The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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By Season Archives - Page 13 of 17

How to Pack for Changing Weather

October 26, 2013  

My recent adventures took me from decidedly summery weather to something more in keeping with gloves and scarves.  As usual, I was limited to just a carry-on bag... But I was really delighted with what I took with me.Nobody around you is going to be fooled into believing that you have a vast and limitless wardrobe at your disposal, and you're going to need to be able to do some laundry occasionally with this little ensemble. I found, however, that I was covered (or uncovered, as the case may be) for everything that I encountered.

AND!!!  I deciphered the reason that all of this worked so well, and next week I'm going to explain the secret, and show some other ... View the Post

Transition: Whatever’s Clean shifts from Summer to Autumn, in Beige and Green

Hypothesis:  You've had a lot of success with a small "Whatever's Clean" wardrobe, and you'd like to be able to make a seamless transition to cooler weather.

First off, shorts and sleeveless tops just feel wrong when school starts and the calendar rolls over to September.  So these would be the first three items to phase out.  

[/caption] In October, it might be time to give up linen pants and your simple white tee shirt.  

[/caption]   For November, these three are ready for a break:

[/caption] But of course you don't HAVE to put the nine replaced garments away - they'll still work well for layering.  Except the shorts - accept that most of us can only wear shorts in November in the ... View the Post

Packing for a Special Event, Urban, Early Spring

June 26, 2013

 

Rose quartz earrings – Nikki Baker, Bag – A. F. Vandervorst, Dress – Paule Ka, Coat- Jil Sander, Taupe pumps – Kristin Michaels     Yes, this is the second day in a row that this lace-trimmed scarf is shown - I think it's both amazingly beautiful and quite versatile.  I can't imagine anything that you might wear from this travel wardrobe that wouldn't look just a tiny bit nicer with this somewhere.  

Cardigan – Eric Bompard,  Blouse – L’Autre Chose, Watch – Movado, Pants- Gardeur,  Loafers- Munro, Scarf – futabaya,  Suitcase – Tumi     And yes, there are a couple more tops in here from Eric Bompard.  If ... View the Post

Packing for a Special Event, Urban Setting, Autumn

I get tons of questions about how to pack for various special occasions - weddings, graduations, etc. To me, this sounds like the perfect time to break out a really wonderful dress.  Nothing flouncy or bright or conspicuous - that wouldn't be comfortable, at least for me.  But something with an amazing cut, in luxurious fabric... Coupled with a drop-dead spectacular coat...   In fact, the whole trip could be an excuse to pick up a handful of the most beautiful garments: a wonderful sweater, along with the perfect jeans, another more casual but still exquisite dress, and a show-stopping skirt, along with a couple of blouses.   While grey might not be your cup of tea, many of us could travel a long, long time with just ... View the Post

A Simple Brown and Beige summer wardrobe, with orange accessories

Silk cardigan – Marni, sunglasses – Ray-Ban, pearl stud earrings – Dorothy Perkins,  necklace – BCBG Max Azria, barrel hoop earrings – Michael Kors, tee shirt – Warehouse, bracelet –  Good Charma, cotton scarf – Mapoesie, pants - Topshop, scarf – Hermes, flat sandals – Cole Haan, ballet flats – Banana Republic  

love,

Janice ... View the Post

A simple black & white summer wardrobe, with accessories

Oooh, I could live in these clothes for the entire summer... This first outfit would be fine for work, and then slip on the skirt in place of the pants, ready to go out to dinner. 

A striped tee shirt isn't usually worn with a skirt - I wonder why?  And the cardigan and scarf take a simple tank top and capris, and make them perfect for all kinds of activities.

Some days, simple white and khaki, with silver accessories, is all you need.  And your sundress kicks it up quite a few notches with the jacket, a nice necklace, and dressy, but still comfortable, sandals.

With the more classic, trim, cardigan, the tank top and capris take on a more traditional look.  And amazing diamond earrings add a lot of spark, and ... View the Post

A navy & yellow summer wardrobe, with accessories

The yellow made me think of flowers, and this is a good season to be looking at floral garments and accessories - they're everywhere... but it would be easy to focus your summer accessories on all things nautical, or other unifying themes that could make you smile all summer long.These are the accessories, and the "accessory garments":

Cotton cardigan – Nick & Zoe, sunglasses – Courreges, dangle flower earrings – Jardin,  necklace – Mallarino, daisy earrings- AZ Collection, tee shirt – Weekend by MaxMara, daisy bracelet – Banana Republic, plaid cotton scarf – Uniqlo, skirt –Paul Smith, navy sandals – David Tate, yellow flats – Aldo, gold sandals – Taryn Rose, scarf - Hermes   Just in case you need to dress up - ... View the Post

A khaki & green summer wardrobe, with accessories

April 9, 2013  

Many people have asked me to clarify how I choose the accessories that I put with these simple wardrobes; I will try to explain my thought process.  And some of you have expressed a desire to see these wardrobes with fewer shoes - thinking that these little vignettes would make great packing templates...The accessories I've chosen are:

Silk/cashmere cardigan – Diane von Furstenberg, sunglasses – Jimmy Choo, dangle earrings – Kara Ross,  necklace – Fossil, seashell earrings – Rose Pierre, tee shirt – Balmain, daisy bracelet – Stella &Dot, striped cotton scarf – Mapoesie, skirt – Sophie Hulme, fabric slingbacks – Andre Assous, ballet flats – Franco Sarto, gold sandals – Taryn Rose, ... View the Post

A simple navy & pink summer wardrobe, with accessories

 

 

 

 

 

Cotton cardigan – Maison Scotch, sunglasses – Vera Bradley, earrings – Ylang23, opal bracelet– Majolie, necklace – Twist & Scout, gold earrings – Brooks Brothers, tee shirt – Jack Wills

, pearl bracelet – Stella & Dot, navy & white bracelet – Wing Paris, flowered cotton

scarf – Marc Jacobs, skirt – Isabel Marant, navy sandals – David Tate, navy flats – Tabitha

Simmons, pink flats - Balenciaga, gold sandals – Taryn Rose, scarf - Hermes

 

love, Janice

  ... View the Post

Accessories for a very simple summer wardrobe

Many people felt that my very simple summer wardrobes were just too plain, but the wardrobes as they were shown were never going to be the final  product.  With a few accent pieces of clothing (which count as accessories in my world), some shoes, scarves, and jewelry, the look of the clothes can change quite a bit...

Cardigan – Valentino, sunglasses – Ray-Ban, earrings – Karen Millen, striped bracelet – Jean Lous Sherrer, spiked necklace – Kenneth Jay Lane, gold earrings – Brooks Brothers, tee shirt – J. Crew, pearl bracelet – Stella & Dot, navy & white bracelet – Wing Paris, checked cotton scarf – Aquascutum, skirt – Montaigne Market, black sandals – Manolo Blahnik, flats – Born, espadrilles – Michael ... View the Post