September 24, 2025
One last look at the fun of packing 10 simple garments, based on something really beautiful like this scarf:
There is enough blue in this scarf that you could include denim in this wardrobe; I haven’t done that here, but it’s worth remembering!
Maybe she’s driving, and doesn’t have to worry about getting her cool beige cords dirty…
earrings – Sccollection; olive drab tee – Lands’ End; sweater jacket – Alex Mill; Scarf – Artifact.; corduroy pants – Alex Mill; bag – Coach; olive suede boots – Sam Edelman
The red tops don’t have to match, unless you’d like to layer them together. Even then, a good strong dose of “similar tones” should work; I think that the two tops here could go together if that appeals.
Natural sweater vest – J.Crew Factory; barbed necklace – Jagged Halo Jewelry; rollneck sweater – J.Crew; earrings – Jagged Halo Jewelry; olive balloon pants – Alex Mill; olive button-front top – J.Crew; natural linen shirt – J.Crew; red shirt – Coldwater Creek; ivory tee – Lands’ End; red tee – GAP Factory; striped tee shirt – Kule; chinos – L.L.Bean; scarf – Saachi; ivory loafers – Robert Zur; plaid loafers – Naturalizer
This feels perfect for autumn, for those among us who don’t wear orange or brown!
As with any wardrobe that includes a carefully chosen and edited color palette, it’s hard to go wrong here! What possibilities does she have? Dozens…
With this strong wardrobe core of ivory and olive, you could add almost ANY accent color!
Want to bring your black cashmere turtleneck? Maybe you really love to travel with your camel v-neck sweater? The right neutrals give you lots of freedom…
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, we started with a scarf to build a taupe and burgundy wardrobe!
p.p.s. I know that many of you are fans of Quince – I would show their items here, but they seem to NEVER have “good” photographs of their merchandise. But if you want to shop there, and still support my work, you can click on THIS LINK HERE WHICH GOES TO THE QUINCE SITE.
I’d be grateful….
Like this wardrobe? Save to Pinterest!
For the right woman, this would be the perfect Fall wardrobe. It’s a bit drab for me….I’d definitely add in denim (button down shirt, jeans, dress and jacket) and a lot more red. Two pairs of light stone khakis is too much for me, as the same look in an outfit can be achieved with the cords or the chinos. Why not add in an amazing pair of chili red pants, like these from Boden, https://us.boden.com/products/-ponte-pants-carmine-red?_pos=2&_fid=45130385a&_ss=c to zip things up?
I’d also love the idea of a red cardigan, in this same spicy shade. It looks fabulous with olive and ivory–and denim too!
ttps://www.talbots.com/open-stitch-polo-cardigan/P252121240.html?dwvar_P252121240_color=RED%20POP&dwvar_P252121240_sizeType=MS#q=red%2Bcardigan&lang=default&start=1
I hope your ankle is feeling better!
How do you wear your scarves? I look better in a V or Scoop neck over a crew-neck top. How do you use a square scarf if you don’t tie it around your neck?
I usually bias fold my square scarves into a long strip, and then tie it like a man’s tie. Or I don’t fold it at all and just hang it around my neck – maybe loop it over once to keep it in place. I’m not really precise with it!
hugs,
Janice
I haven’t seen this elsewhere, but I’m sure I didn’t invent it: I like a “reverse bib” tucked into my V-neck with the fold sticking up a bit like a shawl collar . Fold in half, opposite points together to make a triangle. I place it fold up around my neck with the free points down my back and the folded points in the front. I like to tie the folded points around the front of my bra to keep it in place, but you could just knot them and tuck them in. I try to keep the knot as small as possible so it creates a V to mirror the line of my tops V-neck. Then I put on my top and pull up on the fold so an inch or so of the scarf peeks out along the neckline. I hope I’m making sense with my description. I love being able to wear a scarf and not always have it dangling down the outside front of my top, especially when eating will be involved.
Ellen, I love your ideas. I do really like this wardrobe. Fall my favorite. That being said it is still too warm here in the PNW for fall clothing :( I would probably sub in a more of a tan vs the ivory for myself. I am just to prone to getting stuff on me. Dogs, working in a middle school – yeah, I know how that sounds but you’d be surprised. Thank you Janice, have a lovely day everyone!
So pretty 🤩
I have a cardigan in this light color and I really like wearing it (currently under my raincoat).
This neutral color goes well with many accents.
I’m packing a pair of jeans and a blue patterned shirt in my bag.
Love this collection, thanks Janice. I am someone who wears orange and brown, but less than I used to. I’m already wearing more blue denim than before, and I’m tempted to add in burgundy, rather than the red red shown here, but nonetheless this capsule pretty much confirms my decision!
BTW, are you familiar with the Powder brand, who produce lovely (and often enormous) scarves? I have one of their autumn wraps from a few years ago, and it pulls lots of ‘on their way out’ items together for one last season. Worth a look if you don’t know them :-)
I was thinking similarly – trios of olive, burgundy/wine, and blue denim (though I would not wear the denim pieces together) + soft white/ivory tops would be my version.
And maybe it’s just me, but I don’t love this particular scarf as a bridge piece for tying the chili pepper red into the outfits even though it works well as an inspiration for the capsule’s color palette. The red is so faded and in such a small amount in just one little area of the scarf that I think it would get lost when the scarf is worn. Now if that tiny bit of red is enough to make the colors work for the heroine in her own mind, go for it – but I would not be satisfied and would seek out a different print scarf with more of red presence.
Janice,
While I’m loving the colors and this collection, I can’t help but to think back to that super series of proportions that you did some years back . Being bottom heavy, I am thinking ‘ nope”, “ nope” , not for me , as I look at some of these outfit examples. While they are perfectly fine for someone built differently than me, your posts over the years have helped me to see how to build my wardrobe ( and reduce it) based upon me as an individual . Thank you so much for “ the views” !
It also has a lot to with the level of value contrasts .
Janice, if this isn’t the perfect fall wardrobe! So many possibilities as all these colors mix and match with other colors. Thank you for this poat. I really enjoy all of your postings.
Oh…I am so in love.. I am going to my closet right now a and group these together. It helps so very much to see you pull them together. I have similar pieces, but somehow just am not able to put them together like you do, Thank you so very much for color!!!
The scarf is absolutely stunning! A beautiful little capsule.
Off-topic, but this letter to Ask A Manager made me think of the posts you’ve done involving clothing allowances from companies: https://www.askamanager.org/2025/09/company-dress-code-requires-women-to-wear-high-heels-and-only-shop-at-ann-taylor.html
The commenters are piling on to complain about Ann Taylor’s limited sizes, and one has suggested that the letter was actually product placement. I can’t say AT is my favorite store, but my mind immediately focused on trying to put together a suitable wardrobe within the constraints rather than objecting to the premise!
YES – I saw that article and also thought it would be of interest to this community, but I forgot that I wanted to share it. I am one of those women sized out of Ann Taylor so I definitely hear those complaints, but it is interesting to imagine how a person would take $700 a year to build a professional wardrobe at AT or similar stores.
It was $700 twice a year, so I imagined it would be like the story Janice told once about the department-store saleslady who shopped twice a year, and then wore her last-year’s clothes on weekends/in private life until they wore out! Given the specific store, I figured there was probably a corporate charge account, rather than a cash grant, but you could get the latest suit and a few add-ons with your allowance, then add in tops from e-Bay or Poshmark. It’s not really the way I work (I’m very fond of thrifting, and the last thing I have is a “tight capsule wardrobe”), but if someone were giving me the money for clothes I would have fun trying to make it work.
Having lived in London most of my life I would say that while you can get away with light trousers rainwear and an umbrella are crucial and even a small folding umbrella probably won’t fit in that lovely bag. I do love the wardrobe though and have a lot of the clothes in those colours.
I live in Southern England. At this time of year, carry an umbrella and a pair of sunglasses for sunshine and showers. The weather can turn in an instant some days. The sun is particularly low late afternoon and can be quite dazzling when driving.
It sounds very much like Central NY weather. I’m sure I’d be very much at home in England.
Thank you for showing red with green, that’s a struggle. I’ve worked in design and that combination heralds Christmas, however, you bravely show it and I don’t think Christmas! Olive has been a reliable neutral for me (chestnut hair, amber eyes, peachy skin) Ecstatic that it’s so easy to find now. I wear olive with khaki/camel and denim. It’s a struggle what to name the reds you show. Dover red? Is that a muted red like a sun-faded red paint? Reds that work for me: Monet cornflower poppies (that orange red), terra cotta and ox blood. Maybe time to look at the muted reds? Thank you again.
Perfect! I love a red/green combo – one of my very favorites. I particularly love this red/green combo. Those reds are so beautiful and usually so hard to find. The plaid mocs are a hoot. I want everything! As usual, you put together a very inspiring collection. Thanks
Absolutely adore this wardrobe! I love red and green, but they are hard to pair without looking like one of Santa’s elves. I had never thought of trying olive! I’m off to shop my closet!
…and I thought, oh, what a lovely casual Christmas wardrobe, lol. Nice and subtle and understated….