The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Archives for 2012

2012 - Page 11 of 25

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

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Mary Cassatt’s Lydia Seated in the Garden

Sweater – Topshop, Pants – The Row, Brogues – John Lewis, hoody – Patagonia, cropped jeans – Acne, boots - Bogs  

Dress – Vanessa Bruno, scarf – All Saints, flats – Carvela, blouse – Givenchy, skirt – J. Crew, pumps - rsvp  

Blue cardigan – Romwe, scarf – Malene Birger, woven flats – Mia, dress – Go Green M by M, cotton shirt – Organic by John Patrick, skirt – Cacharel, pumps – Salvatore Ferragamo  

Aquamarine earrings – Ponponella, silk dress – Issa, nude pumps – Rupert Sanderson, scarf – Faliero Sarti, green coat – Sonia Rykiel, boots – KG by Kurt Geiger   ... View the Post

How I wear a scarf

After I slipped off my scarf last night, I threw it down on the bed and photographed it.  This is the way I wear a scarf about 90% of the time...

Very simple:

bias fold tie a knot about 8 inches up from one of the ends of the scarf.  You can move the knot up or down depending on how you'd like to wear the scarf pull the loose end of the scarf through the knot look at the scarf and decide which side looks better to the front slip over your head, and go

Just toss it on and wear it.  This isn't rocket science, nor origami - it's just a lovely piece of silk you're using as a surrogate piece of jewelry.  Don't over-analyze the tying process. ... View the Post

Variations on a dress: black & white

One of my dear readers asked me for suggestions about accessorizing this very lovely Talbot's dress. Since the dress is uncomplicated and classic, a variety of ensembles is easy to envision!

And the dress is no longer available from Talbot's, but that does NOT matter; the lessons here apply to any dress that is simple enough to provide a background for the accessories.

Dress – Talbots, cardigan – Valentino, pumps – Bottega Veneta, bag – Christian Louboutin, pink jacket – River Island, hand-painted bag – Les Envers, & black flats – Marc by Marc Jacobs  

Dress – Talbots, silver hoop earrings – YooLa, clutch – Dareen Hakim, sandals – Onex, bracelet – Lee Angel, backpack – Studio Harlen, sandals – Matt ... View the Post

Visualizing French Chic: Taupe

July 24, 2012

 

Way back when, the original French Chic book listed seven garments, and then a dozen ways to combine them and accessorize them.  I've chosen to visualize this potential in a non-black color (and in some "not quite solid" pieces), and in some younger and less conservative iterations...

And please note that your clothes don't have to all be out of the identical dye lot; a bit of blending is quite alright.

 

 

 

 

love,

Janice ... View the Post