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Home » Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Silk Robe by Johanna Harmon

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Silk Robe by Johanna Harmon

July 31, 2015
 
“Are you feeling okay? You seem to have been tired lately,” her sweetheart asked her last night.
 

Silk Robe by Johanna Harmon

“Now that you mention it, between all of the stress at work, and the heat this summer, I do feel a little bit… wilted, I think you could say. Why do you ask?”

 
“Well, I’ve been thinking that we could use a long weekend away at The Spa in The Mountains; do you think you could get a Thursday and Friday off sometime in late September?”
 
Can she get a couple of days off??? She would QUIT her very irritating job in order to get away to go to the spa. Does she enjoy days wearing nothing but a bathrobe (or maybe nothing), being pampered, and then spending the evening eating gourmet cuisine in an elegant and romantic setting with her very best friend? CAN SHE GET A COUPLE OF DAYS OFF??? What a silly question…
 
“I need to check the vacation calendar at work, but go ahead and book us in. I’m sure I can work out something…”
 
It was her green eyes that made her sweetheart fall in love with her. That, and the first time they held hands… THIS is going to be the weekend that they both remember those feelings…
 

Silk blouse – Strateas Carlucci; black trousers – Tod’s; earrings – YooLa; bracelet – Letters by Zoe; cashmere cardigan – Avant Toi; scarf – Radical Chic; ankle boots – Topshop; bag – MANU Atelier

cream crystal clutch – Whiting & Davis; black mother of pearl earrings – Slane Solis; ring – Maya Magal; baroque pearl necklace – ginette_ny; shawl – Hermes; seafoam sweater – Jardin des Orangers; ivory cardigan – Theory; floral sweater – Ted Baker; clutch bag – Uroco; mother of pearl earrings – Kendra Scott; beaded dress – Adrianna Papell; velvet pants – Alexa Chung for AG; floral rectangle scarf – Ted Baker; pleated silk skirt – Eileen Fisher; suede tassel loafers – Jack Rogers; silk pumps – Pelle Moda

 

 
 
Six weeks later, driving home:
 
“Would you mind if we did this every 3 or 4 months? I think it’s really good for both of us.”
 
“No, not at all. I think it’s a great idea.”
 
inside, she’s jumping up and down, and squealing like a 6 year old on Christmas morning…
 
love,
Janice
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07.31.15 20 Comments

Tags: black, cool weather, green, ivory, silk scarf, Six-Packs, Start with Art
<<A New Scarf from Ananda Design! or How to Wear One Item All YearBuild a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting With Art: The Boating Party, by Mary Cassatt>>

Comments

  1. Gail says

    July 31, 2015 at 11:16 am

    So lush, so romantic!

    Reply
  2. GOG11 says

    July 31, 2015 at 11:41 am

    Oh, that light blue and that teal color are two of my favorite colors! I haven't been able to commit to a more simplified palette yet, but I do know it will include teal and grey, and I adore that lighter blue. I also love the story. You have a real knack for story-telling, Janice.

    Reply
  3. suzynjgonzalez.com says

    July 31, 2015 at 1:14 pm

    So lush and beautiful – but I miss the splashes of orange and red – maybe some (faux) coral jewelry?

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      July 31, 2015 at 1:36 pm

      I think coral would be beautiful here – if I were going to expand this for a longer trip, and thus more items to pack, a soft coral would be the next color to introduce. I have to confess that I wandered WAAAY down the long corridor of beautiful shades of teal….

      Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    July 31, 2015 at 2:03 pm

    Dear Janice,

    This is so delicious looking!! I'm just drooling.

    Louise P

    Reply
  5. Janice says

    July 31, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    What a beautiful painting and wardrobe. Totally my colors (except for navy as the neutral). I especially like the beautiful teal and Aqua. I too would love to see an addition of coral and possibly peach as I would like to introduce that now in to my new wardrobe of navy, tan, teal, aqua. You put together such wonderful wardrobes. I'm now also searching for the perfect scarves. . Janice Collins, Washington, DC.

    Reply
    • GOG11 says

      July 31, 2015 at 3:40 pm

      Dear Janice,

      Your wardrobe sounds lovely. I am hoping to someday whittle my wardrobe down to navy, teal, aqua and grey.

      GOG

      Reply
  6. Amy says

    July 31, 2015 at 3:21 pm

    Lovely story and wardrobe as always. I live the

    Reply
  7. Lorrie says

    July 31, 2015 at 3:46 pm

    This is so lovely. The colors, the shapes, the story. le sigh.

    Reply
  8. Kristina says

    July 31, 2015 at 5:06 pm

    This palette is my favorite out of all the ones you have done recently!! Gorgeous!

    Reply
  9. Anonymous says

    July 31, 2015 at 5:12 pm

    This morning I had to cancel my upcoming vacation for work reasons. I am NOT a happy camper. However, I loved the story you wrote and the outfits you chose. It made me think that there might be hope of rescheduling that vacation…

    Reply
  10. fuzz pedal says

    July 31, 2015 at 7:31 pm

    Such gorgeous colours and textures. Love this story!

    Reply
  11. Jeanette says

    July 31, 2015 at 8:54 pm

    I tried to find out how to send you an email, but i failed, so I will just write here and hope you'll see it. I'm going to Paris for my 30th birthday, and have saved to be able to go to Hermes and buy myself a scarf. This one: http://sweden.hermes.com/la-maison-des-carres/car-twi-ciels-byzantins-vert-orange-fuchsia-70925.html has caught my eye, but it has some orange in it, a color I try to stay away from since I have a very cool skintone (blue eyes, dark hair). Do you think this scarf would feel at home in a wardrobe of navy, grey, fuschia and jade-green? I have also considered "cavaliers du Caucase" in pink or blue but I find them a little bit too monochrome in having to limit myself to only one…

    Reply
  12. PurlyGirl78 says

    July 31, 2015 at 9:57 pm

    Janice – you've outdone yourself. I have loved this picture for some time and the clothing you've selected fits perfectly as does the story. I may have to start shopping the links as this really speaks to me! Thank you.

    Reply
  13. Anonymous says

    July 31, 2015 at 10:14 pm

    oh my, this is spectacular!

    Reply
  14. Anonymous says

    July 31, 2015 at 10:41 pm

    Be still my heart… just throw in a coral negligee!!!

    Deb from Vancouver

    Reply
  15. Anne and Kirk says

    August 1, 2015 at 11:58 am

    Love the painting, the vignette, the colors, the clothes….dreamy!

    Reply
  16. lrlincks says

    August 2, 2015 at 4:00 am

    Very pretty! Who doesn't love a good spa??

    Reply
  17. Deborah Montgomery says

    August 2, 2015 at 10:51 pm

    Beautiful, soft, lovely . . . I read the regatta post, above, and not quite my style, so I scrolled back, and yes, this looks perfect!

    Reply
  18. Anna-Marie Viljoen says

    August 3, 2015 at 5:24 am

    I adore your story telling the painting as an extra plus added to your 4 x 4 ideas with my morning coffee before work. Thank you! A-M from South Africa

    Reply

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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...
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