Want Classic Patterns and Colors? Start With a Sweater - Fair Isle from Madewell

October 30, 2026

At least October is almost over! Although here in Chicago it’s still been VERY warm… not even sweater weather yet. Sigh…

But one of you is looking for classic neutrals (navy and brown – cool & warm!) and classic patterns. This sweater was sited, and our heroine asked for plaids and stripes – let’s see what we can do starting with this sweater:

Sweater – Madewell

The color palette is pretty obvious, although if our heroine wants to add a couple of additional tops, sage green and yellow would be nice. A couple of turtlenecks or shirts in those colors could go a long way…

Sweater – Madewell

One of the great gifts that this sweater brings to a wardrobe is the flexibility to mix all kinds of shades of brown!

Sweater – Madewell; earrings – Missoma; cotton turtleneck – L.L.Bean; cotton pants – J.Crew; cashmere scarf – Nordstrom; handbag – Donna Karan New York; boots – Sam Edelman

This plaid shirt is perfect. Look at those matched plaids, and the bias fabric on the cuffs! Yes, it’s not the cheapest plaid shirt in the world, but the details will always tell…

Navy cotton/cashmere cardigan – L.L.Bean; earrings – Kendra Scott; scarf – Petrusse; plaid shirt – Barbour; corduroy pants – Lands’ End; navy crossbody bag – HOBO; loafers – Vionic

If the weather isn’t going to be bitterly cold for months and months, maybe we should start looking at cotton sweaters rather than wool or cashmere? And of course if you live somewhere with moderate winters, this could make sense!

Ivory & navy striped turtleneck – L.L.Bean; scarf – Elizabetta; ivory cotton rollneck sweater – J.Crew; navy wool pants – Alex Mill; brown striped sweater – Boden; sneakers – Naturalizer

This is what our heroine will have hanging in the front of her closet (or on a separate small rack, or on the back of the powder room door…) for the upcoming week. This Domesticated Valise could ABSOLUTELY function as a travel capsule wardrobe, eh?