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Home » Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Edith and the Kingpin by Jack Vettriano

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Edith and the Kingpin by Jack Vettriano

July 28, 2015

“Edith,” they told me, “make sure you rest when you’re at that beach resort, and get your health back.”

“Uh huh…”

Edith and the Kingpin by Jack Vettriano

I never go swimming within an hour of having a meal, so when the luncheon salon closed, I went over to sit on the window seat in the lounge, to watch the activities outdoors. I hadn’t been there more than a minute when he sat down next to me.

Earrings – Shanny Alon; orange top – Jaeger; trousers – J.Crew; scarf – Tyger Tyger by Hermes; watch – Kate Spade New York; navy cardigan – Ann Taylor; orange socks – Darn Tough Vermont; loafers – Cole Haan; tote – Brahmin

He was really quite familiar, especially since we hadn’t been introduced! But he knew the names of absolutely everyone staying at the resort, and he told the funniest little stories about each of them…

His conduct was far from gentlemanly; he kept his hat on (Father would have been appalled) and he was wearing those funny two-toned shoes that only really fast men wear. I admit that I felt a little bit uncomfortable with his manners!

tee shirts – L.L.Bean; capris – J. Crew; square earrings – Ily Couture; leather & brass earrings – CAIA; linen scarf – One Kings Lane; bracelets – ABS by Allen Schwartz; necklace – ABS by Allen Schwartz; paisley scarf – Brooks Brothers; ivory top – J. Crew; clutch – Fossil; dress – J. Crew; cognac top – Joseph; navy skirt – J. Crew; ballet flats – Naturalizer; oxfords – SoftWalk

After a few minutes, a couple of other men came into the lounge, and just stood near the door with their hands behind their backs – almost like policemen! They were wearing hats, too, and those outlandish shoes.

When the man sitting beside me saw them, he got up to leave. But just before he walked away, he turned around, looked back at me, and… not exactly smiled, but looked decidedly pleased.

After the 3 men had left the lounge, I decided that I might as well leave too; if that was the way that men behaved there, then I should not stay in that room all by myself!

But as I walked toward the lift, I realized that I was already planning in my head what I wanted to wear to lunch tomorrow…

Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, maybe?

love,
Janice

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07.28.15 19 Comments

Tags: brown, capsule wardrobe, cognac, navy, orange, Start with Art, travel wardrobe, warm weather
<<Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Untitled, 1953 by Mark Rothko (revisiting navy and cognac)Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Rose Garden by Ute Laum>>

Comments

  1. Maja says

    July 28, 2015 at 8:20 am

    For this situation and for sitting next to window looking on the beach, you definitely need one romantic dress at list A line or with fool skirt cut. And with romantic scarf over shoulders.
    best regards Maja

    Reply
  2. Cornelia says

    July 28, 2015 at 10:45 am

    Black pencil skirt with a cognac top and peep toes it is… to my much more mundane day at the law firm, but you brought a huge grin to my face while sipping coffee and pondering what to wear.

    Reply
  3. Shrebee says

    July 28, 2015 at 11:16 am

    Mystery, intrigue, and –what to wear on her mind ! You are so creative and sooooo funny !

    Reply
  4. Beckie says

    July 28, 2015 at 11:29 am

    Fun story =) I adore Edith's dress!

    This is a wonderful grouping. I think I need some cognac leather in my life!

    Reply
  5. Virginia says

    July 28, 2015 at 1:19 pm

    Can't wait until the next installment!! And I'm so in love with the tiger scarf. Tyger, Tyger is even more beautiful on the Hermes site.

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      July 28, 2015 at 1:20 pm

      I saw that scarf in the window at Hermes on Oak Street a couple of days ago – it stuck in my mind…

      Reply
  6. Sabrina Zeddies says

    July 28, 2015 at 8:50 am

    Janice, thank you so much for using this painting. Love the warm, rich colors together and your suggestions will most definitely have an impact on my fall / winter capsule.
    Funny that you chose this "background story". I am a huge fan of old movies and a scene from a Lauren Bacall movie was the first thing that also came into my mind when seeing the painting for the first time.

    Your work here has inspired me so much and now even my mum visits your site regularly! Thank you from both of us!

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says

    July 28, 2015 at 2:36 pm

    The best story yet! You've brought a huge grin to my face this morning. Thank you.

    The silent play on words is fantastic! I must run see what treasures are in my scarf drawer since I have cognac ballet flats and a navy skirt. Hmmm, I wonder what I can say silently? Deb in KY

    Reply
  8. Lorrie says

    July 28, 2015 at 7:14 pm

    Great entertainment along with the beautiful wardrobe. That's one gorgeous scarf!

    Reply
  9. Jean S says

    July 28, 2015 at 7:40 pm

    You're on my wavelength, big time! The only change I'd make is to soften the white to a cream.

    Love the backstory, too. These are fun to read–hope you're having lots of fun writing them!

    Reply
  10. Gail says

    July 28, 2015 at 8:17 pm

    Love the micro-fictions as well as the clothes (although I was expecting the punchline to be…"But as I walked toward the lift, I realized…my wallet was missing." :)

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    July 28, 2015 at 10:24 pm

    Now I am really laughing as Gail adds another twist to the story. I am waiting for chapter 2 "that evening…". What will she wear/ What will he do/who are his "friends'?
    Thank you for sharing this whole other side to you, deep depths.
    Deb from Vancouver

    Reply
  12. KBG says

    July 29, 2015 at 12:08 am

    So much fun, and what a gorgeous wardrobe. And that scarf! It's a jawdropper traffic stopper for sure!

    Reply
  13. Amy says

    July 29, 2015 at 3:20 am

    Gail, what a great twist!

    I like these darker accessories over the more orange-y ones. Janice, this is a great vignette as usual.

    Reply
  14. Anna-Marie Viljoen says

    July 29, 2015 at 5:30 am

    Lovely words! You could write a novel!

    Reply
  15. lrlincks says

    August 2, 2015 at 7:07 pm

    Ha ha!! Love the story! Some great pieces too!

    Reply
  16. Ursula in Cádiz says

    August 3, 2015 at 11:46 am

    I'd like to add my own huge thank you for the story telling. Your writing has always been what brings me here; more than your wonderful colour stories. Write that book!

    Reply
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  18. Carrie says

    July 30, 2020 at 2:14 pm

    Would love to see an update. A how do you replace warn out things or a honeymoon trip w art theft!

    Reply

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