Ever since I saw this in the Centre Pompidou, I knew that it was going to be on The Vivienne Files. This is really just a combinations of neutrals – substitute faded denim for the slate blue clothes, and this would be a perfect “all neutral” casual capsule wardrobe.
Note the very round details of “la femme.” Some angularity, of course – it’s Picasso – but the circles are key!
When she was a very small child, someone once complimented her on her necklace. That remark stuck with her forever, and wearing a necklace became her signature.
Small, large, fancy or simple, she always wore one. Even when swimming, she would wear a simple, inexpensive little pendant…
Arelequin et Femme au Collier by Pablo Picasso
Note the very round details of “la femme.” Some angularity, of course – it’s Picasso – but the circles are key!
Always
Nobody notices for months, if ever…
necklace – New York & Company; suitcase – Victorinox
When she was a very small child, someone once complimented her on her necklace. That remark stuck with her forever, and wearing a necklace became her signature.
cardigan – Jardin des Orangers; “diamond” necklace – Myia Bonner;
Small, large, fancy or simple, she always wore one. Even when swimming, she would wear a simple, inexpensive little pendant…
Something about the gesture of picking up a necklace, reaching under her hair, and fastening it, and then adjusting a tiny bit, made her feel fully-dressed.
The first time her husband saw her take off her necklace was on their wedding night….
love,
Janice
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Margie from Toronto says
August 15, 2016 at 10:13 amWhat a lovely, calm, elegant wardrobe – just love it.
Taste of France says
August 15, 2016 at 10:27 amGreat story.
Necklines are so important when you want to wear a necklace. Too high, too low, too fussy and it doesn't work.
Did you ever notice that Anna Wintour tends to wear dresses with simple necklines and short necklaces?
Anonymous says
August 15, 2016 at 12:06 pmLove this, especially the mix of pastels+black, and the neat, clean lines. Makes it look fresh and modern. More of these please!
Alice
Throckmorzog says
August 15, 2016 at 12:24 pmThis is one of my favorite colour schemes – ladylike but not overly delicate – which works with my coloring. The pieces are wonderfully versatile: walking the line between casual and dress, but comfortable, too. An amazing balance, Janice! I love it. I find a simple dress or skirt much more comfortable and appropriate than shorts or pants for daily life. One can move easily and still look neat. Worn with sandals or upscale flip flops and a tote instead of little handbag, this wardrobe would see me through my real life of playgrounds, errands, meetings, and preschool functions.
Oh, and the texture of that Dagmar sweater is so, so delicious! How I wish designers would make extraordinary non-bulky knits like this in larger sizes.
I am a frequent necklace wearer. How I long for the Givenchy necklace! The first necklace is also one I would wear a lot. Lightness and strength in a lovely balance — but the link took me to the Turk website. Yum.
Janice Riggs says
August 15, 2016 at 12:41 pmI fixed the link – now, if I could only convince Google to tolerate the presence of an ampersand without adding a bunch of additional characters… sheesh!
thanks for the heads-up on the busted link,
and a big Monday hug,
Janice
Tricia T says
August 15, 2016 at 12:28 pmWhat a beautiful wardrobe! I love necklaces, too. Mostly just simple ones, but since I don't have pierced ears the necklace is nice to finish off an outfit.
Shrebee says
August 15, 2016 at 12:34 pmJanice,
Another fun storyline ! I would look at your blog for just those, but then there's the whole level of richness with the clothing lessons !
Lesley says
August 15, 2016 at 1:25 pmWow, this is so me, especially if the black is changed to a dark navy. I have recently gone through an exercise of tagging styles that I like and would wear and this fits about 75% of what I have tagged. I think I could wear denim jeans and white tops with a variety of necklaces and scarves forever with the occasional dress or straight skirt or green top thrown in.
Nancy/n.o.e says
August 15, 2016 at 1:42 pmThis wardrobe is so close to home – I read it very slowly so that it wouldn't end as quickly! Fingers crossed that you expand this one to a larger wardrobe template and add even more accessories (I know she is all necklaces, but a scarf with her 4 colors is on my list!) It was so much fun to see last week's wardrobe grow as the week went on, and it would be just perfect – and very different – with these colors.
While I wear a fair amount of denim blue, I can't bring myself to mix denims/chambrays (why? I don't know), but I do wear denim + slate (and slate + slate). When I travel, I usually bring either denim jeans or a denim shirt or jacket, but try not to pack both. I have been adding a few pieces of slate to help out.
Also, I have been wondering about your templates: the theories behind them and how/if they relate to each other – the Whatever's Clean, the 4×4, and even the Common Wardrobe.
Thanks for a great start to the week! – nancyo
Anonymous says
August 15, 2016 at 2:29 pmVery nice. And I second the idea of incorporating a scarf into this color scheme. I never wear a necklace when I wear earrings and vice versa. No such restraints with a scarf though. :))
Cornelia
Lizette says
August 15, 2016 at 3:07 pmMe too! However (in cooler weather) I always wear a necklace AND a scarf together. When the hot flash comes and the scarf comes off, I still have the necklace to polish my look.
Kay says
August 15, 2016 at 4:52 pmMe too! Since the hot flashes started I wear a scarf/shawl most of the time. It is easier to take on and off than a cardigan or pullover. In the winter I still take a shawl with my sweater and always have a tank or camisole on underneath. That way I can remove the sweater and still be appropriately covered by the shawl.
Icka says
August 15, 2016 at 3:04 pmStarted reading and immediately expected you to bring in a pair of jeans or at least a chambray shirt into this wardrobe, but hey – you didn´t! These are a 100 percent my colours, for summer combined with light pink. But this fall I will accentuate with some burgundy as well and use more cream than bright white. Perhaps also use navy instead of black, but it is so hard to let go of the reliable black dresses, pants and jackets for work… My navy clothing collection is more off-duty – so far!
hostess of the humble bungalow says
August 15, 2016 at 4:07 pmOh my I adore black and grey and that LL Bean cardigan looks like a real workhorse for my wardrobe…
I hope that it is still available online!
I am wearing a black Gilmour bamboo dress today with a pearl drop necklace and bracelet…the neck is lower and round so it is prefect for a hot day like today…no scarves for me in this heat as I am at "that age" where I get those power surges!
Suzyn says
August 15, 2016 at 4:42 pmAre the darks black or navy? Having trouble seeing them clearly. Lovely calm wardrobe, and as you say, easy to translate more casually with chambray and denim.
lrlincks says
August 15, 2016 at 5:32 pmAnother beautiful wardrobe! A really great representation of the art too! That little round black bag is perfect! Denim would fit so nicely with this. : )
Coco Colmani says
August 15, 2016 at 9:58 pmI know we can just enjoy things without taking them home, and I'm getting better at relating this to clothes, but dear Janice I do want this wardrobe very very much!
I too hope to see more of it in future posts.
Big thanks for the start-of-the-week treat!
Robyn in Tasmania
Gail Finke says
August 15, 2016 at 11:35 pmMany of my clothes are these colors. I've recently been adding some hot pink because I used to have red as an accent and just don't like it anymore.. Magenta or hot pink now. But what I actually have (without any of those three red-based colors) is these colors plus lavender and dusty rose… I realized recently that I wear almost entirely Victorian mourning colors (plus white). Most people would not notice or know, but as I do know I have a hard time forgetting it now! My work wardrobe also uses turqouise, definitely NOT a mourning color, but not my non-work clothes. So hot pink and magenta it is until fall, when I also bring in some navy and forest green.
Barbara W. says
August 15, 2016 at 11:41 pmI love your Start with Art series. Please consider using Albrecht Durer's "Left Wing of a Blue Roller" for an upcoming post. His attention to detail is amazing.
Nancy/n.o.e says
August 16, 2016 at 1:39 amooh, yes! That Durer piece would make for an amazing wardrobe, especially for cool weather clothing. – nancyo
Jane says
August 16, 2016 at 2:08 amOh dear, another wardrobe I have to have! What a difference from the last post!
Leah says
August 22, 2016 at 1:40 amThat last line just… sizzles!