The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Articles
    • Starting From Scratch
    • Common Wardrobe
    • Packing
    • Start With Art
    • Project 333
    • 4×4 Wardrobes
    • Weekly Timeless Wardrobes
    • Archives by Date
    • Archives by Categories & Tags
  • Support The Vivienne Files
    • Books, Clothes & more
    • Templates & Color Planners
  • Contact
Home » Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Nature: The Common Shelduck

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Nature: The Common Shelduck

January 14, 2016

When I say there’s inspiration everywhere, I’m really NOT exaggerating! My recent trip to Florida is a good example – I saw these lovely guys all over the place (although they are not, in fact, indigenous to the area I was visiting – someone imported them! Someone with good taste….)

The color scheme was so easy!

 

Come Sit on the Veranda…

Well, the invitation was a little bit more fleshed-out than that! It went more like “we have great internet down here, so you can work during the day, and then in the evenings, we’ll sit on the veranda with a bottle or two of wine, and watch the birds on the lake until it gets dark. Then after dinner, we can come back out and look at the stars…”

Her toes were perma-frozen. How could she resist the opportunity to thaw, drink wine, bird-watch, and star-gaze, if only for a long weekend?

Cardigan – Uniqlo; tiger’s eye earrings – Kevia; loafers – Cole Haan; tee shirt – Uniqlo; pants – J. Crew; scarf – Givenchy; watch – Coach; belt – Frye; crossbody bag – Lodis; suitcase – Longchamp

She’s a very black and white sort of person. Square corners, neat edges, everything in its place. Not that she wasn’t a lovely person – she just really liked things tidy! This trip was going to be different; she didn’t need clothes. Heck, she wasn’t going to need clothes for a long time to come! But it was time to shake up the routine, and the image… What would be natural, beautiful quality, eye-catching yet tasteful, and would show her warmth?

Leather… not black, studded, “too hard too cold” leather. Brown, burnished, lustrous, supple leather…

note that she packed her “star-gazing” tee shirt!

Leather bracelet – Cole Haan; white shirt – Hugo; white cropped pants  – J. Crew; long-sleeve tee – Lands’ End; black hoodie – Uniqlo; unmatched  leather earrings – CAIA of Sweden; star tee shirt – Marcus Lupfer; black skirt  – Uniqlo; sandals – Sam Edelman; ballet flats – Sam Edelman; “Impulsive”  lipstick – Butter London; “Her Majesty’s Red” nail lacquer – Butter London

I think the earrings look like stylized sailboats…This was everything she had with her, but she didn’t feel at all deprived, nor concerned:

 

Being the methodical woman that she is, she had thought through the cool evenings, sunny days, possibilities of weather changes:

Wine glass in hand, scarf tucked around her neck to ward off an errant chill breeze, she thanked her friends sincerely. And wiggled her red-polished toes, in her new brown sandals, and marveled how much fun it was to be able to feel one’s extremities…

love,
Janice

Tweet
Pin247
Share
247 Shares

01.14.16 34 Comments

Tags: accessories, black, brown, leisure travel, Six-Packs, Start With Nature, travel wardrobe, warm weather, white
<<Pantone 2016 Colors, and an Accessory RefreshBuilding a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Toasting Friends>>

Comments

  1. oekmama says

    January 14, 2016 at 9:20 am

    Brava!
    Very chic. And I love that you got the red in there too!

    Reply
  2. Cornelia says

    January 14, 2016 at 10:49 am

    Fun imagery, and now I know exactly what to wear today…. starting with those loafers. :))

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    January 14, 2016 at 11:05 am

    I think I need some brown accessories. This is beautiful. – CRP

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    January 14, 2016 at 11:23 am

    From Margie in Toronto – Love this post – so classy looking. I've got a few pieces in the brown/camel family that I have to start pairing with my black clothes more often – and definitely a colour to add to my "accessories needed" list.

    Reply
  5. Ann Lee Gibson says

    January 14, 2016 at 12:21 pm

    Truly lovely. Thanks, Janice.

    Reply
  6. Kayos says

    January 14, 2016 at 12:47 pm

    Just love accessories…..they always look so classy. I don't wear black but love tan with denim….and I think navy. That is definitely one I have to explore.

    Reply
    • kayos says

      January 14, 2016 at 6:21 pm

      sorry…..meant to say love 'tan accessories'…..

      Reply
  7. Anonymous says

    January 14, 2016 at 12:49 pm

    Lovely clothes as always. But as far as "although they are not, in fact, indigenous to the area I was visiting – someone imported them! Someone with good taste…" is concerned, the ecologist has to point out that importing nonnative species and letting them loose in an area is almost always a bad idea. Fortunately, the common shelduck doesn't seem to be causing problems in Florida.
    – Kaci

    Reply
  8. sj says

    January 14, 2016 at 1:18 pm

    This lovely post makes me sad that I can't wear black anymore…. my consolation is that the gorgeous chestnut (?) leather will look good with charcoal and navy.

    Reply
  9. sj says

    January 14, 2016 at 1:22 pm

    This lovely post makes me sad that I can't wear black anymore…. my consolation is that the gorgeous chestnut (?) leather will look good with charcoal and navy.

    Reply
  10. Madame Là-bas says

    January 14, 2016 at 1:31 pm

    Janice, you have again inspired me! I have some beautiful chestnut leather shoes from other times. I will use them as an accent with my charcoal or navy (?) Merci.

    Reply
  11. Suzyn says

    January 14, 2016 at 2:40 pm

    Much as I love this – and I do love it – I was sad not to see more red! I think the red/cognac combo is so unexpected and exciting. That said, I really love the simplicity here. I too love things tidy (though the inspiration board of all the things I'm drawn to might argue otherwise).

    The Cole Haan shoes are fabulous. I recently indulged my bucket list item "own Cole Haan shoes" by buying gently used on eBay. I love them and plan to buy more!

    Reply
  12. Unknown says

    January 14, 2016 at 3:19 pm

    So simple and chic! While I love admiring high contrast ensembles my personal choice is more monochromatic. Many of your fans (me included) would love to see your take on dressing tonally, Janice.

    Thanks for sharing your wonderful, imaginative, mind and for all you do.

    A faithful fan,
    Pat

    Reply
    • Kay says

      January 15, 2016 at 7:10 pm

      I agree on the monochromatic/tonal dressing. I dont wear a lot of contrast. It doesn't suit me. I love to see your take on tonal dressing too.

      Reply
  13. Memee says

    January 14, 2016 at 3:27 pm

    I love the classic colors and items in this post. While I have built a mostly black wardrobe, my heart yearns for cognac brown. Thank you for showing me great possibilities!
    Kelly in North Carolina.

    Reply
  14. Anonymous says

    January 14, 2016 at 3:54 pm

    I've always worried about pairing brown with black – until this post. Thank you!

    Reply
  15. Janice says

    January 14, 2016 at 3:56 pm

    I agree with the others .. The leather items look wonderful with navy. Janice, you once featured a beautiful navy silk scarf from Brooks Brothers with leather bound hem.. I fell in love and ordered it.. It's now a staple in fall/winter and just gorgeous .. The idea of leather earrings is being considered ;) thank you for being such an inspiration . Janice Collins, Washington, DC

    Reply
  16. Anonymous says

    January 14, 2016 at 4:03 pm

    I am not a black and white person either in clothes or politics but This is very appealing to me. Thanks to some of your commenters, I am thinking that charcoal grey and burnished leather would be very attractive but what would be a contrasting third colour?

    Deb from Vancouver

    Reply
    • Jazz says

      January 14, 2016 at 6:56 pm

      I'm also cautious about wearing white or other pastels, I think turquoise or aqua would look really lovely here stunning with the tan accessories, and the black/navy or charcoal grey. But would that then make the overall outfit too dark for the hot weather leg of the trip?

      Reply
    • Suzyn says

      January 14, 2016 at 8:45 pm

      You could just switch out charcoal for all the black here and leave it exactly as is – charcoal and white is lovely and classic. Another option is to go for a more tonal look and do charcoal with pale silver. Just two options out of 10,000 possibilities. Pair your charcoal and leather with everything you can lay hands on until you find something you like!

      Reply
  17. heatherskib says

    January 14, 2016 at 4:28 pm

    If you'd like to do one on a local Florida bird… how about one based on our lovely Sandhill Cranes? http://www.howardsview.com/SandhillCrane/SandhillCraneApr13_12.html

    A year round population lives in central Florida. They've even learned to use crosswalks!

    Reply
  18. Mary mcm says

    January 14, 2016 at 5:57 pm

    Very nice choices – clean, comfortable, stylish.

    Reply
  19. Shreddie says

    January 14, 2016 at 6:02 pm

    Love, love, love this one!

    Reply
  20. carol in l.a. says

    January 14, 2016 at 6:31 pm

    you have such a creative and insightful way of looking at everything around you. Impeccably tuned in!

    Reply
  21. Ann Hicks says

    January 14, 2016 at 4:02 pm

    Let me be the first to say that this is "just ducky"?! Lovely Janice. BTW the Coach link for the watch is not working. You have inspired my outfit for today. I am keeping my fingers crossed that part dead includes some red. Now if I could find a tank style watch with a large face and a bold second hand I would be in heaven. Those missing or very slim hands on watches do vex me so as I try to get vital signs on a sleeping child in low light.

    Reply
  22. Ann Hicks says

    January 14, 2016 at 4:04 pm

    Whoops… I mean part deux. Darn you auto correct!

    Reply
  23. becky johns says

    January 14, 2016 at 11:32 pm

    I loved this post! It offered a fresh idea on how to use the useful black and white basics I have put together since I started reading your posts. The scarf is the perfect colors to unify the outfit!
    Each day I am excited to open your post and get helpful ideas presented in a unpretentious but often amusing way. I like your classic styles and freedom from fads, yet stylish and put together looks. Each day I jot down the clothing items you use…I look to see if I have similar items in my closet. Sometimes I make a note that I could buy a certain item. I always check your links to see if they would work for me. Today in looking through my scarves I found one with black and warm brown that I seldom wear! This will be a fun color combination to try out. Refreshing in the cold winter days after the holidays to try something fresh. Thank you for your hard work and wonderful taste. You are elevating our style one person at a time. Please know we appreciate you and your decision to share your expertise with us!

    Reply
  24. becky johns says

    January 14, 2016 at 11:35 pm

    It seems to me that tortoise shell earrings, bracelet or necklace might also look well with some of these outfits.I like them for all day wearing because they are lightweight.

    Reply
  25. Dawn says

    January 15, 2016 at 2:45 am

    I really like this wardrobe. The brown really warms the black and white. It's so classy. I love that you snuck in the red of the duck's bill in the nail polish.

    Reply
  26. Memee says

    January 15, 2016 at 11:40 am

    I love the classic colors and items in this post. While I have built a mostly black wardrobe, my heart yearns for cognac brown. Thank you for showing me great possibilities!
    Kelly in North Carolina.

    Reply
  27. bomm says

    January 15, 2016 at 4:27 pm

    This wardrobe is so gorgeous, and it strikes me as particularly chic in the land of Lily Pulitzer! (which I do love, but on others.)

    Reply
  28. Suzi says

    January 15, 2016 at 5:15 pm

    Yes!!!! I love caramel/luggage colored leather! It's my go to neutral for my boots, shoes, bags, etc. when you said she's very black and white and wanted something to project "warmth" I laughed out load! That's me!

    Reply
    • Suzi says

      January 15, 2016 at 5:16 pm

      *loud. Darn auto correct!

      Reply
  29. lrlincks says

    January 16, 2016 at 5:50 pm

    Love, love, love this wardrobe!!! One of my all time favorites! I have boots this color now I "NEED" some sandals and flats! LOL! This is gorgeous! I have more cream than white to mix with my black and I do have a scarf with the black and chestnut. The wheels are turning! :) I am going to add some accessories in this chestnut color this year for sure! Thank you Janice!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

logo
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...
  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

STAY UP TO DATE

Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

  • Want to Pack In Two Moods Start With Two Scarves Frances Valentine and Kurt GeigerWant to Pack In Two Moods? Start With Two Scarves: Frances Valentine and Kurt Geiger
  • Thinking About Accents Six Scarves, with French 5-Piece Accessory WardrobesThinking About Accents? Six Scarves, with “French 5-Piece Accessory Wardrobes”
  • June 2025 Six Paintings – 12 Months #6 – The Swan No. 24 by Hilma Af KlintJune 2025 Six Paintings – 12 Months #6 – The Swan No. 24 by Hilma Af Klint
  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 The Vivienne Files | All Rights Reserved - Built with ♥ by RockFort Media

THE VIVIENNE FILES IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR US TO EARN FEES BY LINKING TO AMAZON.COM AND AFFILIATED SITES.