April 6, 2022
I’ve never done this, in the 12 years (!!?!!?!!) that I’ve been writing The Vivienne Files – just show you a bunch of stuff that caught my eye!
But I realized a few days ago that my “cool things to remember” file was getting stupid big, and so I thought that I could just show you items outside of the context of a wardrobe. You’re adults – you’ll figure out how these could be worn!
Everything here is from 1 website: wolfandbadger.com. I’ve been to their stores in New York and London, as well as ordering things from them. Their service is excellent…
And since all of these things come from small designers, you really could email a designer to ask questions! For example, if you madly admire a pair of red earrings, and wonder if they could ever be made in black – you can ask! Don’t try this at your normal department store, eh?
Of course, I start with scarves. The company Myrtle & Mary has a whole BUNCH of scarves of beautiful women riding on wild animals… And they’re quite lovely…
Tigerlily Periwinkle Georgette Silk Scarf – Myrtle & Mary; The Mysterious Lion King scarf – Ilona Tambor
I used the Griffin & Basilisk scarf in a different color combination recently here – I’m pretty smitten with both color combinations. And who couldn’t love a scarf the celebrates Australian plants and animals?
Just in case you were afraid that all scarves had to have some sort of recognizable image on them, here’s 2 great, very abstract scarves! I believe that the 2nd one is based upon a painting by an autistic child…
I’m always accumulating files of pretty jewelry… I see so many rings that I admire that I could wish that I had 14 or 16 fingers…
And the Frog Prince brooch? On the back side, he’s wearing a wee tiny vest and bow tie…
Orange pearl & enamel ring – Simon Harrison; blue pearl & enamel ring – Simon Harrison; frog prince brooch – Simon Harrison
Yes, I could own a LOT of rings if I let myself get carried away!
Cross pendant – Musula (available in 5 colors!); pearl, moon & star ring – Artisan; bottom wide ring – Artisan
If you don’t look at the products from Vintouch Italy for any other reason, you should visit just to see how beautifully they photograph their jewelry. Their models are styled and dressed to look like Pre-Raphaelite artist models. It’s stunning…
Just in case nobody has told you this before – enamel is NOT paint – it’s melted fragments of glass…
Can you figure out the coded ring?
Enamel & pink tourmaline ring – Gemondo; opal & enamel earrings – Gemondo; LOVE coded ring – Gemondo
Okay, THESE BAGS were the reason that I finally decided that I needed to do this post! They are selling really quickly, and I wasn’t able to come up with a blog post that I thought did justice to any of them.
Yes, they’re mad expensive, but if you chose one that you love and that looks good with your wardrobe, and if you take meticulous care of it, you could carry one of these bags for dressy events for the rest of your life, and then leave it to your heirs to fight over!
Sigh…
Could you carry one of these in lieu of a bouquet for a 2nd (or 3rd, or 4th…) wedding?
For a bit more day-to-day bag, but still far from boring, I suggest one of these:
One of my favorite small brands right now is Fable England; what’s not to love with these bags?
Red toile bag – Fable England; beige meadow print tote – Fable England; navy meadow tote – Fable England
I have 3 of their brooches, and I frankly wouldn’t mind having at least 3 more! They’re beautiful – small but exquisite. You won’t be disappointed…
And let me end this little stroll through my “files of whappage” with a sloth (who is wearing glasses, I think?) a simple sun and moon brooch, and a cat who is not “amewsed.”
Whimsey is never a bad thing – especially gracing one’s lapel…
love,
Janice
p.s. Six years ago, a painting by Laszlo Moholy-Magy prompted a black, orange and beige travel capsule wardrobe… Not a BIT of Halloween feel!
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The jewelry in this post is amazing!
Such prettiness today. I love it!
I confess to needing help in seeing LOVE in the four stones on the coded ring. Could anyone help me understand the key to the code?
Click on the link for the ring and scroll down for the explanation. The names of the four stones start with L, O, V, and E. Lapis, Opal, etc. I wouldn’t have figured it out myself!
Thanks very much!
Attention to detail with accessories that’s what I’ve learnt since following TVF. Picking out accent colours and/or small details with accessories can lift an outfit. I’m seeking out dress rings at the moment. I love floral bags and the idea of bridesmaids carrying a beautiful handbag instead of flowers which can be expensive. A beaded bag would also work and the flowers could be limited to a corsage or headdress. A handbag would give the a practical item on the day and a present for ever.
I’m a big fan of Wolf and Badger. Love Fable and the cuteness of their things. I bought the sloth necklace in the fall – looks just like the brooch only it’s a bronze(?) rose gold (?) necklace. The kids love it.
Me too, Sheila. I’m looking forward to warmer spring weather so I can start wearing necklaces instead of scarves more regularly. The sloth is definitely coming out to play with the onset of true spring weather! The brown + rose gold color scheme matches my eyeglasses so the sloth necklace has been very easy to incorporate cohesively into my outfit.
I’ve had my eye on the grouchy cat! Their jewelry collection is amazing.
There’s an Agatha Christie book (Tommy and Tuppence) where they find a ring with a code in it. The word was “regard”, I think. Ruby, emerald, garnet, amethyst, ruby, diamond”. I think this was a thing in the Victorian era.
Oh gosh, Barb … Tommy and Tuppence!!! It’s been years.
Off subject, but I adored them! Couldn’t help but respond …
Thank you for sending. It brightens a stormy day in Alabama. I like the scarves, esp. the one by person with autism, and the cat pin. All pretty, though. Will look up Wolf and Badger and others.
I loved this post! Especially the FABLE TOILE DE JOUY BUCKLE BAG!!! I will put that on my wish list!
Yes, the acrostic ring was very much a 19th century thing. Other words were adore and dearest. Sometimes also spelled out a name. Very sweet and sentimental…same reason that hair from a loved one was made into rings, watch chains, necklaces and brooches. Another custom was to use teeth in jewelry…which seems creepy today until you think about how parents still save baby teeth or the newer fad of having a tiny vial of ashes in necklaces. And…oops…just realized that I slipped into history geek mode. Hope you don’t mind a tiny bit of history today to go with the pretties that Janice shared with us. Ooh…the Italian jewelry really is lovely. And all the sweet whimsical brooches… What a nice treat this morning.
🤣🤣 my boys think it is really creepy I have some of their baby teeth in my jewelry box. Maybe I should buy a little special box for them – though I’d not be able to separate who’s teeth was whose….
I like to think that anyone who reads The Vivienne Files has a healthy intellectual curiosity!
hugs,
Janice
The flowered handbags are gorgeous! Janice you have a knack for finding unusual handbags I’m reminded of a poison bottle handbag you included in a wardrobe you did several years ago. So memorable! The sun and moon clutch pin in the mixed metals will undoubtedly find its way into my collection since I wear clutch pins on my turtlenecks.
Oh my!! The floral handbag, earrings, brooches and rings!! Gorgeous scarves from Myrtle & Mary!!! Thank you for introducing us to this store!!!
These things are amazing!
What a lovely, fun post filled with whimsy and pretty things. A true day brightener! Thank you for sharing these, Janice — I hope you’ll do this more often.
The cat and sloth pins are my favorites. You might convert me to wearing brooches.
Hi Janice! Thank you for the whimsical brooches. The doormouse one is my favorite.
I am coincidentally wearing the color capsule from six years ago. All my favorites.
I decided my 21 pc wardrobe challenge for April is 4 pieces of brown and 4 pieces of the family of beige from the Common Wardrobe with every pink, blue and pastel color in the closet. (Ok, that’s probably more than 21 so some will have to sit on the bench). I figured brown/beige-ish is a good bridge between winter and spring .
I think this kind of post could be a regular feature, perhaps monthly or in anticipation of season shift.
Oh I can SO EASILY do that – I look at literally thousands of things per week, and I see a ton of stuff that I can never really incorporate into a wardrobe, but I think of you all and so want you to see them!
Anybody else have an opinion?
love,
Janice
Would love to see this regularly, either monthly or seasonally. You find such wonderful treasures I wouldn’t see otherwise.
And I love the random bits of history I learn from you and other readers. Culture, art appreciation and history all through wardrobe planning!
I agree with amyloo’s thoughts and would definitely welcome posts like this on a regular basis. Such a treat to read!
Yes please Janice. You always find such lovely pieces and good designers.
I enjoy all your posts but this one especially. These make simple outfits unique. I’d love a reason to have one of the floral handbags. But the straw one with the pearls handles will soon be mine. Please, please,make this a regular thing.
Finding my favourite things in my accessories and jewellery collection would be the next step.
I just love that dormouse pin!
Wolf & Badger have such wonderful things. I bought the sloth necklace a while ago and gave it to my daughter last week when she confirmed her pregnancy. She loved it!
and Yes please, I would love to see this as a regular feature. Thanks Janice.
Hi, Janice – This is such a box of treasures that you have opened up for our eyes to gaze upon…and purchase perhaps as well! Thanks so much for sharing the beauty you have discovered – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
A monthly accessory post would be divine. Yes please!
Janice, this is a wonderful post full of beautiful and original accessories. I would enjoy seeing more posts like this one.
The Fable bags are gorgeous!
I love wolf and badger! so many great things…