are fair game for me. (Today it’s a coral LS T + pullover sweater with navy corduroy skirt + boots.) I was able to bolster my linen collection in February (I know!) and am feeling quite good about the coming warm spring season, though we’re still a good ways out as yet.
That “sail blue” is a gorgeous color…it is a bit on the warm side (i.e., edging toward blue-green), which feels very spring-like.
Great reminder. I need to go see if my bathing suits have gone crunchy with age. It’s been awhile since I wore them and they are at least 8 or 9 years old now. And a quick check on my summer clothes is in order. Thanks Janice. I love the 24 Japanese seasons posts.
I love the gingham shirt look! But I’d wear it with pants like the Athleta Brooklyn. I’m not a shorts person.
Capri pants though? I thought those were a relic. Are they trending again?
They’ve never gone away in some corners – if you live where it gets wicked hot, but where there are lots of women who do NOT want to air their thighs in public, you will find capris!
hugs,
Janice