September 2, 2016
One last adventure with this dress – this time, with muted accent colors like olive, burgundy, and mustard! (I have been hungry 24/7 for a week…)
You might notice more or less immediately that I’m reusing a TON of accessories from the recent post with the grey dress. I’m not doing this because I’m lazy, (well…) but because it all fell into place, unexpectedly.
When I put together posts like this, which are variations of previous posts, I reuse the original PowerPoint file. For this, I went through each page, deleted the original grey dress, and pasted in the navy dress. Then I changed the color of the divider stars… It was only when I went to the next step – changing the accessories – that I realized that I really didn’t need to make a lot of changes!
One of my goals for The Vivienne Files has always been to show the versatility of items that are well-chosen, with a theme or unifying motif that makes them a unified capsule wardrobe, rather than just a big collection of stuff. So while this might look like laziness on my part, it’s actually a way to show that any of these “accessory families” can be used in a variety of ways. (wait ’til I start looking at tee shirt and pants “columns” of color…)
(oh yea, I changed the shoes to navy…)
This first pair of outfits was where I realized that these accent colors were perfect with navy, just as they are. The 2nd cardigan might require a bit of “fit navigation” depending on how long-waisted you are (or aren’t), and how high the pleat release is on the dress. One woman’s lumpy “too much fabric” is going to be another woman’s graceful, fluid drape…
Dress – Lands’ End; necklace – Dorothy Perkin; cardigan – J. Crew; pumps – Calvin Klein; shoulder bag – Fossil; cardigan – Lands’ End; necklace – Vanessa Mooney; bag – Kendall + Kylie; flats – L.K.Bennett
Oh SIGH, is there any place where camel doesn’t look lovely?
Dress – Lands’ End; earrings – Shlomit Ofir; bracelet – Carlos Munoz; cardigan – Dorothy Perkins; pumps – Calvin Klein; cardigan – J. Crew Factory ; earrings – Ice.com; amber bracelet – Ice.com; flats – L.K.Bennett
Mustard is turning out to be surprisingly versatile!
Dress – Lands’ End; earrings – The Real Real; cardigan – Lands’ End; scarf – Mantero; pumps – Calvin Klein; cardigan – J. Crew; earrings – Carmen Anocibar; scarf – Kenzo; flats – L.K.Bennett
I made a scarf change here, so that I could include this gorgeous Image Diary piece, but otherwise the olive accessory family worked really nicely with this dress, too!
Dress – Lands’ End; earrings – New York & Co.; field jacket – L.L.Bean; scarf – Idea Plus; pumps – Calvin Klein; cardigan – Uniqlo; earrings – Majorica; scarf – ImageDiary; flats – L.K.Bennett
I debated about keeping the navy accessory families, but finally opted to show how useful a simple, monochromatic outfit can be. This has Monday morning written ALL over it!
Dress – Lands’ End; earrings – Narinee; cardigan – L.L.Bean; silk scarf – Dorothy Perkins; pumps – Calvin Klein; field jacket – L.L.Bean; earrings – John Wind; scarf – Marks and Spencer; flats – L.K.Bennett
Navy and grey – steal it from menswear and run!
Dress – Lands’ End; earrings – Givenchy; cardigan – Uniqlo; bracelet – Givenchy; pumps – Calvin Klein; bag – Ina Kent; cardigan – Indigo Collection; earrings – Judith Ripka; bracelet – Nialaya; bag – Ina Kent; flats – L.K.Bennett
And it seems important to remember that this dress can be worn WITHOUT ANYTHING OVER IT! For those of you moving into warmer weather, this seems obvious, eh?
Gold would be equally lovely here. So would… um…. silver with amber? Fake tortoise shell? Silver and turquoise? (fake) Coral? Jade? Pearls? Oh my…
Dress – Lands’ End; earrings – Komang Wijayana; bracelet – Komang Wijayana; pumps – Calvin Klein; bag – Ina Kent; earrings – Pichaya; necklace – Fabiana Quispe; bag – Zatchels; flats – L.K.Bennett
love,
Janice
For more in the One Navy Dress series, check out the following articles:
- One Navy Dress in a Capsule Wardrobe: 14 Ways to Wear it With Pastels
- One Navy Dress in a Capsule Wardrobe: 14 Ways to Wear it With Brights
- One Navy Dress in a Capsule Wardrobe: 14 Ways to Wear it With Muted Accents
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I like all of these but that first one with the deep red is gorgeous and serious, very fall-like. For some reason, it makes me think of Helen Mirren. Maybe because I just saw the interview with a very young Helen Mirren telling off a sexist, pompous talk-show host. Such poise!
You *did* get me to order one the other day, along with an elbow sleeve similar style to try. Still waiting for them, as well as several other items to consider for my fall/winter additions.
I have grey and camel sweaters, which I love with navy but have to say that deep burgundy is gorgeous as well!
Having recently discovered your website, I have been happily combing it for ideas to simplify my own closet. I love these "dress" posts especially because I prefer dresses/skirts over pants. Most of my time is spent in rural endeavors (picture Carhartts and boots), so my going out/running errands/visit cities/and occasional travel wardrobe can be small. Have you ever worked through a Common type wardrobe with a skirt and dress rather than the dark slacks and khakis? I am slowly working through it with my own closet. Thank you for your work.
The navy and olive is a revelation to me. Love that combo. This idea of 'accessory families' is so useful.
Thanks for your excellent work.
The navy and olive is a revelation to me. Love that combo. This idea of 'accessory families' is so useful.
Thanks for your excellent work.
Beautiful dress that they don't offer in Plus sizes. Oh well, I will look for something similar. It would be ideal for a trip I'm taking in October.
I would love it if you did a summing up post of this series with ALL the combos. I think it's my favorite ever (I do love navy+a color)
Thanks so much! I missed that. I'm going somewhere chilly so the weight should be good.
They offer the dress in Plus Sizes with elbow-length sleeves. I just looked. These posts are almost making me go buy that dress except I am afraid that ponte knit is going to be swelteringly hot to wear!
The Navy-Navy combo hit home with me. I have a hard time wearing "color columns" and can't seem to embrace anything monochromatic. But Navy is one of my tried and true Neutrals and perhaps I should explore that a bit more. Why is is that a wardrobe can make us question our life choices?
Brittany
Los Angeles
These posts with the J Crew cardigans finally convinced me to visit a local store and try on their clothes for sizing. I had the impression that this store was designed for younger slimmer people. I was pleasantly surprised to find their quality, styling and prices ( even in Canada) for many items to be good. So, now that I know my sizes, I will order online if purchasing to give you( I hope) a small commission. The cardigan with the ribbon and little pockets is particularly nice and the cabernet colour is lovely. "Burgundy" can be so tricky. I bought the black(!) and have changed the buttons already.
Deb from Vancouver
For a long time I avoided J. Crew for the same reason – I can remember from years ago not being able to button ANYTHING, even in XL sizes, because it seemed like their goal was to be the "bosom-ly challenged" store. But recently I've been going in with Belovedest (who wears their shorts, and looks smashing!) and I've found that they've changed something. Woo hoo!
And thanks for being cognizant of my meager commissions. They're not amazing, but they do add up, and they're my only income now… (which is gorgeous, because it means I devote my attention full-time to working on The Vivienne Files!)
Friday hugs,
Janice
Always meant to ask – how does the commission work Janice? If we follow the links and then decide to purchase an item then normally I have to set up an online account with the retailer. If I go back later to purchase something else will the commission come to you or does it only happen if I start from one of your links. FYI – I already have an online account with LL Bean – do I start from here or can I just go to the LL Bean site and somehow designate you to get the commission? Just want to help out where I can but not entirely clear on how it works. Thanks so much.
It's sort of absurdly complicated. Generally speaking, if you click on any link on The Vivienne Files, and then purchase ANYTHING from that retailer, I will get some sort of compensation. So if you don't like the earrings I show, for example, but you buy a different pair of earrings (or pajamas for your children!) I still get the credit.
For some retailers, you can go back a few days later, and they will "remember" that you came from TVF (i.e. they have placed a cookie in your computer with my name on it!) and I will still get compensated. Starting from here seems to be key…
Ultimately, what's most important to me is that you enjoy my work, and that you come visit me regularly. My thought is that if I work hard, do my very best, and try to be kind and responsive to my readers, the income will all sort itself out!
But I give you special hugs for caring…
Janice
Thank you for clarifying that – I will be sure to keep it in mind whenever I decide to order anything online. You certainly deserve any of the commissions that you receive considering all the hard work you do.
So many lovely items today (not that all of the choices in previous posts weren't equally lovely)! Since I am long-waisted, that burgundy open cardigan is so tempting to me. Sometimes short cardigans hit me more at the midriff than at the waist, which is not a flattering look. And I love the pairing of olive field jacket with navy pumps, as it is just the sort of joyously unexpected outfit I adore. Thank you for working so hard on this and all of your other series. You know how much we appreciate what you do!
Ah yes!! The navy dress!! I never travel w/out my jewel-neck, sleeveless navy sheath. It turns into a skirt w/the proper top, you can dress it up or down and navy can be so much kinder to your face at my age than harsh black, not that I don't have my favorite LBDs that get worn a lot. Still, there's something so crisp and youthful about navy, especially a great marinière. I often wear one over my navy dress to be more casual.
I don't know how you do it, Janice, but you continue to do it over and over again.
Big holiday hugs, my friend,
M-T
Navy and burgundy, navy and olive – I'm in love! I've always used black as my fall/winter dark neutral but I'm working on switching to navy now because I built my spring/summer wardrobe around navy and white and it worked so well. Imagine having core clothes that work all year round! I'm so excited! I also plan to add a few leather items in cognac (tote, ankle boots, belt) that will also work year round.
I checked out this dress in all its colours which were lovely, but the style just doesn't suit my broad shoulders and meaty arms! As for colours, I like to wear navy with silver grey or brights – not so keen on pastels or muted tones and I particularly love those accessories in the last two slides. Sharon, UK.
Thanks for all the navy love this week. Today with the deeper colors is really wonderful.
:-) I really, really, really, love seeing what you come up with!
I only wish this dress had sleeves… ;-)
Have a very HAPPY weekend :-)
I believe they have a version with elbow length sleeves.
Lovely dress and colour combinations. I bought the Lands End tweed look dress and it is beautiful although a full lining would have been nice. Thank-you for another interesting post.
I love your site and have purchased some Novica products by way of your introduction. Thank you.
I am wondering if the Lands End dress holds its own with Givenchy, Hermes and the other amazing accessories you find? I have not seen one of these dresses in person.
I mix very "popularly priced" dresses with Hermes scarves and Cartier jewelry all the time, and feel very comfortable. The key, for me, is that the dresses are in meticulously clean and pressed condition, and that they fit very very well. Good fit goes a long way toward making something look good. And frankly, I've just recently seen some blindingly expensive pieces of clothing that looked terrible. Yesterday, I took a close look at a $700 cashmere sweater that was thin enough to sift cornmeal.It looked terrible, and isn't going to last 1 season.
In the end, it's whatever makes you comfortable…
hugs,
Janice
"Thin enough to sift cornmeal". I haven't heard that one before!!! This is a thoughtful answer and I will have to try that dress in Navy- my color. I think you have also addressed the confidence issue…I think I have gained it as I have aged. Besides, which are you going to notice…the navy dress or the fabulous accessories? (I don't need to be a rocket scientist to know the answer to that one!)
This series shows so much about what's possible from a single starting garment, not to mention how to make a dress go anywhere, from posh evening event to casual Sunday brunch. More reminders, too, of how considered shopping pays off, whether it's a wardrobe staple or a small accessory. And I just love the surprise joys of finding that 'This goes with *this* – and this and this – as well as with that!'
Today's post really does make the mustard items glow. Last night at a concert I saw a woman wearing a patterned mustard and rust skirt with a cream top and plain mustard/gold jacket. Light colouring with blondeish greyish hair, and rust brown ankle boots. She looked fabulous.
Robyn in Tasmania
I thank you for putting neutrals like navy and gray together with warm colors for individuals like mw who don't wear those colors well. When I had my colors "done", I was told to jettison black, gray, navy, etc. But through your combinations, I have learned to use "my" colors on top or near my face. You've helped me learn to mix the colors successfully. Thank you. It saved me a major wardrobe overhaul which I, frankly, could not afford. Never would have thought of navy and camel, but it works. Happy Long Weekend.
Janice,
Can't wait until the column of color post or posts — that's me all over ! Happy weekend and holiday ! I'm here at the southern New Jersey coast for a family gathering, hoping to not get blown away by Hermine !
This post makes me so happy – I have been long these colors lately and am so excited to see your combinations! Thank you for all your hard work finding these lovely items!
Hello, I have recently found your blog and have gone back to read the posts and comments from the beginning (a bit of binging!). I am working on my wardrobe and have noticed much discussion about cashmere sweaters and am wondering if anyone has any experience with Everlane cashmere? They seem to be all about transparency and fair pricing so am curious if the quality is there? BTW I love your blog and hope to be able to do some work in my own closet. I do most of my shopping online as I live in a small town with not many stores so have experienced issues with quality since I can't touch or try on the clothing I order. I also have some issues with having too many clothes. Reading your blog and the thoughtful comments of your other readers is opening my eyes. Thank you.
I have the v-neck sweaters from Everlane in black and in red; they're not the very best cashmere EVER, which costs thousands of dollars, but they're very, VERY nice, and an exceptionally good value. Right now, their crewneck sweaters are $100; if I weren't fully-equipped in the sweater department, I'd order some!
https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.everlane.com%2Fcollections%2Fwomens-sweaters&pid=uid5456-30633616-51
If you use this link, I (in theory) will even get a small commission! It is of these small things that the lights stay on Chez Vivienne Files…
And welcome to The Vivienne Files! I'm so happy that you found us; please hang around and join in the conversations.
hugs,
Janice