The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Flowers: Delphiniums

I think these are delphiniums, but of course I live in the middle of a city, so my floral knowledge isn’t exactly top-drawer! If you can give me a better identification on these flowers (photo taken in the Duke Gardens in Durham, North Carolina) send me a note or leave a comment and I’ll update things…

For this photograph, I imagined that someone has to go on a business trip, but they’re going to be able to arrive early, and maybe stay a few days extra, so this is a dual-purpose travel capsule wardrobe.

These are the high-contrast colors that I chose:
For a couple of days of sight-seeing before the meetings have to begin.

Peplum top – Alexander McQueen, black capris – taking shape, 
tunic – Isabel Marant Etoile, white capris – Dorothy Perkins

A couple of outfits that could go to work or dinner.

Cap-sleeved blouse – Mango, black silk skirt – Mint Velvet, 
dress – Marc by Marc Jacobs

Super-casual, and board room…

Tee shirt – Jil Sander, linen shorts – Phase Eight,  linen cardigan – East, 
silk top – P.A.R.O.S.H., skirt – CC

Some accessories, and a couple more tops to give you sufficient options for 6 to 10 days.

Bracelet – Alexis Bittar, earrings – Allurez,  cardigan – Nick & Zoe, 
bag – Lubochka,  scarf – Versace, black slingbacks – Miu Miu,  green sandals –
Le Capresi, ballet flats – Hogan, floral top – Dorothy Perkins

Everything from shorts to dressy tops, a skirt and a dress.  Carry-on would be easy!

Peplum top – Alexander McQueen, earrings – Allurez, tee shirt – Jil Sander, bracelet – 
Alexis Bittar, scarf – Versace, linen cardigan – East, tunic – Isabel Marant Etoile, black capris –
 taking shape, silk top – P.A.R.O.S.H.,Cap-sleeved blouse – Mango, cardigan – Nick & Zoe, dress – 
Marc by Marc Jacobs,bag – Lubochka, linen shorts – Phase Eight,   skirt – CC, white capris – 
Dorothy Perkins, floral top – Dorothy Perkins, black silk skirt – Mint Velvet, ballet flats – Hogan,  
black slingbacks – Miu Miu,  green sandals – Le Capresi

And plenty of combinations possible.
love,
Janice
Farfetch
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Comments

  1. Thanks Janice! This is the photo that my husband, David Myers, took a couple of weeks ago. I love the beautiful collection of clothes you assembled. Especially that Isabel Marant Etoile tunic! Have a great weekend.

    Reply

  3. They are indeed delphiniums !
    Flower Power dressing at it's finest today…perhaps you can find a white rose and put together some cool summer whites. I would enjoy seeing what you can do as I need some inspiration with accessorizing my basics.

    Reply

  4. Pretty, though it reminds me of the jewel tones of the '80s. Not that it was bad, but, to paraphrase Johnny Hallyday in the eyeglass commercials in France, that was then and this is now. (Actually, he says "Ça, c'était avant." It has become the "where's the beef" "two great tastes that taste great together" etc. advertising line that gets into every conversation.)
    You would like this article on Fast Company about a new enterprise to make personalized clothes so that we reduce waste:
    http://www.fastcoexist.com/3030901/fund-this/slow-fashion-that-lets-you-be-involved-in-designing-your-clothes

    Reply

    • Well that was 30+ years ago. Soon those colors could be retro-chic, but personally, I never think of color as being specific to a time period. I think of it more as cultural. I saw a great Bourdain Parts Unknown on Thailand. He started off saying some aboutthing living the first part of his life in black and white and showed a shot of NYC. Then he went to Asia and found a whole different technicolor world. But we don't have to go out of the US to find different colors. In fact we can find them in parts of big cities if we would only look.

      Reply

  7. I love this! Those are my colors. I'm working on a few more pieces to fill in the combinations. Thank you for such wonderful photos and inspiration!

    Reply

  8. Re anonymous: I understand what you're saying, but black and chocolate brown and ivory form my core capsule. Mixing them can look great!

    Reply

  9. Janice,
    Wow! You're on fire with this selection. These are my daughter's favourite colours.
    I saw an Italian lady today in Beijing in lilac top and pants with a pretty scarf – colour does stand out.
    And the Dress Doctors recommend colour combo's from nature. (Just finished the book and loved it.)
    Kate

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