The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Archives for 2013

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Chic Sightings: Brown and Blue

November 8, 2013

Jacket – Fairly,  Suede jeans – Mother,  scarf – Hermès, loafers- Adam Tucker, silk blouse – Maliparmi, earrings – Novica,  skirt – Lover, boots – Steve Madden  

Sweater – Stella McCartney,  scarf – Pierre-Louis Mascia,  Skirt – Nomad,  ankle boots – BP,  necklace – Novica,  dress – Stella McCartney,  slingbacks - Perlato  

Blouse – Aglini, bracelet – Julia Failey, white jeans – Proenza Schouler,  flats – Cole Haan, sweater – Marika Charles, earrings – Betsey Johnson,   trousers – Rochas, oxfords - Munro  

love,

Janice ... View the Post

Avec Style: The 10 Rules for Subtracting 10 Years

I have never longed for a more youthful appearance...  will it eventually happen?

The 10 Rules for Subtracting 10 Years

1.  Take an interest in current events, in fashion, yes, but also in art, music, food and decor.  Stay connected!

2.  Add a touch of folly to your appearance, with star accessories, daring prints or lively colors.  (Louise Labrecque is a big fan of star accessories...)

3.  Don't be afraid to visit trendy boutiques.  They are for you too.  Who knows, you might find a scarf in the colors of the season, an amusing tee shirt, or a pair of extraordinary shoes?

4.  Are you dynamic?  Your clothes should reflect this!  Look for details that lend some personality ... View the Post

Avec Style: The 10 Rules of Color Harmony

  November 5, 2013   Color is often the first thing to be addressed when fashion and personal style are the subject...   The  10 Rules of Color Harmony   1.  Limit the number of colors in your outfit to no more than 3.  You will in this way create a visual harmony.   2.  A print will often include more than 3 colors.  In order to create balance, focus on the color which is most prominent in the print when finishing your outfit.  Example:  A black jacket is a good complement to a dress of multicolored flowers on a black background.   3.  To lighten your silhouette, it is preferable to wear lighter/brighter colors on the top half of your body, and darker ones on ... View the Post

Avec Style: The 10 Rules of Style

  So I'm off running around the country again, and will be mostly out of internet range for at least a couple of weeks - my return date is VERY uncertain.  But I've queued up a number of posts for you, on a variety of subjects - colors, books, some Chic Sightings...

Cross your fingers that this adventure goes well!

love, Janice

I've had this book for a while, and now that I'm travelling - AGAIN - for my familial obligations, it seems like a good time to share with you the many interesting insights I found here.

First warning: if you read or speak French, note that this book is from Canada.  99% of the writing is spot on to what you read in France, but every now and then a word will trip me up.  I view it as ... View the Post

Casual Packing: The “Triple Top” Secret

October 29, 2013   Here are a couple of examples of how my Triple Top Secret selection of tops can work for a really casual trip (or just a day to day wardrobe).  First, I started with a cool flowered shirt, got really gutsy and tossed in a striped tee shirt, and worked from there.  Yes, I would wear the stripes and the flowers together...  

I realized after working with this idea for a while that there are, in fact, two "triples" inherent in this idea:

 

  Yes, the button-front shirt is critical!  A shirt that can both be worn as a jacket or 2nd layer, but also layered under a sweater or sweatshirt, is key.  

    Here's an example of how this can work with some ... View the Post

Packing: The “Triple Top” Secret

October 28, 2013   I found, after a few days of travelling, that the shirts and sweaters that I had packed gave me a lot more options than I had anticipated!  A reminder: these are what I had in my bag:  

  Of course, I could wear any of these except the cardigan on their own.  But as the weather, and my location, shifted, I began to experiment with different ways to layer these 5 garments.  I discovered that, ultimately, I had a DOZEN options.  In the coldest weather, I was able to layer three tops together for maximum warmth, and thus the Triple Top Secret was born!    

But I quickly realized that, if I had chosen JUST a little bit more carefully, I could have had even more ... View the Post

How to Pack for Changing Weather

October 26, 2013  

My recent adventures took me from decidedly summery weather to something more in keeping with gloves and scarves.  As usual, I was limited to just a carry-on bag... But I was really delighted with what I took with me.Nobody around you is going to be fooled into believing that you have a vast and limitless wardrobe at your disposal, and you're going to need to be able to do some laundry occasionally with this little ensemble. I found, however, that I was covered (or uncovered, as the case may be) for everything that I encountered.

AND!!!  I deciphered the reason that all of this worked so well, and next week I'm going to explain the secret, and show some other ... View the Post