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Home » Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Chapter 2 of Still Life with Apples by Henri Matisse

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Chapter 2 of Still Life with Apples by Henri Matisse

August 18, 2015
 

The morning after the board meeting, they called her into the Manager’s office for a conversation…An hour later, she was the first, and only, Commercial Relationship Coordinator in the entire company. It is a position with a  somewhat nebulous job description, but one which is going to be PERFECT for showing her diplomatic skills to their best advantage!

Remember, this was her work wardrobe:

Turtleneck – Polo Ralph Lauren; fossilized coral earrings – Pamela Huizenga; tweed sweater  –  Ermanno Scervino; bakelite and peridot bracelet- Mark Davis; orange cardigan- L.K.Bennett;  green cardigan – White Stuff; green crystal earrings – Slane; orange bag- Marni; orange ring  – Roberto Coin;  hot pink Flamingo Party Hermes scarf; pleated panel blouse – Schumacher;  navy cashmere cardigan – J. Crew;fire opal pendant – Cathy Waterman; print blouse –  See by Chloe; navy silk blouse – L’Agence; navy dress – Planet; orange sweater – Joseph;   navy pleated skirt – J. Crew;  peridot ring – Michael Aram; paisley scarf – Ralph Lauren;   orange blouse – Stella McCartney;  navy fluted skirt – Tibi;grey dress – FennWrightManson;   suede wedges – Tod’s; grey wrap skirt – Joseph; navy patent pumps – Jimmy Choo;  fluted skirt – Iris and Ink;anthracite suede pumps – Prada; navy sling backs – L’Autre Chose

Which was based on this painting and color scheme:

She finally felt that this was the right time to break out a new, and heretofore unseen, facet of her personality. Within her there was a brightness, and a strength, which she had downplayed in the past, in order to fit into the organization. Glimpses of it had been allowed to shine through, but never before had she felt comfortable enough to really unleash that light inside of her that she KNEW would make her a success in her new position.

So, some careful, deliberate, slow, and meticulously planned shopping was in order; I’m surprised that she didn’t buy more pieces from the earring designer, who made a handful of pieces in this gorgeous blue. (her credit cards are in tatters…)

Cardigan – Ermanno Scervino; brooch – Swarovski; scarf – Hermes Flamingo  Party; earrings – Anna Beck; blouse – Derek Lam; orange print blouose –   Thakoon Addition; handbag – Florian London; skirt – Cacharel; pumps – Bella  Vita; dress – J. Crew; tile print skirt – Dolce & Gabbana; white blouse –  Kai-Aakmann

Her much larger managerial wardrobe now looked like this:

 

And she had, with seven garments and a few accessories, added literally dozens of new outfit options to her work life. This is just a sample of her new possibilities:

If anybody ever caught her without her glasses, it was going to be blindingly apparent that she had extraordinarily blue eyes… If they thought she was distracting before…

love,
Janice

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08.18.15 12 Comments

Tags: blue, capsule wardrobe, cool weather, green, grey, navy, not so crazy eights, orange, Start with Art, work wear
<<The Warm Summer Common Capsule Wardrobe + Water and PearlsTurquoise and Purple! With a Warm Transitional Common Capsule Wardrobe>>

Comments

  1. Pam @ over50feeling40 says

    August 18, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    So many pieces here I love…plus I love her story!

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    August 18, 2015 at 1:10 pm

    I love her story too! Also, I really like the warm/cool balance in this selection. I'd add the whole lot to the Warm Summer Common Wardrobe, which would give a fabulous capsule of 34 pieces.
    Alice

    Reply
  3. bomm says

    August 18, 2015 at 1:52 pm

    I love imagining this woman in a sea of non-descript suits!

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    August 18, 2015 at 1:55 pm

    This is absolutely adorable in every way. You are such a master, Janice, and I think this is my favorite of everything you have posted. I try to never use the word "love" for inanimate objects, but I do love, Love, LOVE this capsule and story. Brilliant! Deb in KY

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    August 18, 2015 at 2:43 pm

    I "love' the fact that this bright confident woman has no jackets and no pants. Yet her wardrobe provides her with everything she needs for power in the workplace. All due to her own abilities and personal style.

    Deb from Vancouver

    Reply
  6. Gail says

    August 18, 2015 at 9:28 pm

    Ah, the blue eyes have it!

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says

    August 19, 2015 at 2:14 am

    This is so great! I love the idea that strategic purchases can make such a huge impact. Thanks for your ideas and fun stories.

    Reply
  8. Deborah Montgomery says

    August 19, 2015 at 11:40 pm

    Great story . . . I always go off shopping online for quite some time after I visit your blog!

    Reply
  9. Gail Finke says

    August 20, 2015 at 1:42 am

    WOW!

    Reply
  10. Gail Finke says

    August 20, 2015 at 1:42 am

    WOW!

    Reply
  11. lrlincks says

    August 20, 2015 at 2:03 am

    Chapter 2 is brilliant!! Bravo!!

    Reply
  12. suzynjgonzalez.com says

    August 22, 2015 at 6:32 pm

    So happy to see the intense cobalt from the painting make an entrance here! I ADORE that delft tile skirt – I may have to knit myself something inspired by delft tile now!

    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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