The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Wrapped Oranges by William J. McCloskey

This is the 1,500th post on The Vivienne Files! If you’re looking here for a specific color scheme, or general ideal, I encourage you to go to Google and enter “The Vivienne Files” and then whatever things you’d like to find. The chances grow greater every day that you might find something helpful to you in my archives! And if you don’t find it, let me know and I’ll build it, some day. I’ve got no intentions of stopping now…

And thank you, very humbly, and very sincerely, for your continued support of my efforts. You each mean so much to me!

love,
Janice

On with the show!!!

What a simple, but lovely painting:

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Wrapped Oranges by William J. McCloskey

Wrapped Orange by William J. McCloskey



It’s the kind of painting that you might walk right past during a museum visit, but which merits some attention; a painting like this can serve as a sincere inspiration for a wardrobe, for a LONG time…

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Wrapped Oranges by William J. McCloskey

How Does She Do It?

No matter what kind of nuttiness the client requests, she will always be invited to the briefing. Afterwards, she takes her notes, and NOTHING but a legal pad and a pen, into an empty conference room…

No Ipad? No tablet? No cell phone? How CAN she work????

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Wrapped Oranges by William J. McCloskey

Striped tee – Comme des Garçons; earrings – Gorjana; watch –  
Skagen; sneakers – Paul Green; pants – L.L.Bean; leather coat – Loro Piana;
 scarf – Oasis; backpack – Penguin



30 minutes later, she comes out with a list of ideas…

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Wrapped Oranges by William J. McCloskey

Sweater – Marella Cicaldi; white shirt – Uniqlo; striped tee – Velvet; 
square scarf – Hermes Tyger Tyger; Bisou bracelet – Shourouk; denim skirt – 8.; 
belt – Fossil; clutch bag – Elliott Lucca; ballet flats – Frye; white linen 
pants – Mango; citrine earrings – The RealReal; sandals – Sam Edelman; 
sequined cardigan – Twin-Set



So she always gets to go back to the client for the really fun visit where all of the ideas are discussed, and long-term strategy is established.

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Wrapped Oranges by William J. McCloskey

She’s often the oldest person in the room; she’s certainly the oldest person from the firm to make the trip!

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Wrapped Oranges by William J. McCloskey

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Wrapped Oranges by William J. McCloskey

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Wrapped Oranges by William J. McCloskey

Why haven’t they figured it out – imagination knows no age limits, and is often just the product of sheer hard work? It can’t be found on the Internet….

love,
Janice

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Wrapped Oranges by William J. McCloskey
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Comments

  1. Sometimes I can't decide what I like more…the wardrobes or the stories! Loved both in this case. Denim and caramel is a favorite of mine. Thank you for all your hard work and congratulations on quite a milestone!

    Reply

  2. This is really the stroy of 2 creative women, the one in the story and the one who is celebrating her 1500th post. This combo is really dynamic and fun- we so value all the hard work that you put into creating these sotries and wardrobes.

    Reply

  4. From Margie in Toronto – first – congratulations! And THANK YOU – I have found so much useful information and inspiration on this site – you work so hard – and it is appreciated.
    Love this story and the whole look – its that whole "dressy casual" look that can be so tricky to pull off. I personally can't wear that shade of orange but I think the dark pumpkin orange that I can wear would work equally well with the denim and white – such an interesting colour combination!

    Reply

  5. Imagine, if The Vivienne files existed 40 years ago. The $$$ I would have saved all the while looking spectacular. I am grateful that Janice has taken her creativity and spun it out in this direction. She has given me the direction and courage I need to look great in my 60's. I am so appreciative for all the lessons I have learned.

    Much love Karen XXXOOO'S

    Reply

  7. Janice – Congratulations on your 1500th post!! Thank you for starting each day with me via your lovely posts. Wishing you joy, health and inspiration to continue posting for years to come.
    Best, Ann

    Reply

  9. Congratulations on 1500!! The Vivienne Files has become my new favorite blog, the one I have to check first thing every morning. Thanks to you I now understand how to create a versatile and beautiful wardrobe, and little by little I am buying pieces that I love and I know I will love for years. Thank you!

    Reply

  10. Congratulations on this milestone!! Love this combination of colors and love that you are featuring an older heroine, though all your ensembles are adaptable to all ages.

    Reply

  14. Janice,

    The ladies above have said it all ! I just wish to add my deepest appreciation of all of your hard work with something for everyone's taste , lifestyle, and color preferences ! You are , and continue to be, my wardrobe and travel packing guru ! Congratulations, and here's to many more of your "novellas " and instructive posts from that creative brain of yours ! Huge hugs, much love, and please keep on keepin' on !

    Reply

  15. Congratulations on number 1500! Quite an accomplishment there. I love the blog and your fabulous ideas.
    — Deana

    Reply

  16. Happy quindeca-centennial, Janice! Congratulations and a toast to your incredible efforts and generosity. So appropriate that the vivacious, Tiger-scarved, creative woman in this story is your spokesperson for the occasion.
    Sue G

    Reply

  17. This is my wardrobe. Navy, white and gray with accents of orange and deep teal. The closer to streamlined I get, the happier I am. I live in the south, so it works most of the year round. I just sub in some jewel tones in the "winter".

    Reply

  19. I would not walk by that painting in a museum visit! To tell you the truth… many of the paintings you use leave me less than enthused — although not the color schemes you get out of them! But I just love this one, I would buy it if I were a collector with any money. Thanks for sharing it! And congratulations!!! I look at your blog every day, I'm so glad you do this.

    Reply

  20. Congrats on your 1500 posting!!! While I very rarely comment on your postings, I love your blog and am addicted to it. You have such wonderful ideas on building a usable wardrobe with so many incredible color combinations. I'm so happy to have found this blog and went back and read everyone of your older postings!!! You have one very satisfied reader!

    Reply

  21. When I first looked at the painting, I could swear that I smelled oranges! (Photorealism leading to olfactory realism perhaps?)

    And let me join the others in saying congrats on your 1,500th post!

    Reply

  23. Congratulations on this milestone post, and may there be many more! You have helped me to get off the shopping treadmill, and I will be forever grateful. Mary

    Reply

  26. Congratulations on your 1500th post!! I, like many others, am so grateful for your blog! I am still a work in progress, but learn so much from your posts!! Thank you Janice!!!

    While orange isn't my color I LOVE the tan accessories and the overall look of the outfits. The artwork is great too! Of course the stories are something I look forward too as well! Hoping your blog goes on for many more years!

    Reply

  27. Congratulations times 1500. I hope you receive even more pleasure and satisfaction than your readers do from this blog. I think you are the very best style guru out there and you are such a generous, non egotistic person. Plus, this is a model post for your 1500. Wonderful painting, great story and a wardrobe that is perfect. What a wow combination, the 15000 dollar coat with the tiger scarf. This woman speaks loudly without saying a word.

    Reply

  29. Congratulations for your blog milestone! This blog is truly a fountain of sartorial wisdom. I hope your creativity and hard work will continue to delight us for a long time.
    I have learned so much from your posts. Thanks to you, I look a lot better and shop a lot smarter than I used to. I have learned the value of sticking with a certain color palette and owning versatile basics. I have learned to accessorize- and fabulous accessories you have shown have found their way into my wardrobe more than once or twice. I guess this is a long way of saying that I'm really glad I found your blog.

    -Sara K-

    Reply

  30. Yay for your heroines, their fetching wardrobes, and for your unflagging zeal! Thank you so much, Janice, for all you do for your loyal blog-followers!

    Reply

  32. Hurrah for Janice! What wonderful achievements! You're building a community here, with so many readers now thinking about our everyday, professional, special occasion and travel wardrobes in new ways. Whatever the inspiration – a scarf, a painting, a new bright accessory, the story of an imaginative woman, or the determination to get organised – each post brings us food for thought and fun.

    Like many others, I'm happy and grateful to have found your blog, which helps me to spend and worry less while feeling altogether better put together.

    And today's post is sensational!

    Big hugs, dear Janice and congratulations from Robyn in Tasmania

    Reply

  33. Congrats on both the huge milestone and another wonderful wardrobe! Perhaps you are subliminally cheering on my home team, the Syracuse Orangemen, as they are now in the Final Four?!

    Reply

  34. Love your style and stories, they're my first read of the day. My problem is I love almost everyone of them, but live in jeans. I have many similar pieces but my life just has little place to "dress" up. Theatre work, all on the tech side….lights, laying cables, gardening and driving husband to doctors and
    kids to classes and sports (at my advanced age!) so jeans, tees, sweaters (cashmere) are the ticket. I fantasize with your travel stories. If only.

    Reply

  35. Congratulations Janice! 1500 posts is a whale of a lot of work and commitment. I am so glad to count myself among your readers. I especially enjoy the little stories, and the fact that 'she' is about my age.

    I read every post. I save them for the last thing before bed. A visual/story time night cap!

    Thank you for bringing beauty to my day.

    Warmly,

    Kay

    Reply

  36. Can you re-do this painting with grey, white, and camel? I love the painting and think that the feel is a little more classic than the bright orange and denim in this one.

    Reply

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