July 4, 2025
Okay, THIS might be one of my favorite paintings ever. Although I can’t imagine how one would EVER get a view of the Eiffel Tower like this, these days…
Today’s heroine is stocking up on summer clothes; she’s one of the really lucky people for whom summer things are still available!
She’s particularly happy to find a trove of her aqua accent:
Earrings – Farra; short-sleeved sweater – L.L.Bean; necklace – Aqua; navy camp shirt – Alex Mill; tee shirt – L.L.Bean; shorts – L.L.Bean; sneakers – Sam Edelman
It’s a good thing that our heroine was able to find warm-weather clothes; her wardrobe still seems to have quite a gap! Next month, she may have to focus on her navy neutral and beige accent to find things…
Her wardrobe doesn’t look terribly focused on cold weather wear, though. There are few “4-season” places where this wardrobe wouldn’t serve someone pretty well:
I have to admit, I’m really a fan of metallic gym shoes. I have a pair of silver sneakers that seem to elevate a lot of my outfits above normal casual wear!
Don’t you love the way all of her necklaces have a pearl accent? Talk about a subtle little signature look!
And how will our heroine use her new garments? Lots of ways, in both cool and warm weather! It’s so sensible to remember that short-sleeved tops can be worn all year, with a layer over them:
Hmm… if I started from scratch (heaven forbid!), I could replace the aqua with shades of purple…
love,
Janice
If you want to look back at all of the earlier posts in which we worked on this wardrobe, the links are here: Christmas Day Preview, January additions, February additions. March additions, April additions, May additions, June additions
p.s. Thinking of purple, ten years ago our painting focus was by J.M.W. Turner, and our colors are shades of purple, camel and white!
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Interesting that you didn’t use brown in the outfits shown. I would wear the third one with brown leather (bag/shoes).
I recently read that a monochrome outfit becomes interesting with a single red accessory.
Every time you post this beautiful work of art, I’m more and more taken with it. I have to admit that this shade of aqua is a bit muted for me, but I love the cohesive nature of the capsule. I could see subbing in a brighter turquoise and add a bit of ‘jeuge’ to this already pretty combination.
I especially iove the jewelry in this grouping. I’m very attracted to the modern ways of using pearls available now. These are no longer the staid ‘grandmothers pearls’ vibes we all grew up with…these are contemporary, but every bit as elegant and I am here for it!
Happy Independence Day to all who celebrate from Maine, USA!
I totally agree with the metallic sneakers thought. Once you start wearing that one metallic accent, it’s surprising how well it works.
These wardrobes are amazing. They certainly show what can be done when we mindfully curate what’s in our closets.
This is my favorite. Especially the accessories.
This might be my least favorite. I think with the brown and the navy it just seems “heavy” to me. I do really like the aqua flannel shirt and the striped dress though. I adore the seagull scarf. Have a great Independence Day!
I’m with you, Sheila. I think the “heaviness” of this wardrobe comes from having two dark neutrals, and if I recall we have similar color tastes leaning to more vibrant colors. I have a similar flannel shirt from LL Bean and did buy that striped dress. It will be a nice option for those transition seasons when it’s not hot or cold.
I wrote a big post that said “Pending”, but then vanished. I’m so sorry if I said something that didn’t work, Janice.
Happy 4th of July to all who celebrate!
I suspect it was nothing you did – the internet hasn’t been kind to me lately!
love,
Janice
Hallelujah! I was trying to figure out what I could have said that was not okay…so I’m glad it wasn’t me.
Ellen, it’s really difficult to imagine you saying or doing anything offensive! It would have to be accidental…
love,
Janice
Happy Independence Day!
Love the throwback palette of camel, white and purple. Wouldn’t have thought of using purple with those two neutrals but it totally works. Always fun surprises in your posts.
I think this is another winner. This heroine could certainly go with navy shorts and a navy skirt or simple dress to expand. I bet those will still be available in August. Since my neck of the woods is sweltering in August and September I would certainly wear them. Happy 4th of July to all in the USA. Hope you get to enjoy a good cookout and fireworks!
Forgot to say YES to metallic sneakers. I will be replacing some worn silver ones and may go with the pale gold. My Keds hi-tops are gold silver and bronze!
I have just found your site whilst looking for sewing patterns to form a capsule wardrobe. Your colour pallets are inspirational and your 4 by 4 capsule wardrobe template is exactly the starting point I needed. Thank you for compiling such a great website and helping us to build wardrobes that will work and reflect our personalities.
Hilary, I sew a lot of my clothes and I found Janice years ago when I was looking for capsule inspiration for sewing! :) Welcome!!
Wishing you all a happy and safe Fourth of July! Today’s wardrobe is very similar to my own, tho I sub cool gray for the beige, and have deeper aqua with silver accents. AND, purple! Janice, I love purple with navy and gray but it has been very hard to find. I did find a nurses scrub top in a lovely shade of purple. Could not resist and it is so comfy and cool. So, I wonder if I should wear it out and about? Any nurses in this community who could tell me if I maybe should not wear this garment in public? Thanks for any thoughts.
Hi JC,
I preface these comments with wear what makes you happy. Some of the newer scrub tops don’t look like what the public thinks scrub tops look like, so no issues there at all. If it is recognizable as a scrub top, some people will give you a wide berth if you are out and about- they believe you are a walking petri dish. If there is a medical emergency, you may have to explain that you are not a medical professional. My favorite scrubs are my purple scrubs.
Thanks Temara! Maybe I will just wear my top while puttering around at home. I’m actually trained in cpr and aed, but at the age of 87 not up to helping at a medical emergency. LOL Purple rules!!
jc – I’m really impressed with your desire to avoid offending anyone with your scrub top! So many people don’t think about things like that…
love,
Janice
Janice,
Happy 4th of July to you and to all of your readers here who celebrate it !
Love this, but for my fair coloring , I’d have to sub out the navy for a medium dark denim blue. I just can’t do any dark hues anymore — they drown me out .
Besides the type of garments selected , i always enjoy seeing your color combinations in your posts ! Thank you for them !
Have a safe holiday, everyone !
Another great wardrobe and love the accessories! The aqua blue, one of my fav colours, really lightens this up.
Hi again. Another response to Tamara and Janice: probably because I worked in hospitals in several different capacities, i am sensitive to medical protocol. Lots of cause and effect to consider. Also, if you have ever been a patient in a hospital, wondering what was being done to you, by whom, you know how important clothing and accessories are in that setting. Nametags anyone? Thanks to you both for supporting independent style today! (Unable to add this to original thread)
Love the painting in the lookback, and the wardrobe! We have just been blessed here in Auckland NZ with a travelling art exhibition from Toledo, Ohio “100 years of Modern Art”. Wonderful paintings. And we spent so long there, I had time to dream up wardrobes based on some of the paintings. A particular favourite for this was Paul Signac “Entrance to the Grand Canal”. Just my colours!
That painting is beautiful! I had to look it up, but I love it!