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Home » Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

April 18, 2016
 

Yes, I saw this in Paris last week! 

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

Aside from the charm and beauty of Marguerite, I was immediately attracted to the colors:

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

 

Quietly Rebellious

 

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

Cardigan – J. Crew; pants – Boden; tee – J. Crew; skirt – A.P.C.

 

She seems like the most conventional of women. Very pretty, always very nicely dressed.

 
Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

Cardigan – Stella McCartney; jeans – L.L.Bean; tee – L.L.Bean; denim skirt – A.P.C.

 

She’s rather quiet, a bit shy, and well-suited to her work in the library…

 
Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

Blue top – Part Two; ivory shimmer tee – Mint Velvet; soft teal tee – L. L. Bean; salmon sweater – Odeeh

 

And yes, she owns a cat!

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

Tie dye tee – Proenza Schouler; salmon shirt – L.L.Bean; ivory top – Dorothy Perkins; teal top – White Stuff

 

BUT, every day, without exception, she breaks a rule that she was told countless times, as a child!

 
Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

Mixed print scarf – Hinge; teadrop earrings – Chico’s; round earrings  – Ippolita; bracelet – Carolee; salmon scarf – Nordstrom; black loafers  – Patricia Green; blue sandals – Söfft; tweed ballet flats – Sam Edelman

 

“You know, with a round face, you should NEVER wear a round neckline!” 

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

But what if she LIKES her round face?

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

And what if she REALLY likes the way it looks in a round neckline? What if that became sort of a personal signature for her?

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

So, she rebels. Very quietly.

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

And everybody STILL thinks that she’s very pretty…

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

Little do they realize that she’s breaking the rules…

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

love,
Janice

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Marguerite au Chat Noir by Henri Matisse

 

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04.18.16 20 Comments

Tags: black, casual, denim, Four by Four, pastels, Start with Art
<<Window Displays and Other Beautiful Things, Paris 2016Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Composition a Cercles a Bras et Rectangles by Sophie Taeuber-Arp>>

Comments

  1. Taste of France says

    April 18, 2016 at 7:34 am

    I wondered whether you would include a white turtleneck with a black/navy sundress to give us the same outfit as in the painting. ;)

    Reply
    • Chris says

      April 18, 2016 at 10:12 am

      What a good idea…for seasonal changes! Chris Australia ✈️

      Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    April 18, 2016 at 10:18 am

    From Margie in Toronto – Love this colour combination – so soft and subtle but never boring!

    Had a big shopping weekend and, I did try to stick to two colour combinations, Black/White & Navy/Cobalt, I added small pops of colour, most of which will mix & match will all the basics (red, pink & a small pop of turquoise, yellow). I'm mostly a black & grey with a bit of red & pink throughout most of the year but come Spring (short as it is) I find I really do need some extra colour. With your help I've learned that I only need a few additions to stretch my core outfits.

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    April 18, 2016 at 10:57 am

    Very nice today, those soft colors are beautiful! Sue

    Reply
  4. Nancy/n.o.e says

    April 18, 2016 at 11:50 am

    This is great – a very wearable wardrobe (black and denim blue are two of my core colors). And now I'm dying to see her signature necklaces!! – nancyo

    Reply
    • Joan Valentine says

      April 19, 2016 at 1:51 pm

      Black and denim are my core colors also. So practical and readily available. I am tall and a bit heavy so I have trouble finding clothing in my size. But black and denim are always available

      Reply
  5. Sharon says

    April 18, 2016 at 1:37 pm

    This is pretty close to the colours in my wardrobe. I would be interested in your choice for purses.

    Sharon Canada

    Reply
  6. Throckmorzog says

    April 18, 2016 at 3:58 pm

    I love this woman who likes her face just. the. way. it. is.
    The wardrobe you've created for her is delightful, particularly the tweed ballet flats. What I wouldn't have given for a pair of those when I was a librarian! This set has just the right balance of quiet and sprightly for the lifestyle I had then.

    Reply
  7. Gail says

    April 18, 2016 at 4:04 pm

    Michael Moore on how librarians are subversive, one face at a time: "You think they're like just sitting there at the desk, all quiet and everything. They're like plotting the revolution, man."

    Reply
    • Suzyn says

      April 18, 2016 at 4:26 pm

      Oh, they are – they're plotting it over at the-toast.net. ;)

      Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    April 18, 2016 at 4:14 pm

    What a lovely, gentle painting this is, with a wonderful wardrobe to match. I could see myself wearing any of these outfits. Once again, you have given me some new ideas for ways to use what I already own. Thank you! Mary

    Reply
  9. lrlincks says

    April 18, 2016 at 5:36 pm

    Great business casual wardrobe! We can't wear sleeveless tops but other than that this is great for work! Love the bracelet and the tweed flats!

    Reply
  10. Laura727b says

    April 18, 2016 at 6:07 pm

    Very well thought out post, humorous as well as a helpful. This is my favourite.
    Thanks Janice!

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    April 18, 2016 at 7:37 pm

    Some of our Librarians in Vancouver are outright bold and "subversive" with tattoos, piercings and wild hair. I love it and so do the kids.
    Deb from Vancouver

    Reply
  12. Patricia says

    April 18, 2016 at 8:10 pm

    The "closet rebel", as suits a librarian. I'm married to a librarian and have a librarian cousin and volunteer at Friends of the Library sales. Appreciate the back story.

    Reply
  13. Unknown says

    April 19, 2016 at 12:31 am

    I never would have thought to put black with blue. I need to open my mind!

    Reply
  14. Coco Colmani says

    April 18, 2016 at 10:00 pm

    The story and the wardrobe encapsulate quiet charm with just a gleam of mischief. Lovely atmosphere, pretty and practical wardrobe. Thank you Janice!
    Robyn in Tasmania

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says

    April 19, 2016 at 4:03 am

    She probably wears white in the winter time, too!

    Reply
  16. SewingLibrarian says

    April 19, 2016 at 4:51 am

    Most of us who are reference librarians are not quiet and shy. We like books, information resources, AND people! ;) I won't speak for catalogers….

    Reply
  17. Amy says

    April 19, 2016 at 9:30 pm

    I'd happily pack this whole wardrobe up and take it on my vacation in a couple of weeks.

    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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