August 14, 2026
It’s a good thing that our heroine bought cotton gauze clothes last month; it’s still screeching hot in Paris.
At least her tiny short-term apartment rental has air conditioning….
But our heroine knows that she’s going to be traveling this fall, and she wants to be prepared. This is one VERY organized woman!
First, some time spent with her favorite painting:
A couple of basics, a couple of more interesting things… and some delightful accessories!
Yes, if she loves this lace blouse as much as she expects to, she may well buy the white one too. There’s no reason to avoid buying duplicates when they’re perfect wardrobe workhorses, for you.
White tee – Lands’ End; bow brooch – Ettika; black with white trim cotton cardigan – Lands’ End; black cotton broderie anglais blouse – Boden; handbag – Maeve; silk pants – COS; boots – DKNY
Why yes, her brooch does echo the gold banding on her boots. And don’t forget her cool handbag with the gold trim….
Now, her wardrobe looks like this, when rendered onto a template:
In her closet, things look a bit more relaxed, and inviting…
You know, I have a hunch that her boots and her black handbag are both from DKNY…
You know that this heroine has a clear plan in mind for each thing she buys! But it’s always fun – and maybe educational – to look at her ideas:
This wardrobe appeals to me SO MUCH, although I’m not sure I’m feeling this dressy, these days!
love,
Janice
If you would like to go back to the first days of this wardrobe, you can find all of the earlier posts here: Christmas Eve Preview, January, February, March, April, May, June, July
p.s. Ten years ago, the art was Picasso, and the heroine’s signature was wearing necklaces… and the heroine had EXACTLY THE SAME tee shirt that our heroine above just bought. Classics!
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Wow.
I love it. I truly love it. I adore medieval art and medieval inspired art….which is interesting, given that my home aesthetic taste tends to midcentury modern meets industrial farmhouse. This painting just gives me all the feels…and I’m always transported to The Cloisters in Upper Manhattan when you post it.
My concern, however, about this painting’s inspired clothing, was that it would feel either too Christmasy or too ‘heavy’. You have managed to use red, green, gold and black look fresh and wonderful. I was hoping for a red dress for this month, which is one of my favorites for fall and winter. I saw this one on Boden and I thought it would look fantastic with this wardrobe.
https://us.boden.com/products/women-puff-sleeve-ponte-midi-dress-merida-red-d1768red?_pos=4&_fid=85daf10b0&_ss=c
As a teacher, I’m back at work next week and will have to focus on looking professional, yet comfortable looks. You have inspired me to get out of my comfy shorts and tees, after a beach-filled Maine summer.
Gorgeous red dress! Thanks for the link, Ellen.
The details and prints in this wardrobe really sing. It’s great.
The lace blouse and silk pants can be her holiday base. A few accessories in red and gold and she’s festive!
Hi,
I LOVE when you work with this color palette! Thanks – it’s inspiring!
It might be my eyes, my monitors, or my disposition this year, but the paintings generally feel dark and heavy to me. My challenge for you, for next year, is to find lighter, brighter feeling art. Still a classy wardrobe.
Yes please! Would love to see that.
Janice, my eyes fastened on your comments about the Paris heat and gauze clothing. I fly to Phoenix Arizona tomorrow. My son is recovering from a complicated surgery. I plan to stay in his house the entire time. Luckily I have navy gauze wide leg pants and one blue striped gauze shirt. Some blue linen pants. More long sleeve cotton shirts and some tees. Any advice from others out there? This is the worst time to travel to Phoenix. Just hoping to be helpful and stay alive. Im too old for shorts and sleeveless shirts.
When traveling to Phoenix, bring some long sleeved second layers! Public buildings (hospitals, restaurants, stores) are kept very cold so as to feel refreshing when one comes inside. Having spent last summer visiting my husband who was in the hospital, I would have frozen if not for hoodies and cardigans.
I would never wear this color combo for a number of reasons.
Thanks so much for your reply!! Im trying to pack light, LOL. Hoody and jeans for the flight. Extra long sleeve shirts. Glad to know those are good options. My son is home from hospital and lots of things are up in the air.
This is supposed to be a reply to Penny. Thanks again.
Comparing this wardrobe to the Shelduck has been interesting. Both lean heavily on neutrals and red.
This one is only black, with two accent colors that you can’t blend without looking like a Christmas bauble. It makes it rely very heavily on the accessories for visual interest, which means you can get away with a very low quantity of clothes. Would let you spend indulgently on your accessories. Personally hoping she gets a blowout cocktail party wardrobe.
Shelduck has three neutrals but only one accent colors, meaning almost all the clothes can be blended together practically with your eyes closed. Could get away with almost no accessories with this wardrobe and still have textured outfits.