The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Travel with Janice Archives - Page 12 of 15

Chic sighting: Mixing bright colors, with metallic shoes

May 15, 2013  

Yesterday was the first truly spring-like day here in Chicago.  This was the kind of outfits that I saw often on the street - bright colors, floral sleeveless tops, and metallic flats.  Bright and springy, but still very appropriate for most offices!

orange and pink tank - Topshop, orange cardigan - Mango, Pink chinos- Levi's Made & Crafted, gold flats - Rocket Dog, yellow and green tank - Madewell, green cardigan - Paul Smith, yellow capris - Erika Cavallini

blue tank - Uniqlo, blue cardigan - Dorothy Perkins, hot pink capris - Miu Miu, green tank - Uniqlo, mint cardigan - Dorothy Perkins, lavender capris - Mother Denim, silver ... View the Post

“You’re So French” – the most recent addition to the Style Shelf

May 2, 2013

 

As soon as I saw this available for sale, I knew it was going to go onto the Style Shelf. Aside from the fact that I'm terribly tired of book covers in hot pink (every "chic lit" novel in Ireland had either a pink or a lavender cover, I swear...), this is an interesting addition to the wee library.So here, in my less than expert translation, is what the authors have to say about cleaning out closets:

ARRANGE YOUR WARDROBE

"We have a tendency to choose the first clothes that are on top of the pile. It's easy, one does not waste time, and takes no risks, and one gets dressed automatically.  What a pity for all of those treasures which have been sleeping for years, and upon which you lavished such care ... View the Post

Colorist by Shigenobu Kobayashi

 Another hard-to-find, but really fascinating book.  The author guides one step by step in a process of identifying favorite color palettes.  The book has a definite Japanese feel, and once in a while you'll run into a word used in a way you wouldn't have expected (I would guess because it's been translated), but overall it's an eye-opening new way to think about colors.  I'll post more from Colorist, because it is out of print and rather expensive to purchase.  But if you really like to be challenged in your ways of looking at the world, I recommend this book highly.

Below is the 2nd exercise in the book.  You could of course get all deconstructionist about this and start debating what he means when he ... View the Post

Paris: shopping @ Agnes B., Muji, French Trotters

Of COURSE we shopped.  It would require super-human discipline for belovedest and I to stay out of stores in Paris.  Partly, of course, shops in Paris are a great opportunity to get some insights into the French aesthetic - the way the stores are arranged, the way the merchandise is displayed - it's just NOT like shopping in Chicago.And then, there are some stores that just don't exist in Chicago - specifically Agnes B. (who had a store here which closed a few years ago), Muji, and French Trotters.  If I were absolutely forced to purchase all of my clothing from one store, it would be Agnes B.; her designs appeal to me completely.  And Muji is just cool - streamlined products of every possible sort.  French Trotters ... View the Post

Parisiennes: White Jeans in October

Women of all ages were still wearing white jeans, without seeming to even consider that they might be "out of season".  Except for avoiding slush and puddles, why NOT wear white jeans all year 'round?  The ban on white is sort of archaic, isn't it?

Jeans – J Brand, plaid shirt – Patagonia, loafers – Vaneli, sweater – Sheinside, pink loafers - Valentino  

Jeans – J Brand, sweater – Elizabeth and James, oxfords – Mel, flowered sweater – Dolce & Gabbana, kitten-heel pumps – Stuart Weitzman  

Jeans – J Brand, blouse – Equipment, white leather jacket – Blk Dnm, purple flats – Puma, chambray shirt – Madewell, cardigan – Zadig & Voltaire, pink flats - Modcloth  

Jeans – J ... View the Post

Paris: Hotel Pavillon des Lettres

Our hotel was perfect.  It's rare that anybody can say that with complete sincerity, but in this case, there was absolutely nothing we would have changed.

The Pavillon des Lettres is a 26-room hotel, designed around the theme of authors.  Rather than numbering the rooms, they assign each of them a letter (hence the 26 works our very well).  Each room is then dedicated to an author who's last name begins with the letter of the room.

We stayed in Ibsen.  It was very small by the American standard of "one must be able to square-dance in one's hotel room" (yet another reason to pack lightly!), but exquisitely designed, quiet, and comfortable.

Anybody who believe that Parisians are rude has never stayed at this hotel ... View the Post

Chic Sighting: Black Top(s)

Black tee – Dorothy Perkins, denim shorts – Awear, sandals – Jimmy Choo, black asymmetrical top – Rag & Bone, capris – Patagonia, flats - Toms  

Black tank – Splendid, rose print trousers – Topshop, flats – Charlotte Russe, off the shoulder top – Red Valentino, floral print pants – J. Crew, sandals – Jil Sander  

Black camisole – BKE, linen pants – CP Shades, tennies – Converse Chuck Taylor, black polo – Barbour, chiffon pants – 3.1 Phillip Lim, wedge sandals – John Lewis  

Black blouse – Fever Millie, print skirt – Rebecca Taylor, sneakers – Keds, tank – Forever New, lace skirt – L’Agence, black pumps – Jimmy Choo  

Black sheer blouse – H&M, denim skirt – Industry of ... View the Post

Chic Sightings: A Base of White

Although it might seem reckless to wear white in the city, lots of us do it all the time.  New York was full of women using white as a base for a wide variety of very personal looks... Flowered tank – Tillys, denim capris – True Religion, purple sandals – Debenhams, dotted top – Giambattista Valli, capris – Dorothy Perkins, sandals – Jil Sander  

Sleeveless top – Romwe, denim shorts – True Religion, sandals – Bottega Veneta, striped tee shirt – Mango, Bermuda shorts – Vince, espadrilles - Debenhams  

Tee shirt – Kain Classic, linen pants – CP Shades, espadrilles – Missoni, red sleeveless top – Raoul, cotton pants – Moschino, loafers – Nicholas Kirkwood  

Tank – Malene Birger, ruffled skirt – ... View the Post