The Vivienne Files

A Navy & Grey Lover? Start Packing with The Common Wardrobe

November 22, 2024

It's snowing like the end of the world here in Chicago - I'm very happy! Of course, it will last an hour, and then melt... sigh...

More heroines than you might expect are committed to wearing navy, grey, and accent colors that vary with the seasons. I hear from you often, and I can entirely agree that your choice is an elegant and pretty foolproof way to dress...

For you, I've chosen to include denim blue in your palette, just to give you options! My idea of what The Common Wardrobe would look like for you is delightfully uncomplicated and versatile:

One could certainly pack this, some jewelry, a handful of scarves, and a couple of pairs of shoes, and be fine...

But our heroine's going to be seasonal for ... View the Post

Foolproof Packing in Warm Colors? Start With The Common Wardrobe

November 20, 2024

Let's suppose that you really like what I'm packing for Paris, but you wear coffee brown, cream, toffee... (oh my that sounds tasty!)

Let's start with the "old school" Common Wardrobe, and see what I can do. For those of you who weren't here when I first realized the existence of The Common Wardrobe, you can look here to find out what it's all about. I truly was in a big room full of creative people, and virtually every person was wearing at least one piece...

This is where I started:

This is how I picture replicating the above wardrobe, only with warmer colors, and with long-sleeved tee shirts, since it is getting close to winter! (in the Northern Hemisphere, of course! I don't forget my friends in the ... View the Post

Foolproof Packing? Start With The Common Wardrobe

November 18, 2024

Come rummage through my closet with me!

Yes, I'm going to Paris after all. You may recall that Belovedest and I had to cancel a trip to London and Paris last month after my wee pratfall in the hotel bathroom; there was no way that I could face an international flight that soon after I broke seven ribs!

But I'm finding now that I can sleep on my side (which is a game-changer, for me!), walk on a treadmill for over a half hour, and be outdoors for 3 or 4 hours at a stretch. I'm not leaving until December 11, so I'm working with the assumption that I will feel at least somewhat better than I do now, and be quite a bit stronger.

All that said, Belovedest insists that I check my suitcase, even though it easily fits ... View the Post

Love Bright Accents? Start With a Scarf – The Kelsey McKinney Scarf by Echo

November 15, 2024

She likes red and green. And purple. And pink. And blue. And yellow...

She's going away for a long weekend that will be FESTIVE. Not necessarily big splashy parties, but she knows that anywhere she goes, there will be a bit of a holiday fizz in the air! So she decides to travel with her core of black essentials, but to round out her travel capsule wardrobe with four accent colors.

Remember, not every heroine flies to her destination! This lovely lady might be taking the train, or the boat, or driving...

And yes, Vivaia shoes are everything they claim to be; I've got two pair, and I live in them. Both will go to Paris next month!

She reviews her packing... jeans, a skirt, bright but not gaudy or ... View the Post

Love Blue and Lavender? Start With a Scarf – The Julianna Margulies scarf from Echo

November 13, 2024

Yes, THAT Julianna Margulies. Multi-talented, I'd say!

Lovely colors! That blue is just delicious...

Our heroine has to travel, and she wants to at least seem to fit in with the festivities! She's not really a "red & green" type of girl, nor is she much interested in an ugly Christmas sweater...

So she's going to go with a smile and a snowflake. That feels festive enough for her!

Yes, she's packing a few of the same things that her friend packed on Monday - simple black classics look very different when you wear them with a different accent color!

In her world, a pretty sweater and a skirt will be dressy enough! Most of the time she's more likely to be wearing her jeans!

When our ... View the Post

Feeling Bright? Start With a Scarf – the Dorothy Lichtenstein scarf from Echo

November 11, 2024

She's ready for a holiday weekend, but this is NOT the woman who's going to wear red and green, or a wreath or Christmas tree...

Which is great! You need to know what you do and don't like, by the time you're fully grown. Well, I believe this; your mileage may vary.

This is her inspiration, and it's a goodie:

This is her color palette; maybe she's stretching a point to include the bright blue, but she's got this sweater...

It's cold. It's dry. She's wearing white pants! If you want to stand out in a crowd in the dead of winter, this will do it...

She knows for a fact that she's probably going to want to wear a skirt. She might wear it with a sweatshirt, though...

And a blazer is never a bad ... View the Post

November 2024 “Six Paintings, Twelve Months” – Sixth Painting by Maurice Denis

November 8, 2024

I initially typed the date as 2015. Freudian as heck, in all KINDS of ways...

This last of our six paintings - have you like having these spread over six days? I'm finding it a very manageable system. I like having more time to spend on each wardrobe. Let me know how you feel, and I may adjust the posts for this theme accordingly.

So let's revisit this most relaxing and elegant of images:

As much as these aren't my favorite colors, I would be comforted to see these tops in my closet. That stack of four long-sleeved tee shirts never grows old for me...

If you're never going to wear a dress or skirt, you will probably find yourself with a tidy assortment of pants!

I need to figure out why these ... View the Post

November 2024 “Six Paintings, Twelve Months” – Fifth Painting by Paul Klee

November 7, 2024

This painting both delights and confounds me; I think that's good!

This heroine is committed to the beige core of her wardrobe, and her unusual assortment of accent colors - two soft ones, three bright ones.

But there are no rules about this kind of thing, so it makes sense ONLY to choose what delights you.

Coming into November, our heroine has a lovely, wide-ranging assortment of tops:

And she owns three dresses! Maybe sometime, she'll come across a printed dress, or a pastel one, that speaks to her. And I'm sort of tickled that she has the same pants in yellow AND orange. If you love something, there's no reason to avoid a duplicate...

Her scarves and jewelry are pretty delectable:

And ... View the Post

November 2024 “Six Paintings, Twelve Months” – Fourth Painting, by Mark Rothko

November 6, 2024

Probably my favorite painting, if not necessarily my favorite wardrobe; my favorite wardrobe changes hourly!

She's pretty well stocked with tops - basic and not!

And yes, she already has THREE dresses, as well as a matching blouse and skirt...

She has all of the best scarves, and I covet her earrings...

Her shoes and bags cover her needs pretty thoroughly...

But this is - hands down - the heroine with the dressiest life. And she's facing a daunting onslaught of holiday activities, including quite a few that are work-related!

So she's getting what she needs. A suit, two dressy tops, metallic flats, and festive jewelry! She's going to sort out what she's wearing for EACH event, and ... View the Post

November 2024 “Six Paintings, Twelve Months” – Third Painting by Elizabeth Magill

November 5, 2024

If you're in the US, I'm assuming that you have already voted, or have a plan to vote today... A Big Small Change Our heroine's been living in a blue and white wardrobe, inspired by her love of this painting:

She has a wardrobe full of lovely tops - solids, prints, almost all of the basics, and a nice bunch of accent and statement things:

Maybe she could use another dress? Or not - she has skirts, and the world just isn't as dressed up as it used to be...

She loves her scarves and jewelry, and who wouldn't?

She also feels pretty good about her shoes and bags:

But she's been thinking for quite a long time about denim. Not a TON of denim, but maybe a pair of jeans? And a chambray ... View the Post

November 2024 “Six Paintings, Twelve Months” – Second Painting, by Georgia O’Keeffe

November 4, 2024

I think I'm going to do a post each day this week, and finish the six paintings for the month of November. It seems to me that any kind of distraction might come in handy right now...

Ah, this most exuberant of heroines! Not just anybody could pull off a wardrobe in only three colors, when one of them is RED. But it's possible. There are lots of women, and lots of wardrobes...

This wardrobe feels pretty complete to me - when you remember that you can only wear one outfit at a time (at least in theory!), own this much clothing feels pretty complete...

In all fairness, if this was my wardrobe, I'd need a few more summer dresses! But still, I don't think I'd ever really struggle to get dressed...

I ... View the Post

November 2024 “Six Paintings, Twelve Months” – First Painting, by John Nash

November 1, 2024

Sitting up in my desk chair is still a challenge, so I've decided to attack these paintings "one at a time." Well, it's possible that my endurance will increase - we can always hope!

When you've reached the point at which you have 44 garments in your wardrobe, you actually should be in pretty good shape for getting dressed for most things in life. I started keeping track of what I wear every day, and since mid-June, I'm at about 40 pieces. With a bit of thinking, I'm sure that I could assemble a very workable wardrobe of 52 garments, which is our target for these six wardrobes. (12 months x 4 garments per month + the Christmas Day bonus four from when I announce the paintings = 52).

Oh yeah. 52 would also be ... View the Post