June 30, 2025
The last day of June. I turned 65 yesterday. Time flies – don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
And before the month is gone, let’s enjoy the possibilities of this VERY beautiful bracelet set:
I love these colors:
Let’s start with a core of beige garments. Or ivory, depending on the retailer. I’m thinking about holding onto this core wardrobe for a few weeks, and looking at the possibilities for accent colors. Maybe starting with scarves?
Cardigan – Alex Mill; earrings – Katy Faye; snake chain necklace – Mink&Ivy; brooch – Farra; tee shirt – Lands’ End; crochet-trimmed sweatshirt – Boden; bag – Cole Haan; barrel jeans – J.Crew; socks – Nordstrom; flats – Dolce Vita; heritage stone chinos – L.L.Bean
Adding a couple of accent colors to your wardrobe doesn’t have to be wildly extravagant and expensive. For one thing, you don’t have to add BOTH colors. And you may already have a few things that will work with your accents, like gold shoes. (the brown accent in my wardrobe right now is ONE sweater and two scarves!)
Green scarf – Delinor; multicolored scarf – Lost Pattern NYC; green earrings – Kurt Geiger London; purple earrings – Emma Holland Jewellery; green ruffled shirt – J.Crew; bracelets – Fierce Lynx Designs; purple tee – J.Jill; gauze tunic – J.Jill; green v-neck top – J.Jill; gold flats – Dolce Vita; sandals – Easy Spirit
Maybe you’re wearing a beige summer dress, with gold sandals. You’ve just been told that you’re going to someone’s summer place for just the weekend. The weekend is forecast to be cool. Toss this into a bag and go!
If you decide to all go out to eat, you’re ready. If you decide to stay in and cook, you’re ready. If you’re going to go driving around to antique stores, you’re ready. If you’re going to sit on the porch and read, YOU’RE READY!
You could keep this going all summer – start with your beige clothes, pick an accent color or two, and you’re on your way!
Saying this, I haven’t been anywhere all summer. Well, Dublin for 48 hours…
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, we started with one of the loveliest paintings EVER: Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose by John Singer Sargent.
Like this wardrobe? Save it to Pinterest!
Good evening from NZ 🇳🇿
Hope you had a great birthday 🎂, and were spoilt by your loved ones.
Thanks for the amazing inspiration you give us!🤩
Happy birthday! Hope you enjoyed your special day! Cheers to great year ahead. 🥂
Many happy returns of your birthday, dearest Janice! Thank you for the beauty and order you inspire in so many lives!
What a pretty way to say for many more! Adding myself to the birthday cheers and good wishes!
First of all, happy, happy birthday to you! 65 is a great age to be…and I wish you all the happiness possible. May you be blessed with an oasis of happiness all year long!
This is an interesting wardrobe—it couldn’t be less of the colors that work for me, however, I’m oddly attracted to it! One thing I’m learning to be more mindful of is to be appreciative of other palettes, but no matter how pretty they are, remember to stay in my lane. Lilac and sage are just gorgeous! But, they don’t work for me. On the right woman? Lilac and sage are dynamite!That being said, using a beige/ivory base and expanding from there is a compelling foundation and I can see this working with a wide variety of other accent colors.
Happy Birthday, Janice! Hope you had lots of cake! There’s quite a bit of summer left for you to travel, so here’s hoping. Can’t be said enough, thank you for all you do.
extremely happy birthday! pretty wardrobe today, but i have to admit i’d destroy all that lovely ivory pretty instantly – my world has too much dirt in it. ah well. i can dream along!
the number 65 makes me remember that people do retire sometime… how’s the Vivienne Files book/archive/something else to conserve all the fabulousness going? can the community help? you continue to build such an amazing resource & it absolutely should stand for the ages! (& maybe get monetized too – you’ve most certainly earned the royalties!)
The book goes nowhere. I just need to sit down every morning and write. But I’m so eager to get to working on capsule wardrobes and reading all of your emails that it just never seems to happen.
DISCIPLINE. I can do this!
love,
Janice
Happiest of birthdays Janice! Unsolicited advice here…I would stand in line to buy a book with your tips. A former boss and mentor wrote a book after he retired. I was honored when he asked me to review his work and I picked his brain on his process. He had hired a coach who advised him to set aside a specific time to write. It didnt have to be great or organized or long. He started with half an hour each day and built up to longer sessions. He described it as similar to physical training and building up muscle memory. Some of the work was useless but he had developed the habit. You are such a creative writer, and you are so good at organization and refinement. I’m sure if you want to write a book you will find a way.
Ditto what Ellen S said above. Although this isn’t “me” personally, it is just beautiful. I love the Fierce Lynx bracelets and just ordered one of her “Canada” sets. I think I have one in colors very similar to these, and can’t for the life of me remember what I ordered it to go with since they aren’t colors in my wardrobe. Must have worked with something at some time! Happy Birthday –
A very happy birthday! Is it just me, or does the 60ish crowd seem to include some of the most interesting people now? You are definitely a part of that.
Trying not to swoon over those little art nouveau touches you included.
Happy Birthday, Janice!!
Happy 65, Janice! I am right near you. I so appreciate your love of all things beautiful and sharing your talents with us! Best wishes to you!
Happy birthday! Not my color palette, but I always appreciate the ideas. However, big NO to the barrel jeans! In a time of many questionable trends, this is by far one of the worst. I have yet to see a picture of someone looking good in them.
I think I have “pinned” every single one of your navy blue sets! My husband loves to comment on the abundance of blue on my side of the closet!
Happy Birthday Janice! I hope you had a great day.
I love this wardrobe. I would definitely wear this for a cooler cottage weekend. Over time, I’ve learned to wear white and not care too much about the occasional stain. We’re all human, after all.
Happy Birthday – your post are always such an inspiration – love the colour palette.
The only thing I am not managing is the barrel jeans – being an apple-shape they are not for me.
However, I am well able to substitute for another pair of straight-leg trousers – possibly in softer material.
Thank you for sharing your gifting.
I love barrel jeans, because anything that looks like it could be my completely lack of a waistline can be blamed on the weirdness of the jeans! I will be the woman still wearing them in five years….
love,
Janice
Seeing the barrel jeans beside the wide leg jeans turned a light on for me! I finally learned that slim fitting legs are way more flattering on me. I have an hour glass figure that has turned into a lumpy fruit, nearly an apple. Wide legs do nothing to enhance anything on my figure. But seeing these side by side (and in almost the exact same color), it looks like the widest part of the barrel is about the same as the wide leg jeans. The taper to slim at the ankle makes them look way less bulky. Maybe I should give them a chance.
I love this color palette. And it could slip easily into navy/denim colors and white too. In May, I bought a natural linen shirt dress. I was surprised the “beige” color was not hideous on me. Bought another natural linen and cotton dress last month. I love it! My younger daughter thought it was a very flattering color for me. So yes, I’m loving this today. Core of 5 + 4. A pretty great system! With the beige dress on the side! And I already have that!
Happy birthday, Janice. I hope you can celebrate all week!
I’ve noticed that the ivory/cream/beige neutrals seem to be getting snapped up from the retailers this summer. It’s hard to go wrong with a neutral like that.
Happy birthday!
The multicolored scarf is displayed beautifully in several configurations on the site. Even if you don’t like the pattern (and I do), it’s worth a visit to see the use options.
Happiest of Birthdays, Janice!
Yes, let’s see more of this core. A very summery base which could work with other neutrals, pastels or brights. Many palettes to choose from such as coastal, tropical, Southwest.
Happy birthday week to you!
I feel like you gave ME a great gift with this capsule. The last time I went shopping (November 2024) I made birthday/Christmas/St. Valentines gift suggestions to my family based on the blue/lavender Echo 100 butterfly scarf (Nov 13, 2024 post). This bracelet and ivory core will be a great addition and add in a bit of green that I really like. Thank goodness the bracelet set was still avalible. Off to search for a smaller, pierced style light amethyst earrings.
Can’t wait to see what else you will come up with.
Happy Birthday Janice, wishing you much joy and happiness to last you through the year. That bracelet is calling to me, I also have a birthday coming up soon, may have to treat myself 😏. Lovely wardrobe, green and purple just sing summer. Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians as well🍁
Happy Birthday!! I turn 65 soon too. Enjoy the celebrations — and Irish memories!
Happy birthday! I love those colors, but I find it hard to find stone or ivory without a touch of yellow. Technically, summer just started about 10 days ago, so there’s a lot left. Personally, I don’t like too much heat.
Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, Janice! I really love today’s colors and clothing. I’d wear all of it, except maybe the barrel style jeans.
Happy Birthday Janice 🧁 🎈!! Hope it was awesome !
Love ivory, but I did read a while back that “salt and peppers” (I’m formerly a “blonde”) should switch to white clothing instead of ivory, as ivory conflicts with gray hair and can make the hair appear yellow. What says Janice, our fashion expert extraordinaire?
If you’re happy with the way it looks, wear it. I don’t think that every woman has grey hair that appears yellowish; my late mother’s hair had NO yellow in it at all. We’re all different, and there’s only one rule that applies to all of us. And that is????
Be kind. Always.
love,
Janice
2 things:
First, Happy Birthday, Janice! You are correct about time going by. I’ve learned that we don’t get the hours back, and neither does health improve as we age. Seize the day!
Second, if anyone is on the fence about Fierce Lynx, I have three of the bracelet sets and love all of them. They are good quality and fun to wear.
I love white clothes in the summer and often wear it top to bottom. However, it’s increasingly difficult if not impossible to buy white trousers in a wide leg style over here. Barrel leg and narrow leg trousers are everywhere and neither look good on me. For me a core of black and white with the famous French 5 in clear bright colours are my uniform. This palette today is so pretty and would look lovely on a friend of mine just not for me.
Happy Birthday, Bonne Anniversaire or (Fête as they would say in Quebec). Wishing you everything good for your “big” year and next turn around the sun.
Happy birthday, Janice. 💐
Such refreshing colors. This capsule with the matching accessories is perfect again. You’re such a genius.
Happy Birthday!!! 🎂🎁🎈 I had the flu when I turned 65 in February. Although vaccinated, I felt lethargic for a couple of weeks. Making up for it now and enjoying the benefits of my “ Silver Sneakers” membership at the Y. There are advantages of becoming a senior! Dressing in your comfort level and knowing your style are wisdoms attained with age and following your blog. Celebrate!!
Oh you are so right! There are certainly things about aging that I don’t like, but being comfortable in my personal style is something I could have loved thirty years ago…
love,
Janice
Alles gute zum Geburtstag liebe Janice! I wish you all the best and thank you for all the presents we receive from you. The Vivienne Files make dressing so much easier. Big hug.
Happy birthday Janice! May you have many many more.
This wardrobe is lovely and so is the look back. I would love an excuse to add these to my wardrobe. Especially the bracelet and the scarf.
Hi Janice- Happy Birthday to you. My birthday was last week.
I really love this cream/beige base capsule you have put together. What a wonderful idea. It suits me for life in Florida- would work all year. Like someone else said, it seems to be difficult to get cream/lt. beige pieces particularly pants. The Beans pants you selected are nice but they are mid rise and I need the full waist high rise. Seems the manufacturers are now going to mostly mid rise. Thank you for this new base capsule. I will be interested to see what else you do with it. The possibilities seem endless.
Janice,
Hope you had a marvelous birthday ! At 80, I could have been your babysitter !
I love the ivory/ stone/ beige base, with 2 accent colors. Next week I’ll be at the New Jersey shore for about 6 days, so with the addition of a peach accent, you have just provided my color scheme !
Happy Belated Birthday!
I am off to Whistler for a week of dog sitting my lovely grand dog in a few days. I sat down to check today’s post after I did most of my packing and guess what? I packed a pair of beige capris and T, navy shorts and T, two other Ts that go with both pants, a couple of sleeveless tops and a navy hoodie. I’ll travel in jeans and something with long sleeves. I think I’m good to go!
Thank you, thank you. A few years ago I likely would have taken a large suitcase full of “just in case” clothes. Never again!
Happy Birthday kid!! May you have many more travel adventures. And thanks for writing TVF instead of your memoir. While I have no doubt that it would be fascinating, I do so love to see your wardrobe ideas. I really like this capsule and may treat myself to the bracelets. I have three other sets and they are fun and so easy to wear.
Happy birthday wishes. I hope that you had a special day.
Such lovely bracelets with delicate colours and a favourite colour combination. There are some grey beads in the bracelet so my take on this colour scheme would be two outer cores of trousers and cardigan in light grey and lilac. I recently acquired a cream t-shirt with green and lilac embroidered flowers around the neckline. Add in lilac, green and ivory tops. I’m on the lookout for a green and lilac floral top.
Happy birthday, Janice!!!! Cheers! 🥂
(My birthday’s in less than two weeks, but I’m already 65 😉)
I think we should have a birthday month now, so enjoy yours!
And the capsule…I love all the ivory! Thanks again for bringing beauty and insight to our lives!