The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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A Four by four Capsule Wardrobe: summer at the shore

When I see the ocean, it is NOT at the beach - it's more Humboldt County, California, or the west coast of Ireland, or the coast of Maine.  Warm, sunny days, cool evenings, and a gray and damp day every now and then, where you spend the day sitting by the fireplace...  This Four by Four Capsule Wardrobe gives you options for any kind of shoreline...

 

Yes, our rental house DOES have laundry facilities....

Throw in a little bit of color....

 And essential accessories.

I'm not necessarily saying that you need to run out and buy your entire summer wardrobe from L.L.Bean - I use these clothes as an example of what's possible.  But if you're a sturdy New Englander, with a ... View the Post

Packing out of the 333 Capsule Wardrobe

June 11, 2012  

For the next few days, I'll be running around the eastern US, and so I got to pull together a quick suitcase out of my new 333.  (for those of you unfamiliar with Project 333, start here). My priorities for this trip are small, light and uncomplicated.  I'm going to be travelling with others, so I wanted the world's smallest piece of luggage, and I wanted to be able to be appropriately, but simply dressed.  My bag is an 18 inch nylon duffle, and it is NOT full...  In fact, my briefcase and my luggage are about the same size!

After you've read the REAL Project 333, you'll see that I'm really cheating by not including my accessories in the "count".  Maybe the NEXT 3 months, I'll ... View the Post

A bonus travel idea…

Over at A Femme d'un Certain Age, I posted a nifty little travel ensemble.  Come visit!  

striped tank – Second Female, tee shirts – J. Crew, white drop earrings – Max and Chloe, red cuff bracelet – Intermix, 

white zodiac bracelet – Adesso, yellow necklace – Maxmara, sunglasses – Albert Maysles, Red skirt – J. Crew, 

chambray espadrilles – Soludos, chambray capris – Old Navy, white sandals – Michael Antonio, white linen pants – Wallis Fashion, 

chambray shirt – Old Navy, dress – Komodo, tote – Forever 21, red sandals - Worishofer   ... View the Post

Packing: start with a favorite cardigan

A great question: I KNOW I want to take this cardigan, and use it as my "base" for my packing plan.

This sweater let me branch out in two distinct directions - brights, and black & white.  Lots of choices, and quite a bit of versatility, while still all in one carry-on bag!

Cardigan – Oasis, pearl & ruby earrings – Macy’s, red tote – Lulu Guinness, tee – Debenhams, scarf – Pashmina Art, pants – Donna Karan, loafers – Tod’s  

Tee shirts– Madewell, pearl & red agate necklace – Blue Nile, bracelet – Dream Mullick, teal earrings – Amrita Singh, black and white earrings – Kate Spade, crossbody bag – Marc by Marc Jacobs, cardigan – Mango, flowered tee – Minuet, sunglasses – Ray Ban, White capris – ... View the Post

A Travel Capsule Wardrobe – Packing for summer on the coast of Maine

A dear reader asked me for some suggestions about what to take for a summer on the coast of Maine.   She has these garments (well, garments very similar to this) that she currently really likes:

white linen shirt – Ralph Lauren, orange striped tee – Debenhams, navy striped tee – Sandro, purple striped tee – Splendid, white shirt – Marc Jacobs, white & dark wash jeans, denim jacket – Adriano Goldschmeid, black shirt – La Garconne  

And she told me that she really likes blue, so I suggested the following additions (some of which she may already have), as well as some essential accessories.   A few possible combinations follow.  Enjoy! and dream of the beach...

Blue cardigan – Paul Smith, white tee – La ... View the Post

A Travel Capsule Wardrobe – Packing in brown and turquoise

This is the last iteration of the original "honeymoon" packing theme that I started over a week ago. But in the next few days, I'm going to do some imaginary shopping, I've got a chic sighting to share, and then I'm going to tackle a "second honeymoon in Paris" theme, which will have a slightly greater focus on neutral colors and modest silhouettes!

love, Janice ... View the Post

A Travel Capsule Wardrobe – Packing in brown and TANGERINE!

It's the color of the year!  But you can still wear it and look more elegant than trendy...   And I know that I said today would be the last iteration of this travel package, but someone asked me to try on turquoise, so tomorrow is brown and turquoise.  It's going to be beautiful!    

Brown cardigan – Aviu, gold heart earrings – Alex and Chloe, white tee – Michael Stars, Scarf – Hermes, orange jacket – Creenstone, brown pants – Maxmara, penny loafers – J. Crew, brown bag – Christopher Kon      

sunglasses – Miso, orange clutch - Tiffany, gold hoop earrings – J. C. Penney, orange striped top – J. Crew, flower earrings – J. C. Penney, white short-sleeved button-front top – Kookai, ... View the Post

A Travel Capsule Wardrobe – Packing in Brown and coral, for uncertain weather

Still evolving the same packing which started with my honeymoon, I'm now thinking of a trip where you're leaving a cooler climate (maybe early autumn in northern climes) and heading south.  Brown keeps your grounded in the September or October mood, but still lots of soft coral colors to enjoy your vacation destination!Tomorrow is the last installment of this particular theme and variations; I'll be using the color of the year - tangerine!!!  (the identifying of annual colors always makes me laugh...)

Brown cardigan – Aviu, gold heart earrings – Alex and Chloe, white tee – Michael Stars, Scarf – Hermes, Coral jacket – H&M, brown pants – Maxmara, penny loafers – J. Crew, brown bag – Christopher ... View the Post

A Travel Capsule Wardrobe – Packing in camel & blue

April 11, 2012

Today, I've swapped out the black for a much softer camel, and you can see that with just a few adjustments to the accessories, the same 5 (core neutral garments) + 2 (white or light neutral tops) + 7 (accent pieces, including a jacket or coat) approach continues to work.

This could be particularly useful if you have a well-established base wardrobe in your best neutral(s), and were considering making a big investment in a new accent color.The seven garments, a scarf, a couple of pieces of jewelry, and you've added LOTS of new options to your core wardrobe.

Stay tuned; I'm still playing with this idea!

love, Janice

p.s. If you're currently estranged from someone you once loved, get back in ... View the Post

A Travel Capsule Wardrobe – Packing in black, white & blue

The general theory behind my packing plan can be translated into nearly infinite color combinations.  If pink is not your cup of tea, try blue!  In the next few days I'm going to swap out for at least one different neutral, and a few different accent colors.  The theory is always the same: 5 core neutral garments, an accent jacket, a couple of white or light neutral tops, and then the 6 dash accent garments in your color(s) of choice.  Easy peasy, once you get the hang of it...  

 black cardigan – Ganni, sapphire earrings – Lord & Taylor, white tee – Michael Stars, Scarf – H&M, Denim coat – Derek Lam, black pants – Donna Karan, patent loafers – Tod’s, black tote – Big ... View the Post

A Travel Capsule Wardrobe – Packing for My honeymoon, in pink and black

Way back when, when I married belovedest, we went to Florence and Venice for our honeymoon.  It was late March and early April, cool evenings and beautiful sunny days.  And I absolutely SPLURGED on more pink clothing that I've ever worn before or since.  A blissful time...

 

 black cardigan – Ganni, earrings – Kimberly McDonald, white tee – Michael Stars,   

Scarf – Roberto Cavalli, Pink coat – Jil Sander, black pants – Donna Karan, patent loafers – Tod’s,   

black tote – Big Buddha  

 

 

sunglasses – Dorothy Perkins, pearl earrings – Kate Spade, pink lace top – J. Crew,  

 white short-sleeved button-front top – Kookai, pink ... View the Post