The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Archives for May 2012

May 2012

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a scarf: Hermès Rêves d’Escargots

Tee shirt – Maison Scotch, pleated skirt – J. Crew, white sandals – Scholl’s, pink dress – Dorothy Perkins, denim jacket – H&M, crocheted espadrilles - Debenhams  

Dress – Theory, sandals – French Connection, sweater – Enza Costa, jeans – 7 for all Mankind, athletic shoes - Converse  

Cashmere v-neck – Closed, white denim skirt – Kookai, boots – Acne, tee shirt – J. Crew, capris – Fashion Union, orange sandals – DV by Dolce Vita  

Dress – Diane von Furstenberg, cardigan – Madewell, sandals – Stuart Weitzman, blue sweater – Vince, yellow jeans – Current/Elliott, boots – Report Signature   ... View the Post

Futility, time-wasting, and fraying the edges of your self-esteem

Indulge me while I do some math:

10 minutes/day messing with my hair = 1 hour per week (I'm taking Sundays off)

1 hour/week = 6 1/2 work days per year

6 1/2 work days per year X 40 years (adult working life) = over ONE WORKING YEAR...

And what am I trying to do during these boring, and futile, 10 minutes per day?  

I'm trying to have hair like Louise Brooks.  Or maybe even Juliette Greco.  But it's a waste of time, electricity, hair-care products, and ultimately, I'm spending a little bit of time every day telling myself that I'm JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH the way I am naturally.

Which is this:

There are dozens of ways in which we engage in futile battles. We could easily just surrender, and be happier, more productive, ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a tote bag?

Why yes, you can build your personal style around a bag you love!  Why not... although I confess, carrying the patterned bag with the Missoni cardigan would be tough for me...

Dress – Pink Tartan, cardigan – Missoni, sandals – J. Crew, ivory silk pants – 3.1 Phillip Lim, turtleneck – Gucci, loafers – Debenhams   

Turtleneck – Lord & Taylor, Skirt – Debenhams, boots – Tod’s, tee shirt – La Garconne, orange capris – Dolce & Gabbana, woven flats – Burberry Prorsum  

Silk tank – Alice + Olivia, skirt – See by Chloe, beige sandals – Loeffler Randall,  dress – Tibi, jacket – Allsaints, espadrilles - Bank  

Brown dress – Donna Karan, bracelet – Aspinal of London, pumps – ... View the Post

Chic Sighting: bright pants X four

Tee shirts – J. Crew, bracelet – 9 West, blue capris – Dorothy Perkins, Orange sandals – Stuart Weitzman,

 pink capris – Diane von Furstenberg, scarf – Missoni, sandals – Hush   

Tunic – Emanuel Ungaro, earrings – Alexis Bittar, pants – Yigal Azrouel, ballet flats – Isabel Marant,

 brown tee – La Garconne, scarf – Hermès, jeans – Exit Brooklyn, sandals – Dolce & Gabbana   ... View the Post

Visualizing French Chic: olive, and young, and casual

 

Jacket – Virginie Castaway, vest – Humanoid, cardigan – Manestrale, dress – Go Green M by M, Rolled capris – Dorothy Perkins, jeans – J Brand, shorts – D&G  

Black tee – Uniqlo, sunglasses – Lacoste, athletic shoes – Nike, White tee – Fat Face, bracelets – 1928, boots - Cordani  

Tank top – Madewell, fedora – Forever 21, Sandals – Mulberry, flower earrings – Lord & Taylor, gold clutch – Style & Co., gold sandals – Sam Edelman  

Short-sleeved shirt – Old Navy, cross body bag – 9 West, sunglasses – Wetseal, tee – Nike, espadrilles – Mad Love, woven flats - Blowfish  

Tee shirt – J. Crew, scarf – Tillys, ballet flats – Aldo, earrings – Inc International ... View the Post

Chic Sightings: three pairs of ideas

Maybe it's because I was in such a good mood yesterday, but I saw LOTS of nicely-dressed women yesterday.

After a while, I realized that I could group these sightings in pairs, so that you get two perspectives on how to wear beige capris, two different outfits based on bright blue pants, and a way to wear the separates of a navy suit, paired with yellow.

Two things I must call out: 1.  If you would wear a dress over a swimsuit, you probably shouldn't wear it to an office. 2.  Leggings are NOT pants.  And FWIW, neither are yoga pants...

Blouse – Giuletta, Capris – Miu Miu, belt – J. Crew, black sandals – CL by Laundry, cardigan – A.P.C., leopard tee – Romwe, ballet flats – Jimmy Choo  

Tee – J. ... View the Post

Packing: start with a favorite cardigan

A great question: I KNOW I want to take this cardigan, and use it as my "base" for my packing plan.

This sweater let me branch out in two distinct directions - brights, and black & white.  Lots of choices, and quite a bit of versatility, while still all in one carry-on bag!

Cardigan – Oasis, pearl & ruby earrings – Macy’s, red tote – Lulu Guinness, tee – Debenhams, scarf – Pashmina Art, pants – Donna Karan, loafers – Tod’s  

Tee shirts– Madewell, pearl & red agate necklace – Blue Nile, bracelet – Dream Mullick, teal earrings – Amrita Singh, black and white earrings – Kate Spade, crossbody bag – Marc by Marc Jacobs, cardigan – Mango, flowered tee – Minuet, sunglasses – Ray Ban, White capris – ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a necklace: dragon pearls

What a great necklace!  It made me think of softness, iridescence, and creating a background that wouldn't detract from the details of the clasp, and the textures of the pearls.  

 

Dress – Cacharel, sandals – Frye, sweater – Isabel Marant, jeans – J Brand, boots - Acne  

Sweater – Miu Miu, skirt – Moss & Spy, boots – Frye, tee shirt – Mr. Mrs., sandals - Allsaints  

Skirt – Cacharel, silk tee shirt – Jigsaw, sandals – Softspots, leather jacket – Vanessa Bruno Athe,

 silk dress – A.P.C., espadrilles – Lauren by Ralph Lauren  

Dress – Cynthia Rowley, Cardigan – Orla Kiely, sandals – Sigerson Morrison, tunic sweater – Steven  Alan,

 pants – Michael ... View the Post

Visualizing French Chic: 7 in black

May 19, 2012   One of the sections of the book French Chic, by Susan Sommers, which I read repeatedly, was one in which she listed seven items of black clothing, and then set out a little grid of how you could combine these items, and how they would be accessorized.   I could never visualize this.   So I decided to put together her suggestions in images.  Some of the accessories ideas just scream "early '80's", and so I didn't stick to all 12 plans exactly as written...   This is an interesting approach to wardrobe-building, or to packing.  The vest is, to me, a difficult garment, and I would probably be tempted to substitute a leather jacket, denim jacket, or second cardigan.  And if you're not ... View the Post

A Four by four Capsule Wardrobe: teal and navy

One of the most frequent colors that I'm asked to work with is the teal/turquoise family.  This pairs it with navy, and a dash of pink.  You can see that you don't have quite as many outfit options when you include more colors, but still enough choices to satisfy almost anybody. 

Pants – Stella McCartney, Tank and shirt – J. Crew, skirt - DKNY    

 

Jeans – Rag & Bone, cardigan – Mint Velvet, tee – Karl Marc, skirt – J. Crew    

 

Flowered tee – Minuet, Pink tee – Mango, white sweater – 360 Sweater, striped top – Viyella    

 

Scarf – Tiffany, shoes – Amalfi by Rangoni, fabric bag – Vera Bradley, bracelet – ... View the Post