The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Archives for July 2013

July 2013 - Page 2 of 2

The ABC’s of Chic Sightings: Joyous, Kinetic, Legible

It's not lost on me that life can be hard, times can be tough, and that you can't walk around with a witless grin on your face 24/7.  But you can try to be pleasant - at least demonstrate a reasonable amount of joy in being alive. Enthusiasm. Spark. Zest. All those kinds of things...

Sluggish is not going to do it.  Get in motion! Energy, enthusiasm, a spark...  (I'm sensing a theme here...)

Too much clutter, too many details, too many conflicting visual signals - I find that hard to process, and it doesn't feel chic to me.  People around you should be able to "read" you reasonably easily, so that they have a sense of you.  Your appearance communicates who you are to the rest of the world;  try to ... View the Post

Signature: Anne Selby pleated silk scarf

July 12, 2013   These scarves are sufficiently beautiful that they would make a compelling focus for one's wardrobe.  Even if you didn't wear the scarf every day, using the colors in it as a unifying theme for your purchases could  be a brilliant idea...  

Ruffled silk scarf – Anne Selby    

 

Olive coat – Jil Sander,  olive sweater- Ralph Lauren, Earrings – Georg Jensen,  Silk top – Jil Sander, Grey cardigan – Tsumori Chisato,  Taupe cotton velvet jeans –Brunello Cucinelli, Taupe sweater – Nina Ricci,  Suede skirt – Jitrois, Bracelet – Gag and Lou,  Bag – TSM The Swedish Model, Loafers –Geox, Pumps – RSVP,  Grey jeans – BLK ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Project 333 continues, with 3 substitutions

July 11, 2013  

Now that I'm home during the day, I've found that I don't need to dress like a serious business executive all of the time, and I'm able to indulge my fondness for ballet-ish garments, and a lot of dark neutral colors.  I find that being able to have a simple, monochromatic wardrobe makes sense for me...   This month's additions: the most excellent Preloved tee shirt that I bought in Toronto, a charcoal tank top from Eileen Fisher, and a pair of black skirted leggings.  You either LOVE, or HATE, skirted leggings.  I've found that I love them - they're comfortable, flattering, and just unusual enough that they make me happy.  

  This was what I was using for Project 333.  I ... View the Post

Packing for Special Occasions: A Floral Coat, and Flower Colors

July 10, 2013

Sometimes, you have to travel for a special event to a place where the days are warm, but the evenings can be quite cool. This is a perfect opportunity to invest in an astonishingly beautiful coat, which gives you lots of colorful options around which to build a travel capsule wardrobe.

Regarding the question about the handbag color? I personally would always opt for a metallic when I'm not sure of what color. Not a blindingly shiny gaudy metallic - something more subtle and muted, in the same general color range as the clutch shown here. I find that metallic are a lot easier to blend in with a variety of colors than anything else that I see.

love, Janice

PS - For more color inspiration, check out ... View the Post

Wee gizmos that make my life easier and better

July 9, 2013   First thing in the morning, chez nous, is coffee. Not negotiable, and certainly not optional.  But in the super-hot weather, heating water for the French press can bring added heat to the wee apartment that is NOT necessary.  But we discovered the idea of the electric kettle when we lived in Ireland - furnished apartments included the kettle!  And it heats up a full pot of water in about a minute, AND you can adjust the temperature for the nuances of optimizing black tea, green tea, French press coffee etc. It doesn't leave behind a hot stove burner, and it uses electricity for only a very short period of time.  Through the day, when I want to drink tea, I turn it on ... View the Post

The ABC’s of Chic Sightings: Graceful, Honest and Individual

Awkward is always awkward.  If you seriously feel that this is something you want to improve, look into yoga, ballet, or some other physical activity. Nobody is too old to improve muscle control and enhance their grace.

More than anything else, you have to look like yourself.  You can dress up in outfits that are supposed to make you more professional, or sexier, or more elegant, but ultimately you have to dress like yourself.  Yes, of course it is possible for you to be more professional, more sexy, and more elegant, so long as at the core of everything, you continue to have a core SOMETHING that is truly you, as you are now.  

So many of the people that I see when I'm hiking around Chicago look as if they ... View the Post

Packing for a Special Event: Black

July 5, 2013  

For a  business event that is quite dressy, this ensemble below would be wonderful.  And I particularly like this whole assortment of clothes, because it is all very suitable for those of us who do not have a well-defined waistline.  Do remember, this much unrelieved black relies heavily on judicious and generous accessorizing to avoid looking monastic...You may not feel comfortable wearing a black dress to some occasions; I see them more and more at weddings - but of course now many brides dress their attendants in black, which opens up the possibility for the guests also.  It's all about how comfortable you will feel - that's the only standard that ultimately matters.  

Dress-  ... View the Post

When a White Shirt is PERFECT

Sometimes, a white shirt (tee shirt, tank top) is the ideal choice for an outfit...  First and foremost, if you love the way you're dressed, then you're wearing the perfect clothes, no matter what ANYBODY else says.  In hot weather, when you're wearing other light-colored garments, or when you need the brightening effects of white near your face.And you do understand that "your" white might be ecru, or cream, or ivory, or some other variations of white?  Choose what's best for you.  Always. Every day.  Without exception.  Your happiness is really the only standard by which your garments should be evaluated.

The lighter-background tee shirt is much more in keeping with the feeling of the white jeans. ... View the Post

Signature: Hermes Clous de Trompe L’Oeil enamel bracelets

July 3, 2013   If you have the good fortune to own a pair of Hermes enamel bracelets, you may want to use them as the basis of some outfits...  

 

Cardigan –Closed, Earrings- Georg Jensen, V-neck – Closed, Silk blouse – Steffen Schraut, Blue cardigan – Massimo Alba, Wine jeans – Closed, Bag – Dolce & Gabbana, Grey tee shirt – Organic by John Patrick, Wine tee shirt – Organic by John Patrick, Slate blue pants – Massimo Alba, Tweed skirt – Dolce & Gabbana, Suede loafers = Patricia Green, Flats – French Connection    

 

 

 

  love, Janice

  ... View the Post

Packing for a Special Event: Lavender and Grey

July 2, 2013   It's always difficult to know what shoes to wear with a dress like this.  While metallic sandals would always be an appropriate choice, the coat in this ensemble makes it possible to wear open, ornamented black sandals. Packing a black clutch and black sandals is handy, because you can then wear them if you want to dress up the other dress, or the skirt.    

Amethyst earrings - DeLatori, Lavender dress – Valentino Roma, Bag - Artessorio, Sandals – Van Eli, Coat – Philosophy di Alberta di Ferretti    

Blouse – Giambattista Valli, Cardgan- Nicole Farhi, Pants – Saint Laurent, Bracelet – Sisco & Berluti,   Bag – Bottega Veneta, Suitcase – ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Weeping Cherry & Bullfinch by Katsushika Hokusai

July 1, 2013   This painting is so beautiful - the first thing that struck me was the clean simplicity of it.  So I was initially drawn to cool, somewhat architectural clothes, of course in blue...  

  More blue - still simple, clean, with silver accents.  

  I loved this sweater juxtaposed with a lace skirt- it felt like it captured the balance between the simplicity of the overall painting contrasted with the delicacy of the flowers.  And there was no way I could resist chambray...  

  And even winter clothing can reflect the beauty of this painting.  Soft sweaters, tweed, suede, all capture the gentle grace Katsushika Hokusai brought to life ... View the Post