June 12, 2026
Our heroine the landscape architect is using this soft, subtle painting as the focus and inspiration for her wardrobe:
At the end of May, she had 24 pieces in her wardrobe. Even though grey just doesn’t seem like it should fit in here, I think it’s going to be okay. Time will tell, eh?
Her accessories are wonderful – her scarves seem to have been designed just for her:
This month, our heroine needs tee shirts! She doesn’t spend as much time outdoors in warm weather as we might expect; her clients don’t like to be out in the heat… Snowflakes!
But she still has to dress for warmer weather…
Cobblestone brown tee – GAP; cool brown tee – GAP; necklace – Ettika; bracelet – Ettika; pointelle cardigan – J.Crew; pants – Eileen Fisher; ballet flats – Sam Edelman
When she takes a look at her 28-piece wardrobe template, she’s pretty pleased:
But it’s when she opens her closet door that thing start to really make sense:
And when she looks at her accessories, she’s equally pleased…
This could be the easiest wardrobe of our six for day to day dressing. It would be hard to put a foot wrong in this closet! But let’s think about a few of her newest possibilities:
For a heroine who loves subtle shades, I think this is just right! I’m not sure how I would feel about this, but it’s an interesting thought…
love,
Janice
If you’d like to look at at the posts in the earlier months of this year in which we built this wardrobe, you can find them here: Christmas Eve Preview, January, February, March, April , May
p.s. Six years ago (I don’t know why, it was literally a random click on my computer!), I considered how one might go about choosing a scarf. Since I feel that scarves make such a difference in wardrobes, you KNOW I love this post!
Like this wardrobe? Save it to Pinterest!
Janice this is the one colour combination of the current wardrobes that I really don’t like. Horses for Courses! I want to advise that from my phone I cannot comment and sometimes cannot even access the blog. I am on my laptop now and it is fine. I always used to and then something changed. I wonder if it is on my end or if your settings changed…. I do not experience this problem on any site. I LOVE Wednesdays colours! Every month those greens and blues take my breath away. I
I know not everyone agrees with seasonal colour analysis but I can’t quite imagine who this wardrobe would suit. The dark brown would be too overpowering for spring colours and the beige too wishywashy for autumns.
Ann, try Land’s End. And they are one of Janice’s vendors. They have a 100 percent cotton, sturdy fabric, bra covering tank.
Soft Autumn? Maybe Soft Spring, though I am not entirely sure what that one is 🤔
In the bottom left hand corner of the painting is a shadow which you might read as pale grey but I am picking up as the palest of blue denim, perhaps easier to find than grey jeans. It might contrast nicely with the various yellow shades and definitely with browns. This particular painting is not my cup of tea but I always see something interesting on this website. Thank you.
Tee shirts! I searched the large local mall in vain yesterday for a tank top in 100% cotton, with enough coverage at the armholes to keep the flesh in. Sleeved version would have been ok, as long as the neckline was a bit more open than a standard tee. Also, since, like most adult women observed here IRL, I wear bras, so strap coverage was mandatory. With frequent washing (you sweat just walking to your car), the fabric had to be substantial for the garment to hold its shape. No luck at all!
This used to be a standard offering, with enough colors so that even those of us with cool coloring could find several for the next two months of 90+ degree, humid weather here in the SEUS.I now wish I’d stockpiled dozens when they were available.
Another place to check – JC Penney has a surprisingly good collection of basic tanks & t-shirts from St John’s Bay. Very inexpensive (esp on sale!) & have worn well for me for the last few years since I discovered them.
I’m sorry, but I think this wardrobe would fit only a very light blonde with a tan.
Hahahaha….you just described my landscape architect. ;-)
I feel the need to defend this lovely collection after the earlier comments – and of course, it’s good that we’re not all the same. How dull that would be!
I love this capsule, even though I tend to wear stronger colours than this. The subtly of it is so very alluring. And in terms of colour analysis (taken with a pinch of salt of course!) I think it would suit most of us who have been designated as ‘soft’ – especially with the addition of denim blue as Helen suggests.
Have a fun weekend everyone :-)
This is an awfully pretty wardrobe for the right woman. While I personally find it too limiting, I can see how it would be elegant and soothing. That being said, I do think this heroine needs some shorts! I built a house last year here on the Maine coast and I’ve been working closely with my landscape architect in designing the garden. While her presentations require her to do some ‘in meeting’ level of clothing, the lion’s share of her work is tromping around nurseries to see what’s available, loading up trucks and trailers with these plants and then getting her hands dirty as she directs her crew. Yes, she’s in a supervisory role, but she’s still part of the planting process.
While people think Maine is chilly all the time, it’s been in the high 80’s with 90% humidity for the past week. So, a person who spends outdoors most of her day will need a lot more sleeveless tops too…even as far north as I live. She also needs a good sunhat! It can be pretty, but should be washable to get off pesticides…and in her profession, sweat.
Sorry I posted response to Ann under Jules. Oops.
Wanted to say to Jules, that, while I don’t completely follow color analysis, a Soft Autumn could work this wardrobe. The dark brown would be more cool weather pieces. Again, not a color analysis expert…
And add a soft peach and voila!!
I’m a pale strawberry blonde Spring & I would gleefully accept a box with all these items in it! There’s enough contrast for balance & enough softness that it’s not overwhelming. 😊. Not every garment is exactly my style, but the colors definitely work.
I think this is a beautiful wardrobe. Soft denim or chambray would be pretty. I have a few friends who would look beautiful in these colors. I was thinking the same thing about shorts and tee shirts. Any landscape architect where I live would need lots! Possibly long sleeve sun blocking shirts and a hat.
I’m a Soft Summer, and I think I could wear this wardrobe! I actually do mix taupe and light grey every so often. I don’t have any of that yellow, but it might work for me, and seems lovely in this wardrobe.
I agree, I think this would suit a Soft Autumn. I love this wardrobe, but being a Bright Spring I don’t think I could pull it off. It has a very soothing, minimalist feel and a style that I admire.
My used-to-be red hair has gone strawberry blonde as it’s gone grey. (And, speaking of grey, it’s a cooler color than I usually wear but I do wear it with warmer colors). I have all of these colors in my closet & usually wear them in higher-contrast combinations but seeing this wardrobe has given me some great lower-contrast outfit ideas.
I love the look back as I have a lot of scarves – enough to fill two or three large draws. I put them on seasonal rotation. I recently received a scarf as a present. It is unusual shade of deep aqua/teal with purple flowers. Perfect.