The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Brooches in Bunches

How to find vintage brooches?  All of these are currently available on Etsy, and all are of the brand Coro...Tips:

search for both "brooch" and "pin", and even "broach", if you can bear to decide up front what your tolerance is for wear and tear: scratched enamel, yellowed rhinestones etc. check the description carefully - some pieces are sold JUST for dismantling and using parts for repair - the are NOT wearable "as is" Make sure that you're choosing brooches of a similar size, if you plan to group them.  Unless you want a variety of sizes, in which case - go for it! If you see a design or pattern that you love, be patient, and check all over the internet.  Most of these designs were made in a variety of ... View the Post

Accessories: The Power of the Plural

If you don't feel comfortable with big pieces of jewelry, but you still want a sort of "statement", consider tripling up on your jewelry.  (for some reason, it works really well with odd numbers).

Tiny brooches, like those shown above, take on a new level of impact when grouped.  (these pins are about one inch across).  You can do this very effectively with bracelets too.  Sometimes, with necklaces.  Earrings... could be tricky...

Pins are particularly fun - the variety of designs available is staggering! Were you to suddenly decide that you wanted to find five brooches that looked like feathers, or vegetables, or hearts, or ballerinas - they're out there. 

This can be great fun.  And some of ... View the Post

In praise of old clothes

"Clothes should be worn. They should be used. They become more personal, more distinctive and more beautiful - for me - when they have been worn lovingly for years.   ...One of the key reasons I believe well-worn clothes look better on everybody is that the wearer is inevitably more comfortable in them. You never look stylish when you are conscious of what you’re wearing.

  This leads to several conclusions. First, invest in clothes that are good enough to last a long time. Cheap clothes come and go. You rarely develop the same connection with them as with something that has worn with you over several periods of your life.   Second, don’t acquire too much. I know it’s a wonderful position to be in, but I know I have ... View the Post

In Praise of Whimsical Socks

Zebras – Old Navy, stripes – Wetseal, dots – Kate Spade, stripes – Armor Lux, crocheted – Pacsun, 2  Fair Isle – Peopletree.co.uk, argyle – Kate Spade  

Ah, for us workers bees, the holiday season wardrobe is boring, boring, BORING.  Black tee shirt, jeans, work shoes.  Gray tee shirt, jeans, work shoes.  Rinse and repeat ad nauseum.  And oh yes, don't forget my apron, which all employees wear...

A sock with a bit of color, pattern, or texture doesn't make a lot of difference in how I appear; very few people get much of a look at my socks.  But at least my laundry basket has a bit of zing to it!

And although I know I won't win a Nobel Prize for this, I have not lost a sock in decades.  When ... View the Post

wardrobe: 4 Hermes scarves

Jacket – Stella McCartney, Dress – Max Mara, Pants – Stella McCartney, Skirt – Stella McCartney  

Tee shirts – T by Alexander Wang  

Tux blazer – Topshop, charcoal cardigan – Dorothy Perkins, white blouse – Topshop, black pleated skirt – Dorothy Perkins, gray wool skirt – Monsoon, jeans - Levis  

Peach blouse – Equipment, peach tee – Dorothy Perkins, petrol blue sweater – American Vintage, petrol tee shirt – American vintage,  yellow sweater – N. Peal, yellow tee – Dorothy Perkins, red knot-front top – Dorothy Perkins, red sweater – Stella McCartney    

Scarves – Hermès, gray pumps – Banana Republic, silver link bracelet – Michael Kors, silver hoop earrings – Michael Kors, ... View the Post

Accessories for a bright, graphic, colorful capsule wardrobe

Square scarves – Hermès, Quotation mark gold earrings – Tom Binns, Black faceted onyx earrings – Primadina   

Umbrella – Kate Spade, Striped cashmere muffler – Michael Kors, Black stone necklace – Amrita Singh, Smoking lips necklace – Lynn Ban, Cuff bracelet – House of Harlow 1960, Red tassel earrings – Citrine by the Stones, Watch – Movado, Bag – Michael Kors, Gloves - Forzieri, Silver oval pierced earrings – Swarovski, Tall boots – Christian Louboutin, Black & red pumps – Kors Michael Kors, Polka dot flats – Dolce & Gabbana,   

Black white loafers – Bass, Slingbacks – Stella McCartney, Yellow sandals - cocolico, Black short ... View the Post

Accessories for the French Chic wardrobe

  One of my dear friends asked how I would accessorize the French Chic wardrobe.  While this is far from definitive, I think it's an interesting start.  

I learn more and more every day as I build these vignettes for our shared pleasure: you should be ABSOLUTELY FANATICALLY DEMANDING when you purchase anything.  There is a world of merchandise out there, and the perfect item exists, if you have the patience and the focus to find it.  Settle for NOTHING LESS THAN PERFECTION.  You deserve it. And if you fully intend to own many of your accessories for the rest of your life, you can easily justify buying the very best item being made today - support geniuses and craftspersons, and beautify the ... View the Post

Back to the roots of the Vivienne Files – part 8: Vivienne’s Valise, continued

I've been asked how I managed for almost 6 weeks with the very limited amount of clothing that I took with me on that trip that will live in infamy. I had a plan, believe me!

Just for reference, remember that these are the clothes that I had with me.

For flying, I pretty much always wore jeans, with the black v-neck sweater. Usually I would put either the white tee shirt or the striped tee shirt under the sweater, depending on how warm it was where I was leaving, what the weather would be where I was arriving, and what was clean!

First thing I did in the door of every new hotel in every new city/country was to give some clothing to the in-house laundry. This is always risky, because you never know when someone's going to ... View the Post

A photograph you must take THIS WEEKEND

On Saint Patrick's Day, 1999, I came home from work about 5:30 p.m. to find a four-inch hole in my apartment door where my lock used to be.  Now, knowing the ineptness of my management company and their maintenance people, my first assumption was that the lock was being replaced, and they were doing a really LOUSY job...

But you guessed it - I'd been robbed.  Various sundry small electrics, my college diploma (seriously - not my high school, not my graduate school,  just my college diploma!) and of course EVERY piece of jewelry except what I was wearing that day.  

I'm still a bit bitter about this, because they also got a really cool black leather jewelry case that looked like an old-fashioned train case. ... View the Post