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Home » April Travel: Start with Art – Madame Leon Clapisson by Renoir

April Travel: Start with Art – Madame Leon Clapisson by Renoir

April 24, 2019

Ah, our heroine the opera singer! Remember her from back in January?

She’s not the star, but she channels her inner diva quite well!

Most of the time, she’s in a costume, so she doesn’t need to pack a lot… This week, she’s off to her favorite city, to finish up the “regular” opera season with a role in 1 of her favorites. She’s had a good season…

This is her inspiration, in so many ways!

1. Mme Leon Clapisson by Renoir with color palette

She realized long ago that she’s made to wear dresses and skirts! So she focuses on navy dresses, with cardigans, jewelry, and scarves to add that bit of drama and femininity that she loves so much… (she was BORN to be an opera singer…)

2. travel outfit in navy and white

dress – L.L.Bean; scarf – Halogen; earrings – Natasha Schweitzer; cardigan – L.L.Bean; watch – Tissot; sandals – Amalfi by Rangoni; bag – Longchamp; suitcase – Aimee Kestenberg

She loves working with such a neutral, almost predictable base in her wardrobe; it’s sort of like the way she, as just one extraordinary woman, can play all kinds of roles, while still remaining herself…

3. Travel capsule wardrobe in navy, grey, yellow and white

stud earrings – Anzie; sleeveless dress – Lands’ End; scarf – Ace & Jig; earrings – Majorica; necklace – Majorica; yellow cardigan – 1901; striped top – Lucky Brand; grey cardigan – Halogen; scarf – Treasure & Bond; brooch – Bottega Veneta; skirt – Boden; floral top – Vero Moda; pumps – Bella Vita; bag – Whiting & Davis

She HAS to be organized – she travels a lot… So she arranges her packing on her laundry rack, and gives it a good, hard look. Will this all work?

4. travel capsule wardrobe in navy, grey, yellow and white

She knows that this trip won’t offer quite as much free time as usual, but she’s already scheduled for a couple of dinners with other members of the cast… What are her options?

6. 2 ways to wear a navy skirt from a travel capsule wardrobe

7. 2 ways to wear a navy dress from a travel capsule wardrobe

8. 2 ways to wear a navy dotted dress from a travel capsule wardrobe

This most interesting of heroines has a fascinating closet – a mix of discipline and whimsy that’s seldom seen…

5. 2-season travel wardrobe in navy, grey, yellow, pink and white

I have to confess that I’ve often considered doing exactly this, with black dresses and a range of accessories. Maybe develop my “dressy” wardrobe in this direction, and then build the other half of my wardrobe around jeans and casual clothes? Hmmm… tempting…

Do any of you know someone who is a true “dress” person?

love,

Janice

CREATE A TRAVEL CAPSULE WARDROBE INSPIRED BY ART – MADAME LEON CLAPISSON BY RENOIR

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04.24.19 21 Comments

Tags: dresses, navy, pastels, Six Pack, travel capsule wardrobe
<<April Travel: Start with Art – The Bounds of the Intellect by Paul KleePacking Small for a Group Trip – Warm Weather Ideas>>

Comments

  1. Beth says

    April 24, 2019 at 5:13 am

    Me! From late spring to early fall I wear almost exclusively dresses to work. Weather permitting as I’m in Wisconsin. It’s just one piece to worry about (except a cardigan, of course) and looks both feminine and professional. In my previous life I was a professional cellist which precluded most dresses and boots and now I’m loving having them as my core wardrobe! So easy!

    Reply
    • Jay says

      April 25, 2019 at 4:06 pm

      I’m a cello teacher and I wear almost exclusively dresses and skirts, I just don’t feel right playing the cello in trousers. Of course I have to be really picky about the length and how wide they are but when you find the right ones it’s just so much more comfortable.

      Reply
      • Beth says

        April 28, 2019 at 6:53 am

        I’m tall and had a hard time finding skirts and dresses that were long enough. Back in the nineties I wore them a ton. But in the 2000s I switched to pants.

  2. Dena says

    April 24, 2019 at 7:34 am

    My mother is a true dress person. She would love this wardrobe. Mom tends to favor simple t shirt dresses for everyday, with cardigans & scarves to polish them up for evenings. This is very much like her wardrobe.

    Reply
  3. Cindylou says

    April 24, 2019 at 9:42 am

    I’m a dress person in the summer. I find dresses much cooler than capris in the heat and they’re so easy to wear. A simple cardigan and you’re ready to go to an air conditioned movie or restaurant. No scarves for me in the summer so I tend to wear necklaces more in the summer.

    Reply
  4. Ann says

    April 24, 2019 at 1:01 pm

    Being a truly dress person I wonder about the opposite :) why not all of us wear dresses in the summer season all the time? What can be more forgiving /comfortable /easy to wear.. There are so many options.. Is there any pants and jeans person who can kindly help me understand? :)

    Reply
    • Mme P says

      April 24, 2019 at 6:38 pm

      I’m a dedicated pants/jeans person: not dresses, skirts, shorts, or capris. Pants. I’m a techie and a chef, this matters. I want protection on my legs, no bare skin just begging for a burn! It’s a comfort issue for me: I don’t have to worry about wind, back-lighting, placement of legs/knees/ankles, excess cloth if I have to squat down to deal with computer wiring or to grab a big pot.

      In summer or really hot weather I tend to wear linen pants, often wide-legged ones. Warm weather, I have some broadcloth scrubs that work well. My jeans are a lighter weight denim (I don’t like the thick stiff kind). I’m perfectly happy wearing pants full time.

      Does this help?

      Reply
      • Ann says

        April 26, 2019 at 2:30 am

        Thank you very much. It does help! I totally agree regarding bare skin in the office

      • Jo-Anne says

        May 30, 2022 at 8:44 pm

        I have recently read a sewing article penned by a farmer that wears her home-made patchwork tiered skirts. In winter I think she wears leggings underneath for extra warmth. It was a brilliant read and has made me rethink my mostly pants and Capri wardrobe.

    • Ad Mit says

      April 25, 2019 at 10:35 am

      Confession: My thighs chafe. I might wear a dress or skirt… with bike shorts or similar underneath. I’m not worried about “shapewear” – I’m overweight and can’t hide. But I can reduce chafing with shorts or jeans or seasonally-appropriate pants.

      Reply
      • Janice says

        April 25, 2019 at 12:32 pm

        Skimmies! They’re long, they’re lightweight, and they improve your comfort immeasurably!
        hugs,
        Janice

    • celestial says

      April 25, 2019 at 12:31 pm

      Dresses require slightly fancier shoes than pants/shorts/capris. I love the simplicity of a dress, but my wacked-up feet require really utilitarian shoes. Do Birkenstocks go with dresses? I get comments from my in-laws about having never worn heels or fancy shoes, but still spending a fortune on my othotic-friendly footwear.

      Reply
      • Janice says

        April 25, 2019 at 12:34 pm

        We need to expand our ideas of what’s appropriate to wear with dresses; look at what Eileen Fisher shows with dresses, or many of the outfits on the Nordstrom site. We can be comfortable and not worry about what others say… I have worn Birkenstock sandals with dresses for years. I’m sure some people don’t like it, but if I’m happy, and my feet are okay, that’s all that matters…
        hugs,
        Janice

  5. Janet says

    April 24, 2019 at 4:21 pm

    One such consideration for dresses in the Summer is the condition of the legs. ex: spider veins

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      April 24, 2019 at 5:00 pm

      Agreed Janet. I have issues here, so for me dresses and skirts become possible in Autumn/winter, when I can wear opaque tights. I’d like to wear dresses in the summer of course, but on the other hand I do enjoy frocking up when the cool weather starts, looking out my low heels with a dash of flirtiness, and boots. I think a change of style is fun and although it’s back to front seasonally, the newer comfy cool wools and cosy coats make winter my dress-up time.
      I do like this story of the diva, and her growing wardrobe. There’s a similar lady in our town and it’s always a pleasure to see her out and about.

      Reply
  6. Tara says

    April 25, 2019 at 7:11 am

    This is a lovely selection! I do have to giggle a bit…. as a long veteran of the opera business, I think most people would be surprised to know that dresses are not one bit practical for most of our daily lives, and wearing a costume only covers about 4 hours a day for maybe 8 days of a 35 day gig! Would that I could indulge in these feminine looks though!

    Reply
  7. Tara says

    April 25, 2019 at 7:12 am

    This is a lovely selection! I do have to giggle a bit…. as a long veteran of the opera business, I think most people would be surprised to know that dresses are not one bit practical for most of our daily lives, and wearing a costume only covers about 4 hours a day for maybe 8 days of a 35 day gig! Would that I could indulge in these feminine looks though!

    Reply
    • Janice says

      April 25, 2019 at 8:02 am

      Ah, sometimes it’s more my imagination, and MUCH less real facts…
      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
  8. nancyo says

    April 25, 2019 at 11:07 pm

    I’m such a dyed in the wool separates person that I literally forget about dresses, even though I have some in my closet that I really like. Most often when I dress up I reach for skirts. – nancyo

    Reply
  9. Lisa P says

    May 1, 2019 at 5:40 pm

    I LOVE skirts and dresses with flat/low heeled boots, Birkenstocks, flip flops, slides, oxfords, and other comfy flat boots. I find a midi length is great for many occasions. Can be treated as casually as jeans or dressed up with a sweater or jewelry— And in an airplane I find it much comfier to sit for long stretches in a skirt or dress than in trousers.

    Reply
    • Carol says

      April 26, 2022 at 8:12 pm

      Oh, yes! And the state of the floor in most airplane toilets – I’d have to roll up the pants legs before I sat down. With the right skirt, I can hold it bundled up under my chin and it won’t touch either the floor or around the seat.

      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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