Build a Capsule Wardrobe Archives - Page 63 of 80

A Summer Capsule Wardrobe, from “Ma To-Do List: Dressing”

April 30, 2014

A little more of the text from this section of the book:"To build your "capsule wardrobe" can be intimidating, and also can represent a substantial outlay of money! Why not take things step by step, and focus on the essentials necessary for each season. This permits you to gradually, purchase by purchase, build an ideal wardrobe. Several paths can be considered and adapted according to your personal needs and life style, as well as the weather where you live."

love, Janice ... View the Post

A Spring Capsule Wardrobe, from “Ma To-Do List : Dressing”

April 29 2014

Back to my new favorite French fashion book, where I found four capsule wardrobe suggestions for each of the four seasons. I intend to show you all of them...But first, a quote with which they open this section of the book, from Angelica Huston.

"It's easy to think that you don't have anything to wear, but this is really a problem of identity. If you have a well-developed self image, you know what is "you" no matter what the trends of the moment."

love, Janice ... View the Post

A “Two Suit” Wardrobe in Navy and Beige

April 17, 2014 Another visit to this concept, keeping the beige linen (I'm SO lazy...) and using navy as our other neutral. I'm going to try to explain the steps for choosing these items in more detail, so that you can recreate what I do in your own closet.

Also, I want to address the question of having multiple pairs of dark neutral pants. Often, we're told that "you shouldn't own three pair of navy pants", but I heartily disagree, because of the wide variety of navy pants that you might own. In this particular example, I've included very narrow navy capris in a cotton fabric, a wide-legged trouser (full-length), and a silk-like palazzo pant. My feeling is that these three pants give three very different outfits when ... View the Post

The Spring 2014 “Must Have” List…. ahem

April 11, 2014 If you've been reading The Vivienne Files for very long, you know pretty well that I am NOT convinced that there is every ANYTHING that you must buy. I believe that the majority of us need to wear shoes, but beyond that, I think that clothing and accessories are pretty much an open field... That said, most of us want to look as if we are at least somewhat aware of evolving culture and style around us. So when I saw a fairly reasonable five-item "must have" list, I thought I would at least take a look. First item up was a total reject for me: Little White Dress.

White is not flattering on many of us. White is difficult to wear, from a see-through/lingerie point of view, and White gets ... View the Post

A Case for Overpacking

April 8, 2014 So a couple of weeks ago, very shortly after we got back from Paris, I learned that someone very dear to me was quite ill. I immediately offered to go help with their care- I was thinking I would be gone for a day or two... Normally, I have a pretty well-defined plan for emergency travel, which I outlined in a post here, way back when. To recap, this is what I recommended for a travel outfit:

and this is what I suggested one might pack...

But I was only going to be gone a couple of days, right? So I traveled in this:

and packed this (not exactly these garments, but these are a fair representation of what I DID ... View the Post

Three Garments – Four Seasons

April 1, 2014 The clothes I bought in Paris are going to have to do a lot of heavy lifting, so I've been giving some thought to how many different ways I can wear them. Here are my ideas, so far... First up, the dress that I bought at French Trotters. It's not available, but it's rather similar to this dress (mine has a bit more clearly defined pattern). I know that I can wear this with a turtleneck layered underneath, warm tights, boots and a scarf - I did that in Paris! But I can also scale it back to just leggings and flats, or sandals and bare legs...

Next, I want to make sure that I get maximum utilization from my new striped tee shirt. ... View the Post

Warm Weather Travel in Navy and Coral – Step by Step

March 28, 2014

Everybody's eager to start packing for warm weather destinations, and I'm often asked for specific color combinations - especially those with navy. One of my most loyal readers asked me for navy, white and coral a while back, and I'm delighted to be able to finally fill her request.

The travel outfit is, as always, very uncomplicated. Long pants, shoes with closed toes and heels, a cardigan, and a scarf are all essentials that I include.

If you're only going away for a long weekend, a six-pack will do. Working with your three colors, you can choose six garments, a scarf and some accessories...

And you have all of these options to ... View the Post

How to Pack for Springtime in Paris: Sunshine and Clouds

March 22 2014 This post was originally on A Femme d'un Certain Age on March 28, 2012. If you've never browsed through her ginormous archives, there' a world of loveliness there... And if you're one of the lucky ones that wear yellow well, then GET TO IT! The rest of us swoon with desire when we see it, and envy you your ability to look so fabulous in it...

Grey blouse – Diane von Furstenberg, stud earrings – J.C. Penney, Scarf – Anne Selby, Blazer – Preen, grey pants – Reiss, silver loafers – J. Crew, grey sequined tote – Deux Lux

Yellow sweater – Burberry Brit, grey tee – American Vintage, grey pearl earrings – Lord & Taylor, flower earrings & bracelet – ... View the Post

How to Pack for Springtime in Paris: Black, White and Clouds

March 21, 2014 From the April 2, 2012 A Femme d'un Certain Age - visit there to see all of the possible combinations.

Cloud-print tee – Stella McCartney, grey pants – Veronique Branquinho, cable-knit cardigan – Stella McCartney, pave earrings – Marc by Marc Jacobs, silver flats – Bloch, grey metallic scarf – Dorothy Perkins, grey tote – Laema

Dotted scarf – Aspinal of London, pearl & jet earrings – JCPenney, star-print georgette scarf – Helene Berman, Cap-sleeved black silk blouse – Marc by Marc Jacobs, Black & white diamond flower ring – Lord & Taylor, white cardigan – Yves Saint Laurent, pearl drop earrings – Kate Spade, diamond and rhodium earrings – Lord & Taylor, bangle bracelet – 2028, ... View the Post

How to Pack for Springtime in Paris: Navy and Violets!

Ahhh, by the time you're reading this post, I'm in Paris celebrating our 10th anniversary with my most Belovedest. I frankly wasn't convinced that marriage was right for me (yes, I had tried it before, and I was not very good at it....). This, however, has been the most uniformly delightful 10 years of my life, and pretty much more than any woman could hope to deserve. This ensemble seemed perfect to revive for today, because I was married in a soft violet outfit (wisteria, to quote Eileen Fisher on the color). This would be delightful for a second honeymoon...The original post can be found on A Femme d'un Certain Age, where various combinations are shown.

Navy cotton cardigan ... View the Post

How to Pack for Springtime in Paris: Navy and White, with Green

This was the A Femme d'un Certain Age on April 16th 2012, so the garments probably are no longer available. (but I'm pretty sure you can still customize a Longchamp tote on their website) This is a big year for green and navy - I saw it everywhere in department stores in Chicago - so this look could be easily replicated if you fall in love.

sunglasses – Paul Smith, navy and green clutch – Marc by Marc Jacobs, navy striped top – Closed, navy stone hoop earrings & navy flower earrings – Kate Spade, white short-sleeved button-front top – Kookai, wrap dress - DVF, navy silk tee Studio Nicholson, navy cardigan – John Smedley, navy capris – Weekend by Maxmara, flowered silk ... View the Post

How to Pack for Springtime in Paris: Beige with a Touch of Blue

This originally appeared on A Femme d'un Certain Age in April 2012... as will all posts this week, the individual items may no longer be available, but the concept of the organization still holds true.

beige metallic cardigan – Vanessa Bruno, gold stud earrings – Roberto Coin, Trench coat – A.P.C., scarf (Early American) – Hermès, ivory tee – Precis, pants – Ralph Lauren, suede loafers – Tod’s, tote bag - Gucci

Sunglasses – Prism London, Beige tank – MICHAEL Michael Kors, v-neck sweater – Miu Miu, gold hoop earrings – Khleo, cashmere cardigan – Patagonia, printed dress - DVF, capris – Miu Miu, bracelet – Oscar de la Renta, cotton twill ... View the Post