The Vivienne Files - Page 214 of 262 - Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

Happy Birthday to the Vivienne Files!

Today's the second birthday of The Vivienne Files. Looking back, I'm dumbfounded to see how much work I've done, and how very many kind and lovely people I've met. I could never thank each of you enough for all you've done for me!

To showcase the amazing images that have appeared on The Vivienne Files, I've changed the layout of the blog - just for today - to this Snapshot view that shows EVERY image that's been on the blog for the last two years. Scroll down, and down, and DOWN to see every idea that we've shared in the last 2 years.

And to switch your view of the blog back to "normal", to go the menu in the top left corner, just underneath where it says "The Vivienne Files". The drop down menu gives you the ... View the Post

A simple Coral & Khaki summer wardrobe, with accessories

Cardigan – Orla Kiely, sunglasses – Gucci, drop earrings – Banana Republic, necklace – Georg Jensen, pearl stud earrings- Arosha Luigi Taglia, tee shirt – April May, bracelet – Lori’s Shoes, silk scarf – milleneufcentquatrevingtquatre, skirt –Cacharel, scarf – Hermes, flat sandals – Steve Madden, athletic shoes – Keds, suede flats – Dorothy Perkins

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Capsule Wardrobe Project 333: My first week in “my” uniform

This was NOT the best week for me to begin the Project 333 - our weather was impressively wintery, so I had to do some creative layering, and piling on of scarves. Happily, I managed to figure things out, and I was very pleased with how I felt...Monday and Tuesday - I started with my black "suit", added a pink tee shirt and a scarf, with some socks and loafers. I was particularly delighted with the Tuesday outfit, in which I layered a sweater over my dress (which is something I will do all summer), but then added a white cashmere scarf, opaque tights, and my boots. Instant cold-weather outfit!

Wednesday I went all black, with flats, an Hermes scarf and pearls. Wearing tights with flats makes everything warmer. ... View the Post

The Fundamentals of Chic Sightings

When I woke up this morning, it was snowing. April 13th, in Chicago, is a little bit late for it to be this cold, but a bit of patience will make this all better - tomorrow the high is to be in the 70's F.

What does this mean for Chic Sightings? That we have to be flexible, and well-informed. I can't begin to count the number of women I saw during this past work week who were wearing sandals, in near-freezing temperatures. Not going to a club, and not about to catch a plane for the Caribbean - these women were going to work. (Note, I did not see ONE man in sandals...)

The first day of third grade, I wanted desperately to wear a new outfit that had been purchased JUST FOR ME for school - a sweater, plaid ... View the Post

How to wear a petrol blue (or slate blue) v-neck sweater

April 12, 2013

I still get requests about different colored sweaters... These are great fun to pull together - I still have yellow, green, and white on the back burner.

Outfits including a a petrol blue sweater and a printed top

Outfits including a petrol blue sweater and a dressy skirt

Outfits including a petrol blue sweater, a printed scarf, and solid pants

Outfits including a petrol blue sweater and printed pants

Outfits including a petrol blue sweater, white shirt, skirt or trousers, and Hermes scarf

love Janice ... View the Post

A simple black & white summer wardrobe, with accessories

Oooh, I could live in these clothes for the entire summer... This first outfit would be fine for work, and then slip on the skirt in place of the pants, ready to go out to dinner.

A striped tee shirt isn't usually worn with a skirt - I wonder why? And the cardigan and scarf take a simple tank top and capris, and make them perfect for all kinds of activities.

Some days, simple white and khaki, with silver accessories, is all you need. And your sundress kicks it up quite a few notches with the jacket, a nice necklace, and dressy, but still comfortable, sandals.

With the more classic, trim, cardigan, the tank top and capris take on a more traditional look. And amazing diamond earrings add a lot of spark, and ... View the Post

A navy & yellow summer wardrobe, with accessories

The yellow made me think of flowers, and this is a good season to be looking at floral garments and accessories - they're everywhere... but it would be easy to focus your summer accessories on all things nautical, or other unifying themes that could make you smile all summer long.These are the accessories, and the "accessory garments":

Cotton cardigan – Nick & Zoe, sunglasses – Courreges, dangle flower earrings – Jardin, necklace – Mallarino, daisy earrings- AZ Collection, tee shirt – Weekend by MaxMara, daisy bracelet – Banana Republic, plaid cotton scarf – Uniqlo, skirt –Paul Smith, navy sandals – David Tate, yellow flats – Aldo, gold sandals – Taryn Rose, scarf - Hermes Just in case you need to dress up - ... View the Post

A khaki & green summer wardrobe, with accessories

April 9, 2013

Many people have asked me to clarify how I choose the accessories that I put with these simple wardrobes; I will try to explain my thought process. And some of you have expressed a desire to see these wardrobes with fewer shoes - thinking that these little vignettes would make great packing templates...The accessories I've chosen are:

Silk/cashmere cardigan – Diane von Furstenberg, sunglasses – Jimmy Choo, dangle earrings – Kara Ross, necklace – Fossil, seashell earrings – Rose Pierre, tee shirt – Balmain, daisy bracelet – Stella &Dot, striped cotton scarf – Mapoesie, skirt – Sophie Hulme, fabric slingbacks – Andre Assous, ballet flats – Franco Sarto, gold sandals – Taryn Rose, ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Project 333 for warm weather – my search for a uniform

I won't even try to kid you - I've been under a lot of stress recently, and there's no apparent reason for it. I have one of the easiest lives that any human being could want, but I still have been feeling pressured, inadequate, hurried to get things done, and as if much of what I do has been "weighed in the balance and found wanting."

So as the weather finally warms up, my goal is to simplify, and to try to give myself more time to accomplish things that will give me a sense of gratification and competence. Thus, I'm stripping this summer's wardrobe back to the absolute basics - a uniform of sorts.

The late Olivia Goldsmith co-authored the above, very insightful, book (available here, finally at a reasonable price!). ... View the Post

A simple navy & pink summer wardrobe, with accessories

Cotton cardigan – Maison Scotch, sunglasses – Vera Bradley, earrings – Ylang23, opal bracelet– Majolie, necklace – Twist & Scout, gold earrings – Brooks Brothers, tee shirt – Jack Wills

, pearl bracelet – Stella & Dot, navy & white bracelet – Wing Paris, flowered cotton

scarf – Marc Jacobs, skirt – Isabel Marant, navy sandals – David Tate, navy flats – Tabitha

Simmons, pink flats - Balenciaga, gold sandals – Taryn Rose, scarf - Hermes

love, Janice

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How to wear a lavender (lilac? light purple?) v-neck sweater

April 4, 2013 Why yes, we have seen this silver skirt before - a few times! I'm delighted to see how it adapts to the various sweaters... Sweater – Bellerose, earrings – Allegro, skirt – Bottega Veneta, sandals – Alexandre Birman, earrings – Swarovski, skirt – Marc Jacobs, flats – Butterfly Dream A gold necklace and sandals are pretty versatile too, as are simple white sandals, and a classic mother of pearl earring.

Sweater – Bellerose, necklace – Amrita Singh, pants – MONO, sandals – K Jacques, earrings – White House Black Market, pants – Rag & Bone, sandals – K Jacques

Sweater – Bellerose, scarves - Etro, jeans – Ralph Lauren, loafers – Cole Haan, khakis – MaxMara, flats – ... View the Post

Accessories for a very simple summer wardrobe

Many people felt that my very simple summer wardrobes were just too plain, but the wardrobes as they were shown were never going to be the final product. With a few accent pieces of clothing (which count as accessories in my world), some shoes, scarves, and jewelry, the look of the clothes can change quite a bit...

Cardigan – Valentino, sunglasses – Ray-Ban, earrings – Karen Millen, striped bracelet – Jean Lous Sherrer, spiked necklace – Kenneth Jay Lane, gold earrings – Brooks Brothers, tee shirt – J. Crew, pearl bracelet – Stella & Dot, navy & white bracelet – Wing Paris, checked cotton scarf – Aquascutum, skirt – Montaigne Market, black sandals – Manolo Blahnik, flats – Born, espadrilles – Michael ... View the Post