November 26, 2025
Please note, I’m NOT going to suggest gifts for you – I have no clue what your partner/child/best friend might want! And further, I’m NOT going to tell you where there are sales this weekend; assume that everybody in the world is marking things down…
If you wish to support The Vivienne Files as I refuse to play the Black Friday/Cyber Monday game, you can always click on the “Support The Vivienne Files” link at the top of each page (under the tiny clothes hanger!) and find links to retailers who will pay me a wee commission if you click and make a purchase. I won’t get rich, but I am always grateful!
love, Janice
Okay!!! Many of you were interested in the possibility of adding a new sweater to your wardrobe, but not necessarily only interested in dressing for holiday events. A lot of us, as time passes, look to softer and lighter neutrals to balance out the mountain of darkness in our wardrobes…
So… how about this beautiful thing?
Same color palette as we used on Monday, just substituting the beige sweater for the original red one:
Yes, this looks like I’m really lazy, doesn’t it? I started with the outfits that we saw on Monday, with the identical sweater in red, and then made whatever modifications seems reasonable to make the beige sweater look just right…
First up, I’m going to make another pitch for the merits of wearing white jeans in cold weather, so long as it’s not soggy and splashy out. A ruffle around the collar and a sparkly brooch put you in the holiday mood without going overboard:
sweater – J.Crew; brooch – Holiday Lane; ruffled shirt – J.Crew; white jeans – Alex Mill; bag – The Sak; sneakers – Favorite Daughter
I was able to find a skirt which I believe blends well with our sweater. Add a pair of sparkly earrings and a jeweled glass of champagne…
sweater – J.Crew; earrings – Talbots; brooch – Talbots; wristlet – Talbots; flats – Talbots; skirt – Aritzia
If I’m looking at winter clothes, I’m looking at corduroy pants! Her earrings and scarf tie the black and beige together perfectly – and of course you could carry a black bag and wear black shoes; I’m just showing a different option!
sweater – J.Crew; earrings – Machete; scarf – Lost Pattern; corduroy pants –L.L.Bean; tote bag – Dāl the Label; boots – Bella Vita
Of course a simple black skirt will go with pretty much ANY sweater you can find…
sweater – J.Crew; star earrings- Timi of Sweden; pendant – Posh Totty Designs; bag – Staud; boots – Söfft; tights – J.Crew; wrap skirt – Nordstrom
I always love a solid black column, with an accent color worn over it – I’m thinking of packing “black columns” for Paris in 3 weeks… Maybe…
sweater – J.Crew; earrings – Untamed Petals; brooch – Bill Skinner Studio; black turtleneck – Lands’ End; black chinos – Lands’ End; shoes – J.Crew
Velvet pants don’t HAVE to be dressy! And this scarf cries out to me… I shall ignore it! Maybe…
sweater – J.Crew; barrettes – Ettika; oxford shirt – L.L.Bean; washed velvet pants – J.Crew; scarf – Scapes by Elizabeth; sneakers – Vionic
Ten garments, with a small mountain of accessories. If this were a travel capsule wardrobe, one would have to edit the accessories, and add in a few “second layers.” A cardigan, a sweater vest, maybe a stand-alone blouse?
But even without additions, our heroine has at least six MORE ways to pull together outfits from this bundle of beautiful things:
I’m going to take one more look at a sweater – a navy one, with lots of navy support pieces…
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, we looked at a black column with a range of accent color quilted vests…
Like this wardrobe? Save it to Pinterest.
Beautiful wardrobe.
I would definitely pack the red sweater too.
First of all, love this! It shows us how to take one color/piece out of the mix and using many of the same pieces, turn this look into something completely new and different. I love what you’ve done here. I adored the red look and I’m really digging the neutrals look too! I can easily see all of the pieces you posted on Monday working just as well with the beige sweater too. How pretty would the red sweater be with this gold skirt? This is a definite “mix and match” wardrobe.
One piece I’d love to see here would be a black and white gingham, or striped, button down. It would add a bit of pattern and could go well with just about everything. I’d swap out one of the two plain white blouses for this: https://www.amazon.com/LOMON-Womens-Sleeve-Collared-Blouses/dp/B0F99N94TL/ref=sr_1_4_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IFknqHQrCIrNd7YNP4ogbsEjtOOymbObk92pkRoq1Vx_SgYIZng-wy2c9hXYNSafZ2lqEcSb54WKPISsG-YrgaEv9qnolMIf3cwEuhe56SNByq4LUQQtO5XrPufVDj5F74-2uRR1aG2h_O-oj4rsztDbCsij3r8eCrEzSUVmtfAiIUyd4v5jSTcztUmpRok-xkmha_Ynuz1qplO3F5_FePS5jVLDhs7r9Isbk5iNk60aWimfiKHaBqClvHofH5CinKJQpHi0GeKNak6Os2iY58q58Zz1y-oTn8yvRAFOwI4.iBjHgG1DS43sqIwSViCcBYaCOEFXn7ADHvbEGGderss&dib_tag=se&keywords=black%2Band%2Bwhite%2Bgingham%2Bshirt%2Bwomen&qid=1764155775&sr=8-4-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1&psc=1
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I’m very thankful for Janice…and for this wonderful community!
Ellen s,
I agree. The two collections together make a great wardrobe. This could be worn throughout the cold months. I love the gingham shirt you proposed also. It would add a bit more interest like the plaid flannel and turtleneck do for the previous wardrobe.
Great find.
I love how elegant and understated this wardrobe looks.
I love this wardrobe! The accessories are beautiful. And the Paris scarf is tres chic! Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh, You are not at all lazy. You just brilliantly demonstrated how dropping several pieces into what we already own gives us dozens of elegant looks.
With both the red and beige sweaters, I’d just substitute a beautiful chocolate brown for the black and ivory for the white and I’m good to go. It’s challenging, but worth it for me. I’ve been relentless in building a brown/tan core of neutrals and I’m almost there. It’s worth it to be persistent and patient. Hint to others who love the brown neutrals: dark walnut at Talbots is a lovely brown neutral, not too dark or too light. ( and, when you shop online, don’t forget to use one of the links here.)
Oh my goodness! Are you having a field day with all the brown this year! It is lovely and so sumptuous. And agree wholeheartedly about the walnut at Talbots! Bean has some pretty brown sweaters as well.
So pretty and festive! I gave up black a while ago. Navy is my go to. Just makes shopping easier. Looking forward to the navy sweater!
Thanks, Janice!
Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
This is such an elegant color combination…love to see it but I’m a red girl!
How do people handle the static thing? I wore a lovely new silk (red!!) blouse the other day…when I removed my coat the blouse stuck to me like a second skin. NOT a lovely look. When I see that gorgeous gold satin skirt, I wonder what happens when the coat is removed…and tights with skirts?
It’s snowing today!!! Finally feels like Thanksgiving! Happy day to those who celebrate! Blessings on you Janice for building this wonderful community!
You can rub a dryer sheet on your tights to keep a skirt from clinging. When I worked retail and had to wear pantyhose every day, I’d put lotion on my hands and then rub my legs over the hose. It worked perfectly with sheer nylons. Not sure if this would work with heavier tights. I don’t have any tips for your blouse – maybe lotion on your skin prior to putting it on? Or rub your coat lining with a dryer sheet?
Love column dressing! Camel and black is so chic, thank you again Janice for these wonderful ideas. For all of you celebrating Thanksgiving, have a happy and safe holiday.
Looking forward to seeing the navy version.
I find a button down shirt under a sweater so uncomfortable. Am I alone in this? I’m ok with a long sleeve T underneath.
Nope. I’m a long sleeve t lady as well. I keep trying, but the only buttondown shirts I consistently wear are oversized men’s flannel as a second layer – not a dressy look but workhorse cozy for around the house.
This “black & tan” type wardrobe is 100% my style otherwise!
I also feel sort of rumpled with a button up shirt under a sweater though I read a tip years ago about wearing a tank top or tshirt between the button up and the sweater.
It feels really awkward at first but the tank/tee smooths out the buttons and keeps everything laying nicely.
(That said I still rarely layer anything more than a tshirt under sweaters though I like the look on other people.)
Janice I’m so excited for the navy sweater, I have one of those! :) Could we work a medium or dark wash denim in with it? That would be a dream as I wear jeans a lot!
Clair, I feel exactly the same way! I thought I was the only one who felt a bit “stuffed” with a shirt under a sweater. It seems like the shirt bunches up and the sweater isn’t smooth. I don’t have any problem with tee shirt or sleeveless shell. Do ladies have larger sweaters to wear over shirts? Or am I not finding the right kind of shirts? Thanks for your comment
I agree too! I only layer sleeveless button ups (with collars) from summer under my sweaters because I don’t like bunchy sleeves either. If I get the sweater too big to accommodate them then I feel really frumpy.
Janice- I just love neutrals and can’t wait to get back home to see what I can put together. It’s been a really busy week and I’m away visiting my sons. Finally found a moment to read my blogs, but I’m behind. I need to go back and see the red sweater that everyone loves. I have two
or three red sweaters. Maybe one would work with this. We shall see.
I love the first outfit!! Its perfect with that festive brouch