The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Articles
    • Starting From Scratch
    • Common Wardrobe
    • Packing
    • Start With Art
    • Project 333
    • 4×4 Wardrobes
    • Weekly Timeless Wardrobes
    • Archives by Date
    • Archives by Categories & Tags
  • Support The Vivienne Files
    • Books, Clothes & more
    • Templates & Color Planners
  • Contact
Home » How to Choose Accessories for an Olive and Grey Wardrobe – Start with Art: Head of a Woman by Dali

How to Choose Accessories for an Olive and Grey Wardrobe – Start with Art: Head of a Woman by Dali

February 17, 2017

Yesterday, I finally got up the courage to tackle a wardrobe based in olive and grey, and it turned out pretty great, I think. it was based on this most amazing painting by Salvador Dali and color scheme:

Head of a Woman by Salvador Dali with style notes and color palette

 

But a simple wardrobe isn’t really useful, nor fun, until you add the accessories…

A choice of black shoes to wear with olive and grey

Cardigan – L.L.Bean; tee – Uniqlo; jeans – L.L.Bean; Top loafers – Dansko; middle – Dansko; bottom – UGG

 

Feminine is Where You Find It

She works outdoors quite a bit – half the time in the lab, and half the time sitting on the ground, counting the plants and animals she finds in a 1 meter square of virgin ground.

Cardigan – L.L.Bean; tee – Uniqlo; jeans – L.L.Bean; First earrings – Kenari; middle – Kenari; bottom – Ngurah Gede

 

Sometimes it’s virgin prairie, sometimes forest…

Shorts – Patagonia; tee – L.L.Bean; Green bag – L.L.Bean; grey bag – MZ Wallace; black – Leatherbay

 

It’s meticulous work – the difference in finding 5 plants and finding 7 can mean a lot, when you’re talking about the global health of a species…

tee – L.L.Bean; jeans – L.L.Bean; cardigan – L.L.Bean; Top sunglasses – Gentle Monster; middle – Ray-Ban; bottom – Marc Jacobs

 

But she never gets bored – she understands that the smallest wood louse is important, in the grand scheme of things…

Cardigan – L.L.Bean; tee – Uniqlo; pants – Sans Souci; First scarf – Fat Face; second –Collection XIIX; last – Missoni

 

Her friends think that her job is very grubby…

jeans – L.L.Bean; tee – Uniqlo; jacket – Madewell; First bracelet – Shanker; middle – Aoy; bottom – Nyoman Rena

 

They can’t picture doing what she does, although they understand that it’s important. They would want to be able to dress up more, and feel more feminine.

tee shirt – Ojai; Shorts – Patagonia; top shoes – Trotters; second – Taos; bottom – Adidas

 

But she knows better. Flowers are everywhere in her life…

tee – L.L.Bean; Shorts – Patagonia; First earrings – Dessy Kumala; middle – Sarote Lochotinunt; bottom – Shanker

 

Nothing is more feminine than nurturing – and that’s what she does!

jeans – L.L.Bean; tee shirt – Ojai; cardigan – L.L.Bean; First hat – Treasure&Bond; middle – Keds; bottom – BP.

 

She has dreams, too…

jacket – Madewell; tee – Uniqlo; skort – L.L.Bean; Top sandals – Naot; middle – Pikolinos; bottom – Munro

 

Her work is the kind of thing that might, just might, make a really big difference to the world. And she never forgets that!

jeans – L.L.Bean; tank – Uniqlo; cardigan – L.L.Bean; Top wallet – Hobo; middle – Brahmin; bottom – Coach

 

The smallest flower could be the cure for a terrible illness. An obscure ground cover plant could change the landscape of drought…

sweatshirt – M&S Collection; pants – Sans Souci; Top gloves – Womanswork; middle – Womanswork; last – Womanswork

 

A wee pink flowering plant might be named for her some day. THAT would be feminine…

 

love,
Janice

More from the Salvador Dali, “Head of a Woman” series:

  • How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe with Olive and Grey – Start with Art: Head of a Woman by Salvador Dali
  • How to Choose Accessories for an Olive and Grey Wardrobe – Start with Art: Head of a Woman by Dali
  • Can I Use Denim is Place of… ? Substituting Denim for Olive Grey in a Four by Four Wardrobe
  • How to Accessorize A Capsule Wardrobe with Lots of Denim? Let’s see…
How to Choose Accessories for a Grey and Olive Wardrobe - Start with Art: Head of a Woman by Dali

Like this article? Save it to Pinterest!

Tweet
Pin50
Share
50 Shares

02.17.17 20 Comments

Tags: accessories, Four by Four, grey, olive, pink, Start with Art
<<How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe with Olive and Grey – Start with Art: Head of a Woman by Salvador DaliHow to Build a Capsule Wardrobe Around a Statement Tote Bag>>

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    February 17, 2017 at 11:15 am

    I can't see why she wouldn't have ALL the accessories… I love how some are olive, some pink and some black. I especially love the shoes, scarves and jewellery. And look the bags and wallets are great too. Heck the hats have different uses too. Hugs Carol S

    Reply
  2. cheryl :) says

    February 17, 2017 at 12:19 pm

    Great story and this is one my favorite wardrobes that you have ever done. I just love it and i'm a casual life girl. That pink just tops it all off so perfectly.

    Reply
  3. Mama Squirrel says

    February 17, 2017 at 1:00 pm

    The heroines of your wardrobe stories are all very different…one wants nothing more than a whole city weekend and nights at the opera, another is sitting on the ground counting flowers, with not one dress in sight. You've made the point before that the "essentials everybody needs" lists are just so much magazine copy, and these stories continue to prove it.

    Reply
    • Lena says

      February 17, 2017 at 1:50 pm

      It's so refreshing to see a wardrobe built around a "real" woman's needs. The basics are just that – the basics. It's what you add to them that makes the wardrobe uniquely fitted to your lifestyle and preferences. Big smile at the inclusion of a baseball cap and feminine but sturdy sandals.

      Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    February 17, 2017 at 2:58 pm

    Love the pink/grey/green combo. You have created a beautiful, workable wardrobe. Inspiring as usual.
    Vancouver Barbara

    Reply
  5. Mary P. says

    February 17, 2017 at 3:01 pm

    Lovely, practical. So very doable for my life. LOVE the stories you create!! Oh, and the wardrobes too.

    Reply
  6. AndreaB says

    February 17, 2017 at 3:11 pm

    Love this gray/olive wardrobe. Very close to my own…except I accesorize with espresso, khaki, and soft white/ivory. Creates a completely different mood.

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says

    February 17, 2017 at 3:43 pm

    I can picture this woman who is essentially feminine taking care of the earth. She is firmly grounded but still has poetry in her heart and on her back. Lovely.
    Deb from Vancouver

    Reply
  8. teresa rodgers says

    February 17, 2017 at 9:59 am

    "Yes, Ma'am!" says the environmental geologist cleaning up bits of the world drop by drop and grain by grain. Good job on the accessories, Janice. Add a couple pairs of sturdy grey pants and some field boots, and this woman could count life anywhere in the world.

    Reply
  9. Janice says

    February 17, 2017 at 4:31 pm

    OMG I love this wardrobe and like the others, I like her casual lifestyle. It is how I dress 90% of the time – very comfortable and casual. My dream is for my husband and I to move to a place of nature. I like the cafe scene but I long for nature more so this story really touches me. Wonderful! – and the pink just gives it the added femininity, also LOVE the Dali painting. I'm considering the Ojai tees – they come in about 13 patterns and are on sale! I'm finally striking out and thinking of prints and these are like beautiful scarves that can be used as accessories. I think I'll go for it! Thanks! Janice Collins, Washington, DC

    Reply
  10. Cee Pluse says

    February 17, 2017 at 11:56 am

    Your story is just the icing on the cake for this fantastic wardrobe! In my younger days I did a lot of field biology, and while collecting animal scat or checking rotting chicken carcasses for endangered insects may not be glamorous, it is important and does get one outdoors to enjoy the wonders of nature. I would include a backpack with teresa rodgers' additions, and maybe a simple but durable watch (preferably one with stopwatch capacity for some of the field work I did!).

    Reply
  11. PaulaBSlim says

    February 17, 2017 at 5:58 pm

    Great casual, practical wardrobe. Can you do a variation using denim blue in place of olive? I noticed some of the bags and shoes had blue as an option.

    Reply
  12. lrlincks says

    February 17, 2017 at 6:06 pm

    I knew her story would be wonderful!! Great accessories Janice! Yes, "basics" should be different for each one's lifestyle! Such great wardrobe building advice!

    Reply
  13. Anonymous says

    February 17, 2017 at 9:52 pm

    I'm new to the party and I love this. The story, the imagination behind it, and most of all, the PINK. I love nature and could see myself being the woman who is wearing these clothes; they are in colors I never would have thought of combining. I've only been reading for a short while, but went out yesterday to shop and tried an experiment whereby I was looking to create a capsule. I think your advice probably saved me an hour in the store, and also saved me money with my purchases, two fitted 3/4 length sleeved t-shirts, one in pink, one in navy for my future grey/navy/pink/ivory/denim capsule. Thank you, Janice, for all you do for us. You are what all women should aspire to be. :)

    Judith

    Reply
  14. NancyB. says

    February 18, 2017 at 2:46 am

    I love the idea of thinking of your work or gardening gloves as accessories. Why not?

    Reply
  15. Beth says

    February 18, 2017 at 2:46 pm

    Lovely Janice! Just a quick question – I loved the pink hoodie and was going to consider a purchase but read some negative reviews about pilling. I was just wondering if you had experience with this particular item? Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      February 18, 2017 at 2:49 pm

      I do have the black version of the hoodie, and I love it. Yes, it pills; it's a sweater, and depending on how much friction abrades against the sweater, I have to "shave" it every now and then. But I don't own many sweaters that don't pill, so I wasn't really freaked out by it. It really depends on how much you hate taking care of things like that, I guess.
      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
  16. Michelle Delloch says

    February 18, 2017 at 9:43 pm

    Gosh Janice, you are amazing. I actually thought this was a bit boring the other day, compared to some of your combinations, but you proved that well selected accessories can really pull an outfit together brilliantly!
    Your blog is one of my favourites! Keep up the good work.

    Reply
  17. Anonymous says

    February 20, 2017 at 2:57 pm

    Yes, indeedy. Thank you! Very nice for me since my vocation involves, in part, monitoring rare plants right here in the Chicago region, and gardening gloves are among my favorite, necessary accessories.

    Reply
  18. Lizette says

    February 17, 2020 at 1:27 pm

    ALL the scarves please!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

logo
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...
  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

STAY UP TO DATE

Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

  • Accessories! Project 333 based on Morris GravesRain by Kay RussellAccessories! Project 333 based on Morris Graves/Rain by Kay Russell
  • wardrobe of the Week 03WOW Wardrobe Of the Week – January 22 – 28, 2023
  • Start with Art Morris GravesRain by Kay RussellStart with Art: Morris Graves/Rain by Kay Russell
  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Dazzling Theme theme by Restored 316