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Home » Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a Scarf: Hermes Napoleon

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a Scarf: Hermes Napoleon

November 18, 2015
This is the scarf of the day:

Hermes Napoleon

Falling in Love, Gradually…

 

She knew the scarf was beautiful – rare, intricate, quite fascinating just to look at, to pick out little details that weren’t apparent when the scarf was being worn…

But it took her a while to realize how many different ways she could wear it!

Her love for Napoleon was long-standing – she has the “bee” jewelry to prove it. So she started carefully, gradually, wearing her gorgeous scarf with a simple brown dress (but NOT with the matching fabric belt!), and then with a white sweatshirt and her brown corduroy pants. Every time she put it on, she loved it a bit more…

Dress – River Island; brown earrings – Fornash; gold belt – MICHAEL Michael Kors;  pumps – Trotters; sweatshirt – Uniqlo; bee earrings – IlyCouture; cords –  L.L.Bean; waterproof boots – Teva
 

The more she looked at her scarf, the more she realized that a lot of the detailing was outlined in shades of grey – and THAT opened up a few more doors:

 

Grey sweater – Mango; smoky quartz earrings – JCPenney;
skirt – Theory; riding boots – Arturo Chiang; brown sweater – Hope; grey cords – Citizens of Humanity; woven bracelet – Caputo & Co.; loafers – Robert Zur
 

Time passed, and she began to express her fondness for pink in gradual additions to her accessory wardrobe – she was building a legitimate “pink family” of accessories! So one day, when she just plain wanted to wear jeans, she could wear her scarf too, and it looked perfect.The final step was when it was dead summer, too hot to imagine wearing a scarf, and she decided that it would make a great belt over a white skirt and top. It was then that she knew the love was absolute, and permanent!

Wrap top – L.L.Bean; jeans – Gucci; bracelet – Chico’s;  ballet flats – Rockport;  white top – Topshop; pink earrings – BP; denim skirt – Vanessa Bruno; woven flats – The People’s Movement
 

Now, when she needs to pack, all she needs to do is pull out her Napoleon, and then build around it:

 

 

It is, of course, absurd to love an inanimate object, but there’s nothing at all wrong with admiring something A LOT… (which sounds like love, if you’re not paying attention…)

love,
Janice

 
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11.18.15 28 Comments

Tags: brown, grey, Hermes scarf, pink, Start With a Scarf, white
<<Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Echo and Narcissus by Waterhouse Version 2A Template for Your Travel Outfit>>

Comments

  1. MissyG says

    November 18, 2015 at 9:41 am

    I'm going to jump in and express my interest on this scarf as well. I am new to your blog but have gone back and read it from the beginning over the last few days (I'm in early 2012 now.) I like that you show this with brown and grays and just a touch of pink.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    November 18, 2015 at 10:43 am

    I'm glad you've decided to condense the selling of your beauties – now the suspense will be lessened. But I have a question – did I miss the announcement about who won the scarves from Saturday (Nov 14)? If I knew whether I had won (or lost) then I'd have a better idea as to whether I could afford to gamble on this one. Or if you have already won the opportunity to buy one are you eliminated from the rest of the drawings?

    Reply
  3. Chris says

    November 18, 2015 at 10:50 am

    It's lovely Janice, but not for me. I wish others well. Bless you, Chris from Australia

    Reply
  4. Beffyann says

    November 18, 2015 at 11:17 am

    I love this color scheme, but i don't 'do' brown lol. I am not trying to buy the scarf, but I am wondering, if you have time to reply, what changes you are making to your Paris trip in light of recent developments, as I am due to be there in March….

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    November 18, 2015 at 11:33 am

    From Margie in Toronto – I am definitely interested in this scarf – just beautiful. I had thought that I'd add navy as my next base neutral but more and more I'm being drawn to this rich dark brown. And since I already own a lot of grey and pink it would fit in perfectly.

    PS – so glad to hear that you have not cancelled your trip. You are wise to be cautious but we cannot live in constant fear – Good for You!

    Reply
  6. Carla says

    November 18, 2015 at 12:28 pm

    This scarf is beautiful, I am intereted in purchasing it!

    Reply
  7. Lori @ inmykitcheninmylife.com says

    November 18, 2015 at 12:42 pm

    Not interested in purchasing this, thanks, but do have a scarf question:
    How do you remove the fold creases from a used silk scarf. Specifically, I guess, how does one iron it properly?
    Bonus question: What is the best way to store scarves?

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      November 18, 2015 at 1:00 pm

      I just iron my scarves on the silk setting, and the creases come out pretty quickly. But I also wash my scarves – even my Hermes – quickly, carefully, in cool water, using Sports Clothing laundry liquid from The Laundress. I've never had any problems; silk is amazingly tough!

      I keep my scarves in their own separate drawer, which is just Elfa wire shelving. We have good luck with the Elfa because when we move from apartment to apartment, we can reconfigure the drawers to fit whatever space we have. And the mesh is really great because it keeps moisture from accumulating, which is important with lots of gym clothes…

      The BEST way to store scarves? Many people keep them in their original boxes, which doesn't always work if you buy scarves on the secondary market, where boxes are few and far between. Other people wrap them in acid-free tissue for storage, which seems pretty smart. And Mai Tai (see the blog links to the left) sells a GORGEOUS device for scarf travel and storage – it's sort of a fabric "book" with pockets on each page, in which a folded scarf fits perfectly. Anything she sells can be trusted completely – she has very high standards and exceptional taste!

      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
    • SewingLibrarian says

      November 18, 2015 at 7:50 pm

      Let me add, never iron the hems of Hermes scarves. Iron right up to the rolled hem, but not over it. The hem will dry on its own and keep the lovely rounded shape. I keep an iron solely for my scarves – it's never had water in it ever. You want a dry iron so there's no spotting! For storage of my second-hand Hermes scarves, I use acid-free folders with a "window" that I buy from an archival supply house. I stand them up in a basket from Pottery Barn, and I can flip through them quickly to find one that I want. If I had a drawer system like Mai Tai, I'd be very happy, but that's not going to happen.��

      Reply
    • Lori @ inmykitcheninmylife.com says

      November 19, 2015 at 1:35 pm

      SewingLibrarian and Janice, thank you very much for the useful information.

      Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    November 18, 2015 at 12:52 pm

    Not here for the scarf, but I wanted to throw in my words of support for you still going to Paris in light of recent events. Even though the attacks were completely horrible, the chances that you would be harmed are still very small. And I'm sure the people of Paris could use your friendly face!
    – Kaci

    Reply
  9. Pam @ over50feeling40 says

    November 18, 2015 at 12:53 pm

    I love brown and all the ideas I can get with it! Thanks Janice!

    Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    November 18, 2015 at 1:21 pm

    From Mary in DBQ – I am very interested in the beautiful scarf. Thank you for showing it with browns.

    Also, thank you for your continued support of Paris.

    Reply
  11. oekmama says

    November 18, 2015 at 1:51 pm

    An unusual colour combination: warm and cool together… I'm surprised you didn't include the blue in the colour palette, which very much speaks to the blue jeans… Well done, as usual.

    Reply
  12. Virginia says

    November 18, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    Not interested in the scarf, but love the color combinations — I wear brown and gray and blush frequently in the winter. Now I have some new outfit ideas! And huzzah for your determination to travel to Paris.

    Reply
  13. MCY says

    November 18, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    So glad you're still going! Not interested in the scarf, but very interested in the grey wrap top but the link isn't working and I can't find it on the LLBean site. Do you have time to help?

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      November 18, 2015 at 3:07 pm

      Dear MCY,
      Thanks for letting me know about the link – I can't really test the links myself without risking getting in trouble with the retailers! (it's a mad internet world…) It should be working now, and if it isn't, search for women's premium supima/modal tee, long-sleeve wrap.
      big hug,
      Janice

      Reply
  14. Pat says

    November 18, 2015 at 2:26 pm

    Yes, I would love the scarf! And I'm glad you're going. We were there for 3 weeks this past spring and I'd go back in a heartbeat.

    Reply
  15. robertsongallery says

    November 18, 2015 at 2:27 pm

    Yes, I'd like to purchase the scarf. Theresa

    Reply
  16. Anonymous says

    November 18, 2015 at 2:42 pm

    The lovely scarf is not my cup of tea, but I did enjoy seeing what you did with it. I continue to be amazed by the way accessories make a group of clothes work together to look organized, and the scarves are especially good for that. I love the brown & grey combination; the blue in the scarf would look pretty in there as well, I think. Mary

    Reply
  17. Terry A. says

    November 18, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    I am interested in this scarf. Love the colors.

    Reply
  18. Joyce P says

    November 18, 2015 at 4:48 pm

    I am very definitely interested in this beautiful scarf! Brown is my base neutral now, and pink has always made me glow ☺

    I'm so glad that you are not deterred and still going to Paris. I would do the same if life allowed right now. But we have a house full of moving boxes!

    Reply
  19. LizL says

    November 18, 2015 at 7:39 pm

    I am interested in this scarf. Perfect color for me

    Reply
  20. Chabe says

    November 18, 2015 at 9:22 pm

    Thank you for making that distinction at the end, Janice! I always thought "love" was too strong a word for items in one's wardrobe :)

    Reply
  21. Duchesse says

    November 18, 2015 at 10:39 pm

    I have this scarf; so wonderful b/c you can wear it with navy, grey, brown, ivory- even black. A true classic. Lucky, someone! "Love" is not too strong.

    Reply
  22. Coco Colmani says

    November 18, 2015 at 9:08 pm

    Bravo for Paris! Be there for all of us dear Janice …
    Unusual and lovely mix of colours today, thank you.
    Robyn in Tasmania

    Reply
  23. kaybee says

    November 19, 2015 at 3:25 am

    Just a quick comment to reinforce your brilliance! I love this little wardrobe and the colours you've put together for this scarf — unfortunately it's way out of my budget but I love watching and learning!

    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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