September 2026 – Building a Wardrobe Starting With Saints Genevieve and Apollonia by Lucas Cranach the Elder

September 14, 2026

Almost halfway through September, and in Chicago, we’re still wearing linen…

But our most elegant heroine, the architectural historian, is preparing to spend the autumn semester in Paris, teaching!

She shops VERY carefully, and bases her personal style on this most gorgeous painting of two saints:

She currently has this 36-piece wardrobe, which she could just toss into a (really big) suitcase and be just fine!

She will need another bag for her accessories, but they’re what really makes this wardrobe sing:

She would like another skirt, and a couple more sweaters. When she saw this classic black jacket, she knew what her plan would be for the month:

Her wardrobe tucks neatly into the 56-piece wardrobe template. Are we at ALL surprised?

This is how her 40-piece wardrobe looks. She might not pack EVERY piece here, but if she has the luggage, and will have the storage space in her temporary apartment, there’s no reason not to!

The weather could get really warm. Even in Paris. Even in the autumn…

Similarly, she could leave her sandals, and her gold straw handbag, at home… It all depends on luggage, closet space, and weather forecasts. Not the easiest decision!

So our heroine hand-washed her new sweaters, and steamed the daylights out of her jacket and her new skirt. 

The she opened a bottle of something delicious, put on some glorious music, and tried on new outfits:

Just give me the job, and the apartment in Paris, and the suitcases…

But I want to bring Belovedest with me!!!

love,
Janice

Are you curious about how this heroine got her wardrobe to this point? You can see all of the earlier posts about this wardrobe here:  Christmas Eve Preview, January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August

p.s. Ten years ago, we experimented with how an accent color of cinnamon (sort of rust, or ginger…) would work with six different accent colors.