June 28, 2024
OMG, tomorrow is my birthday! I will be 64… although I feel like I’m somewhere at the crossroads of 21 and 90. My brain is young, my knees are past retirement age!
What do I want for my birthday? For you to recommend The Vivienne Files to anyone who might enjoy our community, and my ideas…
Speaking of community – many of you – MANY OF YOU – really love the color “Larkspur” offered by L.L.Bean. They currently have THIRTY-THREE items available, so it’s pretty easy to find something you can wear frequently. That said, many of these things are marked down, and therefore might just rush into retail oblivion…
I assembled this French 5-Piece Wardrobe in Larkspur to help me focus on how this color might be worn:
Earrings – Lizzie Fortunato; sweater – L.L.Bean; scarf – Elizabetta; notch-neck top – L.L.Bean; corduroy tunic – L.L.Bean
I’m only going to show a few ways to wear this color, because I’m feeling pretty confident that you will sort this out on your own; I’m eager to hear your ideas!
First up, to me, this color is perfect with navy. A lovely scarf and some pretty earrings and shoes are all you need:
sweater – L.L.Bean; earrings – Unaloe; scarf – Elizabetta, chinos – L.L.Bean; patent loafers – Bandolino
If I had this corduroy tunic shirt, I would wear it with sweat pants and a tee shirt frequently. These are the sweatpants that I wear, in black, a lot of time in the cold weather. With no elastic in the ankles, the legs of the pants just look like… pants. But they’re warm!
corduroy tunic – L.L.Bean; headband – Eugenia Kim; tee shirt – Lands’ End; sweatpants – Lands’ End; sneakers – On
Yes, I scoured the planet for items in this color – the best luck I had was searching for Periwinkle…
Everything goes with white, especially in the summertime. This looks so fresh and cheerful:
Hat – Wallaroo; bracelet – Shar Oke; notch-neck top – L.L.Bean; white shorts – Alex Mill; sandals – A.S.98
More and more, I’m convinced that tan pants (or stone, if you really must have a “cooler-toned” color) are the magic elixir of a wardrobe. The color goes with everything, is never intrusive, and since they’re pants, it doesn’t matter if they’re flatter to your personal colors. I picked up a pair – second-hand – and I’m loving them…
sweater – L.L.Bean; tanzanite earrings – Sselects; scarf – Myrtle & Mary; bag – Lodis; chinos – L.L.Bean; loafers – Amalfi by Rangoni
If you want jewelry in this color, look for tanzanite. It can be very expensive, or not so horrible. And if you find jewelry with some kind of synthetic tanzanite, and you love it, indulge! There are no jewelry police to force you to wear only “real” jewelry. Unless it’s imaginary, it’s real…
Finally, I scoured all of my usual sources, as well as bunch of less frequently visited sites, to try to find some other larkspur/periwinkle offerings. Sometimes, the only way to proceed was to go to a site, search for “purple,” and scroll through everything!
But it was worth it – check out the sweatshirt jacket and pants! And the wee hydrangea earrings!!!
Jacket – GAP; silk scrunchy – Sylki; single hoop earrings – Zohreh V. Jewellery; butterfly on hydrangea earrings – Farra; clutch bag – Campo Marzio Roma 1933; pants – GAP; woven bag – Pink Haley
So, do you love this color or does it leave you cold? I must admit that if I hadn’t already invested myself in a different bunch of purples, this would turn my head in a big way!
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, I suggested some interesting (and possibly important) choices that one might make in the course of building a wardrobe. They’re still good questions…
p.p.s. If you covet clothes from Alex Mill, but have been waiting for a sale, THIS IS YOUR TIME! I could go extremely nuts with his clothes…
Like this wardrobe? Save it to Pinterest!
Sending you birthday wishes from New Zealand 🇳🇿.
Hope you are spoilt! Thanks for your wonderful work.
Best wishes for a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Much love from Sydney, Australia!!! xx
Happy Birthday. For your birthday I would like to leave more than a recommendation. I am in Australia, so I can’t buy your clothing recommendations – sometimes the postage is more than the garment!
However, your very clever wardrobe plans have saved me lots of money – and I think I look smarter. I certainly feel smarter. Win Win. I now know NOT to buy random things on sale, pretty things that aren’t my colours, 15 iterations of the same dress, lots of patterns, etc, etc. All things I have done repetitively in the past.
Could you please install one of those ‘buy me a coffee’ buttons that seem to be in favour with some bloggers? So that every time your plans save me from myself (and an imminent wardrobe disaster) I can hit the button with relief? I would feel better if I could contribute to my education.
I hope this is not insulting. I love your emails. You have a lot of skill and during my career skill was always rewarded.
Lots of love, Angela
I’m off to do it right now!
hugs,
Janice
I agree with Angela. Please keep the buy me a coffee button available. I don’t buy a lot of clothes but I’d love to show appreciation for what you do and what I learn here.
Cheers!
I’m happy to make it available! Right now, my expenses are unexpected and unpredictable, so anyone who wants to chip in on “mom-care” is welcome. I love you all so much…
hugs,
Janice
A very Happy Birthday to you! I am reminded of the Beatles song “Will you still love me when I’m 64”. I enjoy your posts. Here’s to 64 more years.
I’ve been singing that to people for days! Much to their bemusement, in many cases…
hugs,
Janice
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Purple is your color
But periwinkle’s calling out, too !! 💙💜
Happy Birthday 🎂 Janice!! Thank you for all you do !
Happy Birthday, Janice!
A belated Happy Birthday,Janice – wishing you everything good for the year ahead. And ps – your Mom is very lucky!
Happy Your Day!
First of all Happy Birthday Janice!!! I am right behind you, closing in on 69 in another month. I am not my mother’s 69! Possibly that comes from working in a middle school and always being challenged to learn new things. My health has not wavered in years, though I do bruise more easily now. ok – so I am one of the Larkspur fans. I have five of the items. I wear it with navy, gray, and stone, and lately with orange, cobalt blue, and magenta. I used the checked shirt as a topper. The Myrtle & Mary scarf is amazeballs, though totally out of my price range. I find the color very versatile and receive compliments almost every time I wear it. Is it a blue or is it a purple? It’s wonderful. Happy Friday everyone and have a great weekend.
I’d love to see what Larkspur looks like with orange, cobalt blue and magenta. I recently wore a Larkspur cardigan with ocean blue and I wear it with light navy. I only wear magenta in winter and never orange.
LOVE all this! Just placed a large Gap order from your link for the sweatshirt jacket and pants. I can’t wait till it’s cool enough again to wear them. That Elizabetta scarf is gorgeous and I might need it too. Happy, happy birthday to you Janice!
Happy birthday. I hope you have a special and joyful day!
Happy birthday!
This is one of my favorite colors, I’m so glad to see it getting a post. There’s a very similar color at Lands’ End under the name “chicory”, like the flower, so for anyone who doesn’t mind mixing the two, there’s a lot of options there as well.
(Also my favorite flower is hydrangea and my husband’s is chicory, so I need to get more things in this color because we love it so much).
Love Periwinkle so I bought items in both Chicory and Larkspur. Lands’ End colors tend to be more vibrant and their Chicory is a bright Periwinkle that leans blue. L.L. Bean’s Larkspur is softer, more of a lilac color. Chico’s has a color right now called Purple Nightshade which is closer to a true Periwinkle. Interestingly enough, that Chico’s color was called Amparo Blue a few years ago. Periwinkle is a universal color as it flatters most people but can be elusive.
Happy Birthday!
That Wallaroo hat and Pink Haley woven bag – oh my! You’ve saved me countless hours of shopping for the perfect summer accessories! Thank you! And happy birthday!
Happy Birthday Janice!
Love the larkspur and earrings!
Happy birthday Janice
Janice,
Happy Birthday, Kid !!! I’m still old enough to have been your babysitter !
Larkspur — love it , though I don’t want to build much around it , as I have plenty of clothes ! I wear it with stone , which goes well with all of my cooler green and blue tones for Summer .
Happy Birthday!! I have been following you for years. I just had my birthday, 67, we are getting old together. Take care!
Every time I think you’ve done your best work ever, you up your game. This is a gorgeous wardrobe — swoon, swoon, swoon. A very happy birthday to you. I’m hitting 66 in a few weeks and I, too, feel at the similar crossroads. Still working full-time, but relish those leisurely days off. Many thanks for all you do!
Happy birthday, Janice! I hope it is a veru special one. Just fyi, almost every time I mention your blog to a friend it turns out they follow you too! Your inspiration is widespread in my neighborhood.
I also love periwinkle (larkspur), but sadly it isn’t a “best” color for me with my pale skin, dark hair and cool-neitral coloring. Still, I can’t resist wearing it on occasion. I have a wonderful tiered long skirt from Coldwater Creek, a sari silk wrap skirt, a tee, a 3/4 sleeve tee, a couple of scarves, earrings and a stone bead bracelet. These get me a long way when I feel the urge for a softer purple than my usual intense violet and grape. I love these French Five and Beyond posts.
Happy Birthday!!!! I’ll wear a ‘column of colour’ and a scarf in your honour tomorrow.
I loved this post! This color is right in my wheelhouse. Being short-waisted, i like a sweater that ends at the high hip. Then I can leave the bottom of my shirt or t-shirt out for what I think is a cute layered look. Happy Birthday!
Just want to say: have a lovely birthday! And thank you for yet another wonderful post.
Happy Birthday! This is my favorite color and I have already added a generous amount of them to my wardrobe. I discovered those fabulous sandals the other day and am trying to figure out a way to justify their rather hefty price! Thanks for your continued inspiration!
A very happy birthday to you, Janice. I hope you go right ahead and indulge yourself— easy to do in Chicago. So much to see and do!
I’ve been recommending TVF to anyone who’ll listen because this is, by far, the best wardrobe blog on the net.
Today’s focus on larkspur/periwinkle is so lovely. It’s a fresh-looking color.
And I agree with you about the tan pants. They’re guaranteed to give you mileage.
Happy Birthday, Janice! May you have a wonderful day enjoying what you love to do.
I suspect that I will spend my entire day in our apartment, taking care of my mother. Can’t think of a better way to spend my time!
hugs,
Janice
Happy birthday, Janice! Bon anniversaire mon amie!
My mom has a beautiful friend for whom this is THE color palette. She is a true Englishwoman from Devon. She has the most beautiful aqua eyes and shining, healthy silver hair. She looks breathtaking and elegant in this Larkspur/Periwinkle world. It’s not for me (as no purple or violet shades are), but on the right person, it is dynamite!
Very Happy Birthday wishes coming your way from me and beautiful Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Such beautiful names –– Heliotrope, Larkspur, Ultra Violet, Periwinkle. They are kissin’ cousins and all such universal beautiful colours that look fine on many people. Personally, I find wearing Periwinkle/Larkspur on a hot day gives me the illusion of feeling cool. It’s one of my very favorite colours.
Your posts are wonderful and I always look forward to them. And I sing your praises all the time.
Thank you always for the wonderful work you do.
Happy Birthday, have a wonderful day. I anxiously read every one of your emails even though I never comment but I am loyal. Purple is one of my fav colors, too. But I am still a fan of Black, I just can’t give up my blacks.
Happy birthday from a fan of periwinkle/larkspur! The last thing I need right now is more clothes but boy am I tempted …
Happiest of Birthdays!
Happy Birthday Baby!!! I too could have been your sitter. I tell all kinds of women about your blog. One time waiting in an airport with my carry-on I got to talking with the woman next to me. We were going away for 10 days and she could not believe I had only the one bag. I told her I could do Europe for 18 days in one carry-on. Then I told her about TVF and how I had found you when planning a two week trip to Alaska. She pulled up your site in minutes and kept saying things like this is wonderful. I hope she’s still a loyal follower. On another note I was notified today that the lovely Fierce Lynx bracelet you shared a few days ago is back in stock. Hope you get your little commission as I ordered it right away. Can we consider it a birthday gift? lol
ANYTHING can be a birthday gift… I got a conductor’s baton, because I sit at the dinner table every night and conduct while we’re finishing dinner… my family thinks I’m nuts, but they love me!
hugs,
Janice
What/Who do you conduct? One time when I was doing my student teaching I woke up, sitting up in bed conducting! I guess I was stressed! I still have my baton!
I conduct anything that I know well enough to direct! Yesterday, it was the Interlude from Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni. It’s very beautiful…
hugs,
Janice
Janice, a very Happy Birthday to you tomorrow. I turned 64 on Tuesday. One of my daughters was here visiting and after we worked on a project we drove out to “toob” the Comal river. It was cool and refreshing but not something my grandmother or mother would have ever done at the same age! What did Spock say? “Live long and prosper!” Indeed!
I like this larkspur/periwinkle color too!
Fascinating… 🖖🤩
Happy birthday Janica. Sending you lots of love from Finland.
I’ m right behind you, having my 64th birthday in November. So true what you said about the knees. They’re so in past.
Love this delicate color called larkspur. Wondering how it would be called in Finnish. But anyway love it. Just right whit navy and silver, my favorite colors.
Tuittu
Happy Birthday! Mine is also tomorrow and I’ll be 54. We are practically twins! Love your blog.
Happy birthday Janice!! You make my Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays better :). And my clothes are better for sure. I am still figuring things out (aren’t we all) but I feel that I have a much better grip on things now than I did a few years ago when I found your blog. Have a lovely day with your family.
Happy Birthday! I turned 64 in February and only wish I could have spent my day as you are. What a blessing! Thank you for always making my day with your posts. I have learned so much over the years.
I can appreciate this color but I don’t love to wear it – it looks good on me but I guess it just doesn’t have emotional whappage for me. I recently mentioned being picky about purple, and this one doesn’t do it…I think it’s both too blue yet not blue enough. I prefer a bluer blue and a purplier purple, I guess. Happy birthday!
I think it’s brilliant when we can learn what we really like, and what leaves us lukewarm. That’s about 90% of shopping effectively; it keeps us from having our head turned by pretty things that don’t suit us! I had an issue with beautiful floral prints for years…
hugs,
Janice
Happy birthday! Thank you for all you do. I sent this to a friend just from the preview because this color always makes me think of her. And then I saw that was your request.
Thank you!
hugs,
Janice
I love periwinkle and would love to inject it into my wardrobe.
Wishing you a truly lovely birthday weekend, Janice!
Best wishes from the East coast of Canada.
Happy birthday!
I love this colour, and I love the periwinkles in my garden.
Happy birthday! What delightful surprise to find that I share a birthday with you! I will be 62, so we are of an age, as they say. :)
I hope your day brings you every happiness and the year brings you everything wonderful!
Happy birthday, Pip! It’s great fun to find someone who shares your birthday. 🎂
Bon anniversaire, Janice !
Ce post est l’un des plus beaux depuis le début ! Bravo (c’est sûrement un signe) !
Bises depuis…la France !
Have a wonderful Birthday, Janice! Thank you for so many lovely posts over the years!
Happy birthday, Janice! May you have a totally fabulous day tomorrow 🎉🥳🎈
Happy Birthday to You!
I do love this colour but still hard to find in the shops, as is any shade of purple. I wear it with grey, navy, ocean blue, ivory, blue-pinks. I think it would look good with teal. I don’t wear stone but maybe light taupe would be OK.
Having said that purples are difficult to find, my weekly trawl of the local charity shops (the only clothes shops near me) was successful in my hunt for purple tops. I found four shirts/blouses in lilac/lavender, a butterfly scarf in shades of purple plus a lilac bead necklace. All for £22! Then I tried the tops on at home and only two fit properly. The other two were too big across the shoulders, though could be altered but that is beyond my skillset. Paying for a seamstress to alter them seems to defeat the purpose of thrifting.
Getting thrifted items altered is one of the best ways to repurpose them! Yes it might be a little more expensive, but you saved the item from a landfill, as well as provided work and income to a hard working seamstress or tailor. :-D
Happy Birthday, Janice! Hope you have a fabulous day. Hope you have cake!
Love the periwinkle! In fact periwinkle was the colour scheme for my 70th birthday last year. Everything from the balloons to the cake to my dress was periwinkle. It’s not my best colour, but I love it and wear it frequently.
Still loving the Campo de’ Fiori scarf. It comes in so many beautiful colourways, and I love many of them, but this has been and always will be my favorite.
Wishing you a wonderful birthday and joy in the coming year. Give your mom a hug and thank her for sharing her beautiful daughter with us.
I hope you have the happiest of happy birthdays Janice!
And yes, larkspur/periwinkle/light blueish purple is most definitely one of my favorite colors to wear. It goes with my denim, navy, gray, white, stone and black pants, and my gorgeous floral pink, blue, purple and white skirt. And my eyes… hehe.
Bon aniversari des de Barcelona, Janice! BTW, it’s Catalan, not a misspelled French 😅. I’m close to 39, but for 12+ years now, I would search literally nowhere else for wardrobe advice.
I love the color, will keep my eyes open for a sweater in this shade for next winter. Retail is so crazy, maybe I get more luck with this endeavor now than in October!
Cheers and blessings!
Birthday wishes from sunny Scotland!
(Our house number is 64, so I also often find myself humming the Beatles song – although I turned 69 this year.)
Happy Birthday from BC Canada! Hope you get spoilt today with love. Love your posts and am always happy to share with others. Thank you for the tip about the AlexMills sale😏 i dont have a lot of periwinkle but it pairs well with most of my neutrals. Cant wait for what you have next for us on Mondays post.
Happy, Happy Birthday! Thank you for this wonderful gift of a blog you give us all! And Angela, adding a “Buy Me A Coffee” button is a wonderful idea!
This is a gorgeous color and I loved your side note about jewelry being “real”. The best response I’ve ever heard to that rather impertinent question was “Well, you’re not hallucinating.” It still makes me laugh!
Oh, I LOVE that response – I’m going to steal that! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for the birthday wishes!
hugs,
Janice
Happy Birthday Janice!! Have a wonderful day!
Love the scarf! It’s on Amazon too – same price. I have had trouble with shipments from Macy’s so try and buy elsewhere. Janice, we can still support you with the purchase on Amazon! Also they have several other of her prints. One is called Miramar – Blue which could be a great addition to the Magill painting group in the Six Month series!!
I love Larkspur. For Christmas I received the full zip cardigan, the long sleeve tee and the long sleeve twill shirt. Have enjoyed them so much. The scarf will finish it off !!
Someone who buys your holiday gifts knows what they’re doing – having three garments in the same color, in cuts that can be layered all KINDS of different ways (you can wear all three of them together, in the bitter cold) is so smart! I try to do that, but don’t always manage…
hugs,
Janice
They were on my list – you taught me well 🤗
Happy 64! And, yes, you can tell we still love you…now and in the future.
Hi, I wonder if you could leave the coffee button Installed? I would be pleased to buy you a coffee “on the regular”. You’ve helped me with my wardrobe and provided hours of pleasure. xx
I can do that – thanks so much! You’ve got me all teary-eyed first thing on Monday morning…
hugs,
Janice
Happy birthday! Mine is in a few days :) I like to think that I have learned a lot from you, choosing quality over quantity had me the best dressed with the smallest suitcase on my recent trip. Thank you!
Happy birthday, Janice!! You continue to fill me with inspiration in every post!! Thanks so much for all you do! I appreciate your talent and expertise!! Best wishes for a lovely birthday and healthy and happy year ahead!