accessories Archives - Page 15 of 33

Build an Accessory Wardrobe 1 Piece at a Time: Soir d’Octobre by Maurice Denis

January 6, 2017

Yesterday's capsule wardrobe based on Soir d'Octobre was pretty great, but we can't just leave our imaginary heroine like this:

Let's remember our inspiration:

So let's work step by step - just as we did yesterday - and add all of the essential accessories (and a few fun ones) to this wardrobe.

First, one must have shoes! This time of year, a pair of short boots is a nice warm choice:

sweater - L.L.Bean; shirt - Lands' End; leather pants - J.Crew; Top boots – Rockport; middle - Aerosoles; bottom – Ariat

I know that many women would want a handbag immediately, but for me, I don't feel dressed unless I'm wearing earrings!

Here, I decided to test-drive the theory that I ... View the Post

How Much Can Accessories Affect Your Capsule Wardrobe?

November 30, 2016

Someone sent me this painting a few days ago, and the first thing that I noticed (after just generally admiring the lovely art) was the touches of teal and cool brown accent:

And I have to let you know that this painting set a record last week for the highest auction price EVER for a Canadian painting. Well worth it, in my opinion...

I was intrigued with the idea of a very conservative, mostly navy and grey wardrobe, accented with those two surprising accent colors. So I started with a few pieces, including a navy pantsuit. If you're looking for suit separates, I highly recommend Talbots - they have a variety of colors and fabrics.

Let's start with these basics - this is literally a Wardrobe Slot ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Proserpine by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

October 5, 2016

Ah, you've seen this before, I'm sure:

But did you know that Rossetti was working with a model who really LOOKS like this? Her name was Jane Morris; she was married to William Morris, the textile designer... (see the teal and black scarf below for one of his designs!)

What do you do if this kind of aesthetic appeals to you TREMENDOUSLY, but you live a very normal, ordinary life that doesn't involve having 3 feet of madly waving hair, or standing around all day in swishy velvet dresses, brooding over a pomegranate?

A few small additions might help channel that feeling for you...

As I did yesterday, let's start with a very simple wardrobe of extremely neutral garments that ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Color Palette – A Hint of Hibiscus, with Six Neutrals

September 30, 2016 Okay, this color does more than hint... but it's not as overpowering as some hot pink shades can be. There's a world full of colors, if you have the patience to look for it; it's possible to find just the right one!

The manufacturer calls this "Neon Geranium," but I've never seen a geranium this color! And I have seen hibiscus, at my mother's home, exactly this color...

It's easy to see how a fondness for this color could start with a sudden desire for a beautiful tote bag... And for what it's worth, this isn't a bad color to love; it looks good on a lot of people, and I found it pretty easy to combine with all of the neutrals in question. So if you're tempted, it's worth making a plan!

Tee – J.Crew; ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Color Palette – A Sprig of Shamrock, with Six Neutrals

September 29, 2016 Why yes, I'm Irish... I've lived in Dublin! I love it there...

For some reason, the images arrived here in the blog post in a different order than usual! Ah, the wonders of computers...Frankly, this color was very difficult to find in scarves, so I thought that this would be a good opportunity to investigate the possibilities of fine jewelry. If you were born in May, maybe an emerald or two could be in your future?

This combination is unexpected, but I think it works...

earrings – John Hardy; cardigan - Kettlewell; grey tee – J. Crew; pants – J. Crew; clutch – Red(V); loafers - Patricia Green; necklace - Effy; grey cardigan – J. Crew; ring – John Hardy; sweater - ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Color Palette – A Touch of Turquoise, with Six Neutrals

September 28, 2016

If I were to advise you, sight unseen, to try an accent color, this would be the one! It's not TOO bright, it goes well with everything, and it flatters most people. Plus it's pretty readily available in all kinds of garments and accessories - what's not to love!

But I struggled to find a "nice enough for you" pair of shoes in this color, so I'm opting to include a clutch bag. When you think about it, a clutch or other small bag in an accent color adds some color to your outfit without being worn near your face, and won't break the bank. If you want to retire the accent color after a season or two, you just pack your accent pieces away for a few seasons... A clutch, wallet, or cross-body bag isn't going to ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Color Palette – A Bit of Bright Blue, with Six Neutrals

September 27, 2016 I love this color! To some of us, it's still quite a flashback to the '80s, but we shouldn't let that keep us from wearing it...

sweater – Lands’ End; cardigan – Lands’ End; loafers – Nine West

Yes, the sweaters are a twin-set. You don't ever in your life have to wear the 2 pieces together, if you don't want to. But it wouldn't be crazy to make certain that both of your accents garments are compatible, if only so that you know that your accessory choices work equally well with each piece.And you might want to wear a twin-set some day. Crazier things have happened!

This bright blue with the olive brightens up the outfits quite a bit. For someone who adores olive but who finds it ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Color Palette – A Soupçon of Scarlet, with Six Neutrals

September 26, 2016 You asked for "soupçon," you get it!

If you're going to have a red sweater, why not a cozy cashmere cardigan? This is one of those garments that you could keep forever, and wear it mostly for Christmas and Valentine's Day, but there are a lot of other times when it could be just the ticket. Some gloomy day in November, when the sun has never shone...

First up, scarlet and olive! This is a combination that might veer too far into the Christmas-y, if the green is too bright. (Which isn't a problem, unless you don't like the look.) However, this olive green mutes those holiday associations, and provides a good base for the brightness of the scarlet.

I've worn red with grey for ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Color Palette – A Pinch of Plum, with Six Neutrals

September 16, 2016 Depending upon whom you consult, this is NOT plum. However, I like it, and so for now we're going to roll with it... There are going to be more colors in this series, so some other interpretations of plum in a capsule wardrobe are entirely possible!

Purple is an interesting color in shops; a great deal of what's available looks very... goth? Sort of like you're living on the fringes of normal society? Just plain strange? It's such a pity, because purple is a lovely color, and goes so well with all of our neutrals.(I've had a deep fondness for the "stitchworks" L.L.Bean cardigan for years. I'm really happy that I've finally found a good place to show it to you!)

I was REALLY ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Color Palette – A Touch of Teal, with Six Neutral Colors

September 15, 2016

Sigh... there are NO teal foods. If a food is teal, it's a genetic mutation, or a scary misuse of food coloring!So we've abandoned my very fun food theme for post titles, but the general concept of accenting neutral outfits holds true. And teal is SO pretty in the capsule wardrobe...

The teal tee shirt has a slightly different neckline than usual, and it's tunic-length. We like to keep some options available!

I wasn't at all sure how olive and teal would be together, but I could cheerfully wear either of these outfits (and olive isn't a good color for me...) Remember, when looking for scarves, to check out the men's departments. Why some scarves are only for men is a mystery to me...

I don't know ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Color Palette – A Dash of Cinnamon, with 6 Neutral Colors

September 14, 2016 I found some lovely things in that russet color that was so elusive... And it occurred to me, again, that garments that aren't in the same fabrics don't have to be the precise same color! This tee shirt and cardigan would look gorgeous together in a capsule wardrobe:

This is a great combination:

I wasn't at ALL sure how this would work, but keeping silver metal in the jewelry made all the difference...

These colors worked wonderfully together; I particularly like this scarf. It's more of a blend of close colors than any exact matching.

Here's a case of 2 colors that are opposites on the color wheel, and which are therefore MADE for ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Color Palette – A Dab of Mustard, with 6 Neutral Colors

September 13, 2016

I'm still looking for nice pieces in rust (russet? warm red?), so I decided to skip that color for now and head directly into deep gold!What to call this color? When you're searching for things like this online, try gold, yellow, mustard, and saffron, for a start; I'm sure that there are lots of outlandish color names that I missed. Why do companies believe that calling something "burnished autumn" is going to help potential buyers find their stuff?

This isn't an easy color to wear, but it's present in so many school colors that you see it fairly often in the US in the autumn. (if you're from outside the US, please note that many people here take high school and college football - American football - very ... View the Post