The Vivienne Files

Want Lots of Accent Colors? The Meredith Wing Scarf by Echo

January 17, 2025

This scarf scream warm weather to me, but I'm pretty certain that we can figure out ways to wear it every month of the year!

There are a few additional colors from the scarf that I could have included, but I felt that these 3 colors, plus black and white, were the most visible:

Even in the coldest weather, a warm sweater and some accessories that go with it will always be useful. And if your new scarves just happens to go with your sweater...

If you like to wear "suit-like" pairings of clothes, a new accent tee shirt is always handy! Yes, the jewelry is VERY inexpensive (aka cheap), but it's a good way to test-drive how much you like this color without going nuts. If you decide to upgrade at a late ... View the Post

I Love It, But Will I Wear It? White Cotton Shirt

January 15, 2025

For decades, I did everything I could to avoid wearing button-front shirts. If it fit across the... torso, the sleeves were miles too long. If I got the right sleeve length, it wouldn't button!

And why it never occurred to me to try a Petite sized shirt, I do NOT know.

Now, I have a handful of shirts, and I wear the dickens out of them! Maybe it's not too late for you - a simple white shirt really is wicked useful. If you find that they're too "crispy" and neat, get one of these no-iron ones and don't touch-up iron it at all. They're nice and soft that way...

Yes, you see these L.L.Bean pants all the time. I have two pairs of them (heritage stone and black) and wear them weekly. Workhorses.

And ... View the Post

I Love It, But Will I Wear It? Grey Cashmere Sweatshirt

January 13, 2025

It's something we all need to do - wear what we already own much more frequently, and make certain that anything we buy will be worn a lot, for years and years...

In pursuit of making good decisions, I hear from you. A current dilemma seems to surround the idea of a cashmere sweatshirt - is it a sweatshirt, or a cashmere sweater? Do I wear with casually, or do I dress it up?

To which I respond? YES. Yes to all. Swing every which way with a beautiful sweatshirt, and wear it so often that it's a comfortable "top of mind" starter for any outfit, for most occasions.

I have ideas starting with casual and ranging up to somewhat dressy. I'm going to share these without comment, so I can clearly hear your ... View the Post

Want a Statement Color Palette? Start With Art – Icarus by Lee Krasner

January 10, 2025 The Reluctant Traveler

We think that you should go on this site visit, because the Superintendent says that you two have never met..."

WHAT kind of chocolate-frosted nonsense is this? She worked with the Superintendent for a half a day, at the end of the LAST site visit, drafting the recommendations for update and next steps. They sat at a table together for hours...

Still, if they say go, she goes. This time, she's going to make just a bit of a bright statement with her travel capsule wardrobe, starting with some accessories for her travel outfit:

Nothing inappropriate - but maybe the Superintendent will remember her this time?

If you've got to do business travel in January in the Northern ... View the Post

When Your Color-Scheme Doesn’t Happen – Start With Art – Abstraction Blue by Georgia O’Keeffe

January 8, 2025

"I've got tickets for the ballet matinee on Saturday!

We can go downtown Friday night, have dinner, go to the ballet on Saturday and then have dinner AGAIN, and then come home after brunch on Sunday..."

She can manage this - it won't take much for clothing... Something for Saturday that's dressy but comfortable, and something Sunday for brunch and the ride home...

And she's dreaming of packing a soft, water-colored, shades of blue and green travel capsule wardrobe!

The ride downtown is easy - a navy "suit" with her "glacial teal" tee shirt, and her stunning scarf...

Her navy skirt is perfect for this kind of adventure - it's soft and comfortable. And she has a lovely pink sweater that will be ... View the Post

A Project For Our New Year

January 6, 2025

Sorry I'm not more creative right now - I had wrist surgery on Thursday, and the pain medicine has been SO WONDERFUL... it's like not having insomnia!

I've been sleeping about 12 hours a night, and dreaming insane, complicated dreams. Bliss...

But I have been thinking about you, and I thought it was about time that we all check our emergency evacuation bags to make certain that everything's current.

Do you have your most up-to-date prescriptions? Are the over-the-counter medicines that you've included fresh? Do you have good walking shoes, warm socks, and whatever clothes might be appropriate for this time of year? Is your telephone back-up batter charged? Do you have a reasonable amount of ... View the Post

Six Paintings – Twelve Months January 2025 Part 2

January 3, 2025

Here are ALL of the "cool" toned wardrobes - in the randomness of life, the warms and the cools got split down the middle. No wonder Wednesday's post left some of you out in the cold... or rather I guess I should say the warm!

I have to warn you before next month - I suspect that we're going to start moving right into spring clothes. It's absurdly difficult to find winter clothes right now that don't cost the moon, are decent looking, in the colors we like, that are available in the full range of sizes. I will NOT include something for which there are only 7 size XXXS available...

Let's start with a warm/cool wardrobe, and a wonderful favorite painting:

Such lovely, classic colors...

Back on Christmas ... View the Post

Six Paintings – Twelve Months January 2025 Part 1

January 1, 2025

Happy New Year! We've got new paintings, new heroines, and new wardrobes to build - what fun!

This year, I'm going to try to start all of our heroines with basics, and so I've dredged out the Weekly Timeless Wardrobe list for reference. I'm not sure that I'm going to keep using it for the entire year, but as a guide in the early days of a wardrobe, it may be helpful.

Let's jump in and start with some Georgia O'Keeffe. I think I've used one of her paintings almost every year - she's just THAT good...

I could have broken out a number of shades of blue and green for this color wheel, but I wanted to think of these colors as all being closely related, on a spectrum. We shall see how that works!

Our heroine ... View the Post

Thinking About Accent Colors? Pantone London Fashion Week, Spring/Summer 2025

December 30, 2024

I always love these, even though they are difficult - just because Pantone says that a color is going to be popular does NOT mean that anybody actually sells something in that color. Maybe I'm just ahead of the curve...

But this is interesting - no pink, no dark or medium blue, and an offensively named (at least to me) shade of brown.

And I must share - on the Pantone website, there's a recurring typographical error that calls this first color Windsor Wind, rather than Windsor Wine! Maybe it will be fixed by the time you read this, but still - someone should be proofreading these things.

Does anyone still proofread?

Let's go!

Why yes, I'm quite smitten with this next color!

I was surprised how ... View the Post

Last-Minute Packing? Start With Art – The Annunciation by Jay DeFeo

December 27, 2024

When the phone rang, she knew...

"We need you to come in for the weekend - Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. We need coverage for the full twelve hours each night..."

At least she doesn't need to wear a uniform, but that almost makes it harder, at the very last minute!

Deep breath, remember what's important...

And then figure out what's clean!

She channels one of her favorite paintings, and decides that she's going to just wear neutrals. Keep it simple, low-key, and focus on her support role...

She won't really have to go outside - they've got a spare room for her in the facility. Although she will almost certainly take a few minutes to walk outside, every now and then...

She packs a ... View the Post

Merry Christmas! Six New Painting for Us to Enjoy in 2025

December 25, 2024

Happy Christmas to all who observe today, and a happy and joyful day to everybody!

So after wrangling, pondering, occasional hair-pulling, and a lot of general angst, I chose the six paintings for next year. This is - no question - the hardest thing I EVER do for The Vivienne Files, so if your favorite painting wasn't chosen, don't doubt that it was considered, and re-considered, and finally eliminated with great pain.

If there's anything you particularly miss, let me know and I will do a post about it! That's the least I can do, eh?

With no further ado - let's go!

This is the second year in a row that I've included Elizabeth Magill - I think she's got magical talent...

This heroine is going to ... View the Post

More From Paris – What They Wore, What Was in the Store Windows, Some Random Street Art!

December 23, 2024

Good morning my friends! I'm feel much more myself, after I slept 12 hours on Thursday night...

What else did I see in Paris? (do you have A MONTH?) It was subdued, more than I can ever remember seeing in December - and remember, before the pandemic, I used to go do Paris every December, so I have some frame of reference.

Maybe the most strikingly uniform thing I noticed was that probably 2/3 of the store windows were featuring party attire that was black with silver - and occasionally - gold accents. Lots of sequins or metallic threads woven in... Things like this:

It's difficult to see in my photographs, but you'd fit right into the Paris party environment if you had a silver sequined jacket, or dress, or ... View the Post