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What to Wear When It Is FREEZING? Japanese 24 Seasons: Shōkan – Small Cold

January 15, 2024

If the weather forecast turns out to be true, (as it WASN'T when we were promised piles of snow!) it should be bitterly cold in Chicago as you read this...

Even if you don't leave your home, you might feel the cold. There's truly a limit to how warm you can get your home when the temperatures are in Fahrenheit single digits. Add in our big walls of windows, facing Lake Michigan, and we have the choice of dressing warmly, or making the electric company rich beyond imagining!

So let's bundle up!

If you're staying inside, or maybe just dashing out to the mailbox, you can wear warm wool slippers. And don't discount the merits of wearing a warm headband - you can pull it down over your ears if you need to go to ... View the Post

In the Mood for Something Pretty? Japanese 24 Seasons: Tōji – Winter Solstice

December 22, 2023

The shortest day of the year certainly puts many of us in the mood for a little treat - just something to brighten up the long, dark night...

You in the Southern Hemisphere - enjoy your long day and warm weather!

So for this post, I just cruised through all of my usual favorites to see what caught my eye...

My favorite place to look for accessories is ALWAYS Wolf & Badger; they represent a ton of small designers, and always have things that won't be seen anywhere else...

It didn't take long for me to spot some lovely pieces:

Of course, it wouldn't be The Vivienne Files without a few things from J.Crew! I had to share this cropped hoodie, in one of everyone's favorite shades of blue... And the ... View the Post

Need to Dress Warmly? Japanese 24 Seasons: Shōsetsu, Small Snow

November 29, 2023

Through much of the time that I was searching for these items, it was snowing in Chicago. It wasn't actually landing on the ground, which seems like an oxymoron, but from the 24th floor, we can see snow that doesn't survive its final descent!

I love big snow drifts, so this wasn't ideal. But we also have to be able to get out and about, so I'd best just be quiet, eh?

today's photographs are all of Chicago...

if you like photographs of Chicago, look for Barry Butler on Instagram!

For today's outfits, I was thinking about those early days of snow, when it's not really bitter cold, but you still need some kind of boots, as well as a warmer jacket or coat, and a scarf!

To make these outfits easy, I ... View the Post

Winter Coats! Japanese 24 Seasons: Rittō – Beginning of Winter

November 10, 2023

After it snowed on me LIKE THE END OF THE WORLD last week, on Halloween, I've been seeing more and more people finally break out their winter coats! It seems like a challenge, here in Chicago, to see how long you can go (1) wearing shorts, (2) wearing sandals, and (3) layering 4 sweatshirts, so you don't have to wear your "real" winter coat...

Crazy people, aren't we?

I was out for coffee yesterday with a friend, and this post is inspired by the Chic Sighting that was her outfit! None of these are exact replicas, but they all resemble her overall outfit idea...

Please note that neither of these camel garments are CALLED camel, nor are they named the same color! Must shopping be so complicated?

I feel ... View the Post

Ideas for Layering Tops: Japanese Season Sōkō – Frost Descent

October 20, 2023

I'm still not used to the fact that autumn is here, and October is mostly over! But I love autumn clothes, so that helps me adjust...

Today I'm thinking about how we have to layer up a LOT of clothes first thing in the morning (I wear gloves any time the temp is below 55 Fahrenheit!), but by afternoon we can peel off at least 1 layer...

In the past, I've called this the "Triple Top Secret" because having three tops that work together give you at least a half-dozen different combinations... Pack 3 tops and an extra pair of pants, and you're good for a long weekend!

Your "pivot" top - the one around which you build - can be your 2nd layer, as I've shown here:

A lovely blazer is always a good place to ... View the Post

Autumn Outfit Ideas: Japanese Season Shūbun – Autumn Equinox

September 22, 2023

Now that the world of retail has managed to synchronize itself with the seasons, and the weather, I feel comfortable returning to the Japanese 24 seasons.

I've tried to imagine 6 different heroines, all preparing for the cool weather and that "back to school" feeling that so many of us get when the days get short and the breeze quickens...

Our first heroine is a traditionalist, which a lot of navy in her wardrobe. She's pretty excited that she can mix in some lovely tan shades with very little effort...

Our next heroine dresses for the office, in mostly traditional colors, with little touches of brightness and whimsey. What's the point of being the coolest person at work if you can't bust out ... View the Post

Year 2 – Japanese 24 Seasons of the Year – Taisho – Large Heat

July 21, 2023

Why yes, I DID miss the previous season - July 7, Small Heat. This year, Chicago is having a VERY cool summer, unlike so much of the world. It makes thinking about warm-weather clothing sort of difficult!

But let's pick up with the current season...

At this point in the year, when major retailers are pushing cool-weather clothing at us, we can at least find nice dresses...

If I were to only own 1 dress, this might be a candidate. The dark background would make it easy to wear dark tights and flats, with a navy sweater, in cool weather:

Similarly, this dress is made to be worn with a cardigan or blazer:

I'm currently wearing the black version of this dress, with amethyst jewelry to match ... View the Post

Year 2 – Japanese 24 Seasons of the Year – Geshi – Summer Solstice

June 21, 2023

Why yes, this is the EXACT day; enjoy the daylight - if you're in the Northern Hemisphere! And get a good long night of sleep if you're in the Southern Hemisphere...

I wore my linen long-sleeved shirt A TON on Father's Day; we were in the forest, and I found that it was perfect protection from insects.

That got me thinking about the utility of a shirt like this in warm weather - protection from bugs, the sun, cool breezes, air conditioning...

They can provide a nice accent color...

Or you can bring a bit of pattern into a monochromatic outfit:

If you're traveling, having something that covers your shoulders can be important, if you want to visit churches or other places with a dress ... View the Post

Year 2 – Japanese 24 Seasons of the Year – Shōman – Grain Full

May 29, 2023

It doesn't feel very summery still, at least in Chicago. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't be thinking about what we will wear when the weather DOES get warm...

One of my new French style books (Le Dressing Idéal by Anne Montecer) suggests jumpsuits for Spring...

Uh, NO. I have hauled the top half of a jumpsuit over quite enough toilet floors in my life...

but I really like her writing, as a general rule - she has a blog too!

But a matching top and pants? Maybe. Or maybe just the print pants. There's a lot of concern that pants in a printed fabric will make your bottom half look larger, but I think that the distracting quality of the pattern makes it tough to evaluate the size of a body ... View the Post

Year 2 – Japanese 24 Seasons of the Year – Rikka – Beginning of Summer

May 12, 2023

Is it beginning to feel like summer where you are? (assuming Northern Hemisphere, of course; I know that some of you are moving headlong into autumn and winter!)

Chicago has finally warmed up; now that I have looked at warm weather clothing for a few days, I think we need to consider adding accents - maybe prints? - to our wardrobes...

The first interesting accent that caught my eye was this cognac sparkle tee. Sparkle! Cognac! What's not to love?

for all of us who are short-waisted (i.e. the distance from our neckline to our waist is shorter than the distance from our waist to our hipline), cropped tops might be just the right length!

the leaves on trees around here seem to have appeared ... View the Post

Year 2! Japanese 24 Seasons of the Year – Kokuu – Grain Rain

April 26, 2023

Why yes, 2 seasons in 3 days! It's sort of like living in Chicago...

(at least if you live with me, where being forgetful is a way of life!)

Given the scattered and disorganized way I'm living these days, I thought that a really simple, comprehensive little cluster of clothes might be something useful for me; I could open my closet and find clothes that I can wear for anything from warm to reasonably cold...

It's kind of like the stress dressing that I've addressed in the past; having enough ready any time, just in case you're suddenly invited out to lunch, or for a walk, or for a meeting with your tax preparer! (THAT is stress...)

If the weather is cool, a shirt, sweater, pants and closed ... View the Post

Japanese 24 Seasons of the Year – Seimei – Clear and Bright

April 24, 2023

Why yes, I've completely lost track of time; you should HEAR what I did to my mother, getting confused about an appointment and wandering around the city for HOURS... Sigh...

But let's visit this season, literally a day before I get to THE NEXT season. It's a good thing that I work for myself, eh?

Here in Chicago, we're betwixt and between - some VERY warm days were followed immediately by snow... It's hard to know what one will need from week to week...

But I think that (once your warm weather clothes are sorted through and ready to go) many of us might be wise to purchase just ONE complete outfit to wear through the spring and summer.

After you've taken a good hard look at what you DO have ... View the Post