Hermes scarf Archives - Page 2 of 12

Can You Really Travel with Only SIX Pieces of Clothing? I’m Going to Find Out…

Yes, I am going back to Paris on Tuesday...

It's a combination of a free plane ticket, a really inexpensive hotel (I'll tell you all about that when I'm back!) and a bone-deep yearning to see holiday decorations in another country.

But more than anything, I'm really eager to see how completely... unfettered? light? I can feel while traveling. Normally, there's the suitcase and the carry-on, and maybe a handbag, and while I know that this is necessary, I don't feel relaxed when I have these things to corral and transport. I want to be focused on external things - other people, mostly, and be able to put my own "stuff" out of my mind.

This isn't impossible - one could, in theory, go almost any place that has similar weather with just the ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits – December 2017

The last month of these wardrobes! Although these outfits might not be exactly what our assorted heroines most need, we're going dressy - just because we can...

There's a world of lovely velvet around this year - take advantage of this chance to stock up! I'm particularly taken with the idea of a black velvet skirt - Lands' End has one that's lovely...

This wardrobe has a unique character - just those few pieces of that rusty color make so much difference!

As always, the new pieces we've added work well with what was already in the closet:

Oh, these pants are SO lovely.... sigh....

This woman has such a distinctive style; is she blonde, you imagine?

The sleeves on this sweater make so much difference...

How much fun ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits – November 2017

Maybe it's because the temperature plummeted this last week in Chicago... I decided that I'd find some winter coats for all of our heroines! Nary a black coat in the bunch...

Black would have been obvious here, so I went with grey instead! Yes, this might need to be cleaned more often - that's the biggest drawback to a light winter coat. If you get splashed with slush/muck/salty water, your coat could be ruined if it isn't cleaned promptly!

Everything new fits in very well...

Adding a new coat doesn't really add new outfits to your wardrobe, but the scarf does give you some options:

This is a coat that you would NEVER wear walking on city streets, but if your don't have that problem you could wear this pretty outfit and be snug all ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits – October 2017

For new readers, on the first of the month (or for the first blog post of the month!) I have been working on this series - I start with six Hermes scarves, and then choose the same general outfit six times, based on the colors of the scarves. I keep accumulating the clothing chosen, and gradually build really amazingly interesting capsule wardrobes in six different color schemes.

Even though the weather is still relatively mild in Chicago, I'm ready for some sweaters! And some corduroy pants... Yes. I know that they make that schwooping noise when you walk. And yes, they tend to wear out between the thighs before any place else start to look worn. But nothing takes color (except maybe silk velvet...) with the same intensity, and nothing ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits – September 2017

These files are massive, and these posts take forever, but I LOVE them...

For my new readers, the thesis is this: I start with six Hermes scarves, and over the course of a year (on the first day of each month) I choose an outfit based on the colors of the scarf. I accumulate all of these outfits through the course of the year, and thus assemble a pretty excellent (if I do say so myself!) wardrobe...

Please note that I was able to find current links (current as of end of day Wednesday August 30th) for ALL of the scarves - outside of the US, but still available! If you've got serious whappage for one of these scarves, please don't hesitate to call an Hermes store - anywhere - and ask if they can help you get one. They're clearly still ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits – August 2017

Although most of us in the Northern Hemisphere still have at least 8 weeks of hot weather in front of us, you can't tell it by what's in the stores. Cashmere, leather goods, lots of winter coats... Sigh...

But the August outfit last year, and again this year, is oriented to the season ahead:

As always, I like to see how the newest additions look when arrayed with the earlier pieces in each wardrobe:

It's always wise to make certain that you can wear any new garment in at least 3 different ways, so I like to check on this too!

I went a bit mad dressy here... sigh...

Such lovely colors...

I went a bit overboard here too, I suspect...

The brooch costs more than everything else in the outfit combined... VERY ... View the Post

Pantone Fall 2017 “New” Colors, and Ways to Try Them

It's time again for that most amusing of events - the announcement of "new" colors for the upcoming season!

Of course we know better than to envision that there could be a "new" color (can you imagine how thrilling that would be?), but I do think that the release of these colors is a good time to look at our wardrobes with a clear eye and an open mind. Would a new accent color - maybe just for a season or two, maybe for longer - be of benefit to us? This time of year, as our warm-weather clothes begin to feel... old? and tired, a couple of new accessories might be just the ticket to get us through until the return of cold weather! See if any of these appeal... Grenadine A bit more "orange-ish" than a true red, this is a cheery and ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits – July 2017

This is a month for shoring up some basic tee shirts and getting a last pair of shorts (and sandals!) before the stores are full of cashmere sweaters. (shortly after July 4th, typically...) I toss in a necklace that's not madly expensive - this is the time of year to indulge in something that's not a big investment, and that might even qualify as a trend or fad. If you're ever going to follow fashion, a summer accessory is a good choice!

Five of the six wardrobes got a nice clean white tee shirt, to wear weekly until it falls to pieces from a combination of sweat and sunscreen... in madly hot weather, sometimes there's nothing nicer than plain, simple, classic white.

(FYI, the new Hermes scarves are on their website. Go. Be tempted, or ... View the Post

A Birthday Surprise for a Special Girl…

My great-niece is a big fan of pink and purple, so this flashback is for her... I was delighted to note that a few of these pieces are still available!

Look closely at the scarf - do you see the horses with the riders on them? You might want to do some enlarging...

This was a pretty great wardrobe - chock full of cheerful bright colors and a few really bold prints! It requires a certain woman, but she would certainly stand out in any crowd!

Sorry to spring 2 "flash backs" on you on 2 consecutive days, but when I was reminded of Kiki's birthday, I could NOT avoid pink and purple. It's a little girl imperative!

love, Janice ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits – June 2017

I hope that this was worth the extra day's wait!

First off, all of the scarves are sold out at Hermes. If you're really madly eager to have one of them, let me know and I'll see if I can help you to find it in the secondary market.

In this month's wardrobe building, everybody's shopping for a dress (not necessarily something really "dressy") and the necessary accessories...

First up, I'm mad tempted by this simple black dress! I can see myself wandering around downtown in this... sigh...

And kindly notice the linear quality of the sandals, echoed by the striped tote! My days are made when such discoveries fall into place...

Halfway through the year, this is our heroine's wardrobe:

And just to demonstrate how versatile these pieces ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits – May 2017

Hurrah!!! I always enjoy this day so much.... There's not going to be tons of narrative this month - I've chosen the new outfits and accessories, assembled the really amazingly cool wardrobes that are coming together, and ALSO showing six additional ways to wear the 3 new pieces that are added. If I wrote too much smart-aleck commentary, you'd be here until June...

Please note - four of the six original scarves are sold out on the US website, but that doesn't mean that getting the scarf you love is impossible. If you are smitten with one of the sold-out scarves, call an Hermès boutique - anywhere - and ask if they can find one somewhere, in someone's inventory, for you. They're really very lovely... (and I get nothing from Hermès... ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe in 12 Months, 12 Outfits – February 2017

I'm back in time to work on this! I'm so happy... I love these growing wardrobes...

For reference, and just to savor, these are our scarves around which we're building our wardrobes:

As always, I have to remind you that you don't have to buy an Hermès scarf (or any scarf at all!) to use this approach to building a wardrobe. Just choose any focal item, or color scheme, and start from there! And if you do want an Hermès scarf, you certain don't have to buy one new - there are a number of reputable secondhand sellers on the internet. If you're unsure about something you're considering, send me a note!

Here's a link to last month, if you want to flash back to the January items...

This black, grey and brown wardrobe is going to be so ... View the Post