August 21, 2026
This is the third year that I’ve started with Boden’s autumn suit (it seems to be something they do each year) to build an autumn/winter capsule wardrobe.
The first one was here, and the second one was here. You could ABSOLUTELY justify having all three of these suits, if you’re in a suit-wearing environment, you love these colors, and you’re happy wearing bold prints!
Our heroine works for political campaigns. I feel for her…
But how about this suit?
I absolutely believe that this heroine could own all three suits, and pack two of the three for each trip. Return home occasionally, swap out one of the suits, back on the road!
This is the color palette I picture for this suit – there is indeed a red stripe here.
Of course our heroine can wear this suit AS a suit, with a navy, camel, red, or white top, but what about separating the pieces and thinking of options?
Most obvious – camel top, navy pants:
scarf – Elizabetta; earrings – Talbots; tee shirt – L.L.Bean; Blazer – Boden; navy chinos – J.Crew Factory; loafers – Frye
When looking for a scarf in colors like this, which are common in menswear, don’t forget to look in the Men’s Department! If you can wear men’s sizes (or boys!), check there for sweaters and tee shirts. Better quality, and often lower price.
If our heroine HAD to have a second blazer, navy would be easy; I’m thinking cardigans though…
Cotton cardigan – Alex Mill; earrings – Talbots; white tee – L.L.Bean; suede bag – Talbots; pants – Boden; loafers – Talbots
If could be warm. She could want a dress, but not an eye-popping cocktail dress. Dark wash denim seems like a really versatile option:
Blazer – Boden; brooch – Panacea; earrings – Argento Vivo; camel scarf – tirillm; dark denim dress – Lands’ End; pumps – Trotters
Our heroine has traveled with a ruana the last couple of years, so there’s no reason to change. And I have to say it again:
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A TRAVEL SCARF! ALL SCARVES ARE TRAVEL SCARVES
I need to get that out into the world every few months; it’s absurd to be sold specific things JUST for travel…
Red sweater – Boden; earrings – Heaven Mayhem; necklace – Tuckernuck Jewelry; pants – Boden; navy wrap – Tuckernuck; boots – Munro
Our heroine also needs to be prepared for cold weather. I swear that there is nothing in my wardrobe warmer than my cashmere turtleneck:
Blazer – Boden; earrings – Nadri; cashmere turtleneck – Lands’ End; scarf – Mark & Graham; chinos – Lands’ End; sneakers – Tory Burch
Camel, and cables. Quintessentially autumn!
Cardigan – L.L.Bean; earrings – Ana Luisa; silk blouse – Banana Republic; bag – Pom Pom London; pants – Boden; boots – SoftWalk
What else might our heroine want? A skirt makes good sense for her, and a comfortable but still “nice” sweater too. And let’s not neglect her accent color…
Here’s her travel capsule wardrobe for the last two months of the campaign. Yes, everybody traveling with her will recognize her clothes. And she will know theirs pretty well too. Traveling for long periods of time with the same people breeds a deep familiarity with their wardrobe, and this is completely unimportant. Repeat outfits! Wear out your clothes!
This is a sort of 4 by 4 Wardrobe – I probably should have put the camel pants in the 2nd Core of 4… But you get the idea!
How is our heroine going to wear this wardrobe? Well, we’ve shown six outfits, but there are plenty more possibilities:
I’m sure our heroine is a nervous wreck much of the time, but at least she’s not freaking out about what to wear….
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, we explored the possibilities of a red dress, and fourteen ways to wear it…
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I like everything about it.
Very classic, timeless colors and outfits.
A very harmonious capsule—arguably the most understated of the three. The suit is perfectly neutral, though I’ve noticed that, year by year, the protagonist incorporates fewer and fewer red accents… If this reflects an evolution in her political sympathies (I know we aren’t discussing that topic here), then it fills me with hope.