January 7, 2026
A surprise painting that I snuck in on everyone – almost including myself!
But I always want to include the wardrobe visions of those among us who have a desire for their wardrobe to remain in the background – subtle, nuanced, and quiet…
Her color palette might change in proportion – she’s feeling like she may want more grey, and ease back on the gold/yellow. These things are a work in progress, NOT a rule!
She’s know what career she wanted ever since she was a small child, and watched people digging up her favorite flowers from her front yard – what’s wrong with dandelions?
And she’s been fully focused on her desire to redeem the reputation of native plants for pretty much her entire life; her wardrobe reflects this:
- She wants to wear the colors found in the roots of nature – green and flower colors are perfect for some, but she’s more interested in the trunks, branches and stems. Brown and grey for the win!
- Softness. She knows about storms, but she prefers to emphasize the gentle beauty of those long winter days of fog, drifting mists and subtle glimpses of sun.
- But she will also honor her favorite flower, in occasional touches of gold and yellow!
Her core wardrobe is a perfect start for her – versatile, subtle, soft…
Natural lambswool crewneck – L.L.Bean; earrings – Monica Vinader; poplin shirt – Alex Mill; jeans – Lands’ End; cashmere v-neck – Alex Mill; bag – The Sak; sneakers – Frankie4
She’s very fortunate in that her work only occasionally requires her to meet with more than 2 or 3 people at a time. In these meetings, she’s generally the expert, explaining why “no, you don’t HAVE to rip out that 180 year old tree!!!!” and then showing how a beautiful, sustainable landscaping can include said tree, as well as plants that don’t need to be fertilized, nor replaced every 4 months, nor pruned, nor mowed…
Taupe cardigan – Gobi Cashmere; earrings – Milou Jewelry; sweater vest – Gobi Cashmere; ivory tee shirt – Lands’ End; scarf – Emily Carter; boots – Comfortview; jeans – AG
So far, her wardrobe looks just as she wants nature to appear – gentle, unforced, comfortable and welcoming:
This simplicity frees our heroine to focus on her ideas and her goals, without spending more than the minimum amount of time choosing an outfit and getting dressed!
In the ALREADY UPDATED template for her wardrobe, she is delighted with how things already appear to be harmonious and infinitely practical. Beauty does not have to be difficult:
There are those among us who – for whatever reasons – are already conspicuous. A low-key, quietly beautiful wardrobe is a good way to feel more comfortable!
love,
Janice
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Oooh that scarf! It has major whappage for me. I wish I wore scarves. Sigh…
May I respectfully suggest a wardrobe based on this scarf?
So far, this wardrobe feels like one I could live in. I love the subtlety. I’m ready for some peace and calm. If I added the accent colors of the scarf this could be the perfect wardrobe for me.
Thank you for including this surprise.
I agree with you, Jeri, that’s a gorgeous scarf and such a good base for a capsule collection.
As someone who has previously worn quite strong colours, I find that, perhaps now I’m ‘only’ doing voluntary work and am in my 70s, I’m favouring calmer colours and styles.
Last year I very much enjoyed Janice’s selection based around Bertha Lunn’s Pines by the Sea. This year I think it’ll be the Cottonwoods that I’ll most look forward to following – and trying to emulate as I ‘shop’ from my existing wardrobe. And what a lovely sounding heroine :-)
Big thanks and a hug to Janice for all your work putting together these fun and inspiring posts!
Same! I was prepared to think this would be a dull wardrobe, but this scarf is delightful and brightens everything immensely. I only wish it were in my budget.
This might be my favourite wardrobe ever. And I love the story.
One of the aspects of TVF is the backstories that you so thoughtfully create for each heroine. It’s a lovely way for your readers to connect with the wardrobe and to think about how each wardrobe might fit into a lifestyle. This is a pretty, clean and thoughtful wardrobe…I think it’s just gorgeous. While this would be too limiting for me, I love the idea of having these individual outfits to fit into a more varied palette. But, I am attracted to the warmth and simplicity of these yummy colors. They just couldn’t be my *only* colors.
Just WOW!
Hurray! This is the wardrobe I’m playing along with this year. As I’m getting older, I’m leaning away from my navies and greens and towards my greys and beiges. I feel like *I* stand out more when *my clothes* are softer in style and color.
Joining the applause for that absolutely gorgeous scarf! I normally like a bit more color but this wardrobe has just enough contrast in it that i’m intrigued… And this lady and I would most definitely be friends – the local commission I’m on just adopted “more trees, more natives, more wings” as our focus for 2026. 😊.
I am surprised by how much I like the accessories compared to the clothes, especially the shoes! I look forward to seeing how long this initial impression continues..!
Thanks for the look back that creates an 18 garment wardrobe. Did you do any other wardrobes using that template?
O’Keeffe painted a series of cottonwoods in the early 1950s using this concept of bare branches as a focus. The palette and branch position and dimensions varied subtly, except when they didn’t. From a quick internet search I can see she did one in soft greens and blues. The numbered series is at the O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe. The museum is in a small space and one has to buy tickets for a timed entry now. When we visited some 25 years ago, you could just roll up and buy tickets at the door.
Could you link to the one in soft greens and blues? I searched but couldn’t find it. I’d love to visit that museum!
I was very hesitant when I saw that you chose this painting, but I am coming around. I really like that sweater, pants and vest that straddle the line between grey and brown.
This is just beautiful.. You are off to an awesome start in 2026!
Wow, this is stunning! I love the softness and subtlety of it. The scarf is outstanding. None of these are my colors but I’m leaning into lighter overall colors this year now that my hair is light grey/white. Bravo, Janice.
Thank you so much for this.
It’s kind of amazing: your heroine could be me and my native plant/natural area restoration focused life! And my palette for clothes–and house–has always been nature inspired in the way of this painting (Though not so disciplined as to only include three colors. And seasonal, with plenty of blue denim and various greens all year, and in summer, some wildflower and sky colors for tops. Always ivory or cream instead of pure white.)
O’Keefe so accurately captured the feeling, the mood, the atmosphere of being among trees in winter by water with golden sun–for me It’s among the oaks and cottonwoods along the Des Plaines River in the Cook County Forest Preserves, particularly in the afternoon when the sun is slanting gold. Oh, the glorious browns, tans, blacks, emphasized by that wonderful light. The big trees take on a different, more stately personality than they do in the other seasons.
I have that L.L. Bean lambswool pullover sweater, frequently worn with a darker taupe wool scarf and jeans. My shoes, while often taupe, usually are practical enough to easily handle a walk in the woods.
Is anyone else still doing the three words? Mine are “elegant,” “comfortable” and “appropriate.” (Elegant as in functionally well-designed as well as aesthetically pleasing.)
I’m trying to take my three words into my bloodstream and avoid straying into things that are “temporarily tempting”. So far, I’m sticking with rich, relaxed and androgynous. I know that we all discussed different words that would be more clear to other people, but since nobody but me really has to make use of these words, for now I’m going to stay with my original choices.
That said, I can see a time in the spring when I might sit with a thesaurus and make a change or two!
hugs,
Janice
I love your description of sunset amongst oak trees and cottonwoods. It puts me in mind of winter sunsets on a frosty day in the oak and beech woods wear I live in the UK. I wouldn’t wear these colours but the illusion is beautiful. Thank you.
visions of those among us who have a desire for their wardrobe to remain in the background – subtle, nuanced, and quiet…
so,so not me but it can’t be all about me. I have made myself notes about the first 2 wardrobes and how I could use the principles though neither a focus on prints or using accent colors only in accessories is really me either. I am sure I will find a groove as the year goes along
Janice,
While I love the soft and calm sense of this grouping , my own personal need for moderate value diversity within an outfit comes into play. Through long time personal experience, I have found that I need two or three values of light and dark in an outfit, though medium in contrast . If I wore the first option, I would look totally washed out because of my own fair and light coloring . Once again, that series on proportions that you did years ago really helped me to define this concept !
So far 2026 is a serendipitous year. All six palettes work for me, and now the heroines’ careers are mirroring mine. First the graphic artist, now the native plant gardener. I have been a personal gardener, am a Master Gardener, and have over 50 native plants, grasses and trees in my tiny urban lot. Won’t enumerate my multitude of careers, will wait and see if any of the next four heroines’ careers align with mine. Always enjoy the heroines’ back stories, this year is shaping up to be the best!
My career path wandered all over the “work possibilities” planet! I like to think that I was experimenting with a variety of lives…
hugs,
Janice
yes, please, a wardrobe based on the scarf. it’s the best one yet! or did you have these colors already? i need a wardrobe around that scarf!
I love the new template with seven outfits. It fits the model I used to build my current wardrobe. I followed a formula of seven outfits, each consisting of one second layer, one bottom, and two tops. I typically wear the second layer and bottom twice, and each top once before washing. This setup supports a bi‑weekly laundry schedule.
I quite like the gentleness of this combo. But speaking as an ecological garden designer, this lady is making a BOLD choice in choosing bone and light taupe as neutrals. Even when we’re just meeting a client, we often get a bit dirty. Maybe give her a couple of pairs of darker brown pants for days in the field?
Of course, she could be one of those people who absolutely repel dirt; I’ve met a few of them.