November 15, 2023
I’ve been planning to buy one (well, at least one!) of the Echo 100 Scarves, from their amazing anniversary project; I knew that something would have whappage, and be irresistible to me…
You’re shocked, I know:
Okay, this might be unnecessary, but it’s what we do here on The Vivienne Files!
This heroine isn’t me – although it certainly could have been me in my advertising days!
Our intrepid friend today is heading to one of those cities that starts with an N – New York, Newark, Northampton, Nantes? She will only be there 3 nights, and during the day she will be training employees of her company in cool and fascinating research techniques…
Striped sweater – Alex Mill; scarf – Echo; earrings – Panacea; corduroy pants – Alex Mill; watch – MVMT; raincoat – L.L.Bean; loafers- Marc Fisher; satchel – Zatchels
The weather will be moderate – not that it will much matter, because she will be in the hotel almost without a break! She will eat all of her meals with her fellow conference-goers; at least there’s one nice dinner planned!
Multi-crystal earrings – Talbots; black pearl earrings – Mimi & Max; tipped cardigan – J.Crew; tweed blazer – Nick+Zoe; gold bow earrings – Talbots; black & white tees – L.L.Bean; tweed pants – Nick+Zoe; velvet tee – Lands’ End; pearl & bow necklace – Talbots; black pants – Boden; clutch bag – Olga Berg; beaded loafers – Birdies; black suede loafers – Birdies
She doesn’t even want to THINK about how to get dressed while she’s there. She will be busy, constantly answering questions, trying to remember how to say “ratio” in French… Fussing about clothes is not on her agenda!
Happily, she could – literally – pull anything out of this wardrobe and be just fine…
If she runs out of ideas for conversation, she can always show everyone her scarf and explain how it’s a quilt pattern, that was used for communicating by the Underground Railway!
love,
Janice
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This wardrobe is just fun! At first, I thought the in transit outfit was a bit much. But, why not? She will stand out but in a good way. Every thing ties together so beautifully. I wish I could do this with my wardrobe. I am such a magpie. The look back ties in so well with this current collection.
As always, well done, Janice.
There is a fascinating book about quilts and the underground railway. It’s called Hidden in plain view; a secret story of quilts and the Underground Railroad authored by Jacqueline Tobin, and published by Anchor in 2000. I read the copy from my local library and found it quite interesting. As for the scarf and wardrobe, they would have been a definite YES during my working days, with the addition of a skirt in that tweed. Beautiful selections for a work trip!
How fascinating. Thank you for the information. I shall be telling my quilting relatives and friends about this story.
I like this wardrobe and I love the satchel.
When this scarf showed up in my Echo email I immediately thought of you, so not shocked at all :)
Although this is all very classic and ties together beautifully to me it is just “meh”. I know myself well enough to know I would need some variety. I went on two trips using purple, black and white as a base. One was a week long, one was only a few days. I have never been so tired of wearing the same colors. I guess that’s why I seem unable to limit my closet to just a few colors. Well, I take that back, it may be just a few colors, but within the colors I have many different shades. Enough variety for me within a general framework. When I lived and worked in Annapolis many years ago I wore a lot of black. I found after a time it made me a bit depressed. Anyway, I recognize it may work for many, and its “easy” but apparently not for me!
I just got email from Echo with five more 100 scarves releases. There is a beautiful crane scarf in white, navy (?) gray (?) and light blue (?) I”m putting questions marks because I have trouble with shades, and then you factor in the difference in monitors and it may look like one thing to me and something else entirely to someone else.
You’re so right about that scarf having wappage! I would absolutely mix patterns the way you did here.
Is tweed going to start showing up more? It’s another oh-so-classic look. Just beautiful with so many fabrics. It’s dressy, casual and everything in between. 😍😍😍 You could seriously play with how many looks one could get from one tweed suit and what one , theoretically, would have in her closet. I would wear a denim jacket with tweed. Sneakers! Chambray shirt. Silk blouse with a bow and pumps. There’s always the tried and true look of the tweed blazer with a lovely turtleneck, jeans and boots.
Totally Me! And the scarf…..love this….tempting❤️
Love the idea of the tweed with the black and white. Adds a whole new dimension to the black and white.
Thanks Janice for what you do.
Regina
Black & white certainly takes the guess work out of a travel wardrobe! The only thing I’d change are the transit shoes or the satchel. Probably the shoes which would get limited wear from me. So not a loafer person. The little satchel is not a bad price for a ‘fun’ accessory and adds a kick to the look.
i learned something today! I’m a quilter and I never heard of the connection of quilts to the underground railroad. Fascinating, and of course a depressingly tragic period in our history. It’s a special scarf, for sure. I’m still waiting for the Echo 100 scarf that speaks to me.
Lily, don’t get too hung up on the underground railroad/Hidden in Plain View stuff. That book has been widely discredited!
I really liked the striped sweater…until I saw the dropped shoulder on the model, which in combination with the solid black at the top of the sleeve looks very strange to me. The statement earrings are pretty fabulous, though!
I absolutely love this wardrobe! It’s so polished, effortless, and fun. I unabashedly love basics (with understated bits of unusual flair) as well as cool neutrals. I think this is a stellar little capsule!
I could do this wardrobe, which as Elena says, “is a stellar little capsule!”, for a long weekend. For much longer than that I agree with Sheila. I need colour!
Love, love, love the accessories! Fortunately, I guess, the crystal loafers were out of stock in my size. 😞 Saved me a bundle.
Once again, we’ll done, Janice.
Well done, Janice. Stupid autocorrect.
Well the two colours (neutrals) that I will only wear for performances by the choir that I’ve just joined. I think that I have a pair of black trousers but I’m going to have to buy a white top/blouse. The latter will have to have some texture or decoration to give it enough interest for me. I shall wear a colourful jacket and scarf to the venue.
The lookback is interesting. I bought a pair of black and white houndstooth trousers a few years ago which I wore with accent colour tops. I have another pair of black/grey houndstooth which are more versatile in the range of accent colours that I can wear. Theyy look charcoal grey from a distance.
Oh to be 20 again and to be able to wear black and white…lol. Timeless wardrobe for today and the looking back wardrobe, just beautiful. So great to see classics really are timeless when you do it like this. Thanks Janice!!
I love this wardrobe, especially the “stripy-ness” of her travel outfit ;-) I traveled to Europe for 9 weeks earlier this year with a much less sophisticated take on black and white. It worked so well! Those clothes went to the back of the closet when we came home, but it was such an easy travel option. I may well upgrade my choices for next year, based on todays post. Thanks so much, Janice!!
Ah perfect road warrior capsule. I used to dress like this in my 1K days – on a plane most weeks for years and years until 2020 shut that down. Black and charcoal in the winter, navy and gray in the summer. It’s so easy when everything goes together!
The quilt pattern is called Drunkard’s Path by some people. I have a red and white quilt made with this pattern, which I love.
Des idées formidables, chics, élégantes, et tellement confortables et pratiques !
J’adore !
Et puis, la veste de style marin est parfaite pour la ville de Nantes ;) !
Hélène, de Metz (France)
Love this, so classy and simple!
My mother made me the same quilt in red and white. Supposedly, it was not to be made for a boy LOL.