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Home » Start With Art: Peripheral Vision 2 by Elis Cooke, or How to Pack for a Casual Vacation in France

Start With Art: Peripheral Vision 2 by Elis Cooke, or How to Pack for a Casual Vacation in France

February 23, 2015
 

A recent request prompted this capsule: lightning up burgundy/grey/forest green into brighter cranberry, light mossy green and grey – specifically for a 3-week trip to France this spring.  A lovely trip, and beautiful colors with which to work!

 
Just for fun, I searched (and searched) until I found a painting to complement this idea:
 

Peripheral Vision 2 by Elis Cooke

 
For our purposes, I isolated these colors, but there’s also clearly an opportunity for white, cream, and a gentle blue, as well as a touch a deeper charcoal. This painting could generate a palette with which one could live forever.
 
 
As always, our travel outfit includes closed-toe shoes, a cardigan, and a scarf. But this tee-shirt is a “performance fabric” for more active endeavors! And these are the only “dressy” pants you’re going to see.
 

Grey trousers – Planet, gren quartz earrings – Allurez, watch – Relic, cardigan – Michael Michael  Kors, woven flats – Paolo, tee shirt – Patagonia, scarf – Arte, canvas tote – Urban Travel

My first stop for finding clothes that would work well for activities was Patagonia; delightfully enough, they have a number of garments in soft, medium moss green! Sometimes these things just work out…

Green button-front shirt – Patagonia, silver hoop earrings – Topshop, bracelet – Topshop, green tank – Patagonia, silver glitter headband – Miss Selfridge, berry tank – L.L.Bean, grey linen shorts – L.L.Bean, plum rose tee shirt – L.L.Bean, grey long-sleeved tee – Mint Velvet, grey  linen capris – Poetry, ¾ sleeve green tee – Fat Face, striped top – J Crew, print wrap skirt – Patagonia, grey tunic dress – John Lewis,  bone hiking shorts – Sonoma, sneakers – Josef  Seibel, sandals – Trotters, silver jeweled sandals – ZiGi Girl

Three pair of shoes in a bag might seem excessive, but these will all pack pretty small and rather flat, and the give you options to dress up a bit in the evening. Also, sometimes when your feet are killing you, a change of shoes can save your day.

 
You now have options for all kinds of activities in warm weather, or evenings that begin to feel cool. The green button-front shirt is a great layer of a tee shirt if it’s cool, but it’s also designed for sun protection. One dress and one skirt – neither of them particularly posh – still let you be a bit more festive when you’re in the mood. Plenty of tee shirts, and your cardigan can be tossed over any combination:
 
 
I sure hope this helps a little bit!
love,
Janice
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02.23.15 19 Comments

Tags: capsule wardrobe, casual, green, grey, leisure travel, rose, Start with Art, travel wardrobe, warm weather
<<Self-DisciplineStart with a Scarf: Hermes Maroon Shawl>>

Comments

  1. Elizabeth Ellen Carter says

    February 23, 2015 at 11:29 am

    I love the colours! We're about to go into autumn and grey and rose/cerise are in Project 333 capsule. I have some green tops but I might have to save them for spring.

    Reply
  2. Jazz says

    February 23, 2015 at 12:19 pm

    This is lovely, but wouldn't it be fabulous if there was a scarf of that artwork- just to finish it all off? :)

    Reply
  3. Janice Riggs says

    February 23, 2015 at 12:23 pm

    There's a company called Spoonflower which will print fabric for your from a photograph. You'll need to chat up the artist to see if she would be willing to have this done. But you're right, that painting would make a gorgeous scarf!

    Reply
    • Jazz says

      February 23, 2015 at 7:35 pm

      I have a scarf similar to this but in darker tones which suit my darker complexion. I made it over 30 years ago but I keep using it a lot because I feel like a million dollars when I wear it. There is just something about the way the colours work with my complexion. I hope the artist considers creating a line of scarves as I reckon they would be a real winner. The painting is so gorgeous and in such flattering colours. Thanks for the information about Spoonflower- so good to know that this can be done.

      Reply
  4. SusanG says

    February 23, 2015 at 12:59 pm

    This is a combination I never would have considered had I not seen the painting. I'm loving silver grey right now, and it's fun to see alternatives to blues and black accompanying it. Lovely, Janice!

    Reply
  5. Lacrimae rerum says

    February 23, 2015 at 1:30 pm

    Thank you for finding exactly the right painting and packing for me! The colors are beautiful and very adaptable to the lighter/darker variations in things I already own. (I find I even have a scarf with a similar color scheme which I'd overlooked in planning.) I'm now well-armed with inspiration and ideas.

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      February 23, 2015 at 1:37 pm

      OH, I'm so happy! I really wanted this to work for you…
      big hug,
      Janice

      Reply
  6. Gail says

    February 23, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    Brilliant!

    Reply
  7. Virginia says

    February 23, 2015 at 2:03 pm

    Love, love, love everything about this!

    Reply
  8. Madame Là-bas says

    February 23, 2015 at 2:21 pm

    This is such a soft and pretty collection!

    Reply
  9. Anonymous says

    February 23, 2015 at 3:59 pm

    This is Wowza. Not my colours but it perfectly meets the request, it is practical, budget friendly, foot friendly and lovely.

    Deb from Vancouver

    Reply
  10. Pam @ over50feeling40 says

    February 23, 2015 at 5:34 pm

    Such pretty shades of gray and green!

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    February 23, 2015 at 6:04 pm

    Well done Janice! To look put together while still casual is an ongoing challenge for me. This capsule is a great example… you nailed it!
    Mary

    Reply
  12. Anonymous says

    February 23, 2015 at 6:51 pm

    This is so beautiful I want to completely live in it. Oh my. I live in black but this may be what it takes to change me. Oh my. I just love it. What is so interesting is that all the colors are what I live with in my home and in my garden, but black is just so much easier to buy and wear. Oh, the rose and green and gray are just so lovely… Thank you for making my day.

    Reply
  13. Anonymous says

    February 23, 2015 at 7:45 pm

    Beautiful collection. Very soft combination. And the skirt is also designed to be worn as a top – another option! Carol S

    Reply
  14. webb says

    February 24, 2015 at 12:23 am

    Wonderful collection. Can totally see wearing every single thing – often!

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says

    February 24, 2015 at 3:45 am

    Very beautiful colors- thank you! Would you consider, using this same painting for inspiration, a capsule wardrobe in sort of "business casual" (no jeans or open toe shoes) in some of the other colors- say greige/taupe, white/cream, pinks and blues/lilac? These are the colors I am inspired by for spring… with an abstract/organic feel for jewelry, etc. instead of a straightforward floral… I really enjoy your blog and can't wait each day to see your posts! I live in black and charcoal grey but would love to lighten up for Spring. Thank you again!

    Reply
  16. Laura says

    February 24, 2015 at 2:06 am

    This capsule makes me so happy! I've been lurking for almost a year and love getting color ideas, but this capsule I could see wearing myself. Sporty, light colors, comfy shoes, and warm weather options (I live in central Texas and have two young children). I love the sportier brands and live in knit dresses in the summer. For the woman who requested this capsule, you might look at Ahnu Karma shoes if you need other options–it's a nice mary jane that comes in silver sage. I bought them last year, and they go with everything I own!

    Reply
    • Lacrimae rerum says

      February 24, 2015 at 2:14 pm

      Oooh, those shoes are a pretty color, and cute. I may have to check them out. (I also loved the woven leather silver Paolo flats Janice found.) Thanks so much for the suggestion.

      Reply

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The Vivienne Files is a unique personal style blog with carefully-selected capsule wardrobes based on color palettes drawn from works of art, nature, and more. It helps women buy less clothing, and to love what they buy. Read more...
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