Start a Capsule Wardrobe With Archives - Page 119 of 133

Another DVF dress; 1 dress, 6 ways

June 7, 2013

I thought a lot yesterday about the mystique of the Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress. I've never even tried one of these on; I'm super-skeptical about how a traditional wrap dress will work with my short-waisted, full-balconied, and generally no-waist torso. But I browsed through a lot of Diane's other dress designs, and found the beauty below. This really calls out to me in all kinds of ways - it's got my favorite colors, a much less dangerous décolletage, and some side shirring that seems as if it would be very flattering...

Sigh...

love, Janice ... View the Post

One dress, six ways: A Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress

June 6, 2013

One of my friends is very committed to her black and white wardrobe, which she accents with jade and aventurine jewelry. When she saw this Diane von Furstenberg dress, she was very tempted, but just couldn't commit - she wasn't sure that she would find enough ways to wear it.Now,I can't make the decision for her, but if she knows that she will want/need a dress in the next year or so for a number of events, she will have ways to wear it...

aventurine pendant - Tiffany, green wrap - Faliero Sarti, black and white slingbacks - Semilla Scarpe, pearl and black crystal earrings - Majorica, pearl necklace - Slane, black cardigan - J. Crew, black pumps - ... View the Post

Thinking about grey and black; color, and your immediate environment

June 5, 2013

The comments about my recent Project 333 post were an interesting conversation about colors, and who's comfortable wearing what colors in what environments.

I'm looking out my window right now, which faces south and west, looking out onto downtown Chicago. The only colors I can see are shades of grey and beige - even the sky is grey right now. If you love cities (and I DO love cities), it's a beautiful view. But if you're looking for color, this is not where you'll find it.

I take all of your comments very seriously. I read every one of them, and think about what you've taken the time to say. I gave a great deal of thought to comments which thought that my current wardrobe is dark, ... View the Post

I am not a movie character; hard, but necessary, wardrobe decisions

May 31, 2013

Somewhere in my imagination, I walk across windswept moors, my long flowing hair sweeping behind me. I'm dressed in something graceful and fluid, and it's all very dramatic and romantic...

And for a long time, I would occasionally buy something for this life.. Reality check? I wouldn't walk across a windswept moor, I'd stride at about 4 mph. My hair won't GET long - it won't grow past my shoulders. And even if it would, it would never flow. It might boing and sproing and ping and pong in it's curly way... The fluid garments would get snagged on the gorse, and would get all wet and muddy around the hem... The hardest part of having a focused wardrobe is the ... View the Post

One Dress – 6 Ways, in Navy and Pink

May 28, 2013

let's revisit our friend who had the navy and pink Common Wardrobe. Her accessories look kind of like this:

Striped scarf - Missoni, navy sandals - John Lewis, square patterned scarf - Dareen Hakim, bracelet - Luv Aj, Pink quartz earrings - Fantasy Jewelry Box, pink necklace - J. Crew,pink watch - Radley, tote bag - Jack Wills, navy linen scarf - Isola Marras, white sandals -Hotter, pink scarf - Faliero Sarti, silk bracelet - Brooks Brothers, Hermes Passementerie scarf - vintage , navy penny loafers - Bass, pink flats - Sperry Top-Sider, pink socks - Bank, pink argyle socks - Chrissy's Since this friend is ... View the Post

Surviving the Treadmill – The Great Courses

May 23, 2013

Yes, I go to the gym five days a week. I walk two miles, at least, on a treadmill, at something just over 4 miles per hour. It's boring, and tiring.And I don't really find that television keeps me amused...

So a few years ago, I started buying and downloading courses on music, philosophy and literature from The Great Courses.

I'm particularly smitten with this professor - Dr. Robert Greenberg.

He's smart, he's funny, and I know more about opera, symphony, and a bunch of composers...

You might as well enjoy yourself and learn something while you're burning calories.

Why yes, I AM running behind schedule... More normal posting will ... View the Post

One dress – Six ways, in Black, White and Pink

May 22, 2013

Okay, let's do some imagining... Imagine a person who has truly made the choice that their wardrobe core colors are going to be black, white, and pretty pink. Over the years, she accumulates the necessary basics - cardigans in her colors, a black suit, shoes and sandals in black, with a fun pair of pink dress shoes, just for kicks. She has a beautiful pink scarf that has been around forever, and she has been carefully, gradually accumulating pink and silver jewelry...

Now, one day this person is shopping, and they see a dress. A classically cut, simple, (no beads, nor sequins) dress. In black, white and pink!

It's easy to immediately fear that a dress in a print or ... View the Post

Closing the triangle of Hot Pink, Turquoise, and Orange; traveling again with Hermes Fleuri de Provence

May 11, 2013

There was one more color combination waiting to be addressed in the beautiful Hermes Pique Fleuri de Provence - Turquoise and Hot Pink. And that got me thinking that these three accent colors (don't forget Orange), on a base of black and white neutrals, would be a perfect wardrobe scheme for... well, for everything, forever. I see the symbol for this wardrobe like this:

And with this as your focal point, you can just combine garments and make purchases with confidence...

So one last trip, with the Hermes scarf as the initial inspiration:

Piqué Fleuri de Provence silk scarf - Hermes, silk “Neon Love” scarf – Marc Andersen

Shirt – J. Crew, jacket –Faberge & Roches, ... View the Post

Do you actually WEAR your favorite clothes?

May 10, 2013 Yesterday, when I was getting dressed, I reached out for my favorite silk jacket. It's from Eileen Fisher, it's a color she calls cobblestone, which is sort of bronze/grey/green, and when I wear it I look tall and thin and young, and AMAZINGLY stylish. I reached. And then I pulled back. WHAT????? Somewhere in the back of my mind lurks this voice that says "oh, save that for a special occasion..." Really? At my age? It's not like I'm going to get dirty on the playground, nor spill chocolate milk on myself at lunch. (mmmmm....chocolate milk....) What's the worst thing that can happen?

I might be the best-dressed person at work. (Oh bother) ... View the Post

Turquoise & Orange: A Packing Capsule based on Hermes Fleuri de Provence

So if you love the scarf, but hot pink isn't your favorite, what about turquoise?

Piqué Fleuri de Provence silk scarf - Hermes, cashmere and linen wrap – Etro

Orange knit top – Weekend MaxMara, jacket - Carven, earrings- Jamie Joseph, watch – Skagen, white linen pants – Nicole Farhi, espadrilles - Zara, white tote- Longchamp, rolling bag – Diane Von Furstenberg

Necklace – K. Amato, dress – Roksanda Ilincic, earrings – Bounkit, bracelet – Anton Heunis, pumps – Butter, sweater – J. Crew, skirt – No. 21 cardigan – Vanessa Bruno, tee shirt- Majestic, white capris – Dorothy Perkins, ballet flats – Dr. Scholls

... View the Post

Hot Pink & Orange: A Packing Capsule based on Hermes Fleuri de Provence

Yes, traveling with white pants might seem sort of nutty... But they look really great! Just make sure they're washable, right? And this would certainly work well with black in the place of white.

Piqué Fleuri de Provence silk scarf - Hermes, dip dyed linen scarf – Sperry Top-Sider

Orange knit top – Weekend MaxMara, fringed silk poncho- Ralph Lauren Black, earrings- Fossil, watch – Salvatore Ferragamo, white linen pants – Nicole Farhi, flats – Manolo Blahnik, white tote- Longchamp, orange tote - Bodhi

Silk necklace – Nangara by Julia Fusinato, dress – Reiss, earrings – Ben Amun, bracelet – Stella and Dot, pumps – Jimmy Choo, hot pink tee - BurberryBrit, skirt – Versace, ... View the Post

Navy and Hot Pink: A Capsule travel wardrobe based on 2 scarves

I received a very specific request for a travel plan that was mostly navy, but accented with hot pink, and which wasn't "stodgy". This plan built on a "core of four" in navy: pants, skirt, cardigan and tee, and tossed in a navy dress too. A white tee shirt, a bright cardigan, and a couple of whimsical tops negate any possible worries about being too mumsy... Some fun jewelry, and you're away!

Promenade au Faubourg silk scarf - Hermes, silk wrap – Stella McCartney

Tee shirt - Hugo, cardigan – Vanessa Bruno, earrings- Michael Kors, watch – Mougin & Piquard, pants – Lucza London, loafers – Brooks Brothers, bag – Solomon Appollo, suitcase - Rimowa

Necklace – J. Crew, dress – Philosophy ... View the Post