The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Start with Art: Version THREE of Peripheral Vision 2 by Elis Cooke

March 4, 2015   More and more ideas for this particular painting continue to be suggested - today, I'm addressing the possibility of using this lovely work as the basis of a summer travel wardrobe.    

  For the travel outfit, I kept the basic idea of a cardigan "suit" and a contrasting tee shirt, but I lightened up the cardigan considerably, as well as finding a lighter short-sleeved tee.  

For the rest of the six pack, I stuck with the general theory of a "core of four" in grey, but I chose a seersucker skirt, rather than solid grey. Why aren't there more things available in seersucker???   All of the jewelry in this little vignette has an starry aspect - the necklace (this one is Libra) is ... View the Post

Start with Art: Version 2 of Peripheral Vision 2 by Elis Cooke

February 26, 2015   As soon as I did the earlier version of this painting (found here), people emailed me asking that I use a different mix of colors, and that I do a business travel version of a wardrobe. So I'm combining requests here - I hope it works out!  

  I kept many of the elements of the original travel outfit, just swapping out the sportier tee shirt with something just a smidge dressier, and then coordinating earrings and a scarf with this new top.  

  love, Janice ... View the Post

How to Choose an Hermes Scarf: Post-Valentine’s Day Gift Edition

February 18, 2015

One lucky reader was given an Hermes scarf for Valentine's Day! But the scarf is just a place-holder; she gets to choose the REAL scarf herself. I think we can all agree that the giver of this scarf is a beloved well worth holding onto, eh?

I was delighted that she contacted me for help with her enviable dilemma; my first advice was that she immerse herself in the Hermes site and narrow her choices down to six scarves. I then promised that I would give some thought to helping her with making the final choice.

This time, my approach is to treat the scarf very much like the "silk jewelry" that I've always believed them to be. For each of the six scarves in the "finalists" group, I've assembled a handful of other ... View the Post

Start With Art: Version 2 The Apparition by Gustave Moreau

February 12, 2015   From the very first moment I launched the original post about this painting, I KNEW that I was going to have to look at this again, and pay full attention to the beautiful blue and green at the top of the canvas.    

I decided to make this really simple, and concentrate on the opulent feel of the painting as much as the luscious colors.

    I pictured this as someone who has to travel overnight for a quite formal event, and then make their way home the morning after. This whole capsule is all about velvet, brocade, cabled cashmere, and ornate jewelry. Sigh...    

 

    It wasn't at all easy to find these colors and textures, but I'm ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Ice Skating on the Moat by Esias van de Velde

February 9, 2015  

Yes, three DIFFERENT readers sent me links to three different paintings about ice skating. What are the odds? (100%...)   Some people have mentioned that they (a) don't wear cardigans, (b) want to have as many outfit options as possible from a 4-Pack, and (c) have to wear a skirt or dress for travel because they go directly to their work obligation upon arrival.  I've tried to address all three of these concerns here, while at the same time giving a feeling of coziness to help with the inherent chill of winter business travel.    

 

Square scarf – Hermes, earrings – Giuliana Valz-Gen, turtleneck – Brunello Cucinelli, skirt – Tulchan,  watch – Skagen,  tote bag – ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Winter Photograph by Kris DaPra

January 30, 2015   I love winter, and sometimes a perfect photograph will convey what my feeble words never can about the beauty to be found in this austere, crisp and bracing time of year.  

  I strongly suspect that either of these button-front shirt would look quite nice under the grey dress. It's a look that a little bit gamine for some women, but for others it can be charming.  

  love, Janice ... View the Post

Denim Blue Capsule Wardrobe with Floral, Bright and Silver/White Accessories

January 22, 2015   Denim blue is a great, versatile and flattering color, even when the fabric isn't denim! Imagine these six garments, along with a pair of real jeans, a white shirt, and a couple of tee shirts - the perfect simple travel capsule wardrobe. I'm ready to go on vacation ANY TIME NOW...

 

 

 

love,

Janice ... View the Post

Beige Capsule Wardrobe with Accessories in Celadon Green, Brown and Light Blue

January 19, 2015 To show how very versatile these "accessory families" can be, I chose six beige garments for today. From these six pieces I put together six outfits. Then I picked three of the families from last week, and show each of those against the beige outfits.

Some of the families that had a really strong silver or "cool" cast to them didn't dance terribly nicely with the beige, but these warmer accessories just look wonderful with the simplicity of the classic garments.

So many possibilities...

  love,

Janice ... View the Post

A Grey Capsule Wardrobe with Turquoise

January 17, 2015   She works in the city, but her heart holds a special place for all the things of nature...  

 

Next week, I'm going to use a variety of neutral colors (navy, brown, beige, olive  - what others would you like?) with accessories that I have already shown last week or this week. I'm not doing this to be lazy, but rather to show the great versatility that a happy family of accessories can have when paired with the enormous flexibility of a core of neutral clothes.   love, Janice ... View the Post

A Grey Capsule Wardrobe with Soft Blue

January 12, 2015  

Unlike last week's All-Black wardrobe, I don't know that an All-Grey ensemble is required at any place of work. So I'm thinking of this grouping as a version of the "what to wear when you don't want to get dressed" post that I did here. My suggestion was to have a core of six matching garments (which would give you at least a handful of outfit possibilities) and also to have a core of accessories that you could reach for - almost without thinking - that would pull everything together, and keep the world from realizing that you dressed yourself with your eyes (almost) closed!So my friend who wears this ensemble, and these accessories, has blonde/grey hair, gentle blue eyes, and a way about her that attracts ... View the Post

Start With Art: Call of the Loon by Ewoud de Groot

November 6, 2014  

There's a lot of beauty here, and colors galore...

 

I settled on these, using ink blue as my base neutral.  Realistically, you could choose anything soft and muted in the green/blue/purple family and be extremely successful.

 

This is for someone subdued, a little bit dressy, going away for a couple of days to a warmer destination.  Maybe not the beach, but someplace where lighter fabrics will be comfortable.  The dotted texture of the water is echoed in the first scarf, and the floral earring and pewter loafers are feminine but not girlish.  

A linen dress, a silk skirt and a couple of tops, along with some pretty accessories are all you ... View the Post