February 21, 2025
If you find any errors send me a note or leave a comment; I was on the phone with the Internal Revenue Service today for 90 minutes, and I’m not fully recovered!
With weather like we’ve been having recently – at least in my neighborhood – it’s not a bad idea to pretend that it’s already spring. Just don’t go outdoors in a sundress, and you should be fine…
The colors in this scarf help get me in that frame of mind:
I didn’t put a neutral color in our color wheel, because I suspect that almost any neutral would be lovely with these:
Our heroine and her sweetheart are going somewhere warm for a long weekend. Well, it should be warm. Unless it’s not. But they’re going to go, no matter what!
You can tell that she’s leaving from somewhere that’s not exactly balmy, can’t you?
Sweater – Lands’ End; earrings – Ninemoo; scarf – Echo; navy pants – L.L.Bean; jacket – L.L.Bean; socks – Le Colonel; tote – Athleta; loafers – G.H.Bass
She’s trying to cover all of her bases, while still only packing six things. Jeans yes, but white ones. And another sweater, as well as a few more traditionally “warm weather” items.
Butterfly earrings – Argentovivo; dusty teal sweater – L.L.Bean; white tank top – Lands’ End; glacier teal tee – L.L.Bean; white jeans – NYDJ; navy shorts – Lands’ End; tunic – J.Crew Factory; bag – Moda Luxe; leather sneakers – Keds; white sandals – Alegria
The night before they leave, she looks long and hard at what she’s packing. She’s frankly concerned that the weather will throw her a curve, but she’s determined that she’s NOT going to pack the kitchen sink. Her sweetie doesn’t care if she wears something more than once, and she’s getting more used to the “outfit repeat” life.
She looks at a handful (well, six – is that a baker’s handful?) of outfits, just to reassure herself that she’s not doing something reckless:
What the worst thing that can happen, weather-wise? A ton of rain, during which they will sit by a fireplace with a lovely beverage, and read, and chat, and relax…
Doesn’t sound miserable to me!
love,
Janice
Like this wardrobe? Save it to Pinterest!
The colors are very nice.
Thank you
Greating from the Black Forest in Germany
Ulrike
Here in England, and possibly the rest of Northern Europe, the question would be ‘Which of my umbrellas goes well with this capsule?
Here in Maine l, in New England, as wel!
Such new combinations and such pretty colors!! I hope our heroine has nothing but sunny skies ahead!
Beautiful colors!!!!! I would wear these happily!
Love your choices and would happily let you pack for my next trip!
Blessings from Florida:)
Kim
Feels like muted Mardi Gras colors, more sophisticated and mature but still festive
Is the muting or matte what makes color pastel? I am so confused about that. And how would these spring colors be used in summer or winter, can they be mixed and matched with jewel tones? I feel like earth tones might be a stretch for fall, but really these would look great with navy pants or chocolate pants. Now I’m second-guessing myself- would they?
Often clothing manufacturers tend to associate certain color palettes with certain times of year, so you often find more soft colors in spring and more deep ones in winter. But that shouldn’t limit what you choose to wear; you can wear any color any time you want.
Pastel colors are those made by adding white to the base color.
Muted tones are made by adding grey; they can also be very soft, but they look more muddied.
Most jewel tones (ruby, sapphire, topaz, amethyst) are shades, made by adding black to the base color.
Basic hue: e.g. red
Pastel/tint: add white; red + white = pink
Muted/tone: add grey; red + grey = subdued red, like an ashy rose
Shade: add black; red + black = dark red, like maroon
Janice has done a couple of great posts about how neutrals mix with anything. This is a good one to start with: https://www.theviviennefiles.com/2013/11/two-neutral-colors-dozens-of-options.html/
Beautiful beginnings forca new wardrobe. I’m weary of Winter colors. Since I live on the Coast, these would go year round for me.
Does anyone know how I can get rid of my profile picture?
Hi Eve, you need to change your Gravatar image. You likely set it up as part of a blog a long time ago. I just changed mine by logging in and deleting all the images it had saved
https://gravatar.com/
Beautiful scarf and beautiful colours! Hurry up spring.
These are all my colors! I would cheerfully wear this entire wardrobe for spring and summer. Thanks, Janice!
These colours would have been incredible when my hair was silver.
It’s a lovely color palette, and I agree a lot of different neutrals could work. Two reminders for us all:
1-The orchid and mint pieces would also be very pretty together, like the orchid tunic layered like a lightweight jacket over the mint T.
2-We don’t have to go somewhere warm to wear these colors now. I would happily create outfits for the Minnesota winter from this color palette. A pastel (light, muted, or saturated; whatever says “spring”) pullover sweater (layer under if desired), my lined white skirt, a print scarf, and light-to-medium grey tights and ankle boots is a classic “want spring, feels like winter” outfit formula for me as we head into the March/April late winter period.
Is the designer of the scarf also the winner of 2013 Women’s Wimbledon title?
Yes!
Beautiful color combination!
Since you asked for corrections, “Warm weather” needs a noun after it; items/choices?
I love all your colour palettes. My struggle now is matching silhouettes. The right length top for a bottom, the correct shoes to match a trouser leg etc
Ooh, grammar! One of my favorite things…
Matching silhouettes is a drag; I’ve either started living with just one silhouette most of the time, which is long over long. Not considered trendy, nor stylish, but I’m comfortable in it, and it seems to suit my personality. Whatever that means! Sometimes the rules just aren’t right for everyone.
Thanks for keeping an eye on me,
love,
Janice
And is “warm weather” hyphenated, since it’s an adjectival phrase?
Oh dear…
Love,
J
I don’t understand your comment. “Weather” can be an a noun, verb , or adjective. ‘Warm” is an adjective describing “weather” used as a noun, so why is another noun needed? What am I missing?
At least in Chicago Manual of Style, you hyphenate a compound adjective before a noun, but you do not hyphenate a noun with adjective. For example:
This warm weather is fabulous! (warm weather = adjective + noun)
She has the most delicious warm-weather wardrobe. (warm-weather is an adjective modifying the noun wardrobe)
Her dress is perfect for warm weather. (warm weather isn’t immediately in front of and modifying a noun, so it is not hyphenated)
Yes, it gets wickedly confusing.
Love the dress over pants silouette!
Thanks Janice. This really brought joy to my soul.
Simply Accents – could be a new series of posts.
I wear these colours ALL year round just changing the materials according to temperature and my mood/vibe. The UK doesn’t have seasons any more it seems – just weather.
I have a blouse with all these colours. My “neutrals” would be navy, grey, dark purple, dark teal and even black. I have a purple coat and an orchid pink.coat plus navy and grey.
Like Sally says, I would mix the teal with lilac or orchid pink. I would even wear a complete tonal outfits.
Defining my style is occupying my thoughts. It changes with my mood and activities, a bit like a chameleon.
The travel outfit is me for when I want to be grounded, natural and practical. I love cable knit jumpers. I have one in teal and one in orchid pink.. The trousers would be cords and boots instead of shoes. I’d wear a shirt or top under the jumper.
To feel more elegant I’d wear a floral blouse under a knit jumper, smart trousers and my orchid pink wool coat.
To feel glamourous I would wear a satin or silky shirt, jumper with a bit of sparkle, velvet trousers and a faux fur jacket.
Beth,
When I saw this color palette I immediately thought of you !
Can the log at the hem of the jacket be removed easily?
Sorry, that should be logo.
I would say no. At least not easily but they are small and inconspicuous IMO.
I have a winter coat in this turquoise and I always get so many compliments.
So yes, if you love your colors you wear them all year round.