The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Articles
    • Starting From Scratch
    • Common Wardrobe
    • Packing
    • Start With Art
    • Project 333
    • 4×4 Wardrobes
    • Weekly Timeless Wardrobes
    • Archives by Date
    • Archives by Categories & Tags
  • Support The Vivienne Files
    • Books, Clothes & more
    • Templates & Color Planners
  • Contact
Home » Our Move, and Cleaning out Closets

Our Move, and Cleaning out Closets

Finally! We are settled in our new apartment… It was, realistically, a pretty small move – just down the hall, from a west-facing studio apartment to an east and south-facing 1 bedroom apartment.We wouldn’t have moved – we were massively happy in our studio, but we received SUCH an incredibly kind offer to rent the 1-bedroom unit that it was pretty much impossible to pass up. Now, we have enough space to have either of our mothers visit, and give them a bedroom and master bathroom to themselves. They will have a modicum of space and privacy, which is always useful when family members are in close quarters.

This is our view, seen over my extraordinary chaise longue. Why yes, it IS wide enough for Belovedest and I to sit in together!

 

Possibly the most interesting part of the move, from a Vivienne Files standpoint, was moving into a new closet. Our closet now is an open mini-room, much more than a normal walk-in closet, because it has a WINDOW… But knowing how very quickly light will fade clothing, we keep the shade tightly closed… As much as you see really appealing open closet arrangements all over the internet, where your perfect capsule wardrobe is hanging against a wall in your bedroom, I can’t advise this kind of setup. Closets and armoires became common for a reason; dust and light are not the best friends your wardrobe can have!

Can’t you tell that this is mine? Black, white, grey, and a touch of red:

In the course of sorting through EVERYTHING, I realized that I own a few things that need to find better homes. Foremost among those, I have FOUR Hermes twillies…

I love these little gizmos – they’re the most cunning idea Hermes has had in at least a few days! They’re perfect to wear at the neckline of a shirt with a collar, as an ironic throwback to the bows that we all wore in the 80’s. And they’re great to wear in your hair. Unless… you have to use a product in your hair. Sigh…

As my hair gets longer, I’ve found that I look like a big brown and grey dandelion unless I use some curl defining lotion in my hair. And after I’ve put that in my hair, I’m REALLY reluctant to put a gorgeous piece of silk into the middle of it; the idea of those chemicals on that silk just gives me the willies.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL FOUR HAVE SOLD – THANKS SO MUCH! 

In the next couple of weeks, I’m going to do a major clean-out of my silk scarves, and will thus be selling a stack of Hermes scarves. Prices will be good, so stay tuned!

From the top:

  • a sepia brown with tiny black letters that spell (if you’re an acrobat) Hermes. (SOLD)
  • yellow, turquoise, bright green, grey and black geometric print.(SOLD)
  • soft greys, celadon green and blue Astrologie pattern (SOLD) , and
  • black with golds horse tack pattern.(SOLD)

 These are cool; you won’t be disappointed!

Belovedest takes the best photographs, doesn’t he?

 

After the dust has (sort of) settled, I have to admit that I really love to move. Does anyone else, or am I alone in my insanity?

love,
Janice

 

Neiman Marcus Last Call (Neiman Marcus)

 

Tweet
Pin
Share
0 Shares

08.26.15 21 Comments

Tags: Hermes scarf, my wardrobe
<<Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Understanding by Parscha MirghawameddinBuilding a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Light, Earth and Blue by Mark Rothko>>

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    August 26, 2015 at 8:20 am

    Hi, Your new apartment and its view look great. While I wouldn't say I like moving, I do appreciate that it forces me to clean out and tidy up. Your closet in a room is also wonderful.

    Deb from Vancouver

    Reply
    • webbygee says

      August 26, 2015 at 3:47 pm

      I'm with you, Deb. Moving takes so much time from your daily life, but the end result is worth it, plus it does force you to handle EVERYTHING and make choices. We're in our forever house now, so once a year, I try to go through and pretend I'm moving to make myself handle everything. It's the move without the move.

      Reply
  2. allatalarsvenska says

    August 26, 2015 at 8:28 am

    And what a view!! I feel a travel wardrobe coming up based on it. Or a couple, as I suspect the colors change with the weather and season.

    Reply
  3. Cornelia says

    August 26, 2015 at 10:30 am

    I am in the midst of a move myself, and two hands cannot count how often I have been through it. Six months into a temporary situation while trying to find a townhouse. So, while I have never really minded a move, this one is a bit daunting. In any case, the view from your room is stunning. Cheers to new beginnings!

    Reply
    • Traveler says

      August 26, 2015 at 6:42 pm

      We are too only it's been 3 years since the beginning of this odyssey. Finishing in October and I am curious to see what I decide I don't need from the things stored 3 years ago….it wasn't supposed to be that long.

      Reply
  4. SewingLibrarian says

    August 26, 2015 at 11:38 am

    I hate to move, but I'd do it to get that view of Lake Michigan! Your apartment looks lovely, and I wish you many happy hours enjoying it.

    Reply
  5. Kimberly says

    August 26, 2015 at 12:00 pm

    Nothing like moving to make you want to renounce all worldly possessions!
    – Kaci

    Reply
  6. Rhonda Buss says

    August 26, 2015 at 1:01 pm

    What a lovely new space!!
    My husband and I are contemplating a rather large move :/ It's a little daunting and exciting all at the same time.
    Enjoy your new space :)

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says

    August 26, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    Having moved 11 times in 40 years of marriage, I am not a fan of moving! My husband's work has taken us to both coasts, Alaska, Hawaii, and lots of places between. The logistics of moving long distances are very different from those of moving down the hall.
    That southern exposure should be nice in your cold climate, and the view will be fascinating! Enjoy!
    Mary

    Reply
  8. webbygee says

    August 26, 2015 at 3:50 pm

    Janice, congrats on your move and your bigger space and wonderful view. While moving is not my favorite thing, I do love the aspect that it makes me reevaluate what I have and get rid of what I don't need or want any more. And thanks for the peek into your closet. It's lovely.

    Reply
  9. Beatriz Fortes says

    August 26, 2015 at 4:03 pm

    I love moving so, no, you are not alone. It is a lot of work but I love setting up in a new place.And that is an amazing view!

    Reply
  10. Coco Colmani says

    August 26, 2015 at 11:31 am

    Beautiful view, Janice! I wish you time to enjoy it on the chaise, with a glass of wine … And I'm *very* impressed by the neatness of your closet. Orderliness is so appealing, and so helpful for "shopping your wardrobe". Congratulations on managing the move efficiently. Robyn x

    Reply
  11. Katie Quattro says

    August 26, 2015 at 11:37 am

    Your view is spectacular! And your closet is so neat and organized, I love it! If the grey twilly is still available I would give it a nice home! Katie

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      August 26, 2015 at 11:42 am

      Send me a note at theviviennefiles@gmail.com, and we'll finalize things. It's so pretty; you'll be really happy with it!
      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
  12. Ursula in Cádiz says

    August 26, 2015 at 5:43 pm

    Happy Settling In! If I don't move I DROWN in 'stuff'. Interestingly my husband and I moved from Europe to Texas with just a (hold) suitcase each. We then furnished a whole apartment and more via thrift stores and yard sales; and American clothes were so cheap anyway! After a year we had our own yard sale and gave everything else back to the thrift stores and left with the same one suitcase each. Perfect!

    Reply
    • Grammy Goodwill says

      August 27, 2015 at 11:43 am

      This is the best story. What an adventure that must have been for you, Ursula.

      Reply
  13. Madame Là-bas says

    August 26, 2015 at 6:38 pm

    Such a beautiful view! Your closet does look well-organized! Mine always seems to be a work in progress. I love "leaving home" with a suitcase because life is just so much more simple in a smaller apartment with fewer belongings. Enjoy your new apartment!

    Reply
  14. Grammy Goodwill says

    August 27, 2015 at 11:43 am

    Ah, that view! I'm sure you will enjoy many hours in that chaise.

    Reply
  15. kaybee says

    August 28, 2015 at 10:15 pm

    Hi Janice, for some reason my daily emails have stopped! Yikes, I can't cope….. I have tried resubmitting my email details but it tells me I'm already a subscriber …… please help! I can't do without my Vivienne fix.

    Reply
  16. kaybee says

    August 28, 2015 at 10:16 pm

    Hi Janice, for some reason my daily emails have stopped! Yikes, I can't cope….. I have tried resubmitting my email details but it tells me I'm already a subscriber …… please help! I can't do without my Vivienne fix.

    Reply
  17. lrlincks says

    August 29, 2015 at 12:37 am

    You have a great view! Just beautiful! I do not like to move!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

logo
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...
  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

STAY UP TO DATE

Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

  • Like a Base of Black and White Start With Art - Variation on a Lighthouse Theme IV by Ida O'KeeffeLike a Base of Black and White? Start With Art – Variation on a Lighthouse Theme IV by Ida O’Keeffe
  • Want 2 Very Different Accent Colors Start With a Scarf Petal Pop Silk Scarf by Artifact.Want 2 Very Different Accent Colors? Start With a Scarf: Petal Pop Silk Scarf by Artifact.
  • A Different Take On Scarf Colors Start With a Scarf - Fleur Royale scarf by Artifact.A Different Take On Scarf Colors: Start With a Scarf – Fleur Royale scarf by Artifact.
  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 The Vivienne Files | All Rights Reserved - Built with ♥ by RockFort Media

THE VIVIENNE FILES IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR US TO EARN FEES BY LINKING TO AMAZON.COM AND AFFILIATED SITES.