As soon as I launched the newest Pantone Spring and Summer 2015 color scheme file (available here), someone asked me to do some work with the color of the year - Marsala. She had honed in on the black and khaki, and after a bit of discussion we agreed that the best 2nd accent color would be an unbleached linen/natural color. This is the palette we finally chose.
I started with black, of course! Sleeveless and short-sleeved, cropped pants and "normal" pants, and all from 3.1 Phillip Lim, just for ease of matchy-matchedness. You can, of course, find your four pieces from a different, less pricey, company, or mix them from a few different places.
Sleeveless top – 3.1 Phillip Lim, cropped trousers – 3.1 Phillip Lim,
tee shirt – 3.1 Phillip Lim, trousers - 3.1 Phillip Lim
In fact, in order to find four pieces in khaki, I went to a couple of different sources. Once you've chosen a color scheme, you sometimes have to do some digging, or just be patient, in order to get the items you really want!
Short-sleeved blouse – Uniqlo, cropped pants – Uniqlo,
cardigan – Chinti and Parker, skirt – Celine Vintage
This is the part of this wardrobe that feels particularly summery to me. And a lacy top can be worn with jeans - don't let anybody tell you otherwise!
Crinkled tee – A.P.C., off-white jeans – Uniqlo,
sleeveless lace top – Dorothy Perkins, sweat skirt – Uniqlo
But HERE'S where things got difficult - if Marsala is really the color of the year, it's doing a heck of a time hiding from the general public! I finally remembered that Lands' End always carries a really good assortment that they call burgundy - for school uniforms! But these pieces are as close as I could find to the slightly more brown/less purple Marsala... And one thing you know - these will ALL go together, they aren't going out of style, and they're well made. So if you're interested in this color, try looking for burgundy, maroon, oxblood, dark red...
Tee shirt – Lands’ End, long-sleeved tee – Lands’ End,
cardigan – Lands’ End, short-sleeved twill shirt – Lands’ End
This wardrobe is great for jewelry - just keep thinking "garnet, onyx, pearl, gold" and you're in safe territory. Not too many scarves, this time of year, though...
(note - the Argento Vivo brcelet comes eight colors, including a delicious turquoise and amazing dark silver pyrite)
Cotton striped and checked scarf – Krama Heritage, ruby crystal earrings – YooLa, black crystal
earrings – H. Azeem, pearl earrings – Militza Ortiz, onyx and mother of pearl bracelet – Frieda
Rothman,red agate bracelet – Argento Vivo, Initial disc necklace – Nashelle, pearl necklace –
Judith Jack, square scarf – Hermes De la Mer au Ciel
These are your sixteen pieces of clothing. This would make a smashing, simple suitcase, or an easy wardrobe for a summer spent in a location not terribly hot, and where you occasionally are going to dress up. Substitute a pair of shorts for a skirt, or a tank top for a long-sleeved tee, as needed...
I was going to show a handful of outfits with accessories, but I felt strongly that it was important to show the enormous number of possibilities available from just a small selection of well-chosen pieces of clothing. By my calculations, this ensemble should give you at least 100 different options! Add in a black cardigan, a couple of pair of shorts and a tank top or two - you'd be set for the entire summer.
I imagine packing a bag like this and then just taking the train from place to place, all over Europe, from now until the cold weather sets in...
sigh...
love,
Janice
Looking Back:
2014: 2 dozen = 12 dozen, at least
2013: A Simple Black, White and Bright Blue wardrobe, with accessories
2012: Imaginary shopping: basics, in blue
2011: A different criteria for my possessions