Thursday, November 28, 2024

Common wardrobe to festive frolics

The Vivienne Files recently did a travel wardrobe post for somewhere "snowy and brisk", using classic but casual navy and grey clothes, and jazzed up with burgundy for the holidays. 

While my main mode of travel is tiny packing (mainly lightweight clothing that can be squeezed into a backpack), it would be fun to imagine a wider set of options, say for a road trip. Or if checking a bigger bag was an option (and somebody else paid for it). A purse that doesn't have to be flat-packed? A nice hat? Count me in.

So let's start with the VF "common wardrobe." (You can see the original version at that link.) Here are the closest things I could find from my own closet (mostly thrifted):

Navy crewneck pullover, grey vest (not a sweater vest because I don't have one, but this is close), navy boucle blazer/cardigan
Three long-sleeved t-shirts
I might swap one of the solid-colour t-shirts for a striped one, or pack a striped sweater instead of the solid navy one.
Three shirts. I do have a striped shirt much like the one in the VF photograph, but I'm swapping in a vintage flannel check shirt.
Three pairs of pants. The grey pants here are a bit lightweight and loungey. In real life, if I didn't have a more solid pair of grey ones, I might take another pair of navy pants.
So those are the common-dozen clothes. The next thing in the VF story is a travel outfit. I was able to come pretty close with a top, sweater, hat and scarf.
Here's the bottom half of the travel outfit: jeans, boots, tote bag, gloves.
And a coat; not my heaviest all-blizzard one. I thought this jacket would be a bit dressier, if the heroine is not planning on playing in the snow (or digging out of a snowstorm).

Following the additions and options in the VF story, we have a dark red cardigan (looks brighter in the photo, but it should be more of a ruby colour); a boiled-wool vest (subbing for the quilted version in the story); the flannel shirt; a scarf; and (below) the navy cords and a pair of burgundy lace-up shoes. I don't think it would have probably occurred to me to put all these things together in real life, but I will give it a shot if the opportunity comes up.

Another suggested outfit: the grey pants and vest, jean shirt, boots, and a blue and white scarf.
The VF heroine has a burgundy corduroy shirt dress, which isn't like anything I own. However, I do have an eggplant fleece dress with a high neck.
The dress can be worn under this vintage handmade paisley shirt-jacket. The purse doesn't look very good in the photo (the colour seems to be off), but it's better in real life. I photographed this outfit with navy low-heeled pumps, but I'm also not delighted with that, so I might go for a pair of boots instead (photo below that).

The dress can also be worn with the vest (channelling one of the VF suggestions).
If I had unlimited packing space, I'd add in these things: a grey hoodie; a burgundy pleated skirt (which can be a dressy outfit with the cardigan, see photo below that); a winter-white mockneck pullover; and a pair of navy knit pants (to go with all those other navy things). Also, an extra scarf.

Here's the scarf, shown on a sweater that I would also consider chucking into this ever-expanding suitcase.
I would probably pack this navy scarf, and a dressier hat.
The VF story has only earrings for jewelry, but I'm including these Sophisticated Lynx bracelets from Canadian maker Fierce Lynx.
Locally-made porcelain earrings.
A couple of thrifted necklaces.   
                                        
And a festive-looking brooch.

Happy Holidays!

Last updated November 28, 2024

4 comments:

The Vivenne Files said...

You are so good at this! I'm flattered that you take my work and do such an amazing job expanding it to "real life." xoxo

Mama Squirrel said...

Thank you, Janice! I have learned a lot from you.

Donna said...

Love the way you interpret Janice's outfits into what you own. Janice's choices are beautiful but a bit above my budget.

Mama Squirrel said...

Thanks, Donna!