Professional Help and The Perfect Paris Wardrobe
Many, many thanks to Karen who spent a few hours with me yesterday helping to weed through my closet and clear out many more of those “not quite” items, and helping me see new ways to style and wear some items that have been languishing needlessly. We did a lot of work but had a great time (fueled by Mimosas, bien sur!). Even if you’ve spent years honing and refining your wardrobe, I’d recommend working with Karen or an image consultant near you periodically to help get a fresh perspective on items in your wardrobe and how they can work together.
It’s such a freeing feeling to let go of those items that really don’t work, or those that never made it beyond “lukewarm” territory. (And there were still quite a few of those taking up physical and mental space even after my Phase I purge.) Those cropped jackets evocative of the early 60’s that I love so much…they’ll look better on someone else. That cute-but-bulky black cotton sweater with the wide sleeves…buh bye! Karen’s pics and explanations here really bring home why these pieces weren’t doing me any favors! (She has a great eye when it comes to this stuff, and the ability to explain exactly why something works or not…check out her post.)
Even more satisfying was finding new ways to style pieces that I love but that weren’t living up to their full potential. One of those was a classic navy Italian wool blazer that I’d purchased a few years ago and had hardly ever worn. I appreciated the classic styling, the great fabric and details, and how it fits Just Right. But every time I put it on and looked in the mirror, I saw Thurston Howell III.
Karen added a sparkly brooch, a scarf, paired it with some jeans and an olive green sweater and a star was born! My jacket has gone from stodgy to chic.
Best of all, we had a blast! Karen is so great to work with, and didn’t let me devolve into anxiety about “problem” body parts. Despite all of my “you-go-girl-ism” of recent years, I still have a hard time seeing my curvy figure as a positive. But Karen pointed out that my saddlebags hips balance out my bust and shoulders, and that wearing fitted clothing that defines my shape really does help me to look slimmer, more balanced and pulled together.
Once I’d collected quite a pile of items to sell or give away and we’d done some re-styling of what remained, it was time to put together my travel wardrobe for Paris. In my mind’s eye, I’d pictured a grey-charcoal-black foundation with some scarves for pops of color. I started laying out the monochromatic pieces I’d planned to take but Karen had other ideas. She began pulling some other items out of my closet, and put together an utterly fantastic capsule wardrobe with quite a bit more color, but still very much within my comfort zone. Most of the pieces coordinate with each other, and allow for ensembles for just about any situation from picnicking along Canal St. Martin to museum hopping to a nice dinner. (Click on picture to enlarge if you like.)
-Jackets: Navy wool blazer, black leather walking coat.
-Tops: Charcoal and black silk tanks; black, green, aubergine and burnt orange long sleeved tees.
-Bottoms: Black and dark blue straight-leg jeans, black pencil skirt, black tights.
-Sweaters: Olive and black Talbot’s pintuck merino sweaters.
-Shoes: Black patent Cole Haan walking loafers, Ecco pointy-toed Mary Janes.
-Accessories: Hermès “Walk in the Park” silk scarf (my fall favorite), mauve ruffled wool scarf, leopard lightweight silk scarf, black pashmina-style shawl (for airplane warmth and possible dressy evening), Miu Miu crossbody bag (converts to satchel for evening), Gerard Darel faux pearl necklace, watch, 2 pair glasses, gold brooch, large CZ drop earrings (not pictured).
I’m ready to start packing!
~
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 United States License.
Stay in touch
Sign up to be notified of new posts and updates from une femme d’un certain âge.
I’m imagining that your overall wardrobe reflects this capsule one — that is, at home over the next year, or in Paris next week, you’ll easily be able to put together outfits knowing that everything you’re working with flatters you and makes you feel good. Bravo!
Your “new” wardrobe looks great, and this is a big help for me – I’m packing for a week-long trip this morning, though my destination (Chicago area) isn’t quite so glamourous, I’m using your list as a guide. Usually I over-pack and end up wearing about half of what I take, so thank you for this. And, have a wonderful trip!
That is a beautiful wardrobe and comfy. I confess I’d sneak in a pair of yoga pants or a long knit skirt – not to wear outside, of course, but to hang out in the rental apt when very tired.
I’m glad Karen didn’t go overboard with bright colours, as they can look really wrong in Paris for cultural reasons as well as climate and ambient light. The touches of colour are just perfect.
The problem for some of us, of course, is how to find things that fit over an ample bosom or bum that are NOT boxy.
pseu can even rent a Vel’ib with her dark jeans! (Or a skirt, but I woudn’t advice cycling in a pencil skirt unless one has a LOT of experience, and is probably born in Copenhagen or Amsterdam…)
Great.
You are going to look awesome on your trip. Karen really did a superb job.
Excited by your travel wardrobe but even more delighted to hear you got rid of so-so items. (Ever reflect on what you were thinking or how you were feeling when you bought those jackets? I want to get that radar while shopping.)
I’d pack more jewelry…oh wait, you can buy some there 😉
I always enjoy your blog, but especially today as I am spending a week in Paris this winter. Your capsule wardrobe seems just right and I will definitely be using it as a guide when I do my own packing. Bon voyage!
Unsurprisingly, amazing results from your partnership with Karen!
Love love love those colors you are bringing on your trip. You will be both sophisticated *and* glowing as you adventure….
I had to laugh at the crossed-out “saddlebags”!
lovely final outcome on your wardrobe but, if it were me,i would definitely have to bring another pair of jeans. but, if one is purchasing more on the trip i guess that will suffice. i have paired down on recent trips but, seeing this sparse wardrobe will make me rethink packing in february.
have a wonderful day.
Looking good! Great wardrobe for Paris and look forward to knowing what you wore each day (and also there is room left for filling up with clothes BOUGHT whilst there too!)
I already commented in Karen´s blog, that you two managed very well in creating a fine Paris wardrobe. I only wish ( cause you have that gold brooch and gold in your miu miu bag ), that you would find a pair of black pumps with gold in the heels from Paris! But this is just my opinion, I just caught carried away.. I know how refreshening it is to get rid of stuff from the closet. It is nearly a better feeling than getting something in 😉
So glad you two had such a blast, and that you are liberated from the bonds of “meh” closet-lurkers.
You were such a good customer, my ideal! I can’t wait to hear how you mixed n matched these pieces each day in Paris! Thanks for the fun, friendship and Mimosas! Your family is so wonderful.
This is fabulous. I really like your Paris wardrobe and will go over to check out her blog asap.
metscan – if I find I need a pair of pumps, I’m sure I will have no trouble finding them in Paris! Actually the mary janes have a little bit of a wedge heel to work with the skirt.
materfamilias – actually yes, it’s pretty much a larger version of this. The great thing is that it feels so much more workable now!
Sal – those “meh” lurkers are really dangerous! They help keep one focused on what isn’t working rather than what is.
Karen – thanks again! I can’t begin to tell you how helpful this was!
Rita – me too! I always take much more than I wear, and the crazy thing is so much of it looks the same. Here I get so much variety from just a few pieces. Have a great trip to CHI.
lagatta – I tend to lounge in either my jeans or PJ’s at home, so anitipcate if any lounging is to be done, I’m covered. 🙂
LPC – thanks! Karen deserves all of the credit here.
Belle – yes she absolutely did! She really pulled together a group of seemingly disparate items that all work together.
Duchesse – I think my attraction to the cropped, boxy jackets was that they were more “feminine” than more tailored menswear cuts. But I’ve seen that it’s really in how you combine and style them, and a traditional nipped-in blazer cut is SO much better for me.
Charlotte – glad this is helpful! You’ll probably need to include a few more/heavier items for warmth, but it’s amazing how few things one actually needs.
Sher – thanks!
Vix – these are all of my best/favorite colors, too! This is going to be fun.
Tessa-Scoffs – our only regret is that we didn’t have anyone around to take a picture of us together to commemorate. We had a great time!
WendyB – glad to provide some Monday humor.
LBR – she’s really a natural at this. I learned a lot!
Erin – I’m fighting my urge to bring one more pair of jeans, but keep reminding myself that we are staying in an apartment with a washing machine, so I can always wash one pair mid-week.
Anoninoz – yes, it’s good to have room in the suitcase to bring back gifts!
Bonjour Madame – thank you! Karen’s blog is very lively and informative.
Great wardrobe basics with spots of color for personality! Have so much fun on your trip!
pseu, I think there are tribes of people who lounge in pyjamas and nightgowns, and other tribes who never do… Dunno why. I really only wear those to bed (and we won’t go into details about when). I can’t lounge about in pjs anyway as I’m a triple-d (or f-g) and even when I was 20 years old with a 20-inch waist was something like 32dd.
And I’m NOT comfy in jeans if I’m tired or have eaten something that disagrees with me. Sure, I soldier on in public, but home is where one scratches where it itches. I also like to do stretching exercises even when on holiday, just for suppleness. One gets plenty of the weight-bearing or losing kind of exercise walking in Paris.
Another factor in the crop jackets is that they just have a collar, not lapels, which can look ghastly if we are busty. My favourite jackets are jeans jackets – I work in a milieu where jeans jackets in black or brown denim look fine (with a skirt, not jeans). I’ve been feeling very cool indeed in my black jeans jacket with a genuine silver rose brooch and a silk scarf!
This will be exciting and fun. Shoes and jeans are among the heaviest things you can take, so should be pared down. Here we have the problem of our horrid, heavy winter boots. I usually put up with my European-weight boots or closed shoes and shiver homewards after landing.
Well done. I must say I’m THRILLED you bought the black sweater from Talbots. I think it is so chic and with your black pencil skirt you have a LBD.
Great post. So fun to read both your and Karen’s version.
I am going right over to Karen’s to learn more about your perfect Paris wardrobe. This is so cool and how wonderful that you found some buried treasure in your closet.
Your day and your post are very inspiring! The lesson about the boxy jacket is especially to me. I need to pull out a couple of items and check them, if you know what I mean. 🙂
Wow – great capsule for Paris and excellent work with Karen on getting the boxy out of the closet!
Very nice! I checked out her website, and you look fantastic in your new ensemble. I completely concur with your appreciation of that boxy fifties Mad Men silhouette–but I don’t fit that period look either…I am relatively petite but with quite an extreme hip-to- waist ratio (read large caboose) and unless I get to have a waist in my clothes, I look like a dumpy pillar of fabric. I think the short fifties jackets with the straight skirts were the most unforgiving styles in the history of fashion. You are going to look soooo good in Paris!!
Nicely done! Have a great time in Paris.
C’est Fantastique!
lagatta – for me, the lapels and v-neck cut of the jacket do seem to minimize my bustline. I guess it’s that diagonal line that draws the eye up and down. I have a favorite denim jacket that I will mourn when it finally wears out. It looks great on and is a perfect casual topper.
tish – thank you! I did take your advice to get a nice black sweater to wear with the skirt, and am quite happy with the combination.
Imogen – it was SO helpful having Karen there to help go through all of these items. It really reinforced what you taught us in the workshop. I’ve learned so much from the both of you!
SewingLibrarian – those cropped jackets were something I was just not able to be objective about, because I love that vintage look. Seeing Karen’s pictures with the difference between the two styles really nailed it for me.
Katriona – one thing that I’ve really noticed is that the one curvy woman on Mad Men (Joan) doesn’t have a single boxy item in her wardrobe. Everything is very fitted, and works with her body. I wish I had her costumer (but I’ll skip the girdles!).
Marieanne – thank you very much!
Couture Allure – you’re coming to CA??? Will you be in the LA area? Would love to meet you!
Miss Janey – merci beaucoup!
I love your capsule wardrobe for Paris! It is a perfect guide for when I travel to CA later this year. Thank you for sharing!
I’m heading into my closet! It’s so hard to figure out what the discards should be. Perhaps the travel mode works the best: pull out the good stuff and then look at what is left behind.
This is going to come in so handy for our trip to Paris in May this year. I am guessing that the weather may be a tad warmer than when you went. Have you visited there in May at all? If so I would love to have some pointers as to weather-appropriate apparel, please. Thank you so much. Love your blog as always!
Writing Instinct – our first Paris trip was in early May, and actually the weather was slightly cooler and wetter than both of our October trips. Be prepared for some rain…I had a Mycra-Pac rain shell that came in handy the day we went to Versailles, and the rest of the time in town did quite well with my thigh-length leather coat. Temperatures were in the 50’s-low 60’s during the day.