Start a Capsule Wardrobe With Archives - Page 74 of 153

Start with Art: Moscow Suburb by Georgy Grigorievich Nissky

June 19, 2019

She's Taking The Train... She's not sure how long she will be gone - maybe 2 weeks, probably longer...

She's going north. She doesn't now how far, or exactly to where, or for how long. She really will NOT be pinned down on this!

She's going to that city first, but from there... She's not moving on until she feels like she's ready to. I personally wouldn't be surprised to learn that she spends at least 2 weeks JUST in 1 city...

She's been saving money since... forever?Just for this summer...

If she doesn't see everything she wants to on this trip (and she knows that she can't possibly see everything!), she can go again next year...

Would you like to pack up and head out, without a clear ... View the Post

Start with a Bracelet – The June denim blue and golden brown bracelet from Fierce Lynx Designs!

June 14, 2019

They've rented their favorite cottage for the week of her birthday. They swear that they're going to take care of everything and that all she needs to do is relax and enjoy herself...

She's going to make getting dressed for the week as painless as possible, starting here!

Her color palette is going to be the simplest possible - positively foolproof!

She stands by her closet for a moment, and then quickly grabs four chambray garments. She loves her dress for those times when wants to feel "dressy" but in a casual way - nobody understands this but her! And her cropped pants and top match, so they look somewhat like a jumpsuit when worn together...

Most people might not pack a cashmere sweater for a ... View the Post

Start with Art: Tete Blanche et Rose by Henri Matisse

June 10, 2019 Ride up With Me! "I'm going up to the beach house for the weekend - I'm going to drive, so you can just go with me!"

Her wardrobe palette is deeply invested in black, but for this weekend she eschewing the dark, and going straight-up pastels!

So she tossed her bag into the back seat...

She was expecting the air conditioning to be on full blast, so she pulled a shirt on over her tank top...

She doesn't expect to swim all that much, but she takes her suit along just in case! She does plan to walk along the beach a lot, so water shoes are definitely in the bag...

Generally, at least some people go out for a meal or two, or they go into town to buy groceries and browse around... She makes sure ... View the Post

Start with Art: Tribute to Franz Marc – Foxes by Becky Kelley

July 7, 2019

I have to confess - I can't confirm where I've seen this painting, or where I got this image, or if this is the real title and artist. I've tried searching online and come up empty-handed. Maybe it's just me? She's Not Really Comfortable... She spends most of her time with artists. She's an artist agent, and she represents some amazing people! And when she's with them, it's all very casual - never business attire, seldom dressy...

But one of her clients is going to have a show at a small, but very important museum, and she has to go make certain that all of the details are just right! So she's settling on a tidy, but quite vibrant, color palette...

She frankly doesn't own much that qualifies as business ... View the Post

Start with a Jacket: Travel Six-Pack

June 5, 2019

I saw her in O'Hare last week, wearing a deeply amazing and eye-catching jacket...

I've chosen NOT to use that jacket as the core of this wardrobe, because of both the price and limited availability. But it wasn't difficult to find another beautiful jacket in a bright and joyous mix of prints!

Destination: To Be Determined! She's going to Europe, but beyond that, nothing is definite. Maybe cool, maybe warm...

So she's dressing for the unexpected...

Since she's not sure where she's going to go (probably where the train tickets are least expensive!) she's packing small, and very versatile:

She's erring a bit on the dressy side, because she plans to sleep quite a bit, and do some very lovely ... View the Post

June 2019 -12 Months, 12 Outfits – based on 6 Hermes Scarves

June 3, 2019

I'm sitting in a kitchen in Washington DC right now, where it is HOT!!! Putting together outfits with summer dresses felt just right...

This just feels cool to look at, doesn't it?

I'm still smitten with this - maybe it's all the stripes?

While dresses aren't as versatile as separates, there are still at least a few options with any dress...

Still loving this color scheme...

Technically, they call this a kaftan, but let's not haggle over terminology...

All looking good...

One might wear this dress often in hot weather!

I still find this palette intriguing. It's not common, but it seems to work well!

Such a classic dress...

Even though this is an unusual ... View the Post

Start with Art: Persia by Helen Frankenthaler

May 31, 2019 Sun She had worked on the report for 3 months. But when she turned it in, she could still only see places where she wished that she had more time - she could have done so more!

So when she was called into the manager's office on Friday afternoon, she assumed that she was going to be given notice. She was pondering how to pack the things from her desk with the least disruption to the people around her...

Imagine her delight when she was praised for her efforts, given a hefty bonus, and told not to come back to the office for 10 days!

She's going somewhere warm. Just to sit outside, and maybe walk around a little bit. She wants to see birds swimming on a body of water, and watch little children ... View the Post

Start with Art: Farm near Duivendrecht by Piet Mondrian

May 29, 2019

Her farmhouse doesn't look quite like this...

Gradually... Since she inherited the farm, she's been trying to decide what to do... She rents the fields - she's NOT going to start farming when she retires!

But she is going to live there. Starting just before the end of the year - she will be there by Christmas! There's so much hiking, bird-watching, and just general relaxing there...

She has committed to work through the middle of December, but she wants to start moving NOW, and she has a fairly excellent idea. Why not take things up to the house every time she visits? Some winter clothes, some bedding, some books... If she takes a car-load every visit - say maybe 9 times before the final move - she will save ... View the Post

10 Ways to Wear a Denim (or Chambray) Shirt

May 27, 2019

I prefer chambray - it's more "shirt weight" fabric, but if you can find a lovely denim shirt, grab it! It should last forever... Might take a while to break in, but worth the effort, I'd say.

This shirt seems pretty versatile. If I could find one without chest pockets, I'd be happier, but sometimes, one must compromise just a bit, right?

I have a few thoughts about what to keep in mind when you get one of these shirts. These are, of course, just guidelines! But as I often suggest, simpler is better...

One of the easiest ways to wear this shirt is to pull it on like a jacket on cool evenings...

Maybe you feel TOO dressy? Or a cool breeze kicks up? Picture this shirt tied at the waist over this lovely ... View the Post

White Jeans? They’re Quite Versatile…

May 25, 2019

As I continue to minimize my wardrobe (it's going to take forever!), I try to make a point of keeping individual garments that are most versatile. That's not to say that every piece of clothing you own should be wearable 10 ways, but for core pieces it's worth considering.

I bought these a few weeks ago, to replace my old white jeans, which looked as if I'd worn them to clean... something disgusting...

(I don't consider replacing worn-out garments to be shopping, so by my rules, I haven't violated my "no shopping in 2019" plan! If you make your own rules, you NEVER break them, right?)

I have some thoughts about the "best" jeans to get - uncomplicated and easy to wear often without them being too memorable, or ... View the Post

Spring Travel: Pilgrim of the Absolute by Brian Fahlstrom

May 22, 2019 She's Very Excited... Her company is organizing a pilgrimage from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel! She's never been there... She's arranged for pilgrimages from Paris to Chartres, but this is new! (in an ancient kind of way!)

She's going to drive up from Paris, along the route the pilgrims will walk. She will stop to walk small segments of the route, to make sure that there aren't unexpected construction issues, or other blockages that will be a problem... And she needs to pack with a plan; her rental car is tiny!

Our heroine starts with her inspiration painting and color palette:

The weather will be warm when she lands in Paris, but she knows that she would be insane to fly without a cardigan or other warm layer; ... View the Post

May Travel: Knitting a Stocking by Sir Francis Grant

May 20, 2019 She Could Scream... but it wouldn't help... She's supposed to visit a client, to help them choose which software, and for how many people, they will buy. But she's being given shockingly little direction about how to prepare! So she channels her inner calm knitting woman:

She was told that the office is very casual.

She was told that the office is casual, but that she needs dressy clothes to meet with executives.

She was told that it was always really warm in the office.

She was told that they run the air conditioning so high that it's like a meat locker there.

AGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

She can do this...

When she arrives, she's just going to stop by the office to drop off her laptop and some information ... View the Post