The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Archives for 2014

2014 - Page 21 of 26

How to Pack for Springtime in Paris: Black, White and Clouds

March 21, 2014   From the April 2, 2012 A Femme d'un Certain Age - visit there to see all of the possible combinations.  

Cloud-print tee – Stella McCartney, grey pants – Veronique Branquinho, cable-knit cardigan – Stella McCartney, pave earrings – Marc by Marc Jacobs, silver flats – Bloch, grey metallic scarf – Dorothy Perkins, grey tote – Laema  

Dotted scarf – Aspinal of London, pearl & jet earrings – JCPenney, star-print georgette scarf – Helene Berman, Cap-sleeved black silk blouse – Marc by Marc Jacobs, Black & white diamond flower ring – Lord & Taylor, white cardigan – Yves Saint Laurent, pearl drop earrings – Kate Spade, diamond and rhodium earrings – Lord & Taylor, bangle bracelet – 2028, ... View the Post

How to Pack for Springtime in Paris: Navy and Violets!

Ahhh, by the time you're reading this post, I'm in Paris celebrating our 10th anniversary with my most Belovedest.  I frankly wasn't convinced that marriage was right for me (yes, I had tried it before, and I was not very good at it....).  This, however, has been the most uniformly delightful 10 years of my life, and pretty much more than any woman could hope to deserve.     This ensemble seemed perfect to revive for today, because I was married in a soft violet outfit (wisteria, to quote Eileen Fisher on the color).  This would be delightful for a second honeymoon...The original post can be found on A Femme d'un Certain Age, where various combinations are shown.

   

Navy cotton cardigan ... View the Post

How to Pack for Springtime in Paris: Navy and White, with Green

This was the A Femme d'un Certain Age on April 16th 2012, so the garments probably are no longer available. (but I'm pretty sure you can still customize a Longchamp tote on their website)  This is a big year for green and navy - I saw it everywhere in department stores in Chicago - so this look could be easily replicated if you fall in love.    

sunglasses – Paul Smith, navy and green clutch – Marc by Marc Jacobs, navy striped top – Closed, navy stone hoop earrings & navy flower earrings – Kate Spade, white short-sleeved button-front top – Kookai, wrap dress - DVF, navy silk tee Studio Nicholson, navy cardigan – John Smedley, navy capris – Weekend by Maxmara, flowered silk ... View the Post

How to Pack for Springtime in Paris: Beige with a Touch of Blue

This originally appeared on A Femme d'un Certain Age in April 2012...  as will all posts this week, the individual items may no longer be available, but the concept of the organization still holds true.    

beige metallic cardigan – Vanessa Bruno, gold stud earrings – Roberto Coin, Trench coat – A.P.C., scarf (Early American) – Hermès, ivory tee – Precis, pants – Ralph Lauren,  suede loafers – Tod’s, tote bag - Gucci  

 

Sunglasses – Prism London, Beige tank – MICHAEL Michael Kors, v-neck sweater – Miu Miu, gold hoop earrings – Khleo, cashmere cardigan – Patagonia, printed dress - DVF, capris – Miu Miu, bracelet – Oscar de la Renta, cotton twill ... View the Post

How to Pack for Springtime in Paris: Neutrals with Texture

Since these images were created over a year ago, the products are rather unlikely to still be available, but the idea holds true...   The original post was at A Femme d'un Certain Age, April 2012.    

Cream wool cardigan – Paul Smith, black pearl and diamond stud earrings – Blue Nile, Black knit pants – DonnaKaran, back cashmere scarf – Barneys New York, tee shirt – Dorothy Perkins, Trench –- Day Birger et Mikkelsen, bag – Marc by Marc Jacobs, loafers - Asos    

Sunglasses- Ray-Ban’s, Printed silk tee – Michael Michael Kors, stars tee shirt – Mulberry, brass & pearl bracelet –Lanvin, white tee shirt – MTWTFSS, Crinkle fabric skirt – Proenza Schouler, striped tee – Saint ... View the Post

The Week Ahead

March 15, 2014

    If all has gone according to plan, as you're reading this, I am in Paris... but this coming week, I've scheduled posts that flash back to guest posts that I did last year for A Femme d'un Certain Age. They're all about travel...   If you don't already follow me on Instagram, you might want to consider.  If I take any great photographs, that's where they will be first. Just look for The Vivienne Files there!   love, Janice ... View the Post

Travel and Love – Remembering What’s Important

March 14, 2014

 

    Today, we leave for Paris. To say that we're excited would be accurate, but it's more of a "warm, thrilled to be able to go away together" kind of excitement, rather than an "OMG WE'RE GOING TO PARIS" kind of thing.  Because it's every-present in our minds that, a week from today, we'll be in Paris, but TWO weeks from today, we'll be back in Chicago, and the vacation will be an accumulation of beautiful memories, credit card bills, and a few gorgeous items we purchased...     Travel is hard - there's no question.  You're out of your usual routine, all of your normal "stuff" is either somewhere else completely, or crammed into bags, and for many people, you're someplace ... View the Post

I Love Ornate Details…

  March 13, 2014   Maybe your living room looks like this...   Okay, maybe your dream living room looks like this!  

   But like so many of us, you have a simple wardrobe that works for your everyday life:  

  But if you pay attention to the details, you can incorporate that style that you love into your everyday outfits.  A touch of lace, a bit of muted floral, and some silk in the place of where many of us would wear cotton.  

   So you have quite a few outfits that are still very low-key, appropriate for your life, but still include that touch of luxe that warms your heart.  

  Keep to the same philosophy for your accessories - ... View the Post

What’s on The Vivienne Files Bookshelf?

March 12, 2014

  #1.  The Triumph of Individual Style by Carla Mason Mathis and Helen Villa Connor  

 

 

Yes, the book used to be blindingly expensive (it's come down a lot in price in the last 10 years!), but if you've never felt like you are beautiful or that your particular "type" is lovely, this book might change your mind forever. The authors site a wide variety of fine art from throughout history in order to demonstrate that everyone is beautiful. Period.   I'm not completely convinced by every one of the exercises in the book; I've never been sold on the "your best red is the color of the blood drawn from your right kneecap at midnight under a full moon while chanting the ... View the Post

I Want to Dress Like a Chalet…

March 11, 2014   These kinds of rooms are really popular, and many of you wanted to know if this whole feeling or sensibility can be conveyed in a wardrobe.  

  What can we take from this photo and those of similar rooms that will help us make informed choices about what to add to our neutral wardrobe?  Words that I immediately identified included wood, bone, beige, ivory, ethnic and Native America prints, warm textures, tone-on-tone layering.   Starting with this base wardrobe:  

  Three garments that aren't a really wild stretch, but that start expressing your taste:  

  Lots of easy ways to wear these...  

 

 

Add in some ... View the Post

I Love Baroque, but I Live Simple and Contemporary

March 8, 2014   Maybe this is the living room of your dreams:  

  But your core wardrobe is our usual:  

  So let's try the same exercise we did before - find three garments that reflect the warmth, the rosiness, the ornate and filigreed nature of the room...  

  You have to keep, somewhere in the back of your mind, the reminder that you need to work with neutrals of black, white and khaki.  Otherwise, let your heart go wild... and you will have lots of ways to wear them.  

 

If this feels comfortable for you, you can branch out and add a few accessories that also share you sensibility...  

  These will work beautifully ... View the Post