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Home » Feeling Bright? Start With a Scarf – the Dorothy Lichtenstein scarf from Echo

Feeling Bright? Start With a Scarf – the Dorothy Lichtenstein scarf from Echo

November 11, 2024

She’s ready for a holiday weekend, but this is NOT the woman who’s going to wear red and green, or a wreath or Christmas tree…

Which is great! You need to know what you do and don’t like, by the time you’re fully grown. Well, I believe this; your mileage may vary.

This is her inspiration, and it’s a goodie:

scarf – Echo

This is her color palette; maybe she’s stretching a point to include the bright blue, but she’s got this sweater…

scarf – Echo

It’s cold. It’s dry. She’s wearing white pants! If you want to stand out in a crowd in the dead of winter, this will do it…

Black tee – Lands’ End; earrings – Gemondo; scarf – Echo; cardigan – Neiman Marcus; red & white bracelet – Michael Nash Jewelry; white chinos – Lands’ End; yellow socks – Casa Clara; shoes – Ecco; weekender bag – Rains

She knows for a fact that she’s probably going to want to wear a skirt. She might wear it with a sweatshirt, though…

And a blazer is never a bad idea – especially if you have pants that go with it reasonably well. If the fabrics are very different, you don’t need to dye-lot match the color!

A few bright things, and a striped top (always!), and she’s ready to go:

yellow sweatshirt – Baimore; red cashmere beanie – Talbots; lapis earrings – Gemondo; snowflake brooch – Talbots; striped top – J.Crew; royal blue cashmere turtleneck – Lands’ End; heart earrings – Urban Outfitters; red cashmere wrap – J.Crew; black boiled wool blazer – J.Crew; black jeans – L.L.Bean; silver bag – Talbots; blue socks – Casa Clara; red pumps – Calvin Klein; blue loafers – Vionic; black pleated skirt – J.Crew

This wardrobe is pretty true to the color spirit of her favorite scarf:

She has a ton of outfit options. If the weather turns mucky, she doesn’t have to wear her white pants again – a pair of black pants can be worn a couple of days in a row over a weekend. And if she alternates it with her black skirt, she will do just fine!

THIS is how I would travel for a long weekend, but I know I’m never going to have to attend anything deadly formal.

Could you do this?

love,
Janice

p.s. Ten years ago, (back when Hermes scarves didn’t cost QUITE so much…), I walked through the process of choosing which color scarf to buy. If you go through this exercise regularly, when you see something available in a range of colors, you might learn something new about your color preferences! Or reinforce what you already knew…

Feeling Bright Start With a Scarf - the Dorothy Lichtenstein scarf from Echo

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11.11.24 21 Comments

Tags: cool weather, Six Pack, Start With a Scarf, Start with Art
<<November 2024 “Six Paintings, Twelve Months” – Sixth Painting by Maurice DenisLove Blue and Lavender? Start With a Scarf – The Julianna Margulies scarf from Echo>>

Comments

  1. Jeri b says

    November 11, 2024 at 2:59 am

    What a happy wardrobe to start off Monday!

    Reply
  2. Wendy says

    November 11, 2024 at 3:36 am

    I love the vibe of that scarf and the wardrobe is perfect for it. It reflects a self-confident woman who knows what she likes and happily wears it with panache.

    Reply
  3. Ellen S. says

    November 11, 2024 at 6:02 am

    First of all, hats off to you, Janice. You took primary colors and steered away from looking too “Gymboree” and child-like, which is what always seems to be happen to me when I try for all primary. This is fun, chic and festive!

    White pants for travel? That, to me, is the boldest element of this capsule. I think it looks stylish, but I myself would have coffee (or a Bloody Mary) all over those crisp pants within the first ten minutes of my flight. I’d be far more likely to sub in a light wash denim due to my own fear (and clumsiness). That being said, this is an entertaining capsule for holiday travel!

    Reply
  4. Sandy b says

    November 11, 2024 at 6:08 am

    Wow! How bright and bold! Great wardrobe to mull over on a cold dreary Monday. I agree with Wendy’s description of the wearer of this. The styles are classic if the colors are assertive.

    Reply
  5. Leu2500 says

    November 11, 2024 at 7:14 am

    Somehow (probably because I grew up where there is 6 months of winter & 20 feet of snow) I never thought of pairing a red sweater with *white* jeans. Thank you for opening my eyes. I now live in the South & will try this.

    Reply
  6. Gretchen Fewell says

    November 11, 2024 at 7:36 am

    Hi! I used to receive your posts in my email…sadly I no longer do for some reason?? Have subscribed several times again to no avail…Help, please! Want to receive your posts…
    Gretchen Fewell
    [email protected]
    V/r
    Gretchen

    Reply
    • Janice says

      November 11, 2024 at 11:20 am

      I just tried to put you on the mailing list; if you don’t receive an email on Wednesday, let me know!
      love,
      Janice

      Reply
  7. Ev says

    November 11, 2024 at 7:47 am

    I would urge everyone to go to the Echo site and read the story of the scarf. It’s touching and an ode to everlasting love. (I’m getting sentimental in my old age I guess.)

    Such a bright and cheery wardrobe today! I have done black, white, blue and red but no yellow in a travel capsule. It really worked out fine. Never did the white pants on a plane, though.

    Reply
    • Janice says

      November 11, 2024 at 11:19 am

      Excellent advice! If you’re not touched by some things, you’re uselessly heartless!
      love,
      Janice

      Reply
  8. Sheila says

    November 11, 2024 at 7:50 am

    Gosh, a happy wardrobe indeed! I would totally do this minus the white pants. I can barely wear solid tops without getting something on them (that’s why most of my tops are a print). I’d probably add in another pair of black pants. Or maybe even a cobalt blue or the bright red. I am a color mixer.

    Reply
  9. SewLibrarian says

    November 11, 2024 at 8:09 am

    I like this and would (and could) wear it, with the exception of the yellow sweatshirt. I might throw in a bright green sweater to sub for the yellow.

    Reply
  10. Linda Mitchell says

    November 11, 2024 at 8:29 am

    My sallow coloring usually makes bright yellow near my face a no-no. But -oh my- that happy sweatshirt has me thinking I need it in my life.

    Reply
  11. gretchen says

    November 11, 2024 at 2:10 pm

    I never wear yellow, but I do love these colors together and might have to give it a try. Thanks for putting together such a joyful collection when I need it the most.

    Reply
  12. Pepper from Minnesota says

    November 11, 2024 at 3:58 pm

    I wouldn’t be able to wear this as is because my coloring would clash with it, except those lovely white pants. But gosh do I ever love looking at it! Translated into menswear, my husband would look amazing in this scheme.

    Reply
  13. Sharla says

    November 11, 2024 at 8:03 pm

    How fun!! I hope your ribs are more comfortable.

    Reply
  14. AK says

    November 11, 2024 at 8:18 pm

    Isn’t it wonderful to have skirts you can pair with beautiful heels and accessories and the next day throw on a colorful hoodie & sneakers with the same skirt? I love pieces that give you options. Also- I love this scarf! If my stepdaughter were the silk-scarf-wearing type, I’d grab this for her in a heartbeat. Her husband is named Roy. 😁

    Reply
  15. Claire Oman says

    November 12, 2024 at 6:24 am

    Oh that last outfit is spectacular! I think I need a fun hoodie – mostly I just wear a faded one from Uni to do yoga in at home, but a nice cheerful one with a swishy skirt could be worn out of the house!

    Reply
  16. Cheryl Klassa says

    November 12, 2024 at 11:21 am

    I enjoy the colors and how you put things together even though it’s no me. But I cringe at the yellow socks with black shoes. I know it’s me and I know most people don’t notice your socks, but such bright socks!

    Reply
    • Janice says

      November 12, 2024 at 11:35 am

      I love to see a bright dash of sock when someone is walking by – the way city people dress in the winter is SO DARK…
      love,
      Janice

      Reply
  17. Carol says

    November 14, 2024 at 8:51 pm

    I made the mistake of looking at the entire Gemondo Grand Deco collection and I want it ALL! They are very reasonably priced which almost makes it harder to pick just one.

    Reply
  18. Marta says

    November 20, 2024 at 5:57 pm

    This wardrobe just sang to me! I was able to put it together in my closet.
    I bought the scarf red wrap and black striped top. I love it Thanks for your inspiration ♥️

    Reply

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The Vivienne Files is a unique personal style blog with carefully-selected capsule wardrobes based on color palettes drawn from works of art, nature, and more. It helps women buy less clothing, and to love what they buy. Read more...
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