April 7, 2020
She’s feeling… exuberant…
Now that she’s free to travel again, she’s going to do things differently. She’s had so much time to plan, and she’s going to be so much more organized!
This is her color palette:
She’s not going to be reckless – she’s still wearing her compression socks, and waterproof loafers. But she’s finally going to start wearing the scarves that have been living in a dresser drawer for ages…
Navy hoop earrings – Carousel Jewels; scarf – Ferragamo; navy cotton cardigan – Banana Republic; watch – Timex; navy leather bracelet – Jeff Way; plum tee – Lands’ End; tote – Cuyana; bag – Danlo; socks – Sockwell; navy cotton pants – J.Crew; loafers – Aquatalia
Before, she would NEVER have considered packing pants that were lighter than dark navy. She wouldn’t have consigned lovely scarves to a suitcase, nor would she have traveled with cashmere sweaters.
Now, she realizes that life is for living, and the things that we own are for using and enjoying! Life is too short…
Pearl hoop earrings – Talbots; malachite earrings – Argento Vivo; navy short-sleeve sweater – J.Crew; ivory cashmere sweater – Nordstrom Signature; navy square crystal necklace – Ananda; square scarf – Ferragamo; navy cardigan blazer – J.Crew; pearl & malachite bracelet – Farra; gold bag – Jessica McClintock; leaf scarf – The Met Store; striped tunic – L.L.Bean; stone pants – L.L.Bean; green cotton dress – Aspesi; navy pumps – Calvin Klein; bone loafers – Trotters
She used to wrestle with huge suitcases, and then have a hotel room that was always impossibly cluttered and overcrowded.
This time, she’s going to put everything in the closet when she gets to the hotel, and if she needs to have laundry done, she will do so!
She falls asleep the first night there with the closet door slightly ajar; she likes to admire her travel capsule wardrobe:
Before, she would have worried about what she would wear if Alain Delon suddenly invited her to dinner. What if she meets the President of France and he wants her to come to a black-tie event?
WHAT IF SHE’S SUDDENLY NOMINATED FOR THE FRENCH ACADEMY????? (it could happen, right?)
Now, she knows that she’s going to dress the way she normally does, and she’s not going to worry about all kinds of nutty, impossible possibilities…
The same outfit more than once in a week? That was once heresy; now, it’s just sensible.
Personally, if Alain Delon invited me to dinner, I’d splurge on a new dress, and maybe even new shoes. Maybe….
love,
Janice
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I really don’t want to spoil this fantasy, but (as I wasn’t familiar with him) I looked up Alain Delon, and he’s old in real life. He’s had at least one stroke. You’d both have to have dinner with masks on, sitting 6 feet apart, because he’s high-risk. Maybe I should watch some of his old movies so I get it, but I can’t get past thinking “I’d probably have to spoon feed him”…I think you and our heroine could do much better. How about a fantasy that a young artist wants to paint you…”Nude in compression socks”–?
Nude in compression socks doesn’t require a new outfit though. But I must agree that I don’t think Alain Delon has aged well.
That will be the suntan and cigarettes I suspect, but he did have expression lines even as a young man. He was very good looking in his youth though.
If I’m going to have an imaginary dinner with someone, it can certainly be someone from 50 years ago, right?
hugs,
Janice
Reminds me of going to a movie many years ago with a friend who was about twenty-five years younger than I was. After we left, she admitted drooling over the dashing lead character. I said that I thought his blue-eyed father was mighty good looking. My friend was aghast, “That old man!”
I knew I’d crossed some sort of age milestone when I found the older men in movies more attractive than the supposed hero. The heroes look like children!
hugs,
Janice
Thank you for sharing this art with us, I am new to this artist! I enjoyed both the wardrobe and reading up on some art history. The mix of dark and light neutrals make this a good season transition set. Thank you Janice!
I know several octagenarians who would welcome a visit from a ‘young’ lady to talk to them about their life!
This is such a sophisticated palette. I love the plum pink and navy and have a velvet jacket in that stunning colour and a paisley scarf in the pink and navy which would be perfect. I wish I could wear dark green as the green leaf scarf is perfect. Perhaps, I should experiment with dark green in a small way?
We have seen on the news about the situation in Chicago. Hope all is alright with you and Belovedst. We are reeling from the news that the British Prime Minister who has got Covid-19 is now in a hospital ICU on oxygen, so we hope that he will make a full recovery.
I have been following ‘The Vivienne Files’ for years and try to keep it a ‘politics free’ space and just enjoy Janice’s wonderful work.
However, as you have mentioned Boris Johnson I feel I must respond. He and his party have wreaked havoc and neglected the wonderful NHS over the past 10 years; ignored studies in 2017 showing what needed to be done to be prepared for such events as Corvid19 as being ‘too expensive’; when it was clear problems had already arrived in the UK boasted about ‘shaking hands’ with suspected Corvid19 sufferers; as ever issued contradictory and unclear advice; etc. etc. As far as I am aware he is not on a ventilator, and to my mind is taking up a much needed ICU space.
Please spare your thoughts for the suffering of thousands of ‘ordinary’ people – and not least those in the medical and other services making extraordinary sacrifices and denied protection – exacerbated by the actions of those in power on both sides of the Atlantic.
Take care and stay safe.
That is a beautiful and practical capsule..and I always love your touches of imagination. When your heroine sleeps with the closet door open so she can enjoy her travel wardrobe!!! (Now scurrying off to contemplate buying some of those navy pieces–it’s a perfect neutral for showing off 40 years of scarf collecting (and still going!)
Plus this way she knows that there aren’t gremlins lurking in the closet!
When I travel alone I could certainly do this – lie there and ponder tomorrow’s weather, and tomorrow’s plans, and think about what I will be wearing….
Ah, dreams!
hugs,
Janice
Janice,
Love, love, love ! 2 neutrals, 2 accents, and very varied accessories, especially the scarves ! Your bright sock inclusions always give me a chuckle ! I have heavy calves and ankles and so avoid bringing attention to those parts, but I enjoy seeing accents like these on others !
If you’re wearing long pants, I don’t think that “a glimpse of a stocking” is going to reveal that much of your structural condition. If you’re not comfortable with it, that is certainly for you to know, but don’t discount the idea.
Maybe it’s time that we all learn that we are fortunate to have ANY body at all that supports us and lets us live out our dreams. If we don’t live up to some standard of attractiveness, who cares? We know we are beautiful…
hugs,
Janice
I have a sack full of coloured socks (I’m not joking). Thermal socks in winter and cotton socks in summer. I’ve recently discovered ‘soft top’ socks which don’t leave marks on my generous calves. I like to match the socks to my top so these definitely appeal.
That’s so cool….
hmm… pondering pink socks for my future!
hugs,
Janice
Janice,
Some very good points, thanks !
HI Janice, this is a lovely story, colour palette and spring clothes. Agreed, lets just make peace with our bodies and love ourselves and wear what makes us feel good. No one else really matters, and likely never notices.
I love,love, love the cream shoes. Anything woven is a fav in shoes or a purse for any season. I have a wonderful coach purse with a woven pattern in cream and cant wait to bring it out. Actually WHO says I cant bring it out now??? Hah! Just no where to go…. well what about park walking with a lovely bag and gorgeous scarf, now why not????
EXACTLY! Tomorrow I’m going to get up and put on a dress. Why the heck not? It’s not like it’s uncomfortable, or unflattering. I might as well enjoy my lovely things – I didn’t arrange such a careful and flattering wardrobe for other people – it’s for ME. Let’s all celebrate our own beautiful…
hugs,
Janice
How I love that hunter/British racing green color! I can’t imagine why it’s so hard to find clothing in such a beautiful color.
I do like this color palette. Question: That is a navy bracelet (lined in fucshia)? It certainly looks like a belt in these depictions.
It is! I just had an internet chat with one of the staff at Wolf & Badger and that’s what they told me….
hugs,
Janice
It’s ironic to me that my grandmother, who with her father were the only two survivors in their immediate family of the “Spanish” influenza of 1918, was of the generation who somehow ended up storing clothing items ‘for good.’ You’d think they would have had the similar sensibility that life was short and you should treat yourself well now, not in some imaginary tomorrow. My grandmother saved things in tissue paper in drawers for some special event, which might or might not come. Nowadays I just don’t wear relatively fragile things around the house because you just don’t need them and the cat destroys clothes anyway. But saving things ‘for good’ is still real to me, especially now that good times seem a ways off. My fashion sensibility is going to be evidenced by the fabric choice for my new face mask. I believe I ordered a cabbage rose design from some vendor on Etsy. Useful for grocery shopping and not much else. But when we do get to travel again (which might also require masks) I do want to encourage everyone who travels to treat yourself well in that upcoming moment (and to treat yourself well now, for that matter). Treating one’s self well does not have to be something we only do under certain circumstances; it is not a luxury or indulgence to take care of yourself, and in fact, you’ll stay healthier overall if you treat yourself well every day. By all means, get your clothes washed, or bring some Woolite and wash them in the sink! Clean clothes are better for you in general. Travel is pretty much the worst time to deny yourself basic health-related ‘indulgences.’ Eat good food, drink plenty of clean water, indulge in soap. Travel, when one is exposed to viruses and germs your body is not accustomed to, is the worst time to economize. ;-)
Today I wore a facemask, which I made myself. It’s blue cotton, a toile inspired print. And then I tried a small, soft cotton scarf, folded and tied behind my head. The scarf is so much easier, and fits better besides. Cotton is the recommended fabric, and we do need something washable.
Oh, mi goodness, I am in love with the Ferragamo scarf. Such pretty colors in that…you could build a fantastic wardrobe around it. Soon…the AC will be cranked in every building, and the silk scarves will be welcome companions! LOL.
I love the heroine leaving her closet open to enjoy her travel capsule.
I have 3 long picture rail narrow shelves from IKEA that hold a gallery wall of 9 travel prints in black frames (IKEA). It’s in the guest bedroom.
They are very sturdy with good wall anchors.
I hang up my entire travel capsule facing the room and play with accessories till I get the right mix.
I then leave them up, “breathing” till my packing day so they don’t wrinkle badly or take on that suitcase smell however faint.
I often take a coffee, curl up on the bed and gaze in anticipation. It’s part of the joy of travel.
But I also use the rails to really zero in on my core capsule of the season. Helps to see it all together.
That sounds wonderful! We have a clothes rack that folds down to absolutely nothing – 5 pieces of pipe! And when it’s up, it holds laundry that’s drying, or face masks that have been washed, or my upcoming travel wardrobe… It’s one of my favorite little tools in our entire home!
hugs,
Janice
I adore this capsule. Such lovely choices you have made. That gold bag!! (Down girl.) thanks for putting out extra posts, Janice. I always look forward to having my morning coffee with you on Mon, Wed and Fri. Keep em coming and STAY WELL. xoxo Hallie from NY.