June 6, 2025
Such a favorite scene, and a wonderful painting!
Our heroine woke up one morning in early June to realize that Summer WILL come this year, albeit quite late. And she doesn’t have a ton of warm-weather clothes, yet.
She’s got 2 pairs of sandals, so she needn’t worry too much about that. So she goes ahead to grab three sleeveless tops, early in the season while there are still sizes available. And of course her shorts are going to be the same neutral that she uses for so many linen-ish and cotton-y garments for warm weather!
Earrings – Argento Vivo; turquoise pearl necklace – J.Crew; rich coffee and ivory keyhole tank tops – Lands’ End; sling bag – The Sak; linen shorts – Lands’ End; navy tank – Lands’ End
She’s still missing quite a few items for hot weather, but she’s made a very good start!
Now, her 28-piece wardrobe looks as if it would serve her for most seasons of the year. Toss all of this into a big suitcase and take off around the world!
Oh my, when you’re packing that big suitcase, DON’T forget all of these lovely goodies. This is going to be a pretty big suitcase, but you’d be set for just about anything short of playing rugby or attending a black-tie event.
Our heroine’s new purchases obviously set her up well for warm weather, but never forget that sleeveless tops can be treated like any other top that can be worn UNDER something else in cool weather.
Oh my…. another wardrobe that tempts me! It’s a good thing that I’m so attached to my black, black, black, purple and white wardrobe.
love,
Janice
If you want to go back to all of the earlier posts about this painting and this wardrobe, you can find them here: Christmas Day Preview, January additions, February additions. March additions, April additions, May additions
p.s. Ten years ago, we looked at three accessory clusters in rust, emerald and heliotrope!
Like this wardrobe? Save it to Pinterest!
I am very enthusiastic about yesterday’s painting by Stefan Johansson and the wonderful capsule that it has inspired you to create for us, Janice – but now I find I am soooo tempted by this one too! It’s not so bright, so is perhaps even more versatile and less memorable – which I mean in the positive sense of re-wearing items, albeit in different combinations. Goodness, I now feel like I need to re-evaluate my wardrobe! To start with I am going to visit all the previous iterations of this great collection. What fun on this rainy English day :-) Many thanks.
Of all the wardrobes, this one is my favorite this year. I think I mentioned that, should I let my go of my black pieces at some point, I’ll replace them with brown. I especially love, in this capsule, that you’ve included a dress and two skirts! For those of us who are dress/skirt wearers, thank you so much! I still wear pants, but I’m definitely a dress/skirt wearer as much as I can. My favorite pieces from June’s additions are the turquoise (my birthstone!) and pearl necklace and the keyhole tank tops. The keyhole adds just enough detail that it doesn’t look quite as causal, but can be dressed up and down.
On a personal note, I’m home with a broken T-12 vertebrae and in a massive immobilization brace. These daily posts are truly cheering me up and focusing my attention on something beautiful, rather than pain. Alors merci beaucoup, Janice. Sachez que je vous apprécie.
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Ellen.
I love the blues and greens but I can’t do brown or beige. Still I love to look at everything and marvel at the cohesiveness.
Dear Ellen, I add to ev’s comment, healing prayers on your way.
It’s so true that Janice’s beautiful work is soothing when our health hits a bump.
🌻🌻🌻
Get well soon! I fractured my T7 in January. I still get sore quickly, but mostly feel better now. It takes a long time to recover.
Best of luck with that T12. I crushed my T12 vertebra in 2022. My advise (as if you need it) is be patient. Keep up your physical therapy. I remember looking forward to TVF in the early mornings when I could not sleep. I am definitely sending healing energy your way!
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Ellen S.
Ellen, so sorry for your back issues. I had 3 cervical discs dissected and fused 10 years ago. Did a lot of reading and sleeping and then physical therapy. TVF would definitely be a “pick me up” during the healing process🙏🏻. Best wishes!
Ladies, thank you all so very much. This just goes to show that the very special TVF universe that Janice has created goes beyond fashion. It isn’t just about clothes. This is about community. I am incredibly grateful to Janice for creating it and to you all for being a part of it along with me.
I couldn’t be happier! I love writing The Vivienne Files, and I LOVE all of you…
hugs all around,
Janice
Although I can appreciate this wardrobe’s functionality, I think even with the lighter colors it just seems a little heavy and dark to me personally. That being said, my being awarded “Wears the most colorful outfits” from the students at school might tell you all you need to know about my own wardrobe….Have a good weekend everyone!
same! I think it needs more of the turquoise. :)
Congratulations on your award. It’s good to be noticed for all the right reasons. You probably brighten up everyone’s day.
Thank you, Janice! We asked you to differentiate between new additions to the wardrobes, and you responded with stars! Some of them are for you…thank you!
Yes they are!
I love this painting and the cohesiveness of the wardrobe, but it is not one of my favorites. It might be the fact that there are 2 dark neutrals and they are often worn on the top half. I tend to keep my bottom half in a darker garment than my top or dress in a monochromatic scheme. Also, there are two skirts. I enjoy dresses, especially in the summer, but skirts are not my thing. The Magill continues to be my very strong favorite. Janice is able to please a wide variety of tastes. So well done!
Thank you so much for using stars to mark off today’s additions. I was working way too hard on one of this week’s earlier wardrobes to figure out what had been added where. A little silly, but I was. So thanks :)
I love the additions. This wardrobe is appealing more and more every month. I think for July, she definitely needs a summer dress and maybe a brown and white patterned top. I love brown and white in the summer. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Sitting here reading this update to my favourite VF wardrobe of this year, wearing a long-sleeved brown t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and beige linen-look shorts that somebody sewed and then got tired of and donated to the thrift store. When I go out later on, I’ll add turquoise earrings. Brown seems to be having a moment in my life, and I blame Delaunay. (I am reading a book about Sonia Delaunay as well–I searched for her on this site, was convinced that I’d heard of her multiple times here, but found only one reference, so maybe I dreamed it.)
By chance do you live in the PNW? I sewed beige linen look shorts and donated them! LOL I love this wardrobe and actually prefer darker colors on top and I am built more like an inverted triangle with my weight gain on top and in the tummy. So I wear tons of navy tops and some black. I don’t mind at all lighter, colored or patterned bottoms. So interesting how we each feel differently about things.
No, I am in Ontario. Funny though.
I would have retired if in fact she had purchased your shorts! The thought of that just delights me…
hugs,
Janice
Yes, thank you so much!!
Dear Ellen, healing thoughts your way as well. I had major back surgery in the fall and I know the Vivienne Files was a big highlight of my mornings and still is. Beautiful art to look at and creative wardrobes. I find myself looking at everything now and trying to place colours into a wardrobe lol. My roses are blooming profusely and I am even looking at the garden to create wardrobes in my mind.
Another great wardrobe, and thank you for making the stars, brilliant as I had a hard time on one of the other wardrobes this week as well. Have a great weekend everyone.
I found Janice and this lively community of the Vivienne Files when I was at a low ebb and unwell too, several years ago now. I looked forward to my thrice weekly emails as I didn’t have a smart phone then. You all spurred me on to revamp my wardrobe (or at least make some sense to it). It is still a work in progress but I now only buy things I need or which give me that thrill knowing that I can make several outfits with the new addition. Earlier in the week it was a floral cotton shirt which will go with teal, purple and navy trousers. It has foldback and button sleeves so will do for all sorts of weather. I love these six wardrobes as I makes me look at my clothes with fresh eyes. I would like to have the same discipline with accessories.
Thanks for the stars to differentiate the monthly additions.
Beautiful capsule.
This is the perfect base for a French five or individual trendy pieces.
By the way, I have about 10 colors in my closet, five pieces of each color, and I love it.
Maria, I wonder how you allot neutrals? And what are they, if I can be nosy?
Thanks for asking, Sandy.
So, my neutrals are dark blue, olive, gray-brown, sand, and black.
Then I have green, yellow, brown, burgundy, and white.
Plus, lots of patterned pieces that include some color.
P.S. I’m very happy with my wardrobe.
This is definitely one of my three favorites! I’m just still hoping one of these days that our heroines will get some patterns and prints into their very very plain, solid colored wardrobes. They need that interest and verve!