Packing Outfit by Outfit: Pink, Maroon and Black, for Business

The weather's cold, and you've got to go on a business trip.  A SERIOUS trip...

Start with a comfort garment - the favorite cardigan will make you happy, and will suggest your color scheme too!  A couple of outfits that bring in all the pieces of your black suit, and a couple of jazzy red garments, and you're all set for business events.  One simple dress, and everything will fit in a carry-on bag.

A black winter coat, and some gloves, will be needed here, of course:

Tee shirt – Mint Velvet, jeans – Paige, earrings – Toosis,  watch – Cartier,  scarf – Please, cardigan – Circus Hotel, loafers – Naturalizer, handbag – Lacambra

First day in the home office - better look serious!

Garnet stud earrings – John Lewis, tee shirt – Pinko, briefcase – Brooks Brothers, skirt – Linea, blazer – Linea, scarf – Ana Maison, pumps – Sofft

And you know they're going to take you out to dinner...

Earrings – Doris Mhor, clutch bag – Colle-cte, dress – Rag and Bone, scarf – Vince Camuto, pumps – Sofft

Second day in the office is a lot more mellow, because you're actually going to have to do some work.

Tee shirt – Cruciani, pants – Linea, cardigan – Lupatelli, loafers – Clarks, necklace – Milena ZU

 A couple more outfits - one that's office worthy (and could easily support a cardigan or your suit jacket), and a more casual option for evenings, weekends, or your return trip.

Bllouse– Biba, Skirt – Merona, sweater – Iro, corduroy pants – Isabel Marant Etoile

This is everything:

Chic Sightings: Grey Coats, with Brown Leather Accessories

Another one of those unexpected, but really eye-catching, uses of accessories to breathe life into dark outerwear, on dark days.

Duffle coat- Yves Saint Laurent, messenger bag – Fossil, boots – Cole Haan,  down jacket – Moncler, shoulder bag – nette’ leather goods,  boots- Steve Madden

Collarless coat- Dosa,   cross body bag – Fendi, boots- MIA, nylon car coat – Aspesi, shoulder bag – My Choice, buckle boots- Timberland

From Desk to Dinner Party: Cardigans go Solo

Sometimes, the easiest way to prepare for an evening out is to take a moment behind closed doors, slip out of your blouse or tee shirt, and button your cardigan (not quite all the way up!) over bare skin.  If your cardigan is lightweight, not at ALL scratchy, and buttons up far enough for you to be comfortable, it's a great option to consider wearing it on it's own.  Add more festive footwear, and some beautiful jewelry, push up your sleeves a bit, and smile!

Cardigan – AustinReed, chalcedony bracelet – Sikara and Co., loafers – KG KurtGeiger,  tee shirt – Dorothy Perkins,  navy trousers – Chloe, chalcedony earrings – NeeruGoel, ballet flats - Rockport

Cardigan – CC Fashion, silk scarf – Esther Bonte,  black oxfords – Propet,  tee shirt – T by Alexander Wang, velvet pants – L’Agence,  amethyst earrings and ring – Alok Jain, flats – DV by Dolce Vita

Yellow cardigan – APC,  scarf – Antagoniste, driving shoes – Bernardo, tee shirt – Sophie Hulle, grey trousers – Boss Hugo Boss, yellow zircon necklace – Bottega Veneta, silver grey flats – Via Spiga

Even if you are a VERY casual person, sparkly shoes and a serious necklace will elevate your jeans to an evening-appropriate ensemble.

Cardigan – Aiayu, sneakers – Onitsuka Tiger, orange Henley – Uniqlo, jeans – J Jones New York, carnelian necklace – Narayani, sequined flats - Aerosoles

Chic Sightings: Camel Coats, with Grey

Men have worn camel and grey together since... forever?  but I don't see women wearing camel very often, and very seldom with grey.  It stands out in the oceans of black that I see this time of year, and looked very chic on the cold streets of Chicago!

Wrap – milleneufcentquatrevingtquatre, Camel jacket – Austin Reed,  grey jeans – 7 for All Mankind, fabric flats – Aerosoles, wrap coat – Jaeger, shibori silk scarf- Cathayana,  wedge pumps - Aquatalia

Camel collarless coat- Sonia Rykiel, scarf –Ana Maison, boots – Dr. Scholl’s, A-line coat –Viyella,  scarf- Etro,  boots- Aetrex

From Desk to Dinner Party: More Silk Blouses

When combing through your wardrobe for something to use as the "key" piece in a day-to-night transition, remember that most of the focus will be on your face, especially if you're sitting at a dinner table.  Look for the key ideas of shine, sparkle, shimmer, any kind of texture-y interest, and don't forget that sleeveless often conveys a sense of occasion...

Velvet pants are among my favorite garments - I wear them all fall and winter, for regular days as well as festive moments.  This mix of brown and black is a great opportunity to wear smoky quartz jewelry...

Blazer- MaxMara,  loafers-Munro, brown silk blouse – Erika Cavallini, velvet pants – L’Agence,  earrings – Mija,  pearl and quartz bracelet – Neeru Goel, pumps- Corso Como

A beautiful lace blouse is comfortably businesslike under a knit blazer, but can stand alone with feminine dash after business hours... 

Knit blazer – BARK, loafers – Geox, navy lace blouse- Ella, grey trousers – Boss Hugo Boss, labradorite earrings- Irene Neuwirth, clutch – Nina,  pumps – Adrianna Papell

Don't forget the impact that a ring can have - I always notice them on other people, so it only seems logical that they might see them when I wear them...  Roll your sleeves a turn or two, unbutton two (or three) buttons, and smile!

Cardigan – Authentic Original Vintage Style,  pink silk blouse – Acne, navy trousers – Chloe, loafers – Robert Zur, earrings – YooLa,  ring- Marie Helene de Taillac,  bag – Marc Jacobs, slingbacks – J.Renee

Petrol, Black and White: A Twelve-Pack for Uncertain, Mostly Cool, Weather

 Yesterday we packed six garments, for a short week or long weekend, and for uncertain weather.  Today, I'm assuming that we know our trip is going to be longer - up to two weeks or more, and that we know that most of our weather exposure is going to be colder.   

So in addition to the original six garments we packed, I'm adding six more carefully chosen items, and a few accessories.  The clothing items are chosen in pairs - sort of like adding outfits, but with an eye to being sure that we can use each item in a variety of ways.

1. Another pair of pants is very important in cool weather, so black jeans are my first addition.   With the black cardigan, it's a long line of black that can have anything (or nothing) under the cardigan.  With the blue cardigan and all of the other tops, you have a more casual black trouser alternative.
2. Now we need a top: warm, works well with out color scheme, and can be layered under either cardigan if the weather is truly nippy.  I choose a black and white striped turtleneck, but if you're turtleneck-averse, you could always choose a long-sleeved flannel shirt or tee shirt, along with a scarf.
3. My packing always tries to strike a balance between pants and skirts, so we're due for a skirt, and for cold weather, tweed seems a great choice!  Tweed packs really well (it can't show wrinkles much at all), and it blends effortlessly with the colors you've chosen.
4. Add a sweater that looks great with your skirt, and you have an easy, warm, but dressy outfit.  The sweater should be equally at home over both pair of your pants.
5. I feel like a dress, two pair of pants and a skirt is a comfortable number of "bottoms", so I would choose to include a simple white shirt at this time.  It can be worn under the cardigans, over the tee shirts, or on it's own. If you don't usually wear white shirts, don't eliminate this idea without at least considering the possibility of a button-front white tee shirt/jacket.  They're becoming easier to find (L.L.Bean) and will serve much the same role in your capsule wardrobe.
6. And finally, a simple v-neck sweater in a flat knit, a medium weight, and either in your accent color or your neutral.  This sweater in black would be just as useful, and when worn on it's own with black pants and some jewelry, can be quite dressy if the need arises.

I've also included a pair of boots, which you might want to consider wearing with your travel outfit, if your luggage is starting to be crowded.  Don't forget warm opaque tights, a pair of two of socks in a whimsical print (or your accent color), and maybe another scarf just for dash!

striped turtleneck – Hallhuber, black bootcut jeans – Dorothy Perkins, opaque tights – Dorothy Perkins, blue turtleneck – Avant Toi, tweed skirt – Jigsaw, zigzag scarf – Missoni, checked socks – Bernhard Willhelm, ankle boots – Munro,  white shirt – Jil Sander, v-necksweater-Puro Cashmere

Scarf – Lieke Van Opstal, chalcedony bracelet – Neeru Goel, chalcedony necklace – Neeru Goel, zigzag scarf – Missoni,cardigan – Uniqlo, floral tee – Alice and Olivia, white tee –Uniqlo, blue turtleneck – Avant Toi, white shirt – Jil Sander, dress- L.K.Bennett, sleeveless top – Twelve-T, flats – Cobb Hill, capris- Mint Velvet, opaque tights – Dorothy Perkins, striped turtleneck – Hallhuber, ankle boots – Munro,  tweed skirt – Jigsaw, checked socks – Bernhard Willhelm, black bootcut jeans – Dorothy Perkins, v-neck sweater-Puro Cashmere, sandals –Munro

Cardigan- Uniqlo, teeshirt- Emmanuel Ungaro, earrings - Caine, black crepe pants - Damsel in a Dress, scarf- Pyaar, trench coat - ADD, loafers - Munro, bag - Tumi

I realize that I STILL haven't shown any ways to wear the blue sleeveless top...  Think of the additional options that you have with that in your suitcase too!