November 6, 2025
Breaking the Rules – Sometimes You Just Want To!
Our heroine has this lovely painting to inspire her wardrobe choices:
Our heroine needs a dressy outfit for a VERY special occasion. She looked and looked at her “usual” colors – especially teal. But she came back, and back again, to these two (very expensive!) pieces in sequined taupish brown. And she finally caved…
Light blue cashmere turtleneck – J.Crew; Fair Isle sweater – Boden; smoky quartz earrings – Bling Jewelry; sequin top – rag & bone; bag – Dune London; coffee sequin skirt – rag & bone; flats – Dolce Vita
Now, her wardrobe doesn’t look a lot different, except she now has these two sequined garments that sort of stick out…
As always, are we smitten with her jewelry and scarves?
The shoes and bag that she bought for her event don’t really blend in with everything else. This is okay; imagine the flats and bag worn with denim, or with all white…
How do her new clothes fit into her wardrobe? Not really brilliantly well… The green sweater is a bit tough with anything but blue or white jeans. And the sequins? She will wear these pieces again, no doubt, but she will have to deliberately stop and assemble an outfit, rather than just reach, dress and go.
There’s nothing wrong with going completely off script for the right reason, and the right outfit. For my wedding, I wore three pieces from Eileen Fisher in wisteria silk! Nothing IN THE WORLD could have fitted more poorly into my existing wardrobe.
And I was GORGEOUS. And so was the outfit. No regrets!
love,
Janice
the earlier posts that were about this wardrobe can be found here: Christmas Day Preview, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
p.s. Ten years ago, we admired Monet’s Arrival of the Normandy Train, and then we helped our heroine with her work wardrobe in grey, soft green and soft blue.
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I’m so glad you put that sequined top with jeans. I love mixed mood dressing.
These are soft and pretty colors for the right woman. Again, I feel a very strong “coastal grandmother”/Nany Myers vibe from this one. It’s definitely a winner for the right woman. I definitely picture this heroine as having twinkling blue eyes, ash blonde hair going gray and a charming cottage by the sea. This isn’t my vibe, but I can see it totally working for somebody special!
I’m mad for the two sweaters you have picked. Both could blend into other wardrobes and other color schemes easily. I can see these flattering a variety of women! While the all over spangles isn’t my holiday look, this would be DYNAMITE for a smash of a Christmas party!
I like the sequined pieces you chose for this heroine, even if they don’t fit in as well with the rest of her items. I don’t find it necessary for every single thing to blend in. Nothing wrong with having a go-to dressy outfit that’s a bit outside your usual wardrobe.
Also, I would LOVE to see you in your wedding outfit Janice! It sounds beautiful.
Second the motion!
I think the 2 sequin pieces are so lovely! I do love the top paired with jeans for say a fun lunch or brunch out? I also think that the skirt, paired with one of the more casual light tan (cafe au lait vibe) would also be an elevated casual/dressy option. I am seeing a lot of bias silky skirts paired with jersey or soft sweaters, and i think this would mimic the feel.
I like the softness of this wardrobe and yes, it would go very nicely with the Monet train painting. I can imagine that this heroine is fairly informal in her day dress but when the occasion calls for it, can ‘up the ante’ and look thoroughly glamorous – a bit like me. Now is the time to by velvet, satin and glitzy clothes in classic shapes which will not go “out of fashion”.
You don’t need to spend a lot either as every shop from supermarkets to department stores get in on the Christmas occasion wear. I’ve just bought a lovely maroon velour maxi dress from a cheaper high street store. Dressed up with diamante, I’ve already had approval from my daughter.
Yes sequin garments might not be worn a lot, but being prepared with a small capsule of occasion/partywear for the occasional glam event can take you out of your comfort zone with style. However, you need to be careful about wearing knitwear and lace that gets caught up with sequins. A faux fur coat is the ultimate glam.
I like the Fair Isle jumper, though was confused when I clicked the link to the Boden website and it showed a Barley cable knit jumper on the page. Looking through each of the ‘colours’ for what is described as a “Marion Marino high neck jumper” but they are all completely different – plain Orange, plain Charcoal grey, Camel with Pink stripes, Blue Fair Isle, Red Fair Isle, Barley cable knit, and a Colour Block (pink, beige and burgundy). It is confusing for the purchaser to have the same garment in different patterns and textures.
I like the somewhat clearer, icier blue of the new turtleneck sweater as an addition for winter, and it looks quite crisp with the white. I am not personally feeling the whappage of the sequined pieces (partly because sequins are just so fussy and clothes made of them feel easily damaged), but I do love the new earrings, mary jane flats, and handbag combo as a pretty little beauty bundle to wear with even more casual outfits. It may just be the color scheme, but this wardrobe does not feel as tilted toward cold weather as some of the other ones are.
Beautiful, especially the accessories. The throwback is a perfect fit, too.
The capsule collection looks fantastic on the right woman.
Not for me: I actually only have one pair of light blue trousers and a denim jacket.
I have a few plaid skirts for winter and also a couple of sequined/glitter tops for the holidays.
Love the lookback! The Arrival of the Normandy Train is my all-time favourite wardrobe/painting. Beautiful colour scheme.
I think we have seen a little partial picture of Janice’s wedding outfit. Might be a while ago, I was looking through the archives recently. A gorgeous colour, and well worth stepping outside the box.
I actually find that the new additions go perfectly witht the wardrobe! There’s not a single bottom piece that I wouldn’t wear with the fair isle sweater – including the sequin skirt! SO Cute and festive!
I like the sequin outfit. For me, mixing the skirt with other tops, would be more difficult and then adding the top to various bottoms. And sometimes you just need a fancy outfit! Hooray for this heroine!
I would love an occasion to wear a sequined skirt or top, but those occasions are very, very rare these days. I live in an unbelievably casual town where dressing up for your grandchild’s concert looks out of place. My grands call me “fancy”. I promised myself not to be a slave to my color chart. So this fall, I “borrowed” a few of the colors in this collection and feel very calm and peaceful when I wear them. They are the perfect neutrals for after Christmas and unexpected in the icy months. Love this.
Love the sequined items and the colour palette in general. Those two new knits are gorgeous.