February 11, 2026
Let’s spend just a moment communing with a bird. This particular bird:
Wouldn’t it be nice to be this calm? And I swear that I see confidence in the gaze of this bird. Of course, once you’ve got your personal style all sorted out and you look this good, why wouldn’t you be confident?
I particularly admire the palette:
At the end of January, our friend who works on bird censuses (I had to look this one up – I would have SWORN it would be something like “censui” or “censua”) had this quite compact but amazingly versatile wardrobe. I see 18 outfits here…
Our heroine has made a big decision – if she likes something that she owns, she’s going to see if she can find the same garment in another color (or two) that fits her wardrobe. She already has two pairs of boots that are the same – who is going to notice these things?
She made a couple of other small but important decisions this month. One was the choice of a striped shirt; adding patterns to a wardrobe this small might be considered brave, but her new shirt is timeless.
And while she has (for decades) worn square scarves, with the occasion wider rectangle in the mix, she was drawn to this narrow scarf, and is excited for the possibilities to wear it with her red striped shirt. It’s never too late to add something small and spiffy to your wardrobe!
Cardigan – Alex Mill; earrings – Joiana Jewelry; striped shirt – Alex Mill; red pants – Boden; narrow scarf – Jessie Zhao New York; black turtleneck – L.L.Bean; loafers – Vince Camuto
Now, this is her 12-piece capsule wardrobe:
Her planning template is FLAWLESS – this won’t last! It’s just too much to ask that a real-life person, with real-life needs and limitations, be bound to a firm plan. So she thinks of the template as guidance, rather than strictness…
Can you get 60 outfits from these 12 garments? (4 second layers x 5 tops x 3 bottoms) Maybe… Do you need to? Heck no!
But her new purchases add options, which is the ONLY reason you should ever buy something:
This one really appeals to me… sigh…
love,
Janice
Earlier installments of the posts in which we build this wardrobe can be found here: Christmas Eve Preview, January
p.s. Ten years ago, we worked on shifting accessories from cool colors to warm colors, for a heroine who is making the big transition in her wardrobe. Not easy!
Like this wardrobe? Save it to Pinterest!
I am here for this palette and wardrobe all day. As a matter of fact, I dressed in a manner very similar to the new pieces, and I hadn’t even seen the post yet. I’m wearing red Loft jeans, black Sorel booties, a black slim fitting Talbots sweater or a long sleeved dark denim J. Crew button down. I had to laugh because these new pieces all could have been in my closet.
I know that you’re not pulling any blue from the water, but honestly, dark denim (not chambray) looks wonderful with these colors too!
I almost feel like I don’t need to include denim in ANY wardrobe – although I do include it to make it easier to visualize outfits and options. We’ll have to see if I run out of ideas before the end of the year…
love,
Janice
So interesting! Maybe it’s because I live on the Maine coast, and not in a big city, but i cannot imagine a wardrobe without denim. I tend to include denim in every 4-pack…if not more. These are my denim basics that are on frequent repeat in my closet: 1 pair dark skinny jeans, 1 pair trouser jeans, 1 denim trouser skirt, 1 denim “ruffle wrap around” skirt, 2 denim shirts (1 light, 1 dark), 1 denim dress, 2 denim jackets (1 tradition Levi’s, 1 ‘Chanel’ cut). I even have a pair of denim ballet flats! I mix and match these pieces with my favorite base colors and brights.
I consider denim to be a neutral in my wardrobe, the way that many women consider leopard print to be one.
Love these colours and that black and white scarf would fit into my style.
But I could not find where it comes from.
Thankyou Janice
Regina
It is on the 14 January post. It is a Wolf and Badger item.
All the way at the bottom of the post, near my signature, is a link to the January installment of this wardrobe; the link is there. It’s from Kargede…
hugs,
Janice
Love this. Not for me personally, but that doesn’t mean I can’t love it for someone else!
In theory, there’s only one wardrobe in all the world that’s right for you, and I won’t ever be able to recreate it! We’re here for the ideas…
hugs,
Janice
The tan and red garments will look amazing together.
I can see why strictly following a template might be a challenge for our heroine. This bird census expert is going to need some kind of rugged shoe/boot (honestly, a super sturdy trainer works more comfortably than a thick hiking boot.) A vest, maybe rain pants, a Gore-Tex jacket and a beanie and or cap may be needed. Who says you can’t look chic in the great outdoors? True story: I had a university friend who worked when he chose (software engineer) and volunteered for extended periods to help with the Audubon bird count.
I don’t know if my heroine is going to be a rugged outdoor person or if she’s going to stay at her desk and tabulate everything that other people count. I hadn’t actually pictured her doing the hard parts outside! But these wardrobes change so much as time passes – there’s no telling what she may need or want by the end of the summer…
hugs,
Janice
A friend who is a heroine of mine is a bird researcher (swans & geese). Her work is hands-on, so she absolutely has to be outdoors & needs the practical outdoor gear ak describes. Her must-have accessory is her Border Collie!
I think this is my favourite wardrobe so far.
This wardrobe cries out for classic Burberry garments and accessories. Or something similar.
SO TRUE! I love Burberry (I still have my coat and scarf I bought in London in 1989) and it would tie in incredibly well here.
Yes this is definitely for me. In fact I think I can already assemble this or at least something very similar. Love it.
Thanks for the 10-year ago shout-out! xoxoxox
Happy Birthday!!!!!
love love love,
J
This capsule looks promising.
If I know that a shoe brand fits my feet perfectly, I usually own several pairs of them.
This wardrobe took me by surprise! Between the painting inspiration and the nature of this woman’s work, I was expecting a casual outdoors kind of a style – rugged boots and hoodies. But this is turning out to be an extremely well curated, smart casual wardrobe that could work in most professional settings. Loving this one.
Love this wardrobe and a big YES to buying what you love, wear, and fits in one’s colors. I have that Alex Mill cardigan and have been considering it in another color. The red and white stripe blouse arrive tomorrow! Hope you got the wee commission. I bought them and some super comfortable trousers through your posts.
I’m glad this heroine has her wardrobe in such good shape because she’s going to be very busy – Feb 13-16 is the Great Backyard Bird Count!
I will be adding to her censuses (that does sound wrong!) and another thing she and I have in common is this: “Our heroine has made a big decision – if she likes something that she owns, she’s going to see if she can find the same garment in another color (or two) that fits her wardrobe.”
I go a step further. I have many of the same pants & 3/4 sleeve tees in in the same size and color. I don’t do laundry every day, after all. If I find a pair of washable navy blue pants that I like a lot, I buy many pairs of them! I have two drooly rescue dogs and I certainly don’t want to limit my time with them based on closet limitations!
I know this one is labeled the sixth, but it’s the fifth of the paintings for this year. I counted twice. lol. It’s definitely one of my favorites, but I am looking forward to seeing the last painting too.
Where’s number 5 wardrobe. I like looking at them all.
After following you for years and drawing a lot of packing and capsule inspiration, this Shelduck wardrobe is The One for me! I’ve now acquired the brown LL Bean pants and some swaps for other pieces and am well on my way.
I just realized that two of the main components so far, are very close to parts of my school uniform, haha, so no wonder it seems a comfortable color scheme to me. Preppy, classic, timeless and classy, I love it. And as someone else said above, it’s a good reflection of the Burberry tartan which I have in a well-loved faux winter scarf.
Dare I say this is almost Sloane Ranger territory.