February 10, 2025
This painting to me just cries out to inspire a wardrobe for someone who lives near water, and probably has a pretty long “warm” season and just a short winter. Anybody else feel that?
There’s enough navy here to dress her for cold weather, and plenty of shades of sand, lovely sea blues and sea green for warmer weather. I could be so tempted…
At the end of January, our heroine had a wardrobe that was pretty great for weather that might be all over the place! She was really trying to find shades of blue and green, so she veered into that very summery tee shirt; sometimes you grab what’s available if it’s perfect for you, even if it’s not “in season.” The seasons will change, what’s available in stores won’t necessarily get any better!
Cotton sweater – L.L.Bean; cardigan – L.L.Bean; pretzel pearl earrings – ME30; scarf – Jessie Zhao New York; turtleneck – L.L.Bean; tee shirt – APNY; silk shirt – Boden; tee – Lands’ End; jeans – L.L.Bean; loafers – G.H.Bass; pants – L.L.Bean; tote bag – L.L.Bean; emerald leaf scarf – Vince; sneakers – rag & bone
This month, our heroine got very lucky – she was able to split her purchases between neutrals and accent colors, and she found TWO beautiful sweaters in ideal colors for her. And a perfect scarf…
AND PERFECT EARRINGS! Could this be better? They look like part of the painting. This doesn’t happen very often.
Pale cerulean blue cashmere sweater – J.Crew; earrings – Yaa Yaa London; teal sweater – L.L.Bean; sailcloth polo sweater – L.L.Bean; scarf – Talbots; linen pants – J.Crew; sandals – Vionic
This is now a pretty excellent travel capsule wardrobe for a destination that’s mostly cool, but where one might expect a warm day or two. Or maybe a trip that’s going to be spent in a cool place, with a quick day or two where it’s warmer?
Here again, we have a wardrobe that would be hard to do wrong. Any two or three garments that you could put on together will look at least acceptable – that’s such a gift when you’re traveling, or when you don’t want to have a huge closet full of clothes!
Oh. My. Her Weekly Timeless Wardrobe is going to be a challenge! I think I’m going to eliminate the “Winter” column and duplicate either Spring or Summer for her. Clearly, if you live somewhere warm, your need for a stack of turtlenecks is limited!
The ultimate wardrobe planning challenge – general enough to apply to almost all of us, but specific enough that it doesn’t allow us to just go nuts and buy 20 pieces of black velvet clothing! Although I could do that – get really eccentric and start channeling my inner Renaissance alchemist…
love,
Janice
p.s. The earlier installments of this wardrobe can be found at: Christmas Day Preview, January.
p.p.s. I’m currently reading “What Artists Wear” by Charlie Porter. I love it. It’s fascinating, and gives us much to consider…
p.p.p.s. (Janice, stop!!!) Ten years ago, I was struggling with too much clothing and too little direction, so I began to keep a visual outfit diary!
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Well this is the fourth painting that I shall be following this year. I’m already loving the shades of blue and green. The earrings are gorgeous. Blue lace agate would be another wave like stone.
I would vote for you to keep in the winter wear or at least options for cold weather. Living in the UK our weather is unpredictable. A bit of sun and it feels warm, even on a cold day. Dull, grey and damp, like it is today, makes you want to wear all your warm clothes at once. Even in the summer, the temperature can fluctuate wildly, dropping by 10-20C overnight!
If I was this heroine, I would have a complete navy outfit in winter weight materials – heavyweight jersey/velvet trousers, cord trousers, a long jersey or cord or velvet skirt, a cotton navy polo neck (turtle neck), a cotton navy crew/v-neck long sleeve t-shirt, a textured jumper and/or a chunky jumper. I would have a navy cord or velvet dress for winter parties. At least then she was prepared for the cold weather and could mix and match the lighter blues and greens just to cheer herself up.
Instead of the flannel shirt in winter, a chambray or long sleeve cotton shirt would do. This would take her right through the year under a jumper, on it’s own or over a tee shirt. For the lighter neutral, I would choose stone or a light greige.
I’m intrigued by the book “What Artists Wear”. I think of David Hockney in clothes as bright as his paintings. Then Van Gogh with his distinctive hats. Renoir with a warm coat, cap and gloves because he had severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and needed to keep warm. This idea could extend to designers, musicians, architects, fashion icons.
Thank you for the very useful lookback on recording a visual outfit diary. It is certainly one way to try and whittle down a wardrobe. What DON’T I wear and WHY are very good questions to ponder.
Agree completely with Beth T, her vote and suggestions.
Beth I was just thinking the same thing. I’m also in the UK and the only season that has completely dedicated garments in my wardrobe is Winter. The rest of the year can be ‘three seasons in one day’!
Just what I was thinking too.
Love these colours but live in a cold part of the UK, so would be great if you could keep the Winter column Janice
This is awfully pretty! But, as this painting reflects my state of Maine, I can vouch that we do NOT have short winters. That being said, I adore it….as I do most of Georgia O’Keefe’s work. Has anyone else been to the O’Keefe Museum in Santa Fe, NM? I used to need to be in NM twice a year for one night or two and would always try to go to the museum during one of these excursions each year. The amazing thing about her work is that, despite the simplicity, you see some new detail or coloration with each viewing. There is also a delightful cafe near it, called Pasqual’s, that I highly recommend after your museum time.
For next time, I would love a pair of teal jeans or a green dress!
I’ve been to the O’Keefe Museum. It’s fascinating to see how she explored styles.
Isn’t it a great museum? I think smaller, regional museums are such gems! Here in Maine, the Farnsworth Museum is another ‘must see’.
I was just thinking that teal a dark green-blue would look splendid in this wardrobe. Green, especially teal, is one of the universal colours. It could be used as a neutral or an accent.
Those earrings are to die for. Love them! I wasn’t sure about the different colors of blue meshing with each other, and then had to laugh, because I have many different blues in my own closet. And they don’t necessarily have to work together in an outfit anyway. I’ve been using Style App. I currently have made a deal with myself I can not wear any of the spring clothes until I wear all my fall/winter at least twice. I’m almost there. It forces me to choose items I don’t wear that often instead of reaching for favorites all the time. Of course, it has been so wintry here the warmer clothes are needed anyway. Last week at one point I had on pants, a turtleneck, two dresses (one layered over the other) and a cardigan! The alternative, of course, is to eliminate the clothes I don’t wear that much. oh no!
Hi Sheila,
What a great idea! I use the Stylebook app and love it. I use the app with what I’ve learned here at The Vivienne Files.
I’m going to try your “wear everything twice” idea. It’s too late for me to do winter, but I can start with spring and summer. Thank you for sharing! Elisa in Alaska
This wardrobe looks so promising too. I love the blue/green tones.
To ppps:
I’ve been taking photos of myself in my outfit every day since fall. It’s very interesting to look through. Sometimes I even wear 2 outfits in one day. 😆
I know some women who still change more than twice! Back in the 1970’s my Mum used to change 5/6 times a day. This included changing into and out of her housework clothes several times. For each activity during the day, she would wear a different outfit. She always got changed into fresh clothes when Dad came home and put some lipstick on.
Exactly, even several times: I change clothes while frying food (there’s no apron enough to get the smell out), gardening, hiking, going out in the evening, …
I also live in an area where it’s very cool at night and very warm during the day. And during my menopause I generally sweat very quickly. 😅
Looking at all six, strangely enough, the one I could work with best is the Af Klint. With two changes. Well, three. The style would have to drift towards casual, and the black replaced by navy and the pink replaced by blue. That would allow denim and mid blues. I think the use of *mostly* neutrals for accent colors is exactly what I am going to aim for this year. I’m nearly there, anyway.
As to having a wardrobe of black velvet, with maybe some embroidered silk, mine would be earthtones and I’d channel my inner hobbit, lol!
This is very nearly my perfect wardrobe, in both color and style! I picture this heroine living in the southeastern US, where winters are typically short. Maybe near the ocean but not necessarily. Lighter, brighter colors are worn year round. She’ll only need a lightweight coat or heavier jacket for the winter weather. Some pretty dresses for spring and summer. I predict this will be my favorite wardrobe for 2025. The earrings you found are stunning and go perfectly with the painting!
These are my colors! I would be very happy with any and all of your selection.
This heroine must live on the Gulf coast!
Absolutely lovely, thank you! I find all of the paintings and wardrobes appealing, but this would be my first choice. I also appreciate your adaptation of the WTW for a warmer climate. All of the Chicago appropriate choices are so appealing but I have had to train myself to admire from afar and to buy limited quantities of higher quality. A rare cold day deserves cashmere. Maybe I should replace winter with swimsuits.🤣
I get you! Chicago choices are appealing but so not what I can wear, DARN!
Totally! A pool and beach wear column. This past week we’ve been in the lower 80’s. I’m back in my skorts and short sleeve tops. Yesterday a gauze dress in February. Gauze!!!
Just Beautiful! Yes I think of this heroine in a milder climate like mine. I love turtlenecks but a few takes care of me. As I mentioned when this series began, I’m basically using the weekly timeless chart for 2 seasons and adjusting what I would wear. (Lots more sleeveless and short sleeve than turtlenecks.) The earrings are stunning as are the other colorways! Looking forward to the rest of the year.
I think for me a second spring column would be the best. Get rid of the winter column. I own 2 turtlenecks. They live in a tub along with my other ski gear, at my daughter’s house in Colorado! I have not been back on the mountain since I tore my ACL but hopefully next year I will be strong enough and even more needful, brave enough to try again.
Gorgeous!! I picture this heroine living by a lake in NZ :) & she’s going to be super-happy with this wardrobe :) :)
This is the one I’m following most closely, though I don’t usually wear light colored pants (dog owner.) I do live near the water, in the Bay Area, though it’s not what you would call “warm” here most of the time. I tend to think of a walk on the beach as a chilly, windy affair. Though I still love to do it! My collection of lightweight layers is typical of this region.
This is shaping up to be my favourite so far ❤️ I also agree with everyone that this heroine lives close to water. She could even be on the West Coast where it is milder with wetter winters. Lots for the imagination, thats for sure. Wishing everyone a wonderful week.
Loving this palette. The clothes and accessories are so pretty. I’m considering moving in this direction for spring/summer. As to the weekly wardrobe I actually did just what you’re thinking. We have no winter so I have 2 summer columns, spring and fall. The fall helps me with the A/C temperatures at work. Thanks for all of these wonderful ideas and for helping me see what color combinations really look like.
I love this …. My own wardrobe is based on this palette. I live in a tropical climate very close to the ocean. Instead of sweaters I have track style jackets or a windbreaker. I think the winter column could be replaced with another spring or summer one. Or a swimsuit/water sport column! I buy swimsuit separates from Lands End, they have a core color palette that remains the same year after year.
Grace
This wardrobe is loads of fun for me. I own so many blue-greens that they effectively serve as a neutral. So I’m all for these cheery mid-tone teals and blues in winter!
Should you decide to build a “Dress Like a Renaissance Artist” wardrobe, I’m here for it. I made an Elizabethan velvet gown and underskirt in sea-greens for my madrigal dinner last year, so I’ve got a head start. I’ll take all 20 of my velvet pieces in various shades of blue-green, please.
Where I live we have maybe a week or two that could be called “winter”. That, plus trips to see snow mean that we really do need a tiny workable winter capsule. We have a short fall and a long spring, then summer, and then summer-on-steroids. I find that I want a larger summer wardrobe, just because I’m living in the same clothes for half the year.
The colors you’re using here are so refreshing. Both bright and soft colors allow for more flexibility in mood, without veering off course in the cohesiveness of the plan.
Love this! I clicked the link for the J Crew Linen pants. I see 2 very close colors, Flax and Natural, do you remember which of the 2 colors you picked?
I believe it was flax… I hate it when you don’t have a lot of colors available, but two of them look so much alike!
hugs,
Janice