April 2, 2025
I’m really liking this painting, and this wardrobe, more every month. The four colors in the background are perfect accents for the colors of the two swans – I wish all paintings were this easy to analyze!
At the end of March, our heroine’s 16-piece wardrobe was pretty well organized, and would make a good travel capsule wardrobe for a destination with moderate temperatures – nothing too hot, nor too cold!
Our heroine already has three blush garments, including a quarter-zip fleece top. But she doesn’t have a simple sweater, and so she grabs this one! Grey jeans and a grey tee shirt are in her color palette, but a kind of new feeling for her wardrobe. And if you want a tee shirt in a specific color – even a color as seemingly easy as ivory – it’s wise to buy them the second you find one.
FWIW, I have these silver sneakers (they come in a lot of colors!), and I love them. Comfortable, and snazzy as heck!
Earrings – Anabel Aram; adobe rose sweater – L.L.Bean; ivory tee – Lands’ End; scarf – Santinni; gray tee – J.Crew; gray jeans – Alex Mill; sneakers – Vionic
Her wardrobe grows in perfect harmony with the colors of her favorite painting:
It wasn’t easy to figure out where to categorize her new blush sweater. I finally chose to call it a “Winter Textured Top,” but I’m not sure that’s perfect. Working with the Weekly Timeless Wardrobe requires flexibility – it’s a template that should be useful for all of us. Some of the terminology may get changed before the end of the year!
This is always my favorite thing to do – integrate new garments into an existing wardrobe! The grey tee shirt really should be shown with the grey jeans, but I have this silly self-imposed rule that I only want to show one new garment in each “example outfit.”
I love the range of contrasts possible with this wardrobe – everything from stark ivory and black to softly blended blush and grey…
love,
Janice
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Oh, I just love this. I also love when there are daily posts, as you are my morning coffee and browse ritual!
This is a beautiful collection and would work for a variety of women, of all ages, shapes and sizes. Well done, you!
I have to admit that I’m excited to see what you do with the chestnut color in the palette. I think it will look magical with these blush and grey pieces.
This is turning into the best, most versatile wardrobe yet! I have finally given up shunning black in my clothes. I haven’t abandoned navy, but black is just so useful, easily combined, and more importantly, easily found in the shopping world. And this post certainly gives me ideas! Great job!
Ivory turns out to be a bit harder to find this year, at least in such a nice simple tee as the one you’ve featured. This wardrobe works brilliantly. Our heroine could almost stop here, but she just might have a blazing ly hot summer ahead. 🔥 And, every wardrobe demands at least on or two occasion pieces.
I like that this month’s greys have a heathered, soft feeling. It harkens well to the background in the painting. I agree about the range of contrasts. Some days I feel like low contrast and other days it’s all about bold. These colors wouldn’t suit me, but I do love seeing them together on others. I’m looking forward to the addition of the warm brown.
So pretty!
These additions are beautiful. I think this is still my favourite one.
This wardrobe has more contrast than I like( so just don’t wear the black, heh?). But the painting fascinates me. So I did some reading about the artist. She used a lot of symbolism in her work. The object in the center may be a hook and eye held in both beaks which you can see more clearly rotating the piece 90 degrees. Janice, you are a genius!
Gorgeous. I’ll repeat myself from last month and just say you have outdone yourself this year. There isn’t a one of these I don’t like. Just awesome. Thank you!
Janice,
It’s so hard to believe that your retro post of color proportions was from 10 years ago ! I learned so much about myself from that post and it remains being one of my very favorite ones !
I know! It’s shocking to me every day when I look back at things from ten years ago; it seems like I wrote some of those things last month! But one of my guiding adjectives has always been “timeless,” and I think maybe I’ve succeeded…
hugs,
Janice
Indeed you have done so !
I really like this wardrobe. I have black, gray and ivory pieces. I like the pink, but I don’t own any. I might have to buy a pink tee or tank just to see how I like it. Also, I enjoyed the retro post. Very interesting. I am slowly building my retirement wardrobe using your guidance. Thanks Janice.
Janice, I so enjoy your outfits that you put together. They are really wonderful. I do have one question- most of what you put in your outfits are what I would call cool colors. I have been told I am a Bright Spring and thus need warm colors. You use a lot of cool neutrals. I am wondering what your feelings are about warm-cool and if you feel it has a place in selecting clothes.
I’ve never been a strong adherent to the seasonal color system. It works really well to help keep discipline in a color palette, and on some people “their colors” seem logical and flattering. But most of us have a combination of warm and cool colors in our personal coloring – I have golden brown eyes with a distinctly cool purple ring around the iris!
All that said, I think that the shades of brown from deepest dark chocolate to the palest ivory are beautiful together. The wardrobe that we did last year that was ALL shades of brown is among my favorite. That wardrobe would easily be expanded with shades of peach, apricot, butter yellow, leafy green… (sounds like dinner!)
Everyone has to do what makes them happiest; if your colors really feel right to you, stick to them! There are always clothes to be found in any color, if you’re patient.
love,
Janice
Hi Again Janice,
I am so interested in your reply. I wrote because I have had a lot of problems with the seasonal color system. I have had numerous analyses with each one declaring I am a different season or color. (warm-cool, soft-clear etc). It has been so confusing to me to try to work with. Like you I am definitely a mix. I have warm hazel/amber eyes but taupe hair and a pretty much neutral skin tone. Sometimes I have thought I could be placed directly in the center of the color wheel. Your reply has given me the confidence to try just buying what I like and not try to adhere to specific season. I am so appreciative of your honest reply. You and I are in complete agreement about this. I will also agree that seasonal analysis works very nicely for some people, just not everyone.
I wrote about my color analysis issues 14 years ago – I’ve had a couple of strongly conflicting analyses, and so I just decided to do my own thing!
https://www.theviviennefiles.com/2011/05/when-image-consultants-collide.html/
love,
Janice
Janice, could you please send me a link to your wardrobe from last year of a all brown from darkest brown to palest ivory. It sounds like something I would really like.
Warmly, Bonnie
https://www.theviviennefiles.com/2023/10/six-paintings-twelve-months-october-a-peasant-woman-by-edgar-degas.html/
I think this is my favorite this year. I am loving following along and going into my closet and pulling similar items. Since I’m doing this for 5 of the paintings I definitely have more than 103 pieces of clothing! You find such great accessories but yesterday’s crane scarf is STUNNING!
“And if you want a tee shirt in a specific color – even a color as seemingly easy as ivory – it’s wise to buy them the second you find one.” Yes! T-shirts in Just The Right Colour are one of my favourite things to thrift.
I have a problem with colour analysis as in all the online charts I come out as a summer but any greyish colour such as airforce blue and dusky pink doesn’t suit me at all. I have lots of black and white which does but I look dreadful in grey and much prefer beige. Colours have to be clear such as lime green and sky blue. My hair is white (my hairdresser calls it pearl) and I have blue eyes and skin that my daughter describes as corned beef. Don’t you just love family. I am totally confused.
My favorite wardrobe by far. Personally, I am subbing grey and silver for taupe and gold, but it is lovely either way!
I think Janice does a great job of showing cool, warm, blended cool/warm wardrobes (or neutral?). I also find her wardrobes are easy to conceptualize if swapping out one colour (or colours) may be best in your own situation. The challenge is figuring out your natural preferences or needs (sigh, if working in an office, have a dog, crazy weather, weight fluctuations) and narrowing them down. Not easy and takes time. I have made so many mistakes over the years; but, if I am not too self-critical, I can see a pattern as well in my choices and favourites. I am new to her blog and have delved into the treasure trove of historical postings – so thought provoking and informative. I have also learned so much from the comments and really enjoy learning of everyone’s unique perspective. I find this year’s painting-inspired wardrobes very approachable and easier to visualize with minor changes. Really appreciate the work you do!!
Please share the links to buy the bags!
I’m also one of those people who just wears their favorite colors. Since I (still) have dark hair, black suits me quite well.
The capsule is beautiful, and I’m already considering wearing pink with this brown to a party.