December 11, 2024
I’m leaving for Paris this afternoon – and so is today’s heroine!
Remember this most elegant woman – of the upswept and braided white hair, the immaculate red manicure, the lush jewel-toned accents in her black and white wardrobe?
We first met her when she was a university guest lecturer;…
In January 2018, she took a group of students to the Cloisters;
In August 2019, she was in Paris to help with reconstructing Notre Dame;
In December 2019, she was off to Venice;
She assembled a “work from home” wardrobe in May 2020;
which she accessorized in May 2020;
and we visited her in November of 2021, when she went to Dublin;
Oh my! I knew I loved this woman, but I never realized quite how much!
Her inspiration is this:
Last Minute Packing for Paris
She hadn’t really thought about it – she knew that Notre Dame was reopening, but she didn’t expect to be invited to any of the festivities. It turns out that she’s expected to attend quite a few different events – the ceremonial opening of the doors, the first mass, a few guests who will be speaking, a dinner…
And she’s given it no thought! Which, for this heroine, is not a problem…
Earrings – Shashi; bow brooch – Oscar de la Renta; red coat – Boden; cotton/metallic scarf – Talbots; lace blouse – J.Crew; textured satin pants – J.Crew; handbag – Olivia Miller; loafers – French Sole
Her biggest challenge is that she really wants to be seasonally festive, but she knows that she shouldn’t be wearing things that are overtly Christmassy in the secular sense. No Santa Claus brooches, no reindeer sweatshirts (as if!), and certainly not mistletoe! (which is a favorite of hers.)
She sticks with bows, red and green, and her normal dressy fabrics of velvet, satin, and lace.
Gold lace earrings – Ross-Simons; hoop earrings – Lili Claspe; red bow earrings – Kendra Scott; pearl earrings – The Met Store; bow necklace – J.Crew; pearl & green stone necklace – The Met Store; black chiffon top – J.Crew; red blouse – Boden; green cashmere sweater – Caslon; ivory cashmere turtleneck – Lands’ End; square scarf – Madelina Andronic; beaded bag – I.N.C.; black velvet skirt – Lands’ End; black velvet pants – Lands’ End; boots – Loeffler Randall; black lace flats – Jack Rogers
When she hangs her things on her clothes rack, and assembles her accessories on her bed, she’s pretty happy – and who wouldn’t be?
Her skirt might stick out from below her coat – she can’t be bothered to buy another red coat in a shorter length! Paris is cold in December – although she seems impervious to cold, just as she’s impervious to nail polish chipping, or lipstick smearing…
Snowflakes would also have worked here, along with her bows. Both are seasonal and festive without being too “commercial Christmas.”
In a different life, this would have been me…
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, women on the streets of Chicago were mixing shades of green, and I was there for it!
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Lovely colours! I usually say I don’t like a lot of black (but here I do!) and I’ve just bought a red coat so it gives me lots of ideas of how to wear it! Thank you so much! Love your blog! Happy Christmas from West Yorkshire, England! xx
Happy travels!
This is one of my favorite heroines. I love the fantasy of her wardrobe.it seems that more recent iterations are more realistic for many of us.
My other favorite is Edith and the kingpin. I wonder what they are up to now?
May you return rested, refreshed, and exhilarated.
Yes! I’ve wondered about Edith and the Kingpin too and also the woman who received a surprise huge inheritance.
Janice has birthed some great characters and has sparked our imaginations!
I love this heroine and her level of dressiness! She makes such elegant choices. I especially appreciate that she wears comfortable, yet feminine footwear.
What a spectacular wardrobe for city travel at the holidays! I love that you’ve gone red and green, but without an ugly sweater or anything that could read as tacky. I think this will be perfect for Paris, but I also think it would read just as chic in New York, San Francisco, Milan or Geneva. My own family is from Nancy, France. I have always loved going to visit them at the holidays, where this look would be just as elegant. Well done, you!
Safe travels!
Très chic
Everything looks beautiful with this coat. I also like the checkered scarf.
I wish you a good flight.
Love this heroine and this wardrobe – all her wardrobes. The Talbots scarf is amazing. Safe flight and have a wonderful time.
I love this heroine and her beautiful wardrobe! That JCrew lace blouse is so pretty. Festive but understated. Merry Christmas, Janice!
I love red at Christmas! I typically only wear it this time of the year, but it is one color I feel good wearing. My New York, Montreal and Quebec Christmas trip next year might be in need of a red coat🤔
Oh, my favorite heroine returns! This is an elegant, restrained holiday wardrobe, and I love it! ( I don’t see a source for the lovely square scarf. Perhaps it’s from Echo?) Janice, have a wonderful time in France.
I just put in the link to the square scarf – one of you lovely ladies not only wrote to me to let me know that the link was missing, but they hunted up the scarf and sent ME the link! What would I do without you all?
love,
Janice
Simply elegant!
My favorite heroine. Although I tend to dress more for comfort, I love the colors and the materials, the touches of gold, the elegance of her wardrobe, and the painting that inspired it.
My daughter, a designer, recently brought up the subject of feeling fabulous in one’s clothes, which is not how I usually think of my wardrobe. But this heroine’s fabulous clothes are inspirational.
I love this heroine! Thanks for bringing her back.
This wardrobe felt like it was made for me. I would wear all these items very happily, especially that pomegranate scarf.
Have a wonderful time in Paris!!!
Uh it’s ok if a longer skirt sticks out below a shorter jacket, right? Or is that seen as tacky or less classy?
You are the most creative and talented writer! I enjoy every one of your posts!!
Effortlessly elegant. There is a lot that we can learn from this heroine who looks so ‘put together’ without too much fuss. We might not all dress this way every day but when the occasion arises to make a bit of effort, this heroine is the torch bearer. Her embellishments are delicate and understated: a few sequins, a bit of lace, velvet and bows.
I’ve seen several jumpers with sequin bows on for the festive season. Bows, stars, baubles, sequins, pearls, crystals, and sparkly Fair Isle make the ubiquitous “Christmas jumper” more refined and universal in appeal as a seasonal garment. I recently bought a navy sweatshirt with sequin baubles on it. It has taken me several years to find a seasonal jumper that is not black, red or green.
This is my favorite wardrobe and persona. I’m also reminded of Edith and the Kingman. Thank you for this Christmas present, Janice, and have a wonderful trip!
This is one of my favorite heroines at TVF. As others mentioned, I also love Edith and the Kingpin!
The link for the black lace blouse went to a different item. Here is the correct link if anyone is interested:
https://www.jcrew.com/m/womens/categories/clothing/shirts-and-tops/drapey-tops/ME193?display=all&fit=Classic&colorProductCode=CF438&colorCode=BK0001
I hope Janice is having a lovely time in Paris. Cheers!
Oh I adore that pomegranate scarf! Hope you are having the loveliest time in Paris Janice!