February 3, 2025
I’ve already reached the point at which I really want to look at these painting one at a time! It’s possible to focus better on just one painting at a time – at least for my limited capacity…
This month, the top of the heap is this beauty!
When I look at this painting on different screens, the dark neutral color varies between camel and a dark olive green. I’m sticking with camel, although it’s lovely to have a second option…
Our heroine comes into February with this compact but pretty excellent capsule wardrobe:
Teal cotton sweater – L.L.Bean; Labradorite earrings – Yaa Yaa London; cardigan – Alex Mil; mother-of-pearl earrings – Latelita; teal cashmere sweater – L.L.Bean; white shirt – Lands’ End; scarf – Artifact.; cashmere scarf – JUSTLOVE; tee shirt – L.L.Bean; jeans – L.L.Bean; white turtleneck – Lands’ End; chino pants – Lands’ End; boots – Dolce Vita; leather sneakers – DKNY
This month, our heroine decided to lean into the chambray blue in her wardrobe, as well as grab a good pair of loafers and a handbag:
Storm teal heather cardigan – L.L.Bean; chambray shirt – On 34th; earrings – Kendra Scott; blue tee – Lands’ End; suede bag – Genicci; white jeans – Lands’ End; loafers – Eastland 1955 Edition
With these additions, the overall feeling of her wardrobe hasn’t changed at all, but she has more options – especially with the addition of the chambray shirt! Until you’ve owned one of these shirts and really committed to wearing it frequently, you have no idea how handy they can be.
You’re not even slightly amazed that she has no problems at all working her new purchases into her existing wardrobe:
This year, all of our heroines are planning to keep track of their wardrobe using The Weekly Timeless Wardrobe – 52 garments that are classic and very versatile.
In order to make this chart as useful as possible for as many of us as possible, I’ve changed the garments descriptions slightly – particularly with regard to color. So long as one stays with a wardrobe plan, things should still work out just fine…
You can tell that I’ve given us all a LOT of latitude now, which will be handy.
This is what I’ve come up with:
And at this point, this is how our heroine’s twelve garments fit into these various slots:
Doesn’t this first wardrobe make you want to sit somewhere outdoors, with a good book and a better beverage and the BEST possible view?
love
Janice
p.s. The first four garments can be found in the Christmas launch, and the second four garments are shown in this January post.
p.p.s. Ten years ago, I shared what might very well be my favorite painting – Winter at the Convent by Margaret Loxton. A navy and pastels wardrobe!
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I love this wardrobe. The colours, the items. Thanks for the updated grid. Very useful and in line with how are want to manage my wardrobe going forward. You are a gem Janice!
Thank you!
hugs,
Janice
I love this wardrobe. I can’t wear camel near my face, but I think as long as I had a scarf, or wore the sweater unbuttoned over one of the tops I’d be ok. Yes, chambray shirts are amazing. I have two and wear them to death. Especially in the summer as kind of a lightweight topper.
This is also one of my favorite capsules.
I have a lot in the color taupe. That would also go perfectly with it.
I did a little retail scouting yesterday. I saw a lot of chambray and denim in the shops. Also: polka dots & stripes.
I just love these beautiful colors. Teal has been a perennial favorite of mine—even my bridesmaids’ dresses were teal in 1988! I’m excited to see what steps you will take next here; a dress or skirt? Patterns? A teal necklace? A spring coat? I can’t wait to see!
Ann Taylor has a GORGEOUS wrap skirt in this same dusty teal called the Effortless Midi Wrap that would fit right in.
I LOOKED AT THAT SKIRT – and they had only photographs of the skirt on a model. Would it be so tough to show just ONE image of the skirt all by itself, so we could see the skirt, and not the lovely woman wearing it? sigh…
hugs,
Janice
On Ann Taylor, they often have plain photos at the bottom in the “ways to wear it” section. That is the case for this lovely skirt.
Oooh, you’re very clever!
hugs,
Janice
Right? I hate having to only look at clothes on models—who are less than half my age and a size 2. It’s much easier to imagine pieces when not looking at them on a model. I want to be able to picture them on ME, not a pretty, young (thin) thing, you know?
Janice, I just looked at link to the skirt. If you scroll down a bit, it will show ways to wear it and the skirt is shown w/o the model. Hope this helps. :)
Lol, of course after I post I see that others have said the same thing! Have a lovely day!
Ellen, I laughed when I read your comment. I too had real bridesmaid dresses when I got married in 1988! Still one of my favourite colours
Me too!! Granted my bridesmaids dresses were far too shiny to be chic now, but I’m still mad for the color.
I love that dusty teal color!
The weekly wardrobe template was a huge help to me in putting together my updated closet. It took me three years to fill it, but it was worth it. Thanks!
Janice, can you suggest something a little dressier for dinner formal nights? Possibly going to Alaska in September and I love this capsule. I suppose I could do a black dress and some sparkle shoes. I would love to see if you have any other suggestions.
I hadn’t thought of Teal and Taupe together but it’s a winning combination. I have a lot of darker Teal and will now consider some Taupe to lighten the collection. Brilliant. Thank you. I love the grid too. Very helpful.
This is such a lovely wardrobe, can’t wait to see how it all develops. Teal is such a universal colour, I have a lot of teal and turquoise with my camels. Love the template grid! I will definitely be using this grid, thank you Janice.
This is one of my favourites this year. Like Sheila, I can’t wear beige shades near my face. The darker neutral looks like Taupe. I’m also seeing shades of Dove Grey in the foreground and silver grey on the horizon. This might be my adaptation as I only have one pair of Taupe cotton trousers and a pair of brown cord trousers in my wardrobe.
I love the Labradorite and Mother of Pearl jewellery but Moonstone and Blue Agate would also work. The ripples in Blue Agate reflect the ripples in the sea in the picture.
I love the calming colors of this capsule! Maybe because I am looking outside at the 10 inches of snow we got last night (In the PNW this is rare!). I have a lot of jewel tones in winter, including teal, but maybe some of the taupe shades would lighten things up a little. Janice I have loved that painting of the nuns and the corresponding post and have looked back at it so many times!!
Janice,
I am in love with this capsule ! Teal is my favorite cool weather color, balanced with tan, brown, burgundy and ivory. I never thought of pairing it with light blue, so thank you !
I have loved looking back at the skating nuns pic too! It is a happy piece. The six navy pieces idea has helped me a lot. I have many navy items but they do tend to be versions of the same thing. A couple years ago I went through my closet and realized I have about 75% fall and winter clothing. And I live in Houston. We are supposed to have several days of 80-81* temps this week. But I’m hoping that groundhogs prediction of 6 weeks more winter will prove correct for us here. I would enjoy more 40-50* temps!
I do like the style of these garments. My life is very casual so these are well suited. The camel and beige wardrobes are always very appealing to me even though they don’t flatter me. Maybe just start with a skirt or pants as others have mentioned. Lots to think about. Thank you!
And good, better, Best; excellent writing! Thanks for the chuckle!
This is lovely and certainly accurate to the picture! The colors seem so muted to me, a winter who prefers bright jewel tones.
Is it the fabric that makes it seem muted, the opaqueness level? What is it?
How to combine softer tones of color like this with brighter colors, or the same color, but brighter and more saturated? Have you shown this before?
Thanks
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the updated grid template. I only need to tweak it the tiniest bit (I wish it were otherwise, but I can’t wear turtlenecks without feeling like someone is choking me the whole time) and it will be perfect.
This combination of colors definitely makes me want to sit in a seaside location that is not too hot and not too cold, maybe with a fire going in a fire pit, enjoying a cup of tea and a good book. Love these combinations.
I’m imagining that I’m sitting outside a cabin in The Burren, County Clare in Ireland, beside the fire for sure! A lovely beverage and some good company – it’s too late in the day there to be reading…
Ah….
love,
Janice
This is really good! Great colours, and nice level of casualness (not really a word, but…)! This works for my lifestyle. One of my favourites of yours was years ago; a teal and navy wardrobe 2016. I still have some pieces from that, so I can blend in a bit of darker teal with lighter denim and chambray.
Love your work Janice!