Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature
February 1, 2014
One of the best questions I've ever received... One of my friends really loves this plate, and wondered if it would be a good basis upon which to choose clothes. Heck, if you can use a painting, you can surely use a beautiful piece of pottery... Look for beautiful shades of blue and green, with beautiful soft white (or brown) neutrals...
love, Janice ... View the Post
January 30, 2014 My life - wardrobe-wise - is now an interesting contrast between being in gym clothes, or leisure clothes, for much of my time, and then every now and then I have to look like I belong in a business meeting or a dinner party... Apparently I'm not at all alone, because many people have asked me about how to have a coherent wardrobe strategy when you dress for such a wide variety of activities. So I chose one of the very beautiful paintings suggested to me, and went to work. This painting is an innovative combination of accent colors, some interesting asymmetry, and a wide range of grey through beige and taupe neutrals. First up - the gym! Being able to use grey as a neutral is ... View the Post
For quite a while, I've described my personal style as La Valise de la Garçonne, aka The Tomboy's Suitcase. I try to remind myself that I really don't need clothing much beyond what I would pack for my next trip, and that as much as I'd like to be a classy, elegant, lady-like creature, I'm much more likely to be the person who climbs up the ladder and fixes the broken gizmo than I am to be the prim princess with the clipboard supervising the process...
I've just recent stumbled upon the perfect painting to express my colors and overall feeling that I want to accomplish in my wardrobe: Two Sisters with a Cello, by Marie Laurencin. I can't actually SHOW you the painting, because I can't afford to buy rights to use an ... View the Post
January 15, 2014 I'd never heard of this artist until just a few days ago, but I'm so delighted to have been introduced to his work. This painting made me look for warm textury shades of russet and rust, as well as wavy misty greeny/bluey tan clouds in the sky. Basically I made up some words, but the potential within this painting is amazing.
I love the range of possibilities offered when you look at these outfits as separates, combined into a wardrobe...
love, Janice ... View the Post
January 7, 2014 Many readers asked me to work with a Picasso painting, and I happily oblige. These outfits are based on beige, just as the painting is literally on a beige background. Accents of red, orange, yellow, a touch of green, and you're set for almost anything! My guiding adjectives for this project were warm, saturated, and clear, with unexpected bursts of bright against the toasty neutral.
This is a wardrobe that could see someone through much of the summer!
love,
Janice ... View the Post
January 3, 2014
This painting is currently at the Art Institute of Chicago, as part of the Celia and David Hilliard Collection exhibit. I'm not sure if it's oil - I suspect it might be pastel - but it captivates me immediately...My impressions from this were of warmth, and simplicity - clear lines and powdery soft colors, with matte finishes.
“A Mysterious Hand Leads to Another Path” – Jan Toorop, blue topaz ring – Zayd Makarim, blue linen tee shirt – Isabel Marant Etoile, natural linen shorts – Comme des Garcons, denim blue sandals – Popet seafoam linen dress – Paul Smith, scarf – U-NI-TY, silver sandals – Dr. Scholl’s
“A Mysterious Hand Leads to Another Path” – Jan ... View the Post
September 30, 2013 This is such a great painting - simple, but beautifully balanced and whimsical, with a wonderful usage of multiple shades of green. Many people find green hard to wear, but if it looks good on you, I say wear it often, and with a smile. From this painting, I drew primarily the idea of looking for a lot of different shades of green, and of balancing the outfits through the strategic use of green accessories... Does anybody else remember reading a book - maybe as a child in the '60's - that included a character named Mrs. Moss? She was a schoolteacher, and she ALWAYS wore green? It's tickling around in the back of my head, and I can't figure out if I really read this, or if it ... View the Post
September 24, 2013 This painting made me think of subdued yet strong colors - both warm and cool. Intensely pigmented, but muted in brightness... It was a beautiful challenge.
Cardigan – A. F. Vandevorst, jeans – Brunello Cucinelli, bag –nada, loafer – Trotters, gold silk blouse – Lanvin, pearl necklace – Majorica, skirt – Deborah Drucker, high-vamp pumps - Trotters
Stud earrings- Linda Friedrich Jewelry, Blouse –Marc by Marc Jacobs, jeans – Uniqlo, ballet flats – Sofft, taupe tunic – Maison Martin Margiela 4, pleated skirt – Uniqlo, triangle earrings- Robert Rose, belt – Halogen, pumps - ... View the Post
July 8, 2013 This painting was suggested by a reader, and I'm so happy to have been given the chance to study this in greater detail. I love the contrast of warm and cold colors, the blues and purples contrasted with the acid light green and warm tans...
love, Janice ... View the Post
July 1, 2013 This painting is so beautiful - the first thing that struck me was the clean simplicity of it. So I was initially drawn to cool, somewhat architectural clothes, of course in blue...
Pearl earrings – Kate Wood, Dress – Kenzo, Pumps – Stuart Weitzman, Mesh jacquard top – Kenzo, Linen pants – Organic by John Patrick, Grey bag – Lacambra, Silver sandals – Riudavets More blue - still simple, clean, with silver accents.
Dress – Suno, Bag – Joanna Maxham, Sandals – Aldo, Sweater – Acne, Cropped jeans – Girl by Band of Outsiders, Bag – Les Envers, Flowered canvas flats – Dorothy Perkins I loved this ... View the Post
June 20, 2013
So very simple. Tall, austere, lean, yet radiant. Vertical is balanced with the striations of the sky. Soft, cloudy, stormy around the edges, luminous throughout. A lifetime of personal style inspiration could easily come from this... A stunning dress, with simple earrings, pumps, and a structured bag. A casual tee shirt dress, with shoes and a necklace that echo the sky in our inspirational painting.
A cloudy grey coat, with soft suede boots and a stormy sky scarf, or a lacy dress with some dark accents, a soft and flowing wrap, and skylit shoes. Even the earrings are lacy!
Another sleek dress with simple silvery accessories, or maybe a ... View the Post
