Max Ernst - L’Oiseau Forestier Archives

Evaluating a Wardrobe: A Year of L’Oiseau Forestier by Max Ernst

November 12, 2018

This is the very controversial tough businesswoman who has a very... strong... business personality. We really don't have a clue what she's like in her personal time, and I suspect that this suits her just fine!

Her style inspiration is this great painting:

She's been planning her work and business travel wardrobe using these guidelines:

This is what she packed when she was going to negotiate a tough deal back in January:

She had to attend a client "retreat" in April, for which she wasn't quite sure how to pack. This is what she finally chose:

During the summer she had another one of those trips that was without a clear agenda. Happily, she has such a clear personal style that her clothing ... View the Post

L’Oiseau Forestier by Max Ernst Revisited for Autumn 2018

October 8, 2018

Our negotiator heroine was made head of her project back in January, which drove her co-workers absolutely crazy! It didn't get any better when she was chosen to present at the corporate overnight retreat - not that she cared. One of the reasons that she gets these kinds of accolades is because she's good at what she does, and that she's very flexible - she recently attended a function with a client and their union, at which absolutely NOBODY knew what to expect. She didn't flinch...

She's inspired by this lovely painting, and this timeless color palette:

"She's wearing a blazer!"

"Yeah, but it's velvet, so it's not really a serious business outfit..."

"And did you see that her office is all cleaned out? I ... View the Post

L’Oiseau Forestier by Ernst, Revisited for Summer 2018

August 3, 2018

She's the toughest negotiator in the office, and nobody can quite believe it! She managed to settle one of the toughest ongoing negotiations her company had on their docket back in January, and was made chief negotiator in recognition. Her co-workers really didn't "get it" when she was sent to represent their firm at a weekend retreat to discuss negotiating techniques...

She takes her style inspirations from this painting - it doesn't seem particularly intimidating or overbearing, does it?

We're Not Quite Sure... "What the client wants or expects. It could just be a get-together with the union officials... you know - a picnic, a few rounds of golf, some pressing the flesh..."

"OR. They might be planning for ... View the Post

L’Oiseau Forestier by Max Ernst – Revisiting for Spring 2018

April 5, 2018 Back in January, her jealous co-workers were fuming because she never wears blazers, not pantsuits...They have no clue. This is her style inspiration:

From this, she developed her style guidelines and color palette:

Back then, when she was going out of town to lead some negotiations, this was her wardrobe - not what one might expect from someone who is supposed to be hard-bitten with brass... knuckles...

"She's heading the overnight retreat? She's such a prissy little mouse... would it kill her to wear some high heels?"

"Have you ever seen her wear makeup? And she doesn't even polish her nails... I don't know HOW she can be so successful..."

of course the men in their office ... View the Post

L’Oiseau Forestier by Max Ernst – Starting a Wardrobe with a Tote Bag Travel Capsule

Assertiveness, Channeled "Why is SHE going?"

"Well, she was just named chief negotiator - didn't you hear?"

"She IS? She always seems so... ladylike... I don't see her as the arm-wrestling for the last dime kind of negotiator..."

"Don't get me wrong - I know that she's as smart as a whip..."

"Shouldn't she be wearing some serious pantsuit with shoulders out to HERE?"

"She doesn't even wear blazers!!!"

always trust the jealous rivals to focus on how you dress, eh?

As in all things, the details matter...

If anybody ever troubled to look, they would see that her jewelry looks like the weapons and body-armor of a Barbie-sized warrior race... Even her oh-so-trendy flower brooch is ... View the Post

The Twelve Art Works of Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of those who are celebrating today, and a warm and wonderful day to everyone!

Today I've got 12 works of art for you - 11 paintings and 1 pretty amazing photograph, along with color palettes, and a sense of how the colors might be made to work in a wardrobe.

I've chosen almost all "modern" works of art - for what we do here on The Vivienne Files, I need to have a relatively limited color palette. Paintings that are completely realistic tend to have every color of the rainbow in them, and THAT would make a carefully edited wardrobe almost impossible!

So, if you have time, and if you have an opinion (or 12!), tell me if you'd like to see any of these developed into a wardrobe. If you've a preference for warm ... View the Post