May 9, 2025
The instant Artifact. came out with new scarves, I received emails about them. This scarf is particularly lovely and an interesting mix of colors. When I first looked at this, my eyes were drawn to warm colors: orange, marigold, and olive.
And the heroine who wrote to me? She wants to work with black and ivory, and pink and olive accents!
Hmm…
So I built us this color palette reference page:
My habit with Artifact. scarves has been to build three outfits, and then add four more garments. It’s one of about a billion different ways to assemble a capsule wardrobe; there’s no rule about how this can best be done!
These outfits are for Spring weather, or summer days that aren’t blisteringly hot. A cardigan can be handy even on the hottest days, especially when traveling in an air-conditioned car, train, bus, or plane. (even an air-conditioned ferry!)
Black cotton cardigan – J.Crew; earrings – Saule Label; scarf – Artifact.; cropped pants – L.L.Bean; apricot tee – L.L.Bean; shoes – Earth
This outfit looks warmer than it might actually be – the skirt and shirt are both linen, and the sweater is cotton. Worst case, our heroine could take off the sweater and tie it around her waist, roll up the sleeves of her shirt, and tie her scarf in her hair.
Linen shirts are versatile for travel, because you can wear them under sweaters, on their own (tucked in or not) with shorts, skirts or pants, or open over another top as a shirt jacket. That’s handy!
Blush cotton sweater – Faherty; flower earrings – MC Collective; black linen shirt – J.Crew; bag – Karl Lagerfeld Paris; linen skirt – Eileen Fisher; scarf – Artifact.; pumps – Vivaia
I always think a heroine needs a pair of long pants, no matter where you’re going. You could end up sleeping on the floor in an airport where the air conditioning will run ALL NIGHT, and cool things down to a crispy, frosty misery. I speak from experience…
But of course, this sweatshirt could easily be a lightweight linen cardigan, or another shirt worn over the tee shirt.
Quarter-zip – L.L.Bean; earrings – Jojo Harris; ivory cotton tee – Lands’ End; chinos – L.L.Bean; scarf – Artifact.; sneakers – Ilse Jacobsen
These four additional tops expand your options a TON. Either of the sleeveless tops can be worn with the black cardigan or this tipped cardigan, or under the linen shirt, or under the sweatshirt etc. etc. And I had to include a striped tee shirt just for fun!
And this second scarf… Sigh…
Ivory and black sleeveless tops – L.L.Bean; earrings – Unaloe; scarf – Artifact.; cardigan – Alex Mill; striped tee – Lands’ End
Our heroine has 13 pieces in this travel capsule wardrobe – she can choose any outfit of three to wear while traveling, and pack the other 10. As much as I look like a very ill woman when I wear olive, I could still be pretty tempted by this!
Obviously, our heroine already has three ready-made outfits in mind. The real power of choosing things from a small color palette becomes apparent when we assemble some additional outfits:
I think our heroine’s desire to emphasize the pink just a bit in this wardrobe worked out well. If it doesn’t appeal, one could easily substitute orange or marigold tops for the pink ones.
What do you think?
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, we took two wardrobes that we’d looked at on previous days, and combined them into a single wardrobe with three neutrals and four accent colors. It works!
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I think the color palette is cohesive and classic. The choice of clothes really supports the color scheme. A bit dressy and a bit casual. This wardrobe could go many places. The warmer pink works better than a cool pink would, in my opinion and taste. The second scarf works better than the first, due to the aforementioned oranges and yellows, to my eye. That said, the first scarf is lovely, and I am unable to visualize how it would look actually folded and worn. This little wardrobe could be expanded easily. Or just a change of accessories to give it a different style.
I fold my scarves on the diagonal and rarely wear them “open” in a triangle and tied. Key for me is to look at the opposite corners. So for this scarf the pink corner is opposite the orange but it’s enough to tie it together. The opposite corners have a pretty blue and the ivory. Good luck. I have been stung by seeing the center before the corners, and that has thrown off the color scheme for me.
Well, I’m just about bowled over by this collection. I just love it. I love both the simplicity, and yet complexity of it. I adore the way each piece can be dressed up or down. I adore both scarves, but especially the inspiration scarf. I love the color palette.
I know that pattern isn’t your vibe, but I can absolutely see a black and white print dress, as well as a blush and olive print dress to mix into this collection. I can see dressing them up with the cardigan or down with the olive jacket. Talbots has some fantastic dresses right now, that come in both prints and solids, that would work beautifully with this capsule.
What a great vibe this all is!
I actually like prints, in moderation. But finding prints with the right colors, in a photograph that fits my style of showing wardrobes, is TOUGH. But I keep looking!
big Friday hugs,
Janice
Janice, I can’t find the Buy You a Coffee button.
Well, there wasn’t one here, but I just added one right below my signature! Thanks for asking!
hugs,
Janice
I will admit that I was both surprised and pleased with this wardrobe. When I read your brief, I expected an ivory based wardrobe with touches of black. That first outfit is just gorgeous in it’s balance of colors with the scarf. The jewelry is spot on and I love the addition of the second similar scarf. I’m pretty sure I couldn’t wear the pink, but it would be fun to see.
Now I’m hoping that your look back is a hint about the wardrobe to come next, based on ivory with touches of black and orange and marigold accents. Then I would combine the two wardrobes together for a lovely start on a Project 333.
This is just lovely. WOW. What a great way to start my Friday. Have a good weekend everyone!
Packing today for a two week holiday in Scotland, some hill walking, outdoorsy stuff, some pottering in galleries, museums and castles, and some nice meals out in nice restaurants. I can pack three outfits and four more garments (and essentials, underwear and nightwear) and be ready. I will have the bonus of the fourth outfit “in transit”.
My problem is getting my husband to be so considered when it comes to thinking about what he might need. Thick winter jumper in case he’s cold, thin linen trousers in case he’s hot, favourite sweatshirt…. Nothing co-ordinates. But he doesn’t care so I suppose I shouldn’t. Anyone else have this problem?
Cmburgess, yes, I have learned to leave the room when my husband packs. I don’t quibble about what he brings, and I don’t try to make him decide ahead of time. He always brings more clothing and more reading material than necessary! As we usually travel by car, it’s not too much of a problem for him, other than lugging stuff in and out of hotels.
I do help my hubs. But he does sometimes ask if things go together. I’ve gradually been using the anything clean 13 method on his clothing and there aren’t many shirts left that don’t go with all four of his pants colors. So that has helped too!
Haha, my husband is clothes/style/color blind. As long as it’s comfortable and has plenty of pockets….
This is a wow! Love this capsule, would switch out the khaki for blue. My hair has gone grey, and my skin is paler. Have really been trying to switch my addiction to black to another color, but it’s not easy. I just love the versatility of black. At least this season I bought a couple of colorful t-shirts along with the black ones.
Wow, I could happily wear this wardrobe. Also love the look back, using 3 neutrals and 4 colours, that is so me lol. Happy Mothers Day ❤️ hope you all get spoiled.
If I wore black, I’d snatch up this capsule. Those pumps are so completely simple and yet they scream elegance. I’ve never understood the concept that tiers of ruffles or additional trim elevates clothing.
When I saw the striped tee I immediately thought how casual chic it would look with the linen skirt and a pair of sneakers. And on a hot day the skirt, sleeveless tee, black pumps with the black & white scarf will take you a lots of places.
Love this capsule! We’re going to France in late fall and I can see this as a basis for my wardrobe. Even though I love olive, I might switch out those 3 pieces for something else, and of course have sleeved tops rather than sleeveless, but this is such a great base.
Enjoy the weekend everyone!
Janice
I guess that I must like a numbers format. I am seeing 5 tops, 4 toppers and 4 pairs of earrings, ,
3 bottoms and 3 pairs of shoes, 2 scarves, and 1 shirt . Love the variety of outfit possibilities with this grouping !