The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

The Vivienne Files - Page 232 of 262 - Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

Lessons from the Monster

My commute is a short ten-minute walk, down a very busy and crowded Chicago street.  I'm fortunate enough to see hundreds of people in my short journey, including many women, of course.

Only rarely do I see someone who's appearance is generally envy-provoking.  Most days, I'm more than happy with what I'm wearing, and with how I look, overall.  But on the occasions when I'm beginning to feel my eyes turning green, I try to turn that unproductive and generally unbecoming sensation into a chance to learn something.

Overall, if you really envy someone, the fundamental question has to be "why?".

If it's someone half your age, with the body of an Olympic gymnast:

This is both a lesson in learning to accept your age, and a ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a Scarf: a bright chiffon rectangle

This scarf has so many possibilities: brights, tone on tone, or neutrals with a little pop of brightness.    

scarf - Coldwater Creek, silk dress – Burberry Prorsum, pumps – Salvatore Ferragamo, sweater – Jil Sander, pants – All Saints, loafers – Brian Atwood    

Scarf - Coldwater Creek, sweater – J. Crew, cords – Rag & Bone, loafers – Cole Haan, coat – Haider Ackermann, boots - Hunter    

Scarf - Coldwater Creek; satin blouse – Raquel Allegra, skirt – Proenza Schouler, flats – J. Crew, sweater – Acne, beige pants – Dorothy Perkins, loafers – Cole Haan    

Scarf - Coldwater Creek, athletic shoes – Converse, jeans – Cimarron, sweatshirt – Aubin & Wills, ... View the Post

Maximize your ROI: the cashmere twinset

August 10, 2012   We should all be carefully planning our fall and winter purchases right now...  

Silk scarf – Hermès, Pearl & gold earrings – Lord & Taylor, crocheted necklace – Lamprini, grey wool skirt – Jil Sander, grey suede shoes – Rupert Sanderson, tweed skirt – Erdem, cashmere eternity scarf – Parker, color-blocked pumps – Pour la Victoire, plaid skirt – Burberry, ankle boots – Rag & Bone  

Grey pants – Vanessa Bruno, scarf – wrq.e.d, metallic flats – Rocket Dog, pink wool capris – J. Crew, rose gold stud earrings – Liberty, crocheted rose gold bangles – YooLa, clutch bag – Uroco, boots – Modcloth, mulberry jeans - Topshop  

Lace dress – Mango, coral & pearl earrings – ... View the Post

A Four by four Capsule Wardrobe: finishing fall

 

12 more garments, also from L.L.Bean.  And then, I thought I would show all of the possible outfits... When I got up to 48 outfits, I threw in the towel.  And these outfits were assembled BEFORE I ever started using the navy corduroy pants, or the navy tee shirt, or the striped oxford shirt, or the blue jeans...   So okay, this wardrobe doesn't include any lime green.  No orange.  No abstract prints. No platform pumps...  Some of us are fine without those things.    

 

 

Scarf – Missoni, scarf – Marc Jacobs, grey boots – Pas de Rouge, grey flats - Rochas      

 

    ... View the Post

A Four by four Capsule Wardrobe: planning for fall

I know, everybody HATES L.L.Bean clothes, but their clothes are perfect for illustrating the concept of building a capsule wardrobe by fours.  And frankly, there's a world full of women who would look better dressed in these simple garments, rather than the gaudy, poorly-made tat that they're wearing...  (none of us, of course, but we all know people who might tone it down a notch or two...)Rather than using accessories from Bean, I've chosen a few things from the other end of the fashion scale - iconic scarves, fabulous shoes.  That's the real beauty of simple, unadorned clothes in neutral colors  - they serve as a perfect base for accessories that do the real "talking".

 

Chiffon scarf – ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Sonia Delaunay’s Rose des Ventes

Using this painting as the focal inspiration for outfits really demonstrates how you can start with a core of neutrals, and then build out with some unexpected accent colors...

Painting – Sonia Delaunay, hooded sweater – N. Peal, beige jeans – MAJE, blue espadrilles – Boohoo, white jacket & coral dress – Dorothy Perkins, coral espadrilles – Pied a Terre  

Painting – Sonia Delaunay, cardigan – J. Crew, dress – Dorothy Perkins, sandals – Opening Ceremony, scarf – Filippa K., dress – Valentino, coral pumps – Dorothy Perkins  

Painting – Sonia Delaunay, cardigan – Crumpet, tee shirt – Alexander Wang, grey twill pants – Seven for all Mankind, oxfords – Jil Sander, sweater – Maxmara, scarf – ... View the Post

2,900 gallons of water

It takes 2,900 gallons of water to produce one pair of jeans.

Now, to get up to 2,900 gallons, you'll need to fill your bathtub to the brim.  TWICE...

AND, the average woman in the US owns 7 pair of jeans.

Just in case you wanted another motivation to cut back on the size of your wardrobe! ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Project 333: Redefining Normal

In the mid-1990s, the average American bought 29 items of clothing a year.  Today, we buy 59 items.  We also throw away an average of 83 pounds of textiles per person, mostly discarded apparel, each year. - From Mother Jones.I've discovered that wearing 33 garments, well-chosen, is plenty.  Abundant.  An embarrassment of choices.  Going too far beyond this level is, for me, to spend money on clothes that I could be spending on... a trip to Paris?  Our retirement home?  Better-quality garments, made in countries that take care of their workers?  

 

 

 

 

 

Here are just some of the combinations I've discovered.  This isn't exhaustive.  I've ... View the Post

Why yes, everybody IS blogging about this…

because it's an amazing video about tying scarves.  (alas, Eileen Fisher does not address tying the square Hermes silk twill scarf).  This is SO well worth the six minutes you'll spend watching it.  Thanks Pam, at Over 50 Feeling 40, for introducing us to this video.    

Now, I want cold weather, and lots of scarves!

love to all - I don't say that often enough - Janice ... View the Post

Shopping at Art Galeries

July 28, 2012

Just a quick reminder - when you need a new accessory, don't forget to check the websites of art galleries.  The above brilliant little idea is available from the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art. My favorite tiny handbag is from there...

And you get to support smaller designers, you don't sport big gaudy logos, and you don't see yourself coming and going on the street...

love, Janice ... View the Post