October 17, 2017
You might think it’s just a flying caterpillar, but the colors are so lovely….
Your understanding is that the first interview is going to be most of the day in their offices, and then a break before they take you out to dinner; they want to make sure that you know which fork is which!
tweed jacket – Tara Jarmon; brown quartz earrings – JCPenney; watch – Movado; print shirt – Lands’ End; bag – Coach; pumps – Trotters; skirt – Nehera Sipa; cardigan – Frett Slow-Made Knitwear; earrings – Julie Sion; clutch – Banana Republic; pumps – L.K.Bennett; dress – Lands’ End; scarf – Eileen Fisher
It’s a kitchen gear company – why would you be interested in their job if you didn’t know your salad fork from your dinner fork? Of course you’re hired! For the first few days, you’re going to have options to dress nicely if there’s going to be a meeting, but otherwise the offices seem quite casual…
buttoned cardigan – Lands’ End; waterfall cardigan – Lands’ End; earrings – Ri Noor; pendant – Salome; scarf – Faliero Sarti; short-sleeved sweaters – Lands’ End; corduroy pants – L.L.Bean; dress – Lands’ End; shoes – Topshop
This is the the tiny wardrobe that you have before your first paycheck arrives – you can get through a week of work without too much trouble…
Hallelujah for that first paycheck! You’re learning that you spend a lot of time working with the receiving staff, and hanging out on the loading docks – warm, cozy layers are a good idea!
earrings – Poppy Finch; rings – Feather+Stone; scarf – Faliero Sarti; plaid shirt – Uniqlo; ivory tee – Lands’ End; cardigan – Snobby Sheep; brown cords – Lands’ End; buttoned cardigan – Lands’ End; jeans – J Brand; oxfords – Dansko; boots – Lucky Brand
You’re starting to have enough pieces in your wardrobe to be able to get dressed without having to plan out your week in advance!
When that second check shows up, you’re ready to add some vivid accents! You’re realizing that a nice fleecy jacket won’t be too casual, and that canvas shoes will be just fine some days…
fluffy hoodie – Uniqlo; scarf – Pyaar; earrings – Ying; eternity necklace – Alex Woo; cream and camel flannel shirts – Uniqlo; orange sweater – Uniqlo; multistrand necklace– Heidi Daus; backpack – Madewell; sneakers – Ugg; checked pants – Stella McCartney; scarf – Bottega Veneta; khaki pants – Land’s End
For now, you’re going to stick with these 23 pieces and see how far it can take you…
You have lots of possibilities – days when the corporate peeps are around and you need to look managerial, days when you’re on the docks helping shift mountains of boxes…
Mixing shades of brown might feel tricky, but after a few weeks of doing it you’ll find that you grow more confident about what works. It’s all a question about what YOU find comfortable and appropriate…
love,
Janice
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Wow! Statement lipstick and nail polish to follow… Could be classic red or softer warm natural brown… Thankyou. Wonderful, beautiful colour scheme. Carol S
On reflection I meant Signature lipstick and nail polish which might be statement red or natural brown or something else. I also could have done with you when I was working – what fantastic cohesion. Hugs Carol S
Oh sweet Janice, how I could have done with you when I was working!
Hugs, x.
You do have such great taste, Janice. Thank you for this morning's eye candy. Just lovely. Hallie
Janice,
I love your personal ability to provide color schemes for us “ Warmies” that you most likely wouldn’t be caught dead wearing personally ! Thank you for that !
What a gorgeous moth ! There is a warm yellow circle in your vertical color strip, at least it is yellow on my monitor, and I was wondering why you did not include any accents in that color? Perhaps too hard to find at this time of year ? Otherwise, a super collection!
I observed that you did the additional rounds generally in two’s – two toppers, two tops, two bottoms, or a bottom and a dress, two pairs of shoes or a pair of shoes and a bag . I used to believe that one garment in a given silhouette was all that was to be “allowed “ in a given cluster of clothes, but now I can see that additional style variations within a given neutral can keep one happily within the chosen neutral color ! It reminds me of a response from a reader the other day, who shared with me how she selects one neutral per season, but then has value variations within that one neutral color, and includes a tweed as well.
As usual, Janice, well done!
I had dreams of a soft buttery yellow sweater, or at LEAST a soft butter yellow oxford shirt. After a half hour, I tossed THAT idea in the rubbish… I didn't think it was that outrageous a color, but it appears to be "out" this year.
But she has options for the future!
hugs,
Janice
Janice,
Now you can see my frustrations for shopping for “ my” colors, sometimes for years at a time ! So I have a greater abundance of clothes, for fear of both wearing out and lack of replacement ability ! I often will buy 2 of a given garment, especially if it’s a light color, due to staining potential. This doesn’t work though, if I change sizes , which I am working on too !
Not my chosen colors but so gorgeous anyway :)
I used to wear this collection of colours a lot and have some residual pieces left in my closet. I'm off to sign some papers this morning for some contract work and I have decided to wear my khaki trench with my orange etc. Celtic knot scarf. Come to think of it, I once had a soft butter yellow Oxford cloth shirt and a moss woollen suit. It was many years ago but those colours are always beautiful.
…I've worked this job, or nearly; tell our heroine that the day she dares to wear a skirt will be the day the inventory computer dies and she'll be digging around under the desk looking for a faulty wire, or having to climb into the warehouse loft looking for a bill of lading from three months ago…
Great capsule!
This collection is one of my all-time faves, Janice! I don't wear black very well, so, these warmer earth tones are perfect for my taste!
I have been looking for a shirt or sweater in a slightly cooler yellow, but nice yellows just aren't available this year. This is the year for mustard, and that is definitely not me!
Well, this is interesting. On IG, I could have sworn the first photo was all in shades of grey and charcoal. Here I see browns. It's still very pretty and calming, but I like the grey look better. And I was thinking that what really makes the wardrobe work (especially the first collection of garments) is the harmonizing of shades, and that could be done with greys, browns, creams, or whatever!
Your suggestions are so timely! I normally have a fall/winter wardrobe built around the color black. However, this year I wanted to push myself outside my comfort zone by building a wardrobe using browns and blues. Your post gives me a wonderful starting place for starting a new look. Thanks!