The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Archives for March 2013

March 2013

Capsule Wardrobe Project 333 for Winter: the Winners, and the Losers

As March winds down and warmer weather flirts with us, I want to take the time to review how my Project 333 for the first 3 months of the year worked.

Overall, 33 items of clothing is WAAAAY more than enough for a season, or, realistically in Chicago, for the 6 months or so in which one must wear winter clothing.  If I have another 33 garments for the warmer weather (with a few items that will appear in both selections), then I think a wardrobe of 66 or fewer garments is a good start, for me, toward minimizing the amount of clothing I own.  Less money spent, less mental morning confusion, a clearer personal style projected to anybody who's paying attention.

Specifically, I had some garments that I loved and wore every week, and ... View the Post

How to wear a PINK v-neck sweater

March 29, 2013   Once you get over the whole gender stereotype issue that many of us have with pink, you have to admit that it can be really pretty...  Very few of us would not be flattered by a color in this range.    

Sweater – Joie, earrings – Allegro,skirt – Bottega Veneta, sandals – Aldo, earrings – Tiffany,skirt – Dolce & Gabbana, sandals – Stuart Weitzman   

Sweater – Joie, scarves - Etro,jeans – Ralph Lauren, flats – Cheap Monday,  khakis – Vince, flats – Hogan   

Sweater – Joie, pearls – Blue Nile, pants – Mulberry,sandals – K Jacques, earrings – Irene Neuwirth, pants– Opening Ceremony, gold pumps - Jimmy Choo   

Sweater - Joie, watch– Rado, blouse ... View the Post

How to wear a red v-neck sweater

March 28, 2013   A Red Sweater for Work

Sweater – Joseph, earrings – Scully & Scully, silk blouse – J. Crew, skirt - Burberry, slingbacks – Miu Miu, earrings – Wallis Fashion, pants - Boutique, flats – Tabitha Simmons   A Red Sweater with jeans or khakis

Sweater – Joseph, scarves - Etro,jeans – Ralph Lauren, flats – Banana Republic, khakis – Vince, loafers – Rebecca Minkoff   Red Sweater - White Shirt

Sweater – Joseph, scarves - Hermes, whitecotton shirt – Equipment, pants – Stella McCartney, loafers - Delman, white silk blouse – Chloe, suede skirt – L.K.Bennett, pumps – Salvatore Ferragamo   Red Sweater - White Jeans

Sweater – Joseph, tee shirt – Veronica Beard, white jeans – J. Crew, ... View the Post

Used Clothing won’t hurt you…

Better World Shopper is an interesting site.  I can't comment at all regarding the quality or validity of their research methodology, but their conclusions are certainly worthy of consideration.

And I think it's about time that we all come to grips with the understanding that there's nothing inferior, or particularly sinister or distasteful, about used clothing. For one thing, it's not like the clothing you buy at retail is particularly pristine, unworn or sanitary.  Anybody who's ever worked in retail can tell horror stories about what is done to clothing before it's purchased and leaves the store as a "new" garment.

Secondly, I suspect that each and every one of us has access to laundry facilities and/or a dry cleaner. No ... View the Post

How to wear a purple v-neck sweater

  March 26, 2013 Purple with Jeans or Khaki

Sweater – Iris & Ink, scarf - Etro, jeans – Ralph Lauren, suede flats - Acne,  scarf - Ursidae, khakis – Vince, flats – DV by Dolce Vita    Purple with simple white shirts

Sweater – Iris & Ink, scarves - Hermes, white cotton shirt – Equipment, pants – Armani, flats – White House Black Market, white silk blouse – Chloe, skirt – Eastex, pumps – Asos   Purple with your summer tee shirts, and white jeans 

Sweater – Iris & Ink, floral tank - Marni, white jeans – J. Crew, sneakers – Keds, tee shirt – Veronica Beard, sandals – Sigerson Morrison   Purple with a blouse, for work 

Sweater – Iris & Ink, earrings – Liberty London, ... View the Post

How to wear a taupe v-neck sweater

March 25, 2013  

Sweater – Jardin des Orangiers, earrings – Amrita Singh, bag – BCBG Max Azria, checked pants – J. Crew, pumps – Kate Spade, earrings – Alexis Bittar, speckled pants – MaxMara, ballet flats - Lanvin  

Sweater – Jardin des Orangiers, earrings – Allegro, skirt – Michael van der Ham, sandals – Alexandre Birman, earrings – Kate Spade, skirt – Bottega Veneta, pumps – Jimmy Choo    

Sweater – Jardin des Orangiers, earrings – Gucci, scarves – Hermes, jeans – Ralph Lauren, boots –  Isabel Marant,  bracelet – Coralie de Saynes, khakis – Vince, flats - Lanvin    

Sweater – Jardin des Orangiers, necklace – Maiyet, white cotton shirt – Equipment, pants – Armani, loafers - ... View the Post

How to wear an olive v-neck sweater

March 23, 2013    

Sweater – Burberry Brit, tee shirt – Equipment, white jeans – J. Crew, flats - Lanvin, tie-dyed tee shirt – Proenza Schouler, yellow flats – Emilio Pucci  

Sweater – Joseph, earrings – Astley Clarke, scarves – Hermes, jeans – Ralph Lauren, boots –  Officine,  earrings – Miguel Ases, khakis – Vince, loafers - Gravati  

Sweater – Burberry Brit, white cotton shirt – Equipment, bracelet – Stella McCartney, pants – Thakoon, boots - Acne, opal  earrings – Vaubel, white silk blouse – Chloe, watch – Movado, suede skirt – Ralph Lauren, tights – HYD Cristalle, pumps – Maison Martin Margiela   

Sweater – Burberry Brit, earrings – Hari Jewels, silk blouse – Dries van ... View the Post

How to wear a grey v-neck sweater

March 22, 2013   You do understand that a grey cardigan with a v-neckline can be worn in all of these ways.  It's easy to forget that you can just button all the buttons and - voila - a v-neck sweater!  

Sweater – Burberry Brit, earrings – Astley Clarke, scarf – Liberty London, jeans – Ralph Lauren, boots –  Toms,  earrings – Miguel  Ases, scarf – Paul & Joe,  khakis – Vince, ballet flats – Stuart Weitzman    

Sweater – Burberry Brit, brooch – Judith Jack, white cotton shirt – Equipment, grey wool pants – Reiss,  loafers - Premiata,  earrings – T Tahari, white silk blouse – Chloe, watch –  Movado, tweed skirt – Debenhams, tights – HYD Cristalle, pumps –  ... View the Post

How to wear a navy v-neck sweater

March 21, 2013   As before, you will see some familiar garments and accessories.  To me, it is a delightful surprise to start preparing a post with a new color of sweater, readjust my aesthetic brain to that color, and then find that there a lot of flattering "common ground" with previous posts that I've done...  Today I was particularly delighted to see how well yesterday's coral tee shirt and flats flattered the navy sweater and white jeans.  Although I think green and navy might be a new favorite for me!    

Sweater – Burberry Brit, tee shirt – Dorothy Perkins, white jeans – J. Crew, shoes - SWIMS, peach tee shirt – Weekend by MaxMara, peach flats – Nude    

Sweater – Burberry Brit, ... View the Post

How to wear a camel v-neck sweater

March 20, 2013

I never wear camel, because it's wicked unflattering on me, but I love the look of it...At it's simplest, the sweater with jeans or twill pants. A scarf, and some pretty earrings, and you're good to go. Note that the shades of camel don't have to match exactly.

Sweater – Uniqlo, rose quartz earrings – Glacier Jewellery, scarf – Scotch & Soda, jeans – Ralph Lauren, boots – Stuart Weitzman, earrings – Gabrielle Vallarino, scarf – futabaya, khakis – Vince, ballet flats - Repetto     A long line of camel and brown, with a simple white or cream shirt, is the easiest outfit in the world.  Simple gold jewelry is all you need; a watch might be enough!  

Sweater – Uniqlo,  necklace – 10 ... View the Post

How to wear a black v-neck sweater

March 18, 2013   When I was ironing yesterday, I realized, again, that my black v-neck sweater is perhaps the most frequently worn item in my closet in the cold weather.  While mine is cashmere, if I had to replace it, I'd probably opt for a very "flat" merino wool, or maybe Eileen Fisher's cotton/silk blend...Mine is big enough to layer, but not so huge that it looks sloppy on it's own.  The v is low enough that a tee shirt peeks out when it's underneath, but if I wear the sweater alone I'm not risking a career-limiting move.

At it's most simple, the sweater, alone with a pair of simple jeans or khakis, is perfect:

Sweater – J. Crew, scarf – Tory Burch, jeans – Ralph Lauren, loafers – Stuart Weitzman, scarf – ... View the Post