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Home » Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art Part 2: Cow’s Skull: Red White and Blue by Georgia O’Keeffe

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art Part 2: Cow’s Skull: Red White and Blue by Georgia O’Keeffe

September 21, 2016
 
She’s a medical examiner, and she’s got her own, very deliberate, way of doing things! When we saw her at the class reunion, this was what she had with her:
 

Capsule wardrobe in a black, white, red, and blue color palette, inspired by art: Cow's Skull: Red White and Blue by Georgia O'Keeffe

cardigan – J. Crew; necklace – Swarovski; ring – Armenta; earrings – Alexis Bittar; scarf – Image Diary; bracelet – Alexis Bittar; scarf – Etro; watch – Movado; sweater – L.L.Bean; black and white tee – Rag & Bone; blue tee – The Mercer N.Y.; dress – Lands’ End; jeans – .L.Bean; pants – L.L.Bean; skirt – Lands’ End; handbag – Lautem; pumps – Cole Haan; boots – Munro; flats – Vaneli; tote – Orciani

 

 

This is the unifying style inspiration that she uses for her appearance and image; not for just anyone, I’d say!

Capsule wardrobe in a black, white, red, and blue color palette, inspired by art: Cow's Skull: Red White and Blue by Georgia O'Keeffe

 

Now, she’s preparing for an interesting vacation. She’s agreed to go with someone on their lengthy business trip, even though they don’t know each other all that well…

Capsule wardrobe in a black, white, red, and blue color palette, inspired by art: Cow's Skull: Red White and Blue by Georgia O'Keeffe

Velvet jacket – Forte Forte; scarf – Marc Jacobs; earrings – Betsey Johnson; print top – Diane von Furstenberg; red silk top – Diane von Furstenberg; black silk tee – Frame; lace-trim top – DKNY; velvet pants – Unique;  dress – Diane von Furstenberg; clutch – Louise et Cie; pumps – Nina; red cardigan – Uniqlo

 

The promise of 10 days in a new city is compelling, and the idea of having 8 or 10 dinner dates with him is… sufficiently intriguing that she’s willing to give it a try!

Capsule wardrobe in a black, white, red, and blue color palette, inspired by art: Cow's Skull: Red White and Blue by Georgia O'Keeffe

 

She packs meticulously, as would be expected. Because it’s vacation, and because it might be romantic, she includes lots of velvet, and silk, and a touch of very non-frilly lace:

Capsule wardrobe in a black, white, red, and blue color palette, inspired by art: Cow's Skull: Red White and Blue by Georgia O'Keeffe

 

She’s got a range of dressy options, from a blue that could be interpreted as… cooling…

Capsule wardrobe in a black, white, red, and blue color palette, inspired by art: Cow's Skull: Red White and Blue by Georgia O'Keeffe
Capsule wardrobe in a black, white, red, and blue color palette, inspired by art: Cow's Skull: Red White and Blue by Georgia O'Keeffe

 

To just a touch of red, which might be worn if she wants to heat things up!

Capsule wardrobe in a black, white, red, and blue color palette, inspired by art: Cow's Skull: Red White and Blue by Georgia O'Keeffe
Capsule wardrobe in a black, white, red, and blue color palette, inspired by art: Cow's Skull: Red White and Blue by Georgia O'Keeffe

 

Of course, if things go really well, it won’t matter WHAT she’s wearing! And if things go badly, she has her own hotel room, and she’s holding her own return ticket….

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?

love,
Janice

 
Capsule wardrobe in a black, white, red, and blue color palette, inspired by art: Cow's Skull: Red White and Blue by Georgia O'Keeffe

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09.21.16 18 Comments

Tags: black, blue, Four by Four, red, Start with Art, white
<<Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art Part 2: Portrait of Pablo Picasso by Juan GrisBuilding a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art Part 2: Spirit of Autumn by Albert Pinkham Ryder>>

Comments

  1. Taste of France says

    September 21, 2016 at 9:26 am

    That DVF dress is fantastic.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    September 21, 2016 at 10:50 am

    It's fascinating all the different components that can work together to capture a mood.This wardrobe fits well with the woman for whom it has been created- very formal , very austere, very composed. Would you be interested in developing a wardrobe for someone who sits at the other end of the personality spectrum, but stick with the colour combination you have used here? Jazz

    Reply
  3. Cornelia says

    September 21, 2016 at 11:20 am

    Great dress, and her life style is not all bad either. :)) ~ Cornelia

    Reply
  4. Shrebee says

    September 21, 2016 at 12:11 pm

    Janice,
    I love how you have recreated the lines and feeling of the skull in two of the tops — the one with lace, and the dark background with the white streaks by Diane Von Furstenberg ! The majority of dark colors also create a mood that reflects the starkness of the skull. While these are not my colors , or lack thereof, I can see how easy this scheme would be for packing and subsequent wearing ! I need to translate this into browns.

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      September 21, 2016 at 1:44 pm

      Thanks for noticing that – I was thrilled to find those 2 pieces!
      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
  5. Gail says

    September 21, 2016 at 12:22 pm

    Only a medical examiner would choose a red button-up cardigan to heat things up. :)

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      September 21, 2016 at 1:44 pm

      It's not the buttons that are buttoned that count – it's the button that are open…

      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    September 21, 2016 at 1:23 pm

    He dazzled her on the plane, making her laugh the whole flight. But alas, all he packed was corduroys and sneakers. Much to her dismay. He did wear a fabulous coat with a fur collar. And his blue eyes sparkled when the rain stopped and the sun broke through the clouds. Nothing ventured, nothing gain. She returned home, and threw the other one to the curb and married this sloppy man. Thirty five years ago. -Theresa

    Reply
  7. lrlincks says

    September 21, 2016 at 3:04 pm

    Love this color scheme! Excellent job matching the inspiration piece! That backless top is BRAVE!! I really like the velvet jacket too. Such a great texture.

    Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    September 21, 2016 at 6:51 pm

    Oh be still my heart. Our heroine may seem tough but she knows how to take risks, with caution and then abandon. Do you also write those short steamy books on the side? The clothes and accessories are perfection.
    Deb from Vancouver

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      September 21, 2016 at 10:10 pm

      I haven't, but I could….
      pondering…
      Janice

      Reply
    • Ragged Ivy says

      September 21, 2016 at 9:25 pm

      In complete agreement
      Robyn in Tasmania

      Reply
    • Amy says

      September 22, 2016 at 4:36 am

      You really should!

      Reply
    • Leah says

      September 23, 2016 at 1:09 am

      I fourth this. This is the second character story where I've been intrigued by the possibility of a steamy story…and really, all your characters are so well drawn.

      Reply
  9. Duchesse says

    September 22, 2016 at 12:46 pm

    Not that we compare but this is one of your genius posts! So often women or retailers present a very nautical/American flag red-white-blue, a cliché and completely uninteresting. But this! Sophisticated and wearable, and far more original.

    Reply
  10. Anne says

    October 9, 2016 at 2:04 pm

    I love this set of outfits; and the story. Maybe because I'm medical?

    Reply
  11. Anne says

    October 9, 2016 at 2:05 pm

    I love this set of outfits; and the story. Maybe because I'm medical?

    Reply
  12. Lise Hedstrom says

    August 10, 2020 at 9:42 pm

    I’m not medical but educational (although once upon a time I was a copy editor of medical books). Thirty years ago, my sister, an art student in textiles at Iowa State, did a project of walls and matching outfits. This capsule wardrobe project reminds me of my sister’s work. She made a cape with interior seashells and other garments.

    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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