The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Can a Corporate Wardrobe have Personality? Start With Nature! An Ocean Photograph by LBToma

October 16, 2017

I've received some requests for wardrobes that address the desire to return to the workforce without completely sacrificing personal expression. Of course, this is going to depend entirely on the nature of the office in which you find yourself - some are still pretty strict, while other will let you wear pretty much anything that gets you into the office without getting arrested!

But let's assume that you need to start out pretty cautiously; all of the internet "chat" about the office talks about their very old-school image, in the eyes of the public. Once you're in, and find your niche, you can branch out a bit.

This photograph was on that amazingly fun site Design Seeds - I thought that these colors would be a ... View the Post

How to Build a Business Wardrobe One Piece at a Time: Navy, with Emerald and Amethyst

January 9, 2017

I got this email just before Christmas - one of my readers got a new job, and needs to build a new wardrobe to wear. This is a pretty special workplace - very elegant, with occasional clothing allowance cash awards given, and all laundry and dry-cleaning reimbursed! Pretty dreamy, at least from a wardrobe point of view...

I think the target color scheme is based on my reader's very russet hair, fair skin and freckles, which look GREAT with these accents...

Of course, I answered her email right away, and she's already purchased a bunch of things for her new position, but I thought that this was so pretty, so luxurious, and such a dream shopping adventure, that I wanted to share it with you all!

First thing - ... View the Post

Start with Art: Steamboat leaving Boulogne by Edouard Manet

March 30, 2015   To whomever requested this painting as the basis for a wardrobe - a big thank you!  

 

  From time to time, I hear from women who need only the smallest of work wardrobes, because they work as temps - employees who go into an office for a very brief period of time. A wardrobe for this kind of work needs to be very conservative and very neutral; you don't really want to make any kind of a "mark" on the organization except for the excellence of your work!   I temped at a few times in the past - sometimes only for a day, and sometimes for as long as 2 or 3 weeks. This is the kind of work that allows you to have an extremely small work wardrobe, and to thus dedicate your income to ... View the Post

Building a job interview / work wardrobe from scratch

Shirt – Oasis, Pants – Warehouse.co.uk      

Tan Cardigan – J. Crew, Bone cardigan – Tillys, Green cardigan – Woolrich, Navy double-breasted blazer – Old Navy, Taupe jacket – warehouse.co.uk, Navy blazer – H&M  

tote bag – Nine West, Quilted tote – Tillys, Two-toned bag - Asos, desert boots – Old Navy, Black Oxfords – Guess, Penny loafers – MICHAEL by Michael Kors  

   

Teal stone necklace – Coldwater Creek, bronze choker – Oasis, station chain necklace – Banana Republic, teal floral scarf – Miss Selfridge, border print scarf – Topshop, floral oblong scarf - Pacsun  

Black sweater – Coldwater Creek, ... View the Post

I’ve got good news, and I’ve got bad news…

Good news:  I started a temp job.  It's two weeks, with a distant possibility of turning into a permanent position.  I'm not yet convinced that I want it to be permanent, so I'm just doing my very best, being my normal charming and mellow self, and the chips (chimps?) will fall where they may.  If I do all I can, and it doesn't work out, I have no regrets.

BUT...  I'm going to have to post a few of my "older" wardrobe schemes, as I'm not able to devote as much time to customizing things for you all.  I have a few custom wardrobes under my belt, as well as some of my earlier brainstorms, and of course a few of Vivienne's rants.  Those of you who have so kindly asked for wardrobes - I beg your patience ... View the Post

Job Hunting details – what seemed to work for me

Someone asked how I managed to get a job so quickly.  (and at my age - 51!)

My best advice has to be to use the LinkedIn website.  Create a complete profile, and ASK PEOPLE TO WRITE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU!

LinkedIn has an option where you can change your status and be flagged as a job hunter.  It costs $29.95 per month, but it means that headhunters and recruiters can see that you're job hunting, and they can search your profile based on your qualifications or other key words.

When you profile has some recommendations on it, put a link to the profile in your cover letters.  Basically, you're letting people see your recommendations without even having to interview you.  My profile ended up with TWELVE ... View the Post

Job Hunting: Insecurity, Rejection, Self-Doubt and a cry for feedback

I'm the LAST person who can complain about job hunting.  I'm getting quite a few expressions of interest, and I've already been on 3 interviews.  But it's still a gut-wrenching fight with rejection every day, and having to get up every morning and steel yourself for another day of hearing nothing back from your many e-mails takes it out of you.

The hardest thing for me seems to be figuring out what to wear.  Back in the day when we all wore our skirted suits with white shirts and little floppy silk bow ties, nude hosiery and sensible pumps, we didn't have to put any more thought into our clothing choices than a man did.  But now, with the range of what'd considered appropriate in the wide range of work environments ... View the Post