(ABOVE) Light brown or camel ankle boots are a classic accessory I wear year round.
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February 4, 2018 / Video Post Notes
BLACK, CAMEL, CABERNET, AND GRAY STAPLES
As I write this, the Super Bowl is on television sets all over our nation (or maybe it’s over by now?). It’s a classic annual event in the U.S., but I’m afraid I’m not a football–or sports, for that matter–watcher. I’ve heard of Tom Brady–because he’s married to model Gisele Bundchen–and I think he’s playing today, but I don’t know what team he’s on (or even what teams are playing. Yipes). Hope that doesn’t make me un-American!
So I’ll make this quick, since I’m sure many of you want to get back to the game (or after-game festivities). To put it in a nutshell, this post is all about timeless, classic pieces (both new and old) that I’m wearing frequently this season–and will continue to wear through the spring and, many of them, through our hot summer as well. Cardigans, skinny jeans, tees, ankle boots, and ballet flats in beautiful, wearable neutral tones like black, camel, cabernet, and gray.
I’m also bringing back a lip color I featured two-plus years ago, because it’s such a wonderful shade.
I hope you like my roundup. (Wishing both teams a great game.)
Thank you so much for taking time away to visit my blog and read this post!
~Janis Lyn Johnson
1. GOLD DANGLE EARRINGS
(ABOVE) J. Crew 1.5″ Dangle Earrings, no longer available (alternative Talbots Interlocking-Rings Earrings, Kendra Scott Filigree Earrings, Banana Republic Frontal-Hoop Earrings).
My earrings (with a 1.5-inch dangle) are no longer available, but I think the three below are pretty alternatives. The first one has a one-inch dangle, if you want a more conservative drop length. The other two, at 1.5″, are closer in size to mine. Any of these would work well dressed up with a silk blouse, pencil skirt, and pumps or dressed down with jeans, boots, and a black turtleneck sweater.
1″-Dangle Interlocking-Rings Earrings
2. CAMEL LEATHER ANKLE BOOT
(ABOVE) Aquatalia leather ankle boot, past season, but if you live in Naples, Florida, on 2/5/2018 I saw my boot in a size 9.5 at Nordstrom Rack in Mercato. I think it was $219.97, marked down from $450. (For similar camel boots, see Sole Society here, here; similar darker tan on sale Rag & Bone; similar on sale Naturalizer; more camel ankle boots Nordstrom.)
Stacked-heel ankle boots are such a versatile, elongating accessory. I love the comfort of the wider heel and the added height they give my legs. Plus, they show a bit of leg when worn with a cropped jean or skirt, which I think is cute and flirty. In this color particularly, they’re an easy-going, casual look that works year-round. Pair them with a matching bag and you immediately look pulled together.
I found these great ones by Aquatalia at Nordstrom Rack in late December, so they’re not available on line any longer. However, I did find several attractive similar boots on line. See them below.
To see how I styled this boot, scroll down to my # 9 Favorite: Wine/Brownish-Red Skinny Jean.
Suede Ankle Boot (On Sale; Also in Black; More Camel Ankle Boots Here)
Leather Ankle Boot (On Sale, 4 Colors Available)
Leather Sandal Ankle Boot (More Colors Available; More Camel Ankle Boots Here)
Elastic-Gore Leather Ankle Boot (On Sale)
Leather Crossbody (2 Colors Available)
3. WINE/BROWNISH-RED SHOE
(ABOVE & BELOW) Talbots ballet flats, old (similar Tory Burch here, here; alternative wine/brownish-red Driving Moccasin , Sandal, Pump, Sneaker, Ankle Boot; more wine/brownish-red shoes Nordstrom).
I bought these classic cabernet ballet flats about four years ago at Talbots, and you’ll see me wearing them below with my new skinny jeans. They’re not quite as red as my jeans–or the brownish-red color coming out this spring called Chili Oil. I’m showing them here, however, because there are quite a few similar sale and new flats available on line that are in the cabernet/wine/burgundy/Chili-Oil family, and many shades of these colors blend well together.
Black flats always work well, but sometimes I want a softer dark color, and I think cabernet/wine/burgundy/brownish-red shoes and boots are a pretty alternate. Paired with similar-color jeans–like my skinny jeans below–they create an elongated leg, which is so flattering.
Leather Ballet Flat (Also Here; More Colors Available)
Suede Driving Moccasin (On Sale, More Colors Available)
Embellished Leather Sandal (More Colors Available)
Leather Pump (On Sale, More Colors Available)
Sneaker (More Wine/Brownish-Red Sneakers Here)
Leather Ankle Boot (More Colors Available)
4. WINE/BROWNISH RED CROSSBODY BAG
(ABOVE) Talbots, old (similar Vince Camuto, Madewell, Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent , Chloe; more wine/brownish-red bags Nordstrom).
Similar to the flats above, I carry this cabernet bag as an alternative to a black bag–particularly when I wear black and white or black and white with blush or pastel pink. This color looks beautiful with softer-tone pinks, and is great year round. It’s the bag I paired with the matching flats I show above. I bought it around the same time I bought the flats, because I love pairing neutral shoes, bags, and belts together. (I consider this color a neutral like black, camel, gray, and ivory.)
Vince Camuto Shoulder Bag (3 Colors Available)
Madewell Shoulder Bag (4 Colors Available)
Saint Laurent Shoulder Bag (7 Colors Available)
Chloe Carry Bag (7 Colors Available)
5. SILVER/GOLD SPARKLE COTTON POPOVER
(ABOVE) J. Crew metallic cotton popover.
This is such a pretty cotton top! It’s actually a very faint plaid that combines silver threads and gold threads, so it can be worn with all sorts of jewelry. They show it worn casually on line, but I particularly love dressing it up with either a white or ivory skirt or, as I show further down this post, with dressy black pants. It also can be worn under a conservative black suit for work, because the metallic plaid is understated.
A note about the sizing: According to the sales person who helped me at J. Crew, their popovers tend to be a bit oversized. For that reason, I sized down to a 00, although I normally am a 2 or 0. So if you want it to be a bit more fitted in the shoulders and bust, as I did, you might consider sizing down. It’s still more than generous in the waist and hips–very much so, in fact.
Ann Taylor Ankle Pant, Black, 25″, 27″, or 31″ Inseam- (I”m Wearing 27″ Inseam Above)
Sam Edelman Slingback Pump, Black (Other Colors Available)
6. CREWNECK TEE
(ABOVE) Isaac Mizrahi essentials pima cotton tee, on sale, 7 colors available (also similar Talbots here, here).
Talk about a classic. A cotton crewneck tee is so timeless and works beautifully with crewneck pullovers and cardigans, because of the matching neckline. It also looks terrific worn on it’s own or with a blazer or jacket. This one and the others I found on line are all long enough to tuck into low-slung jeans. What’s more, several are on sale. Suffice it to say, I bought two. (Available in 7 colors.)
Pima Cotton Cuved-Hem Tee (On Sale, 7 Colors Available)
Pima Cotton Straight-Hem Tee (3 Colors Available)
7. GREY CREWNECK SWEATER
(ABOVE) Banana Republic cashmere blend sweater, old (similar Talbots here and here, Halogen, Banana Republic; also Tunic Length).
I’ve had this cashmere-blend crewneck sweater for years. It can be worn with pants, jeans, skirts, and shift/sheath dresses. The crewneck neckline is attractive alone or with a blouse or crewneck tee underneath. Below, I paired it with the Isaac Mizrahi essentials pima cotton tee I showed earlier. It would also look wonderful with a black, pink, blue, or turquoise tee (all of which are available.) Below, I show it with cabernet. So pretty! (See the full outfit showing these skinny jeans further below.)
Sparkle Cashmere Crewneck Sweater (On Sale)
Merino Washable Crewneck Sweater (14 Colors Available)
Flounce-Sleeve Wool Crewneck Sweater (On Sale, 12 Colors Available)
Cashmere Crewneck Sweater (On Sale, 13 Colors Available)
Tunic-Length Hi-Lo Cashmere Sweater (On Sale, 13 Colors Available)
8. IVORY/LIGHT-BEIGE CHUNKY CARDIGAN
(ABOVE) LL Bean, no longer available (similar LL Bean here, here, here; alternative Talbots).
I bought this sweater a few weeks ago, and although it came in several colors it sold out in all colors soon after. That’s how much women love a chunky cotton cardigan. For one, it’s cozy and warm but not hot. Also, because of the thicker, and varied, texture, it camouflages lumps and bumps. Who doesn’t love that? Luckily, this classic style is so beloved, it’s now being offered at several retailers in other choices, too, which are featured below. See more here.
Cotton Mixed-Stitch Cardigan (5 Colors Available)
Cotton Fisherman Cardigan (2 Colors Available)
Chunky Ribbed Sweater (25% Wool, 3 Colors Available)
Cotton-Blend Waffle-Stitch Cardigan (On Sale)
Cotton-Spandex Turtleneck (On Sale, 5 Colors Available)
Curvy Fit Ivory Skinny Jean & Regular Fit Ivory Skinny Jean (6 Colors Available)
9. WINE/BROWNISH RED SKINNY JEAN
(ABOVE) Talbots skinny jean/jegging. As of 2/5/2018, there are 4 sizes available in this color, but there are a variety of other Talbots skinny jeans/jeggings still available. Also, I found more gorgeous wine/brownish-red skinny jeans here , here, and here; more also Nordstrom, Macys.
I can’t tell you how long I have been looking for a high-waist skinny jean, and I’m so happy more and more retailers are bringing them into stores. I’m in jeans with a 29″ inseam, and I have worn them both full length like I show here, as well as rolled up to ankle length. Now that I see them on me, I definitely prefer them ankle length, so some of the skinny part of my leg is showing. I think it’s more flattering/slimming/elongating. I also have these jeans in white, dark gray, a medium-wash blue, and in the black I show further below. A high waist on a pant also is elongating, which is flattering to any figure, but especially for someone like me who has shorter legs. Yay! What I love about this color is that it acts much like black, only is a softer hue. I pair it with either nude, black, or wine/brownish-red flats or boots to further elongate the look. Here, I’m pairing them with the cabernet ballet flats and bag I bought at Talbots about four years ago. They’re not the same color, but I like how they look together.
Burgundy High-Waist Skinny Jean
10. BLACK SKINNY JEAN
(ABOVE) Talbots High-Waist Skinny Jean/Jegging, black (26.5″, 29″, 31″ inseams available; mine are 29″).
As I said above, I’m thrilled to finally find skinny jeans that have a high waist. Plus, this one is black, which means it will go with anything. Love it! They look great paired with nude, black or wine/brownish red flats or boots. Here, I have them rolled up a bit to show my ankle. In the wildberry color of the same leggings/skinny jeans I showed earlier, I’m wearing them rolled down to the full 29″ length. I like that I can wear them either way.
High-Waist Skinny Jean (26.5″, 29″, 31″ Inseams)
Cotton Cardigan (On Sale, 5 Colors Available)
Pima Cotton Cuved-Hem Tee (On Sale, 7 Colors Available)
Striped Enamel Bangle (4 Colors Available)
Striped Statement Bangle (5 Colors Available)
11. ALL-NATURAL LIPSTICK
(ABOVE ) Gabriel Clay Lipstick, Nourish Organic Face Lotion, Nourish Organic Shea Butter (under eyes, top of cheekbone), 100% Pure Healthy Flawless Skin Foundation Powder, Creme and White Peach (applied with BareMinerals Flawless Application Face Brush; also available here), Gabriel Vibrant Pink Powder Blush (applied with EcoTools cruelty-free Stippling Brush), Gabriel Chococlate Brown Eyeshadow (applied with brushes from EcoTools Cruelty-Free Six-Piece Eye Set), Pacifica Aquarian Gaze Water-Resistant Mascara in Abyss. Note: 100% Pure Also Here: 100% Pure Europe, 100% Pure UK, 100% Pure Canada. (Some links in this post are affiliates. More information here.)
When I decided to talk about this particular Gabriel lipstick, I had forgotten that I’d already named it a favorite of mine–back on December 18, 2015 in one of my early posts/videos (see it here). I still think it’s worth bringing up again, because it’s such a wearable, neutral color. Here, I show it quite dark, but it can be worn with shea butter to make it a sheer hint of flushed color on your lips. It’s also very moisturizing, and the color is long lasting.
(ABOVE & BELOW) Gabriel Clay Lipstick.
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Great styling! I have a question for you and the community. If you were going to Paris for a week and could only take one suitcase — what would you pack? The trip would be in late March when the weather could be rainy or brisk.
Lin, I’m so sorry I didn’t get to this comment until now. You’re probably in beautiful Paris right now. Hope you’re having a lovely time! ~ Janis
Love these, especially the shoes. Do you know of Rothy’s flats? They’re pretty grand. Made of recycled plastic. So comfy and classic! I think you’d like them.
I’ve not heard of the Rothy line, Roxane. I’ll have a look on line! Thank you! ~ Janis
I found your blog last week. I honestly don’t even know where I saw it now. Maybe another person’s blog list, but I have binged read and watched your videos since. I love it. Finally someone with a similar style and age. I am 57 and were my hair naturally. I love your style ideas. Thanks for sharing. I am going to have to check out some of your makeups. I definitely went through a health journey as well almost three years ago and opt for organic and toxin free. The one area I have held onto was my makeup. You have given me some good options to investigate.
Keep up the blog and videos. I love it.
Sandy, thank you so much for watching my videos and reading my blog posts. I appreciate it so much! Hope you’re having a nice start to your spring! ~ Janis
Hi Janis, all I can say is thanks so much.!!! Finnaly , I found a YouTube information that I can relate too.., living healthy has been part of my life for many years… I feel better physically, mental and espirritualy..We are snowbirds here in Florida. The rest of the time we live in NC in the mountains . Enjoying and loving all you do… thanks again… I sent this last video to my sisters they live in St Petersburg… have a great day…,Alicia
Alicia, I’m so happy you can relate to my blog and YouTube channel. Thank you for letting me know. I’ve been to Blowing Rock in North Carolina, and it’s so beautiful there. What a lovely state! Thank you for saying hi! ~ Janis
I just found you on youtube and am really appreciating your videos and your approach to care and fashion. I’m wondering if you could discuss nail care. I prefer not to wear polish and buffing causes my nails to peel. But I would like them to look a bit more “finished” some way. Any ideas?
Hi, Sue! Thank you for watching my videos and coming here to my blog as well! As for my nails, I’m like you and prefer not to wear polish for health reasons, but as for making them look a bit more “finished,” I like to keep them quite short, so I cut them at least each week, and then file them so the edges are rounded off and smooth. I make sure to push back the cuticles and trim any hangnails. Then I moisturize with a mixture of organic coconut oil and shea butter. Hope this answers your question. ~ Janis
Wonderful post! I appreciate the details you put in your posts. I am 47. A mom of 2 kids – (daughter is 11, son is 14). I am planning to go back to work at some point. Want to start gathering new basic wardrobe. My “mom uniform” won’t do it. Anyway, I enjoy your videos and site for inspiration!
Thank you so much, Anna! I appreciate you letting me know that you watch my videos, too. I appreciate it!! I hope you enjoy your new job. It sounds like you’re entering an exciting (and busy) new phase of your life. Cheers ~ Janis
Love the color of your lipstick. Can you tell me what the name of the color is?
Thanks so much!
Hi, Kathleen! I’m so sorry I was confusing in my post. I made it sound like it was the name of the lipstick. But actually, the color of the Gabriel Lipstick is clay Thank you for asking! ~ Janis
Love your silky gray hair?, What do you use to keep it so shiny and soft? I’m happy to have found your blog!
Hi, Penny! Thank you:-) Since I have dry, fine hair, I’ve found it looks best when I wash with shampoo just once a week, followed by 1 T of Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of Jojoba Oil in about 12 ounces of water, which I then rinse out. Two or three times in between during the rest of the week, I will just rinse my hair with warm water in the shower to freshen it up a bit. Thank you so much for visiting me here! ~ Janis
I do like the black and white outfit. I really like the cardigan. It’s my favourite style. So elegant and chic.
Thank you, Eamon. I appreciate you taking the time to leave your comment 🙂 ~ Janis