The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

The Vivienne Files - Page 16 of 262 - Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

A Fall Capsule Wardrobe: Start with a Scarf – Vintage Vision by Simba LDN

September 18, 2023 True-Life Adventures of Wardrobe Planning!

She started here. She's pretty smitten that this scarf is available in FOUR SIZES - if a scarf is truly perfect for your wardrobe, you can easily make the case for owning 2 sizes...

So these are the accents for her navy wardrobe, in her plan:

She knows exactly where she wants to start - she loves her navy cords, and her navy jacket. Her sparkly pink sweater with the ruffled neckline makes her smile...

The obvious first garment to check for - a navy tee! It's not the most riveting outfit in the world, but it's an ideal base for beautiful accessories. She adds her pink scarf to the plan, too...

Next? Green, of course!

This may not have been what ... View the Post

A Cool Weather Capsule Wardrobe – Start with a Fair Isle Cardigan

September 15, 2023 RETIREMENT!!!

One of her first projects is to get EVERY SUIT out of her closet. And all but 1 pair of pumps... And donate them to Dress for Success.

She will, of course, save a nice dress and cardigan/jacket for somber events...

But now, she's buying SWEATERS!!! She could never wear sweaters to work... And a patterned sweater just piles on - she couldn't wear any patterns except the most conservative, menswear-inspired prints. If she never sees a pinstripe again, it will be too soon!

Dangly earrings... swoon...

She fell in love with the cardigan, and determined that her first 13 garments would be based on the colors in it...

If you like this shade of "Green Dune", please note that Nordstrom ... View the Post

A Cool Weather Capsule Wardrobe – Start with Art: Ruffled Autumn Clouds by Emile Nolde

September 13, 2023

She knew that this would be just right for the upcoming cool weather...

So many of the colors were comfortable for her from her existing wardrobe, and the colors that she doesn't have, she's willing to buy. What a palette!

She takes everything out of her closet and start carefully choosing what's going back in! Simplicity is what she's working toward...

Starting with the core navy pieces she knows she will want to wear all the time:

She decides to order some mustard pieces; she's never worn this shade of yellow, but when she daydreams about wearing it, she finds it very appealing!

She loves to wear pink and navy together - this is a chance to include her favorite tee shirt! And at this ... View the Post

Experimenting with Proportions by Starting with Art: Partial Eclipse of the Moon by Étienne Léopold Trouvelot

September 11, 2023

She likes things to be simple, but interesting... Anything for a good experiment!

So when she was told that she would have 2 weeks access to the data regarding the varying distances to the moon, she knew that she packing would be a chance to try out some interesting things!

There will be at least a dozen other scientists at the University, working toward an accurate measurement of the vacillations of the earth's axis. It's fascinating, really!

While she's concentrating on numbers, and distances, and appearances, she decides that she will pack a 3-color wardrobe, and experiment with how she gets dressed each day. She's hopeful that she will arrive at a firm conclusion about what "outfit proportions" ... View the Post

Choose a Travel Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Portrait of Margaretha Trip by Helen Frankenthaler

September 8, 2023

Things I learned from this post:

Shades of grey are A-okay! You might want to think seriously about your preferences for high-contrast outfits vs low-contrast...

Listening

Two weeks at a Buddhist center, participating in a workshop on listening. It's actually an event to which many companies send top executives; that's why she's going...

She won't know anyone else there, and they won't have any know each other's job titles...

Somehow, she suspects that she might be able to tell at least a few things about some of the other participants!

The environment is very casual. The weather will be somewhere between cool and almost winter - it will be interesting to see how other participants ... View the Post

A Capsule Wardrobe Idea – Start with Art: Waldlichtung im Nebel mit Mond by Erich Buchwald Zinnwald

September 7, 2023

Art can be the inspiration for your accent colors; your favorite neutral doesn't actually HAVE to be in the painting!

It translates as "Forest Clearing in Fog with Moon"

"You Know it Could Snow..." Yes, she knows...

But they're going for a couple of weeks, and she has no intention of cancelling, or coming home early, just because of a little bit of cold weather!

So she start her travel capsule wardrobe with a warm jacket, and 2 warm sweaters!

She realistically understands that most of the time, the weather will be cool - possibly even chilly. She is not a child, and she knows how to dress warmly!

Also, she knows how to choose pretty things that make her happy!

She loves ... View the Post

Three Capsule Wardrobes: Second Half of Six Paintings, 12 Months – September 2023

September 4, 2023

I'm so happy with these; sometimes I struggle to find things to add to these wardrobes, but this month I feel like it all just fell out of the skies and into my computer!

This very casual heroine came into September with a wardrobe that's got a lot of soft, gentle colors... 

She knows that she wants a pair of casual pants for cooler weather that AREN'T grey, as well as a couple of darker tops, to reflect the changing season; this is what she found:

Her wardrobe retains its distinctive look and feel, but offers her more options if she wants to wear darker colors!

 

And her accessories are wonderful...

She has plenty of outfits - including warm, darker-hued choices for cold, ... View the Post

Three Capsule Wardrobes: First Half of Six Paintings, 12 Months – September 2023

September 1, 2023

It seems as if ALL of the children in the Northern Hemisphere are back to school! This time of year always makes me want to pull on a sweater and corduroy pants, some short boots and a lovely wool scarf...

Soon enough for cool weather!

Let's get started...

This heroine found herself last month with a 26-piece wardrobe; most of us could manage for quite a long time with that many clothes, if they were for the right weather...

Our heroine clearly understands that she should grab yellow things when she sees something just right. She loves her navy cotton skirt so much that she would like to find another navy skirt to start to dress up for longer evenings ahead... She could certainly get a narrow skirt, ... View the Post

Assemble an Autumn Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Lonely by Erika Giovanna Klien

August 30, 2023

Sometimes a painting just grabs your attention and won't let go; that's how she felt about this...

Yes, she has almost black hair, and eyes that are either aqua blue or green, depending on something she can't quite figure out... 

So for her upcoming trip, so thought that this would be a great inspiration!

Until the last day or 2 before she leaves, she's not sure what she will wear in transit; she decides to assemble her wardrobe far ahead of time, and then just choose her travel outfit when she knows what the weather will be.

Start with the neutrals, with some essential accessories:

yes, these are the same 5 grey pieces from last week!

Now the fun starts! She's been collecting tops ... View the Post

A Cool Weather Wardrobe Accent – 10 Sweaters, with Accessories

August 28, 2023

Let's assume, for the sake of fun, that we know what our core neutral wardrobe color will be for upcoming cool weather (in the Northern Hemisphere, of course!). 

But most of us are going to want to add something to accent our wardrobes for the upcoming 6+ months of sweater weather...

I've already found mine - I bought the Lands' End Velvet Plum Heather cashmere cardigan THE MINUTE it was available. I didn't wait for it to go on sale, because it had real, serious whappage, and that means grab it now!

I could have purchased the crewneck, but I already have a purple crewneck sweater - in a different purple! - so this filled a wardrobe gap, and also sang sweet songs of cashmere to my heart...

But there are ... View the Post

Building a 12-Piece Winter Wardrobe in Camel and Charcoal Grey – Start with Art: Damp Autumn by Ivon Hitchens

August 25, 2023

This painting is about as far as you can get from Chicago weather right now; our heat index is over 100F, and we are NOT leaving the building...

But we still have to prepare for autumn and winter; one thing we can be certain of is the eventual arrival of bitter cold and wind! 

Hurrah! /s

Our heroine has always believed that shades of grey belong in an autumn wardrobe - where would beautiful trees be without their trunks?

She's onto something...

She pulls winter clothes out of boxes, and garment bags, and other odd places, and starts to sort, steam (the clothes, NOT her!), and prepare things to donate...

First - charcoal grey!

And then camel - THIS scarf is so perfect for this ... View the Post