November 5, 2024
If you’re in the US, I’m assuming that you have already voted, or have a plan to vote today…
A Big Small Change
Our heroine’s been living in a blue and white wardrobe, inspired by her love of this painting:
She has a wardrobe full of lovely tops – solids, prints, almost all of the basics, and a nice bunch of accent and statement things:
Maybe she could use another dress? Or not – she has skirts, and the world just isn’t as dressed up as it used to be…
She loves her scarves and jewelry, and who wouldn’t?
She also feels pretty good about her shoes and bags:
But she’s been thinking for quite a long time about denim. Not a TON of denim, but maybe a pair of jeans? And a chambray shirt…
She realizes that she doesn’t have a long-sleeved navy tee shirt, and heaven knows that it would be useful. And a navy velvet top is just not to be resisted. Winter fun earrings, a really lovely brooch, and a scarf that she loves…
I have an Otto & Spike scarf that I love, too!
And she takes the plunge!
Snowflake earrings – Betsey Johnson; velvet top – Boden; scarf – Otto & Spike; navy tee – Lands’ End; chambray shirt – L.L.Bean; brooch – Coach; jeans – L.L.Bean
For most of us, denim is no plunge at all, but I have friends for whom a skirt or dress would be a radical wardrobe shift, another who NEVER wear blue (seriously!), and yet another who doesn’t wear black.
Really, there’s every possible wardrobe out there, somewhere!
Here’s what our heroine is picturing for her new November outfits:
With the addition of denim, I could easily live in this wardrobe. Although I haven’t worn navy since the 80s, I find it appealing…
love,
Janice
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This is a fantastic capsule. Who doesn’t love blue in every shade? I tend to use blue as my baseline color, saving black for my city excursions to visit my adult children in Boston and Washington, DC. That being said, I do love to jeuje my navy basics up with some pink, burgundy or teal. All three add a tremendous punch with any shade of blue. However, this all blue extravaganza gives so much food for thoughts.
That being said, many of us are still dresses wearers. Even though I live on the Maine coast, I love to wear dresses, not even for dressy occasions. I will wear them with tights, boots and chunky sweaters all cool weather season and as the basis for my wardrobe all summer. Dresses don’t have to be overly dressy….they can just pack a bit of a feminine punch. A denim shirtdress would work wonders in this capsule. My own is from Ralph Lauren, but you can easily find them in a variety of stores. Additionally, this cute navy shift dress from LL Bean could easily be dressed up or down and is super comfortable. You don’t need to go to the Opera to wear a dress. It can just be an every day staple too! Just my own very humble opinion….
And in counterpoint – and perhaps complete opposition to Ellen S – there are women (like me) who NEVER wear dresses or skirts at all. Pants can be dressy, they’re not just for casual wear! (you can call them trousers if they sound fancier that way) There are even some specifically for evening wear — I’ll link to an extreme example.
All of which is to say that women, and our preferences, come in all shapes, sizes, and preferences.
https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/mac-duggal-metallic-lame-pleated-wide-leg-pant?ID=5333212&CategoryID=2910
Yes, I’m sure pretty much any wardrobe possible exists out there…. Due to ongoing medical issues, I can’t handle any tightness around my waist and almost exclusively wear dresses. I even got several knit maxi dresses with shelf bras that I like to call my “lounge dresses” for wearing around the house. The bonus is that I never have to worry if I’m dressed up enough, since people tend to see dresses and think dressy! LOL
I agree!
Dresses are like a rarely discovered wardrobe basics.
Why did we somehow revolve away from dresses as daily wardrobe staples?
Thigh chafing and bike riding with wind and exposed chains are a few reasons to move away from dresses… as well as working in a lab. Jockey slip shorts really help with the first set of issues although it does negate that “oh its too hot, just wear a dress” – the layer adds extra heat and shorts work better. Having said all that, I do like dresses, just dont find as many occasions to wear them and still easily live my everyday life.
https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/129309?page=womens-heritage-mariner-dress-womens-regular&bc=12-27-506213&feat=506213-GN3&csp=f&attrValue_0=1&pos=13
You make a perfect point about there being a wardrobe out there for everyone. I love having friends whose distinctive styles keep me entertained. Not going to lie.mi love clothes, but have finally found the good sense and TVF to be disciplined and happier in my own lane.
I have two friends who dress exclusively in black, but in much different styling. They accessorize in different styles and both look fabulous.
I, on the other hand, really need my denim and chambray pieces, which are likely to turn up styled with satin or cashmere or silk- pearls, brooches. Or with western boots! I always have a denim jacket in my closet- frequently adorned with a cool or blingy brooch.
I voted early. Decisively. I’m an undecided voter when it comes to paintings, though.
Ha, ha! Me too! Voted early and I’m glad I did. It’s raining cats and dogs today. I’m an undecided voter when it comes to Janice’s wardrobes!
I love the idea of an all-blue wardrobe, but with enough bright accessories or tops to tweak my magpie mentality. I bought the turquoise polo-type sweater and it washed up very nicely. (lingerie bag in the machine and laid flat to dry)
I just voted; sporting all blue!
In the vein of discussing our individual wardrobe preferences, my wardrobe has tons of blue, but I don’t wear denim. Go figure!
Love this wardrobe, love these clothes. Agree with those who say there are so many different styles for so many women. In my youth I tried dresses, but never felt comfortable. Then skirts, which were better. Just in the last few years I have accepted My style, which is a bit Tom boyish. Bermuda shorts and Ts in warm weather, jeans, long sleeved Ts and flannel or fleece in cold weather. I use navy as neutral, having fired my other neutral: grey. So gloomy for me. For accent colors I pick from the Soft Autumn palette, and it, finally seems to work, yay! I find I am saving money and spending far less time doing returns.
Wrap up the new additions and send them my way. Love everything!
Lots of lovely ideas just for old white-haired ladies (like moi!)! ha! These items would suit many age groups, many social and economic levels.
This colour story reminds of how I put together my summer outfits here living by the sea. Blues, crisp whites, pop of red, and silver jewellery. Problem was , white near my face washed me out, and I am really more of a golden girl than silver . Fast forward a few years, now with post Covid grey hair and learning that I am much better suited to soft Autumn colours. Creams, not white, and certain blues work so much better. Off to consignment with the white / blues and silver pieces.
I love wearing dresses, like some others. With tights in the cooler months. Mine are usually longer so my ‘road map’ legs are not in view in the summer. Whenever I travel, dresses are in the mix, because wearing a pretty dress at dinner is a confidence booster, since I travel solo.
I voted this morning! I think you found the perfect chambray shirt I have been looking for….cotton, available in petite, no pockets so it layers well and surprisingly affordable. I also added the bow brooch to my Christmas wish list.
This is just beautiful. Although my common core wardrobe consists of navy, I’m never quite sure how I look in blues, so prefer to accent with other colors. If I were to wear blue I’d be all over the wardrobe. I have two friends and we all wear the same line of clothes from same designer, but yet our looks are so totally different. It makes me laugh.
A few years ago, Janice did a whole series of posts about a group of four friends who could wear the same top and create completely different wardrobes with it. An intriguing idea that I’d like to see again.
Fantastic wardrobe and new arrivals.
I definitely have blue and jeans in my closet. But also wear skirts and dresses.
I always have to think of a coat or jacket. It was freezing here this morning.
I loooove the addition of denim to this wardrobe. And that velvet top! I so miss when velvet was everywhere. It was my favorite thing to wear for everything except gardening lol. Looking through my own wardrobe I think I have a very similar navy t already so I’m good there. All of these blues make my little heart go pitter pat every month.
Thank you Janice!!
Well, I have really honed into blue this year with this wardrobe. It has been a revelation and so easy to dress up or down.
For dress up, I have dark blue velour trousers and a blue long jacket with silver stars and flowers all over it plus navy devore velvet scarves.
I used to wear dresses and skirts all the time until I had my kids. Trousers were then a practical option. However, it was adding Lycra to tights that getting dressed in dresses a struggle. I hate tights or anything that is constricting around my legs and waist. Going up to get a looser fit results in wrinkles round my ankles. Added to that problem feet and weak ankles so my footwear is functional rather than fancy.
For those in the UK looking for inspiration for light blue and brown, head to your nearest big Tu at Sainsbury’s. In my local big store they whole section of chocolate brown and bronze with light blue. It looked lovely. Sadly, I couldn’t find a scarf that combined both colours. I might have to crochet one.
Yes to the addition of blue denim, chambray, velvet (gorgeous), and that wonderful scarf – a really nice set of pieces for this wardrobe! I’d love to see the pale muted blue from the top section of the painting make its way into this capsule too. The wardrobe overall seems a lot brighter than the painting, and I could see this heroine exploring some of the moody blues and lighter chambray tones as she goes into 2025. I think if she were to branch out (haha) into the soft indigo, slate, light blue, etc., she might find some grey neutrals coming in to support the wardrobe as well.
Blues and white are the majority of my wardrobe! It’s amazing to me how many similar pieces I have to those in this wardrobe, and how many I don’t! It’s so inspiring to see so many beautiful wardrobes built throughout the year.
That velvet top! The buttons are lovely.