The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Start with Art: From Mount Darling by Peter Simpson

February 28, 2014   So this is your dream:  

  And maybe this is your current reality:  

  All the more reason you should consider shopping your dream, and at least wrapping your immediate self (i.e. your body) in the calm, soft, organic and tranquil colors of which you dream.   Start small - a simple silk tunic that can be worn with any pair of pants you own... This tunic, all on it's own, could raise your spirits for a few days!  Maybe some blue shoes, or a bag.  And your next pair of jeans could certainly be green rather than something more predictable and conformist...  

  So many shades of blue from which to choose - but you don't really have to choose! ... View the Post

Start With Art: An Interior from Architectural Digest

February 25, 2014   This photograph was sent to me as a suggestion for a wardrobe - and what a great idea.  This photograph prompted, in me, ideas of wood, stone, natural fabrics and textured fabrics.  While I'm going to start with mostly colors in the beige/brown/grey families, there are definite hints here of green, blue and orange that would be great accent colors here.

  Another question I've been asked is about the possibility of purchasing garments one at a time, so this is something we're going to try here.  And the idea of not matching colors exactly - the colors in this wardrobe (with one exception) won't be identical matches...   So here we go!  First off, wouldn't you like to be sitting ... View the Post

When Starting With Art goes Haywire: Van Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles

February 20, 2014   One of my readers has been shopping with this great Van Gogh painting in hand...  She's got a solid core of gorgeous gold items:  

  And she's picked up some light blue clothes too, which she doesn't like to wear with the gold:  

  And she's also picked up a few tee shirts in the accent colors of the painting:  

  So now, she's got this assortment of clothes.  Everything, on it's own, is beautiful, but she's not finding that this is as versatile as she would like.  

  One of the charms of Van Gogh is that he combines difficult colors in innovating ways, and isn't terribly dependent on neutral colors.  It's a glorious way to ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting With Art: Shopping with a Van Gogh Seascape

February 19, 2014

What a gorgeous painting! And the colors are so perfect for warm weather... (of which I dream right now, as I watch the white-out snow storm outside my window...)

A few of you have expressed a concern about wearing light colors below the waist, and so for this wardrobe I'm going to avoid that. Also, I've been asked to include a maxi skirt in capsule wardrobes, so today I've found one!

A dark core of four - useful for most of the year, and an essential base upon which we're going to build this plan. Navy is so perfect for warm weather; if you're concerned about the colors matching, plan to buy all four items at once, and maybe from the same place.

Yes, this is the second grouping of four green garments ... View the Post

Start With Art: Jackpine by Tom Thomson

February 18, 2014   This painting has such gorgeous colors, and for a summer travel wardrobe the options are wonderful...   I'm starting with a core of four - I'm a really strong believer in the usefulness of having a core of neutral garments around which everything else can revolve.  The colors don't have to be dye-lot matched, but they should be chosen with an eye to being wearable together.  And getting your shoes taken care of frees you up to go just a bit wild later on in your second and third waves of shopping!    

   For summer, shorts and capris.  Then when you branch out into tee shirts, this painting gives you a wide variety of colors from which to ... View the Post

Start with Art: Abstract by Nicolas de Stael

February 15, 2014   This beautiful work is Abstract, by Nicolas de Stael, and these cool, subtle colors are amazing for the upcoming summer.   First, I'm looking for a neutral from within this painting. If you're comfortable wearing white, or if you have a good relationship with your dry cleaner, I would start with the crisp clarity of white for the initial four summer garments. Sandals that pair white with silver, and some silver loafers, might be all the change you need to update your existing wardrobe in this direction.   If you're nervous about wearing this much white, substitute the deepest petrol blue...  

  If you've got budget and ambition to add to this summer wardrobe, look to the cool ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Are you More Calder or Mondrian?

February 12, 2014

Many readers send me art to consider for the inspiration for a wardrobe - thanks a lot! Send me any inspirations you have...

MANY people choose Calder or Mondrian as their favorites, and I initially thought that I could put together one wardrobe that would accommodate both art preferences. For example, here are two works of art which are typical of the suggestions that I receive.

Obviously, both of these works of art suggested this color scheme - clearly you can see the appeal of these clean, clear, and vivid hues.

I first hit a hitch when I was thinking about the initial garment in the wardrobe. A white shirt seemed obvious - but soft and graceful silk, or a crispy cotton? The silk is very fitting for ... View the Post

Start With… a Plate? A Great Blue, Green and Beige Idea!

February 1, 2014    One of the best questions I've ever received...  One of my friends really loves this plate, and wondered if it would be a good basis upon which to choose clothes.  Heck, if you can use a painting, you can surely use a beautiful piece of pottery...  Look for beautiful shades of blue and green, with beautiful soft white (or brown) neutrals...  

 

 

  love, Janice

  ... View the Post

Start With Art: The Breakfast Room by Childe Hassam

January 30, 2014   My life - wardrobe-wise - is now an interesting contrast between being in gym clothes, or leisure clothes, for much of my time, and then every now and then I have to look like I belong in a business meeting or a dinner party...   Apparently I'm not at all alone, because many people have asked me about how to have a coherent wardrobe strategy when you dress for such a wide variety of activities.   So I chose one of the very beautiful paintings suggested to me, and went to work.  This painting is an innovative combination of accent colors, some interesting asymmetry, and a wide range of grey through beige and taupe neutrals.   First up - the gym!  Being able to use grey as a neutral is ... View the Post

Shopping with a Painting, or What I Bought, January 2014

January 20, 2014   For quite a while, I've described my personal style as LaValise de la Garçonne, aka The Tomboy's Suitcase.  I try to remind myself that I really don't need clothing much beyond what I would pack for my next trip, and that as much as I'd like to be a classy, elegant, lady-like creature, I'm much more likely to be the person who climbs up the ladder and fixes the broken gizmo than I am to be the prim princess with the clipboard supervising the process...I've just recent stumbled upon the perfect painting to express my colors and overall feeling that I want to accomplish in my wardrobe: Two Sisters with a Cello, by Marie Laurencin.  I can't actually SHOW you the painting, because I can't afford to buy rights ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: MacCallum Lake by Lawren Harris

January 15, 2014   I'd never heard of this artist until just a few days ago, but I'm so delighted to have been introduced to his work. This painting made me look for warm textury shades of russet and rust, as well as wavy misty greeny/bluey tan clouds in the sky. Basically I made up some words, but the potential within this painting is amazing.  

  I love the range of possibilities offered when you look at these outfits as separates, combined into a wardrobe...  

  love, Janice ... View the Post