The Vivienne Files - Page 21 of 268 - Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

An “Unfavorite” Color: Start with Art – Euphorbia by Pae White

October 25, 2023

She loves this - it's actually a HUGE tapestry! but MUSTARD?

The colors are the colors of the sports teams on which her children play! Maybe that's why she loves it...

Except. She hates mustard! She doesn't even like the food - no deviled eggs in her life...

But sometimes, she needs to wear a mustard sweatshirt... sigh...

Happily, she adores grey and burgundy - especially together!

Maybe it's a football weekend. Maybe it's a soccer tournament weekend...

Or just a visit to see her kids! Whatever, she's got a plan...

This is what she takes with her - sometimes she switches her outfits around, but this is always her travel capsule wardrobe:

What can you do with 8 garments? ... View the Post

Tote Bag Travel that Starts with a Bracelet: Dazzling Lynx Bracelets by Fierce Lynx Designs

October 23, 2023

Yes, she's starting early. She knows full well that her friends will start planning holiday events, and she wants to be prepared. She's particularly eager to be able to pack just a few garments in a tote bag, for those overnight, 2-party weekends...

She's not crazy - there are lovely holiday things available right now that are selling out quickly. Nobody seems to be keeping deep inventories these days!

She's starting here!

She's one of those women - we all know one - who seems to carry her own illumination system with her! She walks in the door and people start to smile...

For years, she's kept her color palette VERY limited; it gives her lots of opportunity to find things that are amusing, ... View the Post

Ideas for Layering Tops: Japanese Season Sōkō – Frost Descent

October 20, 2023

I'm still not used to the fact that autumn is here, and October is mostly over! But I love autumn clothes, so that helps me adjust...

Today I'm thinking about how we have to layer up a LOT of clothes first thing in the morning (I wear gloves any time the temp is below 55 Fahrenheit!), but by afternoon we can peel off at least 1 layer...

In the past, I've called this the "Triple Top Secret" because having three tops that work together give you at least a half-dozen different combinations... Pack 3 tops and an extra pair of pants, and you're good for a long weekend!

Your "pivot" top - the one around which you build - can be your 2nd layer, as I've shown here:

A lovely blazer is always a good place to ... View the Post

Start with Art: Silence in the Night by Emilio Pettoruti

October 18, 2023

Finally! She found the perfect painting... Maybe nobody else in the world would feel this way about this work of art, but to her it's just right...

The Simplest Suitcase Possible She's got to travel. She wants to have available a range of dressiness - nothing TOO casual, nor nothing TOO dressy. But still, a sense of choice...

She decides to work with black inner cores - black tee shirts and other tops, with black pants and skirts. Her accent colors will be worn as 2nd layers, scarves and jewelry.

Her first outfit, for travel, is the most casual - jeans and a corduroy jacket!

Her second outfit will include her favorite denim skirt, and purple accents!

She also packs a third outfit - ... View the Post

Six Paintings, Twelve Months: October – A Peasant Woman by Edgar Degas

October 16, 2023

Today's heroine is going to try an experiment; I'm not sure that it's entirely successful, but it's interesting!

Her inspiration is the lovely painting, and these wonderful, warm shades of brown:

At the end of September, our heroine was wearing this 29-piece wardrobe; I think it's lovely and versatile:

It's never really occurred to her to think about buying something in a print, but she kept seeing pretty sweaters in all sorts of patterns, and she finally succombed!

Her new wardrobe (with the addition of the 3 new garments) doesn't look a lot different than it did, but she's not sure how useful the plaid cardigan will be!

And please note, she doesn't plan to wear her new scarf with ... View the Post

Six Paintings, Twelve Months: October – Arrival of the Normandy Train by Claude Monet

October 13, 2023

Happy Friday the 13th! Of course, we're all FAR too intelligent to be superstitious, right?

Today's wardrobe and heroine are tempting to me - I love the softness of the blue and green, and the range of possibilities in infinite shades of grey. These are the colors that might really flatter someone with greying hair and green or blue eyes...

Our heroine's current wardrobe is built with the assumption that she doesn't AT ALL mind blending shades of colors, be it light grey to charcoal, or the palest blue worn with a deep shade...

But this heroine is feeling like she would like some green to wear in cooler weather... She can't find green pants in a shade that fits in well, but she was able to find lovely, ... View the Post

Six Paintings, Twelve Months: Paysage Algérien by Renoir

October 11, 2023

This painting really feels just right for this time of year - we're actually on our 4th consecutive day of true autumn weather!

What do you think? To me, this feels the most like a "normal" wardrobe. Maybe it's the mix of colors, or the number of colors?

This heroine starts out thinking that she's going to get some basic, infinitely useful garments this month; many of us start out thinking this way!

A navy tee shirt? Perfect for a solid column of color with her navy pants. The polo sweater can be worn with something under it, or on its own. And a v-neck sweater is classic, and also can be layered or worn alone...

Maybe gold loafers and a sparkly brooch aren't absolutely basic!

This wardrobe ... View the Post

Six Paintings, Twelve Months: Vocal Fabric of the Singer Rosa Silver by Paul Klee

October 9, 2023

Let's visit our friend with the very pastel wardrobe!

Her wardrobe at the beginning of this month is 29 garments (as I believe all six wardrobes should be...):

There are no glaring holes in this wardrobe, but our heroine can clearly see that she could justify more yellow, pink or green clothes. And she would like to have an outfit for cooler weather, even though she doesn't live in a relentlessly wintery place...

This is what she finds; she knows that the corduroy pants aren't a perfect match for any of her other garments, but she's content with blending shades of colors. Being flexible is sometimes useful...

Her updated wardrobe doesn't really look changed - just a bit more balanced.

And yes, ... View the Post

Six Paintings, Twelve Months: Light, Earth and Blue by Mark Rothko

October 6, 2023

This is such a favorite for me to work on each month - partly because it's a challenge, and partly because I feel like this wardrobe is much more functional than I expected it to be!

So far, our heroine has this 29-piece wardrobe, which is... pretty functional, and has a lot of lovely texture in it.

But I am beginning to think that it could benefit from a bit of white - not necessarily a white garment, but something that includes white.

And some pattern!

This heroine loves navy, and isn't worried that she may own too much of it - she's more interested in textures, like corduroy. And the idea of a "suit-like ensemble" of a vest and matching pants really appeals to her:

Why shouldn't a ... View the Post

Six Paintings, Twelve Months: Street, Berlin by Ludwig Kirchner

October 4, 2023

I think I'm going to be able to do these one at a time, which is an interesting approach!

What would I be thinking if this was my wardrobe inspiration, and my wardrobe?

Well, I'd be pretty thrilled with this painting! It's sassy, bright, and has purple right up front! And lots of black, which has been my favorite neutral for 40 years...

This wardrobe has a lot of appeal, to me. Maybe I would want more purple and less pink, but that's a pretty small concern...

But I would have to have a pair of black shorts! Maybe not in October, but eventually. And I definitely feel a longing here for black and white stripes, checks, florals, or even a great paisley scarf.

And a white cardigan. Yes, it's sort of ... View the Post

I’m Still Not Ready…

September 30, 2023

My computer is working, but I've been completely preoccupied taking care of my mother. I know you understand...

love,

Janice

p.s. This rose was in a $5 bunch of roses we bought a few weeks ago; I hoped that they would last through dinner, but in fact they held on for a week! ... View the Post

A Neutral Travel Capsule Wardrobe: Start with a Scarf – Wild Rose Silk Scarf by Echo

September 28, 2023

Incognito She judges gardens. Every weekend, she goes to another city, and tours all kinds of backyards and front yards, and picks the winners...

And NOBODY knows that it's her! Well, the people sponsoring the garden walks always know her name, and they know her email address from which they will receive the big announcement...

She shows up for both days of the walks, dressed inconspicuously, not taking notes, not being a pompous "garden judge" who lords her authority over the poor gardeners...

She always packs the same 10 garments, for the entirety of the autumn (or spring) judging season.

The first things into her bag is her favorite turtleneck - cotton, but hefty enough for a cool ... View the Post