August 6, 2025
Today, we’re going to play fast and loose with our color palette!
No, we’re not going to go completely off the rails, but we are going to make a modest modification to this color palette, in order to better serve the needs of our heroine. (OMG, she split the infinitive!)
As tempting as that rusty brown color is, it’s two things that don’t work for our heroine. First, it’s quite difficult to find! And secondly, it’s not always lovely with black – at least to this one particular woman. Always remember, it’s YOUR color palette, and if you need to modify it, do it!
So we’re going to incorporate a more classic, traditional coffee brown into this wardrobe. It’s pretty, it looks really chic with black, and many of us can wear it successfully. Sounds worth the slight “art infidelity,” eh?
Earrings – Farra; coffee brown tee – Lands’ End; cashmere sweater vest – Alex Mill; small scarf – Sarah Flint; black cashmere turtleneck – Lands’ End; black corduroy pants – L.L.Bean; boots – Vionic
It’s important to note that this sweater vest buttons down the back, which can be switched around to the front. I love the versatility of this! I bought a black sweater vest two years ago, and I wear it A TON. And I pack it any time I’m traveling in cool weather. It’s hard to pinpoint just quite what it is that I love about it, but love it I do!
Our heroine is making progress through her Weekly Timeless Wardrobe quite neatly:
Our heroine’s wardrobe divides EXACTLY in half, if you toss the brown tee shirt in with all of the black and grey. This seldom happens…
And it’s clear that we’d better look for a few more grey pieces next month, during that brief interval when grey is easily available. Gotta time your purchases sometimes…
As always, it’s the accessories that win my heart. And our heroine has made the decision to NOT buy brown shoes, nor a brown bag. Maybe some time in the far future, or if she saw something in a thrift store that really had whappage, but she’s going to try to keep brown as a “true” accent.
Not that there’s a rule about this kind of thing…
These are super-easy clothes to incorporate into her existing wardrobe; it’s particularly gratifying to be able to pull out the brown tee shirt on that first day that feels like autumn! There’s just something about those “dying leaf” colors that feels like fall…
This has to be the wardrobe closest to my own of all the wardrobes in this project. I’m a firm believer that many of us who wear black SHOULD own a black cashmere turtleneck, a black pleated skirt, and black corduroy pants…
love,
Janice
earlier installments of this wardrobe can be found here: Christmas Day Introduction, January, February, March, April, May, June, July
p.s. Ten years ago, I did some thinking about my personal Common Wardrobe. I still own, and wear, all of these items, except the Eddie Bauer pants which were discontinued. I’m going to Paris in December (of course!) and I think I may well pack almost all black, with scarves! The more things change…
Like this wardrobe? Save to Pinterest!
Each of the wardrobes is shaping up to be more than adequate. I agree that rust with black is “meh.” Anyone in love with rust will find it eventually. Colors have a way of cycling back around.
I agree with you Janice about the “dying leaf” colors of fall. I recently pulled 21 items for a Sept wardrobe and more than a few are in the rust/orange end of things. This wardrobe is just gorgeous. I still picture the heroine as a dancer. Not sure why. All of the wardrobes this year are just amazing. Thank you!
Ah darn. I respect our heroine’s decisions, but I really like the amber color & was hoping to see it for fall. Maybe she can do a French Five in it, at least?
If it turns up in the very fickle marketplace, I’m sure she will! But one must be realistic when committing to a color palette – the world won’t always agree with you…
hugs,
Janice
Alex Mill has some items in a color they’re calling Coffee Liquor! Check it out!
Dear oh dear….
xoxo,
J
And mochaccino cashmere!
I’m sorry to see you substituted brown into this colour scheme. I was fascinated to see this colour scheme play out.
How about bronze shoes? Like this:
https://vionicshoes.ca/products/klara-ballet-flat-ii?variant=51663747678576&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19966760094&gbraid=0AAAAADnCb2vaIVwV3zkAmEnKT1Syddpd4&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI27_-lI_2jgMVwzutBh31kigyEAQYAiABEgK5PfD_BwE
How about bronze or copper or burnished gold jewelry?
Still hoping you are able to find clothing in these colours come the fall.
I love this wardrobe and find it to be incredibly practical, albeit really not sufficient for hot weather. It’s tough to find pieces that look professional in summer weights and silhouettes, isn’t it? It’s easy to go super casual in summer, but to look polished, it’s just not as easy.
Honestly, I adore most shades of brown, but I agree…it’s not as easy to find pieces. Unless a brown is truly dark, I love the way black and brown look together. I know that it breaks a fashion rule that my grandma told me, which was to never, ever with black with brown or black with navy, but frankly, it’s a rule I’m happy to break!
I was recently on Quince’s website and saw this dress…which I believe would fit in beautifully with this wardrobe. https://www.quince.com/women/women-s-washable-stretch-silk-tiered-maxi-dress?color=hot-fudge&size=l&g_network=g&g_productchannel=online&g_adid=711251182038&g_acctid=978-058-8398&g_keyword=&g_adtype=pla&g_keywordid=pla-2401334678878&g_ifcreative=&g_adgroupid=167127499912&g_productid=44942912454826&g_merchantid=128669708&g_partition=2401334678878&g_campaignid=21644672557&g_ifproduct=product&g_campaign=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=&utm_term=44942912454826&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21644672557&gbraid=0AAAAAC4ZeNbtjwogJnDpTkby4dGRdBh2F&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqoDfpZj2jgMVmklHAR3W8glgEAQYASABEgLfZ_D_BwE
or
https://www.landsend.com/products/womens-slub-cap-sleeve-shirred-skirt-midi-dress/id_394329
https://www.landsend.com/products/womens-silky-knit-godet-maxi-dress/id_394334
Holy Holy! Good finds! If you type “ginger” in the search bar on Lands End web page, there are heaps of selections in this color! Love it!
I’m glad to see you change direction with the brown in this wardrobe. The dark chocolate brown seems to vibe better with the rest of the colors to me. The Quince dress that Ellen S. linked to would be beautiful with this wardrobe.
I have to admit that I’m seriously considering ordering this dress. I think it would be great for work with a blazer and cute wedges, as well as dressing it down with a denim jacket and flat sandals. I am in the midst of a move, but I’m seriously attracted to the adaptability of this dress.
Oh that’s so sad to miss a wonderful opportunity to add that lovely rust to her wardrobe! (Says the solidly autumn colored red head lol). I 100% adore black with rust – so chic! But if you don’t like it, you don’t like it! This is one of the pieces that I have been “playing along with” and making my own version of a wardrobe. I have had no issue at all finding good rust pieces as well as leather accessories, which are just beautiful! It’s all about what suits you and what you gravitate towards!
Yea! My favorite! I just love the art! I see the brown as russet and it would make beautiful leather goods. A natural choice with the off white/cream and the warm, peachy pink. I have cheated and added a muted grey-green, cuz eye color. Also denim blue for obvious reasons. The new scarf is so sweet and just my size. Repeat after me, “I do not need another scarf, I do not need another scarf…)
I am repeating I do not need another scarf. I am not sure I am listening.
Thanks for the reminder.
This is another lovely wardrobe; Janice you are making it harder each time to pick a favorite lol. Loving them all.
While that brown isn’t my favorite, I get adding a dark neutral as an accent sometimes. I have eliminated all black from my wardrobe, except some summer pieces and a few dress-up items. Sometimes you just want to wear black! I felt freed when I realized it’s an accent color for me, not a basic.
I recently bought a cognac-colored leather bracelet because it fits so well with my wardrobe. I have so much in this color, including patterned items (with black, sage, yellow, etc.).
By the way, I wore cognac with black today.
I think the brown simply warms things up in this capsule.
Hi! I’m intrigued by a vest with back buttons, but the link to the beautiful Boden vest is not a link to a back-buttoning vest. Do you have a link to the one you described?
Thank you!
I wondered about the buttons too! But the vest does look lovely. I was just going to say that the chocolate brown looks good with this collection, but I am also a rusty brown fan. Especially for using in cognac leather goods. All my shoes, my purse and such are that color and I wear them with black. I really don’t like black shoes (unless they are sandals and you can see my skin. I once heard someone say, when in doubt match your shoes to your hair color and I do have brown hair. So maybe that’s why I like it.
well that’s embarrassing… I added the wrong vest… I’m fixing it now!
blushing,
Janice
I fixed it… so many sweater vests, so few brain cells…
very embarrassing,
Janice
I am disappointed at the change to dark
brown. It misses the essence of the painting. I thought that was the point!
I appreciate the concept of designing a wardrobe around a painting as inspiration and the free will to change the colours to suit your purpose, but this painting is very intriguing and I was disappointed by the change in the colour palette. I find the tension in the image beautiful, but challenging. Also, I love old, aged leather (cognac, amber) and black (coal, ebony) together – hot and cold elements, both aged, shifting, enduring and elemental. Maybe the colour could have been an accent well worth sourcing. But, we need building blocks and a place to start, so maybe a change was necessary for immediate needs. All the wardrobes are beautiful and very versatile. Thank you for being a constant reminder to follow your own drum and be mindful of the environmental impact!