July 11, 2025
She’s only going to be there two days – maybe three, if things go haywire.
And it’s a legendarily relaxed and informal office. She’s okay with that!
She decides to start with her favorite scarf:
She knows that she’s going to be alone at a work station somewhere along a bench. Yes, someone will check in on her project, and they will certainly take her out to lunch, but it’s not going to be strenuous, nor messy.
So she decides that the easiest thing to do is start with her favorite ivory wardrobe core:
Cardigan – Alex Mill; earrings – Katy Faye; snake chain necklace – Mink&Ivy; brooch – Farra; tee shirt – Lands’ End; crochet-trimmed sweatshirt – Boden; bag – Cole Haan; barrel jeans – J.Crew; socks – Nordstrom; flats – Dolce Vita; heritage stone chinos – L.L.Bean
A couple of tee shirts are all of the clothing that she will need. Some accent accessories and she’s happy:
bay leaf tee – L.L.Bean; earrings – The Met Store; bobby pins – L.Erickson; yellow tee – L.L.Bean; scarf – The Met Store; tote bag – Ted Baker London, ballet flats – Vionic; sandals – Birkenstock
Her shoes are all so flat that – even with seven garments – this will all fit into her smallest suitcase. It’s ONLY two days. Well, maybe three.
She knows what she has planned for outfits, but she walks through each outfit in her mind just to be certain that she hasn’t forgotten anything important:
I’m growing really attached to this idea of a core, neutral group of clothes that can be accented in a lot of different ways. This would certainly make it feasible to invest in really nice neutral pieces, if you know you will wear them often!
love,
Janice
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I love pastel colors and flat shoes;
as I get older, I only wear flats.
I have at least three pairs of green pants, but only one pair of white ones in my closet.
If I didn’t have so many floral tops, I would have bought the bag long ago.
You can also swap the light-colored one for a pink T-shirt.
I just adore this scarf. The colors are so pretty and I can see this being dressed up or down easily. Ivory is a lovely color on most women too–so much less ‘harsh’ than white.
My only caveat to this wardrobe would be that wearing all white/ivory on a trip would scare me. Even if it’s just a few days, I’m the Queen of Spills and would be terrified that I’d spill coffee (or food!) on my pretty clean clothes. Yes, I’m sure our heroine would be able to spot wash at her hotel, but with colors this light, and traveling for work, I’d be nervous the whole time about this. I’m sure it’s just me who is this clumsy. That being said, it’s a beautiful wardrobe…and I, too, want to echo how much I love the flats. I hate heels these days too.
I hope you’re having the best time ever in Dublin!
I’m also the queen of spills and had thar same thoughts!
I do think it can work with a core of soft grey (for me).
But I agree, this is a beautiful wardrobe
Oh, I like this! It has a nice late summer, early fall mood. It’s hard for me to imagine wearing sweaters and sweatshirts Now. But the year will turn. It is time to start looking to cooler weather before my size is sold out. As to wearing light clothes, while I am not really neat, I would brave the light clothes. I mostly wear medium or muted clothes, so the difference between pasta sauce on khaki and pasta sauce on ivory…. A splash of coffee would certainly not be good, lol. I like Maria’s idea of adding a color instead of the ivory T; I think soft peach would work, too.
…and that beautiful blue in the scarf.
Yes!!
This is so pretty!
I could almost create this wardrobe from my current closet substituting the soft bay green for the ivory base. Greens can be a little tricky to coordinate, but I have plenty to work with!
Gorgeous! I am diligently trying to develop a nice core of off white in my wardrobe. It is so hard to find in a cool shade without yellow undertones. I have shorts and pants in stone. But tops are elusive. I have tried both LandsEnd ivory and LLBean cream to no avail. Maybe fall will bring better results.
Cindy, I have also looked for a cool ivory. A couple years ago I found some in a color called Oatmeal. Not a pure color, but it worked for me. Don’t know if anybody still makes it.
Thank you! I know the color you reference. I actually have a winter sweater dress in that color. It is great, when available.
This is so pretty. I just gave away my cream colored slacks. They were not flattering lol! I did keep a cream jacket and wool cardigan that I typically wear with something bright. Having some neutral pieces like that means they can be worn slightly more dressy (skirt) or more casual (jeans).
Yeah, not for me. I almost always wear prints (in case of spills) so the lighter colors would be a non starter. For some reason these shades of green and yellow just don’t do it for me. Hmmm Hope you are having a great trip and everyone has a great weekend! I am off to wear a neon green tshirt under an orange, red, pink, yellow print sleeveless top and orange pants…..
The Met store has some beautiful scarves. It would be great to see other wardrobes based on some of their other scarves as well!
This is very pretty, although not my colors. But I’d ditch the Birkenstocks. In an office with rows and rows of workstations, the temperature is bound to be freezing! I would take warm footwear and socks.
Lovely wardrobe, I only wear white/creams in the summer and I have to change often due to spills, dirty dog paws etc lol. Seems like my summer uniform is white capris and coloured t-shirt. This seems to be the norm where I live. Have a great weekend everyone and stay cool.
Janice,
Using the top half of your original 4×4 grid, with 2 different, but interchangeable , Core 4’s, plus 2-3 accent colors, depending on the length of the trip, is my favorite way to pack. Or sometimes 3 Core 4’s of 2 neutrals and 1 basic color like denim, or sage green in the Summer, plus maybe one accent color ..
I enjoyed the look back & your last thoughts shared on that post – I totally agree!! Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for all you do here!!
OK, today’s wardrobe is actually how I dress.
My core is navy blue. I have multiple pairs of the same navy blue pants, and the same navy blue ballet neck tee. I have a drooly dog and a fur shedding cat, so things get worn once before washing.
In the winter I put on the pants and tee and then choose a pretty pullover sweater to wear over it – oatmeal, beige, various shades of blue (I’m partial to a dusty medium blue), and dark green are my typical colors for sweaters. Sneakers or boots depending on the weather. A warmer scarf (maybe one I knit!) if needed, a puffer vest or puffer coat or raincoat and I’m set to go anywhere.
Today in warm weather, I’m wearing a navy core with a solid colored navy sleeveless linen shell instead of the tee, plus a beige lightweight cardigan. Since I’m WFH, the shoes are birkenstocks (dusty blue big buckle) but I feel perfectly presentable to head anywhere.
I like wearing the same neutral (navy) every day because my shoes, handbag, and outerwear are all built around it already.
In my opinion, this is brilliant! I am challenged by accent colors, as I may have mentioned previously, lol. A lot of my accessories, shoes, outerwear and whatnot are navy. I would have to add jeans, but the entire strategy would be so easy. It. Could. Work!!
Oh how pretty. I can see several other accents that would look lovey too – blue/turquoise, scarlet and coral. Pale trousers don’t suit me. I would wear blue trousers.
I was amused by the look back. I’ve met a few “school heart-throbs” in later life who have gone to seed. Conversely, the nerds that every girl avoided at school mature into handsome and charming men.
The title DID say they were warm accent colors. I think these would be lovely in a lady with strawberry blond hair and a small smattering of freckles, with maybe green or light brown to amber eyes. My own wardrobe would see the green swapped for blue or periwinkle, and the yellow swapped with pink.
I’m actually going to be taking a trip very soon where my base is white and navy, with pink and blue accents. 6 days, all in a carry on and a personal item. Studying so many articles here over the last few years made it easy to pack, even with layers because I’ll be going from freezing museums, to baking bus stops, to botanical gardens, to a huge zoo. In 75 to 90 degree weather. I’m so looking forward to this adventure!
The scarves offered at art museums are so beautiful and this one is outstanding. I’ve been playing with an ivory core this summer, working to find just the right pieces. As you’ve said so many times on this site, it’s a process.
I love that you’ve been showing some hair accessories! I have long straight hair, and wear decorative bobby pins or hair clips every day. They are a fun way to add a little accent.