The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Travel with Janice Archives - Page 10 of 15

What’s on The Vivienne Files Bookshelf?

March 12, 2014

  #1.  The Triumph of Individual Style by Carla Mason Mathis and Helen Villa Connor  

 

 

Yes, the book used to be blindingly expensive (it's come down a lot in price in the last 10 years!), but if you've never felt like you are beautiful or that your particular "type" is lovely, this book might change your mind forever. The authors site a wide variety of fine art from throughout history in order to demonstrate that everyone is beautiful. Period.   I'm not completely convinced by every one of the exercises in the book; I've never been sold on the "your best red is the color of the blood drawn from your right kneecap at midnight under a full moon while chanting the ... View the Post

How I Slow Myself Down…

I try to remember my primary goals in life - mostly travel - but sometimes I lose sight of that and am inclined to buy something that won't get me closer to my goals.  So I built myself this little collage, printed it out in a small size, and wrapped it around the credit cards in my wallet.  So it's not that I can't shop, but if I DO shop, I have to look at these images before I can use my credit or debit card...  

  Your choice of photographs will unquestionably be different, but having to look an eclair in the eyes is a useful focusing technique for me! ... View the Post

Still Dreaming about Paris, and Packing…

February 4, 2014   Really, we're not leaving until mid-March! But I always do this - start planning weeks ahead of time. I rationalize it that (1) anticipation is a substantial part of the fun, and (2) if I plan carefully, I won't have to pack so much, and I can catch garments that need mended, or shoes that need tended, before it's too late to make the necessary fixes.   When I left off planning, it was Tuesday morning - and I'm sure we're going to go to the Musee Guimet. It's Asian art, it's beautiful, and it's usually quite empty. We go there almost every time we go to Paris, and we're never disappointed. Our plan for this day might include taking the train out to La Defense, the business development in the west of Paris. ... View the Post

Many Small Thoughts – Collected

I often notice things that I want to remember to tell you all, but much of the time, no single thing is worth a full blog post.  So today, you get a whole bunch of relatively random factoids in one place.  ( can you believe that Spell-check did NOT reject the word factoid?)First up, the weather in Chicago has been uniformly dreadful - bitterly cold.  But my feet has NOT been cold when I was out, and that's because I wear Bogs boots.  I  wear them with nothing but tights on my feet, and my feet don't get cold.  Ever.  It's amazing.

They're not sleek,and they're not elegant, but when you're dressed in 14 layers of clothing and you look like a walking boudin noir, warmth is all you care about, ... View the Post

More Random Travel Observations and Appreciations

Well, my mother is securely and warmly ensconced in her new home, and I have logged quite a few miles - air and ground - in making that dream a reality.  As with all things in life, I think I learned a thing or two on my travels.  At a minimum, I have a newly warm appreciation for a couple of my wiser packing choices, and a refreshed dislike of Midway Airport.   Just to get this out of the way first - if you have a choice between the 2 Chicago airports, choose O'Hare.  Yes, it is bigger than some European countries, and you can walk yourself into a marathon getting around there, but at least it has clear signs giving you a clue about where to go.  And moreover, it has SEATS.  In a place where people have to ... View the Post

Chic Sightings: Brown and Blue

November 8, 2013

Jacket – Fairly,  Suede jeans – Mother,  scarf – Hermès, loafers- Adam Tucker, silk blouse – Maliparmi, earrings – Novica,  skirt – Lover, boots – Steve Madden  

Sweater – Stella McCartney,  scarf – Pierre-Louis Mascia,  Skirt – Nomad,  ankle boots – BP,  necklace – Novica,  dress – Stella McCartney,  slingbacks - Perlato  

Blouse – Aglini, bracelet – Julia Failey, white jeans – Proenza Schouler,  flats – Cole Haan, sweater – Marika Charles, earrings – Betsey Johnson,   trousers – Rochas, oxfords - Munro  

love,

Janice ... View the Post

Avec Style: The 10 Rules of Style

  So I'm off running around the country again, and will be mostly out of internet range for at least a couple of weeks - my return date is VERY uncertain.  But I've queued up a number of posts for you, on a variety of subjects - colors, books, some Chic Sightings...

Cross your fingers that this adventure goes well!

love, Janice

I've had this book for a while, and now that I'm travelling - AGAIN - for my familial obligations, it seems like a good time to share with you the many interesting insights I found here.

First warning: if you read or speak French, note that this book is from Canada.  99% of the writing is spot on to what you read in France, but every now and then a word will trip me up.  I view it as ... View the Post