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Home » Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Girl on a Sofa by Philip Wilson Steer

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Girl on a Sofa by Philip Wilson Steer

May 28, 2016

 

Doesn’t this look comfortable?

Girl on a Sofa by Philip Wilson Steer

Girl on a Sofa by Philip Wilson Steer

And this painting could single-handed provide someone with plenty of colors to have a wardrobe with great variety, and a lot of options:

A capsule wardrobe color palette based on Girl on a Sofa

 

I’ve been thinking a lot about packing (big surprise, eh?) and about the wisdom of packing your favorite outfits and letting the chips fall where they may. So let’s explore that idea a bit!

In keeping with the relaxed feeling of the painting, I’ve tried to keep everything soft, rounded, flowered or flower-like, and just a touch slouchy.

First up, a simple column in a muted navy blue, with a soft white blazer, gold jewelry, and some brown leather accessories. This could be the outfit for the meeting, or the presentation, or the ceremony, or just a nice evening event.

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Girl on a Sofa by Philip Wilson Steer

earrings – Lagos; shirt – L.L.Bean; bag – Fossil; pants – L.L.Bean; blazer – Forte Forte; brooch – Kenneth Jay Lane; flats – Lacoste

Secondly, you love turquoise! So a casual outfit of camel pants and a top, with fun shoes, pretty earrings, and those essential sunglasses:

 
Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Girl on a Sofa by Philip Wilson Steer

Pants – Closed; earrings – Anna Beck; henley – Uniqlo; sneakers – Helly Hansen; sunglasses – Kate Spade

And you’re feeling like a skirt might be handy, plus you really love apricot, too! So you toss this outfit into your bag too:

 
Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Girl on a Sofa by Philip Wilson Steer

Tee – Viyella; denim skirt – Dorothy Perkins; cardigan – L.L.Bean; bracelet – Bourbon and Boweties; ballet flats – Sam Edelman

All six colors in your wardrobe plan are represented, and you’ve got quite a few options already.

 
A summer travel capsule wardrobe with a color palette based on art

 

2 outfits from a summer travel capsule wardrobe
2 outfits from a summer travel capsule wardrobe

 

But here’s where a bit of thought might come in handy. Maybe you want to add just a couple of pieces to your bag, in order to give yourself more options. Or MAYBE, if your wardrobe is composed of a collection of outfits, you’re looking for ways to build in a few more pieces in a strategic way.

I grouped everything by color (except the jewelry), and then thought about what might be possible to include:

 

How to build a summer travel capsule wardrobe

 

Because it’s Memorial Day Weekend in the United States, I thought I’d add another piece of white; this is the unofficial beginning of summer, and let’s take advantage!

And because the girl in our original painting is wearing a dotted dress, I thought that a dotted tee in blue and white would be an appropriate addition. These 2 tops won’t take up much additional space in a closet, nor in a suitcase, but they work really well with your existing wardrobe to open up some new possibilities.

2 tops in a summer travel capsule wardrobe

White top – Uniqlo; dotted tee – L.L.Bean

 
A summer capsule wardrobe for travel

Here are some of the ways that the 2 “new” pieces can be worn with the pieces you’ve already included:

2 outfits in A summer capsule wardrobe for travel
2 outfits in A summer capsule wardrobe for travel
2 outfits in A summer capsule wardrobe for travel

 

If you wanted to include even MORE pieces, you can just go back to the original analysis of what gaps can be filled; this is a good way to pack, or to shop!

love,
Janice

p.s. I hate to do this, but I’m going to have to take a month off from blogging. (for the most part…) I desperately need to catch up on things at home, and to clear my mind a little bit. I’ve posted for 6 days a week pretty regularly for the last FIVE years, so you’ve got a wealth of archive to explore…

There will be at least a couple of posts during the month, as I pack for 2 upcoming trips. I will continue to Instagram (#theviviennefiles) pretty steadily, too.

Thanks for your understanding…. xoxo

How to build a summer capsule wardrobe for travel

 

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05.28.16 48 Comments

Tags: brown, camel, navy, peach, Start with Art, turquoise, white
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Comments

  1. The Pouting Pensioner says

    May 28, 2016 at 7:55 am

    Oh how I am going to miss your daily posts, Janice. And your humour! But it's totally understandable that you need a break, you are the most prolific blogger I read! Whatismore, your posts are chocka each day and it is clear a massive amount of research and analysis is behind each post. Wishing you happy holidays ahead and a nicely cleared mind. Hugs, Mary.

    Reply
  2. post-law says

    May 28, 2016 at 10:02 am

    Everybody needs to take a break sometimes! You definitely deserve one, with all the work you put into this site. Enjoy yourself, catch up and breathe, and we'll all be delighted to see you when you're back!
    sandy

    Reply
  3. Taste of France says

    May 28, 2016 at 10:17 am

    WHAT?!?!?! I'll have to reboot the Instagram alors.
    I don't see how you keep up with six days a week. These are time-intensive posts. Enjoy your break.
    Those combinations of the colored top (turquoise or apricot) with the same-colored shoe are just the simple thing to look very put-together without lots of clothes or accessories–perfect for hot weather. I need a new pair of summer shoes and will look for one of my accent colors instead of the usual black/tan/white.

    Reply
  4. Margie from Toronto says

    May 28, 2016 at 11:25 am

    Love this lesson on how to look for the gaps in a wardrobe – and how a few simple additions can go so far – just amazing (and really loved how this unusual combination of colours come together).
    Well – I will certainly miss the almost daily posts but – as others have noted – you certainly deserve a bit of a break! I'll look forward to the couple of posts that may pop up here and I'm sure you'll have all kinds of wonderful things for us when you return – have a wonderful break.

    Reply
  5. suzynjgonzalez.com says

    May 28, 2016 at 12:34 pm

    Putting the bits of the pie chart on each outfit is sheer brilliance.

    ENJOY your sabbatical!! We'll be waiting for you when you return.

    Reply
    • Lizette says

      May 28, 2020 at 9:13 am

      This break will be a nice gift to yourself. Happy Birthday, Janice.

      Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    May 28, 2016 at 12:38 pm

    Enjoy your well-deserved break! As you said, this will be a great chance for us to explore the gems within your archives. Thanks again for all the thought you put into the work you share with us. All the best from a reader in Washington, DC.

    Reply
  7. Shrebee says

    May 28, 2016 at 12:40 pm

    Janice,
    First, this post is so — me — thank you ! It feels like my brain's process for packing. Second, and even more importantly, I wish the mental and physical rest and rejuvenation that you so richly deserve ! Ditto on what the other readers above have stated about the appreciation of the hours of effort you put into this blog and so generously share with the rest of us ! Rest, relax and have FUN ! You will be missed, for sure, but come back to us when you feel fully refreshed and ready to do so. Big hugs, dear lady !

    Reply
  8. Nicola Main says

    May 28, 2016 at 12:54 pm

    This post is what I am going to use as a basis for packing for a two week camping trip in France, thank you, it's so clever how you do this and leave the door open for cohesive expansion. Have a wonderful break, if you are going o be in Ireland please look me up!

    Reply
  9. Unknown says

    May 28, 2016 at 1:11 pm

    Monica beautifully expressed my very thoughts, best wishes for you, and hopefulness for your return.

    Enjoy, renew, and know your appreciated, loved and missed.
    A faithful fan,
    Pat

    Reply
  10. Nancy says

    May 28, 2016 at 2:23 pm

    You know we are addicted to your posts…but we don't have to go entirely cold turkey, thanks to your treasure trove of archived ideas. Enjoy, refresh and have fun…we will be here when you return!

    Reply
  11. Nancy says

    May 28, 2016 at 2:24 pm

    You know we are addicted to your posts…but we don't have to go entirely cold turkey, thanks to your treasure trove of archived ideas. Enjoy, refresh and have fun…we will be here when you return!

    Reply
  12. Irene says

    May 28, 2016 at 3:37 pm

    What a gorgeous combination to leave us with! I enjoy your posts so much and will miss you for the next month but fully understand the need for a break – come back refreshed and raring to go, we'll be waiting for you with huge smiles on our faces.

    PS: looks like I'll have to try and negotiate what instagram is all about . . .

    Reply
  13. Anonymous says

    May 28, 2016 at 3:41 pm

    I was really enjoying this post today because it is lovely and is full of thoughtful ideas ( as always). Then I reached the end and I was surprised at how I reacted to your news. I really do have a habit of reading the Vivienne Files with my breakfast and will miss new ones. However, you clearly deserve a break, you must have three thousand blouses flying around in your brain!!!
    I hope you have a fun break and get retooled. I also hope "th book" will have some attention.
    Deb from Vancouver

    Reply
  14. Nancy/n.o.e says

    May 28, 2016 at 3:51 pm

    You picked an amazing post to leave us with! The "Analyze Everything" layout is sheer brilliance!! I am about to pack for a 2 week trip abroad and will give this approach a whirl, as I routinely have 3 or 4 neutrals and a couple of accents, and I am determined to pack super light because we will be on and off of trains, and have some 1 night stopovers.

    Let me add my wishes for a glorious month of rejuvenation and recharging! – nancyo

    Reply
  15. Janice says

    May 28, 2016 at 3:52 pm

    Have a wonderful break, Janice. Will miss you but happy that you will be resting from all this. It is summer now, finally, time for fun and adventure! Wishing you a really lovely time for yourself.. As a creative person myself, taking breaks is crucial to nurture creativity. One day we will get to read your book and savor your writing! Love, Janice Collins, Washington DC

    Reply
  16. Joyce P says

    May 28, 2016 at 4:20 pm

    Enjoy your well-deserved time off! You've given us so much, we can get by just fine with an "archival diet"! I'll miss my time with you each morning and will also negotiate the wilds of Instagram ;-) Have a relaxing, refreshing interlude – and thanks for all the inspiration!
    JoyceP in OR.

    Reply
  17. Monica Reid says

    May 28, 2016 at 12:59 pm

    I'm going to miss your daily posts, they are the first thing I look for in the morning. However, everyone needs a break from time to time, and the quality of these posts is such that you clearly put a huge amount of work into them. Enjoy your time off, get plenty of rest and recreation. In this case, absence will definitely make my heart grow fonder.

    Reply
  18. Murphy says

    May 28, 2016 at 6:30 pm

    Have a wonderful break! I'm looking forward to revisiting my favorite posts from your archives!

    Reply
  19. Cee Pluse says

    May 28, 2016 at 1:50 pm

    I love this idea of packing/planning a wardrobe around outfits, and also the use of so much color. You've left us with new and exciting ideas to ponder while you take a well-deserved vacation. Enjoy your time off, and we look forward to the return of a relaxed and refreshed Janice!

    Reply
  20. Cherie says

    May 28, 2016 at 7:01 pm

    Janice – this post must have been made for me! I just had to buy those brown flats and the handbag – I will copy the pics to remind myself how you combined the items.

    Sabbatical – you might reconsider the amounts you post. I am sure we would all read even if it were only a couple times a week. Take care of yourself!

    Reply
  21. Amy says

    May 28, 2016 at 7:11 pm

    I am so delighted to see all the positive posts regarding your upcoming time off. I would expect no less from your legions of lovely readers. I will miss reading their daily comments almost as much as your wonderful posts. Your blog is so prolific and requires so much research, I am sure you are excited for a well-deserved break (and whatever trips you have planned). This is a great packing post and I will be thinking of it as I pack for a trip to Las Vegas later this week. Bon voyage and enjoy your break.

    Reply
  22. Cynthia MailBox says

    May 28, 2016 at 2:37 pm

    Will miss my morning treat.
    But I know you will come back with even more creativity and ideas!

    Reply
  23. Pat says

    May 28, 2016 at 8:21 pm

    You deserve a break but will be sooooo missed!

    Reply
  24. lrlincks says

    May 28, 2016 at 8:30 pm

    I will miss your posts but totally understand needing a break! I like this packing by outfit post very much. Enjoy your down time.

    Reply
  25. Chris says

    May 28, 2016 at 10:20 pm

    Hope all is well Janice. Clear your head. We all need to do things that take us away from routine, and I hope you return. Take care. Chris Australia. X

    Reply
  26. Jeanette, Mistress of Longears says

    May 28, 2016 at 11:42 pm

    I will miss your posts (I especially love the fiction you write to illustrate the life of women wearing your wardrobes) but you most certainly deserve a break! Enjoy!

    Reply
  27. Kathy Acosta says

    May 29, 2016 at 1:25 am

    Ditto what everyone above me said. I loved this particular post — what a great idea to try packing by outfit, based on the painting. I have fairly recently gotten addicted to your blog, Janice, and I will miss the daily posts but you are correct about the wonderful archive of material! I hope you have a great break!!!

    Reply
  28. Kay dancingbrushpainting.blogspot.com says

    May 29, 2016 at 6:45 am

    Have a fabulous break Janice. We'll be here when you return. (But we will CERTAINLY miss you!)
    Hugs,
    Kay in Washington State

    Reply
  29. Coco Colmani says

    May 29, 2016 at 8:52 am

    Heaps of food for thought in this post, Janice! Thank you for setting out the thinking so clearly.
    Warmest good wishes for all that you will be doing. I hope it includes some down time but doubt it. Remember to breathe.
    Robyn in Tasmania

    Reply
  30. robertsongallery says

    May 29, 2016 at 3:07 pm

    Cant' wait to see what schemes and stories you'll bring back to us. You will be missed. See you on Instagram! Theresa

    Reply
  31. Anonymous says

    May 29, 2016 at 3:57 pm

    Enjoy your time!!! Thank you for all the inspiration and encouragement every week! A loyal fan: Jules

    Reply
  32. Anonymous says

    May 29, 2016 at 4:01 pm

    Je vous souhaite un bon repos. Je relirais avec plaisir tous vos "post" si joli et si inspirant.

    Une petite française

    Reply
  33. Swissy says

    May 29, 2016 at 7:22 pm

    Thanks for all those posts, Janice! As an "original' reader, I know full well how faithful your posts have been these past five years. Loved them all. But everyone needs a break. Have fun!

    Hugs,

    Swissy

    Reply
  34. Kay says

    May 29, 2016 at 8:47 pm

    Janice, I love this post and your blog. Thank you for all you do. Enjoy a long overdue break. ❤?

    Reply
  35. Lena says

    May 30, 2016 at 4:22 am

    Don't know how you have maintained such an intense schedule for so long! No matter how long you need to be away, you will always have a faithful following. In the meantime, this is an excellent opportunity to go back to the beginning and enjoy the Vivienne Files all over again. Revisiting your posts is sure to bring even more insight and clarity to building a wardrobe, packing for a trip and working with color. Looking forward to your return.

    Reply
  36. Carolyn says

    May 30, 2016 at 5:16 pm

    Love your blog! I first found it on the 22nd of March and used that post to revise my proposed wardrobe for a 3 week trip to France. Also fell in love with the scarf Tiger Tiget and bought it at Hermes in Paris. With your advice my wardrobe and the trip were a success. Thanks, Janice. Looking forward to your future posts. Have a great time till then!

    Reply
  37. hostess of the humble bungalow says

    May 30, 2016 at 6:10 pm

    Enjoy your break!
    I admire your stamina when it comes to publishing…it is a lot of work too.
    Hope you have a rest and can enjoy some of life's joys.

    Leslie
    XO

    Reply
  38. Susan Bybee says

    May 31, 2016 at 3:02 am

    Enjoy your break. I plan to go back and review the files!

    Reply
  39. Kathy S. says

    May 31, 2016 at 3:03 am

    Will miss your thoughtful and intriguing posts. Totally understand needing a break!
    Agree with a commenter, maybe post three times a week. I don't know how you do all that research, but I thank you for doing it. Although, I have purchased several items you have written about since they were so cute!
    Have a great trip and look forward to when you return.

    Reply
  40. Virginia says

    May 31, 2016 at 12:16 pm

    Have a wonderful and refreshing time off. Hugs.

    Reply
  41. Deborah Montgomery says

    May 31, 2016 at 1:38 pm

    Six days a week for 5 years!!? Wow, that's amazing! Especially with all the research you do for each post. I'd say you definitely deserve a little break, and time to refresh and restore! Have a good break Janice. xo Deborah

    Reply
  42. Mary says

    May 31, 2016 at 8:33 pm

    Oh no!! I am dependent on your blogs. I will certainly go through withdrawal. Nonetheless, I wish you a happy and relaxing break. Come back when the time is right.

    Reply
  43. Memee says

    June 1, 2016 at 2:02 am

    Like the other readers, I will miss your inspiring creativity, but I hope you have a refreshing and relaxing interlude. Your guidance has definitely prepared me as I pack for my time in France this summer. Thank you!

    Reply
  44. Ivy Bromius says

    June 1, 2016 at 7:53 am

    Have a wonderful sabbatical! I will miss you, but have tons of archives to read and re-read. I'm currently doing a project where I go through your 'starting from scratch' posts and create a wardrobe, but using mostly pieces I already own (I hunt down pictures and put them into a document together). It becomes immediately clear where the gaps are and what I really should buy (as opposed to what I do not really need). Plus, since I have a neutral-heavy wardrobe I can swap out neutrals in the palette (navy instead of black, etc). It's fun and will probably keep me busy until you return!

    Reply
  45. A. C. Slifer says

    July 7, 2016 at 6:06 pm

    This wardrobe saved me — I was trying to pull myself together for a 3-week road trip that included my son's wedding. Most of this collection was in my closet, except for shoes and a few accessories! Thanks!

    Reply
  46. Jack Son says

    March 8, 2017 at 11:20 am

    In fact, simple single seater sofa and double seater sofa with a minimalistic design but comfortable cushioning lends a room a comfortable, luxurious look, and because it is also a lot more functional that a larger but less comfortable sofa, it is a win-win situation.http://futonfanatic.com

    Reply
  47. Lizette says

    May 28, 2020 at 9:03 am

    Enjoy your break and a good rest. You have kept us going for so long. You are like a caregiver to us. Caregivers need care too. Best wishes. We’ll be here when you are ready for us again.

    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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