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Home » Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Portraits Theatraux by Natalia S. Gontcharova

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Portraits Theatraux by Natalia S. Gontcharova

May 13, 2016

 

I saw these in Paris, and was immediately captivated!

Portraits Theatraux by Natalia S. Gontcharova

The color combination here opens up the possibility of lots of unexpected juxtapositions, which is always fun:

 

A capsule wardrobe color palette based on Portraits Theatraux by Natalia S. Gontcharova

It’s good to be surprising…

She has a man’s first name. She’s had it her entire life, and she uses it to her advantage, especially when traveling for business…

A travel capsule wardrobe in black, white, blue, and tan based on Portraits Theatraux by Natalia S. Gontcharova

Cardigan – Mango; tote – Givenchy; earrings – Kendra Scott; scarf – Nordstrom; watch – Morphic; tee – Twin-Set; pants – J. Crew; loafers – Santoni

 

When she arrives, everyone is already a little bit panicked, because she’s an auditor. And then they’re expecting a man, so she REALLY catches them off guard…

 
A travel capsule wardrobe in black, white, blue, and tan based on Portraits Theatraux by Natalia S. Gontcharova

Bracelet – Dee Berkley; print blouse – Label Lab; earrings – Alexis Bittar; clutch – Gya; blue tee – Uniqlo; cardigan – 81 Hours by Dear Cashmere; blouse – Stella McCartney; skirt –  Lands’End; pumps – Stuart Weitzman; scarf –  Hermès Dans un Jardin Anglais;  jeans – L.L.Bean

 

And this works to her advantage. She’s supposed to find the things that they don’t want to have found, and when they’re busy bustling about coming to grips with the fact that the auditor is a WOMAN…, she’s busy looking in all of the cobwebby financial corners.

 
A travel capsule wardrobe in black, white, blue, and tan based on Portraits Theatraux by Natalia S. Gontcharova

 

cardigan – 81 Hours by Dear Cashmere; print blouse – Label Lab; earrings – Kendra Scott; blue tee – Uniqlo; earrings – Alexis Bittar; watch – Morphic;  bracelet – Dee Berkley; tee – Twin-Set; scarf – Nordstrom; blouse –  Stella McCartney; cardigan – Mango; clutch – Gya; scarf –  Hermès Dans un Jardin Anglais;  loafers – Santoni; pumps – Stuart Weitzman;  pants – J. Crew; skirt – Lands’End; jeans – L.L.Bean

 

 

 

One would have thought that they would have been tipped off by the fact that she never uses Mr., Mrs., Ms., or any other salutation in her correspondence, but they don’t seem to have noticed…

 

A travel capsule wardrobe in black, white, blue, and tan based on Portraits Theatraux by Natalia S. Gontcharova
A travel capsule wardrobe in black, white, blue, and tan based on Portraits Theatraux by Natalia S. Gontcharova
A travel capsule wardrobe in black, white, blue, and tan based on Portraits Theatraux by Natalia S. Gontcharova

She’s very good at her job…

love,
Janice

A travel capsule wardrobe in black, white, blue, and tan based on Portraits Theatraux by Natalia S. Gontcharova
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05.13.16 16 Comments

Tags: beige, black, blue, brown, Six-Packs, Start with Art
<<What to Wear with a Navy Cardigan and White SkirtChange is Difficult…>>

Comments

  1. Taste of France says

    May 13, 2016 at 7:38 am

    I love turquoise with brown and khaki, but I hadn't seen much Klein blue with brown. You make it work so well. It keeps the brown from being blah and the blue from being flashy/trying too hard. Great equilibrium.
    Again, another great story!

    Reply
    • Shrebee says

      May 13, 2016 at 12:45 pm

      Taste of France,
      I am not familiar with the adjective of Klein for the blue color –what is its origin, please ? Thank you.

      Reply
    • Frugal Scholar says

      May 13, 2016 at 2:18 pm

      Yves Klein–the artist

      Janice–My daughter made me an outfit with these very colors a few years ago. It elicited many compliments from arty types!

      Reply
  2. Lena says

    May 13, 2016 at 12:15 pm

    I can imagine adding chestnut ankle pants, softly draped ivory trousers or even a leather pencil skirt to this six-pack. What versatility. This could easily be the basis of a full season capsule. Love the color combo of chestnut, black and ivory with that beautiful blue.

    Reply
  3. Terry A. says

    May 13, 2016 at 12:57 pm

    I love the pieces in this wardrobe. I can also relate to the story! ;)

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    May 13, 2016 at 1:20 pm

    Love the wardrobe and colors. Just what I'd wear. Have often used a similar strategy since my name's been Adrian my whole life long.

    Reply
  5. Nancy/n.o.e says

    May 13, 2016 at 1:49 pm

    Love these colors together! I use a similar palette, but with white rather than ivory, and denim for the blue, but now I will add in that royal blue! I've been searching for chestnut/cognac colored jeans forever! – nancyo

    Reply
  6. Cornelia says

    May 13, 2016 at 2:38 pm

    Once again you have come up with a color combination that I could have not dreamed up, and it works. And best of all, with some slight modifications, it's all in my closet.

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says

    May 13, 2016 at 2:56 pm

    Always love your commentary and stories! A chuckle to start my day is always welcome. That, and slowly, very slowly, making a change to my wardrobe – thank you for all the inspiration.

    Reply
  8. lrlincks says

    May 13, 2016 at 4:53 pm

    What a striking color combo!! I love it! That Hermes scarf is gorgeous too! Great story too!

    Reply
  9. becky johns says

    May 13, 2016 at 5:51 pm

    Scarf magic! It is perfect to tie these unusual colors together is such a pleasing palette.

    Reply
  10. Jazz says

    May 13, 2016 at 9:19 pm

    A very interesting colour combination. I have to admit to getting distrated wondering what her name might be- Jordan, Steve, Alex, Jamie……….

    Reply
  11. Amy says

    May 14, 2016 at 3:29 am

    Not colors I wear well, but oh so beautiful for the right person. That painting would make a great scarf.

    Reply
  12. Unknown says

    May 14, 2016 at 12:46 am

    "…she's busy looking in all of the cobwebby financial corners." Brava! Brah! va!

    Reply
  13. Unknown says

    May 14, 2016 at 12:48 am

    "…she's busy looking in all of the cobwebby financial corners." Brava! Brah! va!

    Reply
  14. Coco Colmani says

    May 14, 2016 at 12:11 pm

    Oh my … I have an ambidextrous name and worked in cobwebby language corners, so had a good chuckle at today's story thank you. But what a surprise with the colours! They're all in my wardrobe yet I'd never thought of putting the strong but pretty blue with the brown and beige. Don't they look great with the black and white to ground them. Yet more ideas for versatility!
    I agree with Amy, the painting would make a great scarf.
    Robyn in Tasmania

    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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