Black



I'm still obsessed by Sara's closet.  I wish I could say that mine was similar but it isn't.  My closet is still filled with a lot of what ifs and maybes.  What if I need this someday?  Maybe if I lose weight, it'll fit?  And that is why Sara's closet appeals to me.  It's pared down to the essential, frugal, elegant, orderly.

So here I am today in the opposite, black.  I wear black to work and some of you have asked to see exactly what I wear.  I alternate days in flats with days in heels for the health of my arches.

Pant - These Who What Wear Cropped Flares
I still love these pants and am thrilled that they are keeping them in stock throughout their seasonal changes.  They are so perfect for work and weekend things.  $29
I'm intrigued by these from American Giant tho.

Tee - Here is a whole page of great Tee's or for cheaper versions try, Thisthis or this.

Boots - These boots from Everlane are so incredibly comfortable. I can wear them all day at work and my feet stay happy. 

My handbag is a old Gucci I found at a thrift store on my way to Palm Springs.  The proprietor looked just like Ralph Lauren, remember that?




36 comments

  1. Janet, what size pants are you wearing here? I want to order and they ship to the UK but I'm not sure about size.

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    1. anna, i bought a 4. for reference i'm 5'5" and 125-128 lbs.

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  2. Black clothing is my everything and I live in Texas, where it's hot 80% of the year. I love black. It's my go to for 99% of what I own. Thrown is some pink and a little purple, and I am happy girl. It has helped me remove quite a bit from my closet and it makes getting ready a snap. I keep it fresh by mixing textures (silkier shirt with a cotton skirt or a soft, fluffy oversized sweater with jeans and a black t shirt, pink converses). I can make an infinite amount of outfits.

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    1. heather i LOVE the sound of this. i think mixing textures is key. your closet could be museum worthy! and i think that's the whole idea, simplicity! x

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  3. If only we could appreciate our own style as much as we do that of others, yes? I suppose part of the allure is the mystery behind someone else's wardrobe such as Sara's. When you shared her closet so many questions came to mind while I envied her streamlined yet statement style.

    The truth is your style is as distinctive and admirable as Sara's. Your closet could just as easily be an art installation. The outfit you wear in the photo above is simultaneously classic and fresh. You have understated flare (an achievement in itself).

    Meanwhile, I think I am finally embracing the multiple-personality aspect of my clothing. I fancy a combination of minimalist lines with edgy and bohemian elements. Plus, I'm at a stage where I can truly have fun with my wardrobe, as I'm not bound by any specific professional expectation. Although, like Heather, I am bound by the limitations of Texas weather. The timeframe for fun with layering is almost nonexistent.

    Anyway, this topic of closets and wardrobes is fascinating, thank you for sharing it, Janet. Cheers, Ardith

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    1. you are so right ardith, it's the mystery added to the beauty of her closet that has us all loving it. omg thank you for the lovely compliment. i don't see my closet as museum worthy but thank you! i'm with you on embracing my style, like you i learn towards minimal, think Everlane and i also adore Emerson Fry and her slouchier bohemian look. i could easily just wear these two lines! i too am fascinated by personal style and closets! xo

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  4. A couple of years ago, I began coming to terms with reality and only buy what I actually wear: black, gray, navy, some white tops, and the best fitting jeans. Things are so much easier and simplified. I buy my favorite yoga pants and white cotton t-shirts in bulk when they have a sale. I have one classic black suit with extra pants that I had made by a tailor on a trip to South Korea years ago. I occasionally re-order more from him. I have a few lovely embroidered jackets from various trips to India, Bhutan, and Eastern Europe to wear for dress up. I only wear silver jewelry--primarily handmade pieces purchased on trips over the years. It took me 60 years to learn and accept the style that suits me and makes me feel comfortable. Everything else was given away because I realized that so many of the things that tempted me in stores were not really my style, but someone I thought I wanted to be. It is so important to know and accept yourself. Madeline

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    1. thank you madeline for all your wise insights. as i'm approaching a new decade i feel such a stir inside me towards more simplicity, order and beauty in my whole life. was it hard to part with old favorites that didn't fit your new style? x

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    2. Madeline, your closet sounds perfect to me! My approach and my style is similar, though I'm still a work in progress.

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  5. Black is and will always be my favorite clothing color choice. Why is it I never tire of black (or any solid color for that matter) the way I do a big fat print? I have so many black tops, different styles, different fabrics and I always buy more. I also love white, but I could not have a full white closet like Sara. That was one of the most fascinating posts ever, and I'm so glad you shared it!

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    1. i know emily so fascinating! thanks for sharing your style. after reading these comments i'm thinking i need a black silk shirt! x

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  6. You look very spiffy. All black suits you very well - very lucky, since you have to wear it to work.

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  7. I couldn't and would not want to wear all white. I love color, especially red. I love red and white together and black and white together. I just love pretty clothes. It would be boring to me to only wear white or black. I am certainly not a clothes horse or big shopper. I love a white oxford shirt. I lean toward more classic lines and style and take care of my clothes. They seem to last a long time. I just turned 60 but have never really liked faddish clothing. I just started going to work out and have had a hard time finding work out clothes that aren't skimpy but I'm not comfortable in big lose t shirts either. I really enjoy your blog Janet and I'm so glad to see you posting more often.

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    1. thank you lynne, i just love pretty clothes too! workout clothes are hard at our age. right now everything is so tight with cutouts, etc. i try to stick to basic black! x

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  8. Hi Janet, you look so chic in your work outfit! Myself, I can't wear black, especially close to my face. My favourite neutral is navy blue. And to add to your list, I can highly recommend the Gap Modern T Shirts - they come in various styles and are made of a cotton/modal mix, so they wash really well and are so comfortable to wear. I get the emails so I wait for a sale or percentage off - it's so worth it!

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    1. thanks for the heads up on gap modern tees Patricia. i will check them out as i'm always on the lookout for the best ones. x

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  9. Oh, I loved Sara's Closet. That is not me. I would mess it up in no time. But I can appreciate the art of her closet. I'm amused that her grandchildren loved cleaning their closets with their grandma. No way would that happen to me.

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    1. i love that about her grandkids too and the fact that she kept those globe balls and small chairs and table for them. the discipline to keep her closet so small and tidy is fascinating. x

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  10. Have never understood the modern love of black clothing. Have lived long enough to have attended too many funerals of loved ones, dear friends and colleagues. Black to me is a funeral colour and so depressing to the spirit. Of course I have black clothes - but I love colour. It makes me feel happier and more alive. In the past women only wore black when they were in mourning. Even today the Queen and most other members of the Royal Family wear black for funerals and mourning only. Loved Sara's closet it was evocative of her life, but such frugal restriction is definitely not for me. Though I do like white and sometimes wear all white. But white is also a colour of mourning/funerals in much of Asia. When we lived in Colombo I always had to have a number of white dresses to wear to the funerals we had to attend. Still I don't find it as depressing as black. Best wishes, Pammie

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    1. pammie i remember those spectacular hermes scarves you wore each day. they really did brighten any outfit. i'm def in the black/white love group but i so admire the colorful too! x

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  11. Oh how I agree with Ardith an Madeline. I'm 58 and just now realizing my style and it's SO much easier to go in my closet and know that I finally love most of it. I still struggle with letting go of a few things. I have mostly solid colored pieces of Black, Navy, Gray , Cream and LOVE the simplicity of it - the true art of style is Confidence which is only achieved by being true to your self and wearing what you LOVE not the current trend, not what you think you should wear....just what you truly love :) I love your blog Janet!

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  12. Sorry, I missed out a letter! That's my palette too! Doesn't it make life simple? My only difficulty is weight fluctuation - sickening! Janet does look marvellous here...

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  13. I was trying to reply to Pam Atkinson! OK giving up now!

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    1. Yes Anna! It really does -I think having a base of "our" colors gives us that effortless look everyone talks about. I've also noticed my home decor changing to the same exact colors. I do have some colorful art work but I'm mainly a black, white, wicker - leather book color kind of gal!

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    2. anna, all of a sudden i was unable to reply last night too. you've all inspired me to take a second look at my wardrobe. x

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    3. pam and anna i agree. i think i know what looks best on me nowadays and i pretty much stick to it. nothing beats jeans and a white t for me so i'm generally in one or the other if not both. x

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  14. As I commented to your previous post, I tend to really stick with black as the foundation of my wardrobe. For my career I was not able to wear colorful or printed clothing. Jewelry was a no no too. When I retired and started shopping for my everyday wear I realized my career wardrobe was exactly what I feel the most comfortable in. Also I've let my hair go natural grey and it looks so much better against black. That's another thing I realized its not the hair color that's so important it's the hair style. I admire jewelry on other people but to be honest I'm not really into it. I wear earrings and sometimes a necklace that breaks up the solid black. Often silver. Your outfit is pretty much what I would pick out. So of course I LOVE it hahaha

    Best
    kcarracher (Instagram)

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    1. thanks k. i agree with everything here! haircut is so important. i've been growing out my bob and am at the stage where i don't know what to do. i just wear it up for the moment and like it but wonder if i'll go back. i just posted a wonderful article by frances mcdormand and what women go thru in the aging process. x

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  15. Another art-y photo with the black/brown/white of the background picking up (perfectly) what you're wearing. I appreciate these photos, Janet! You've staged them, again, artfully...

    And, yes, black; it's basic! As much as I love all color...on me, black is best. Not just because if the illusion of 'thinner' but I can throw on a black tank top and it seems to define my face whereas white makes it disappear although I wore a lot of white when I was younger, like white blouses and white shirts. My pretty-much, go-to, year'round outfit in warm-most-of-the-year SoCalif is a thin-cotton/rayon black tank dress with black ballet flats or black sandals. Sometimes I belt the dress; sometimes I don't. I found linen was actually making me feel warmer, which defies all reasoning. And I got tired of looking so rumpled all the time. Boring but, after enough years, you learn what works for yourself. As the weather cools, I just add little solid-color cardigans (preferring 3/4-length sleeves) but they're not bulky, more like soft & lightweight cashmere except that I can't afford cashmere, so I do the knockoff fabrics. I've been known to add black leggings or skinny pants under the dress, switching to short black boots in that case...but the weather has to turn fairly chilly for me to go that far...

    (An aside, back to that A New Day line at Target [recent posts of yours]? Saw a Chanel jacket [was a Chanel quintessential suit/a jacket-skirt combo] yesterday on a celeb that looks strikingly similar to the tweedy/fringed A New Day one I recently bought thanks to you. They've copied the designer looks well! The longer blazer I bought at the same time looks like, I'd told you, a Balmain! Again, I'm pleased.)

    One of the prettiest photos of a house I'd ever seen was: White clapboard house, black shutters for the windows, with black ceramic pots framing the front door filled with neatly-clipped green boxwood. Touches of shiny, goldish-brass in the pot rims, picking up the same metal in black light posts; very subtle. Saw something similar with a black & white checkerboard tile floor, lots of green ferns in the surrounds with kelly green/white vertically-striped wallpaper; wide stripes, the green on white. Stunning. So I guess I love white walls, green plants but with some kind of black as a focal point. Yep, black...the absence of color...is a great color!

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    1. thank you vicki. i too love love a white house with black shutters. i kick myself for not painting my house white and then i think i made the right decision painting it dark. back and forth:)

      x

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  16. Black is so easy...its my favourite basic to wear next to denim.
    You wear it well and I think that Gucci bag is a great style and shape...hooray for thrift shops!

    I am really enjoying the "Canadian Tuxedo" which has been getting a lot of wear since I bought the RL denim shirt and the paler blue Tencel shirt! The Tencel is so soft but I know that the RL denim will get super soft as it ages...
    Hope that you have a lovely weekend!

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    1. thanks leslie. yes that shirt will get so soft with age. i bet you look fab! xo

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  17. i am inspired by you. i have downsized significantly, and it is scary how many things i am continually donating with tags still on. i still have a lot of maybes and as my weight seems to go up and down a few kilos every few months i also have various sizes. i am really trying to pare down and settle on a style with mainly neutrals.
    Janey

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  18. Your closet is similar but different. I wish my closets were as organized as yours but I love my clothes and have a lot of them. It is hard for me to get rid of them.

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kindness is never out of style.

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