The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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By Season Archives - Page 13 of 17

Warm Weather in Navy and Pink: A Long Weekend, or a Week?

February 8, 2014   Ooh, it's nice to dream of summer clothes and warmer destinations!  Some of you are headed out with family for vacations that suggest shorts, capris, and flowing summer skirts and dresses, and the colors navy and pink are ALWAYS requested!  So here's a plan that starts with a long weekend, and then adds key garments if your trip is longer than that.   Always, for travel, I will recommend long pants, real shoes with toes and heels, and a cardigan - I always find airplanes are cold...  This outfit has the added benefit of giving you two core garments in navy around which you can work throughout your vacation.  

  A couple of pretty skirts, a pair of shorts, a dress (that will ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: “A Mysterious Hand Leads to Another Path” by Jan Toorop

January 3, 2014  

This painting is currently at the Art Institute of Chicago, as part of the Celia and David Hilliard Collection exhibit.  I'm not sure if it's oil - I suspect it might be pastel - but it captivates me immediately...My impressions from this were of warmth, and simplicity - clear lines and powdery soft colors, with matte finishes.

“A Mysterious Hand Leads to Another Path” – Jan Toorop, blue topaz ring – Zayd Makarim, blue linen tee shirt – Isabel Marant Etoile, natural linen shorts – Comme des Garcons, denim blue sandals – Popet  seafoam linen dress – Paul Smith, scarf – U-NI-TY, silver sandals – Dr. Scholl’s    

 

“A Mysterious Hand Leads to Another Path” – Jan ... View the Post

Petrol Black and White for Uncertain Weather: A 12-Pack for Mostly Warm Weather

December 16, 2013  

You probably remember that we started last Friday with a core of six garments that would be suitable for a long weekend, and then on Saturday, I expanded the capsule travel wardrobe to a 12-pack, for cooler weather.  Now I'm going to do basically the same thing, only oriented toward a much warmer visit...Again, six carefully-chosen garments:

Shorts - I like white, but you could easily choose black or petrol. A great printed tee shirt that includes all three of your colors. A beautiful fluid top in your accent color, and A skirt that combines your accent color and either of your neutrals. Another top - dressier than a tee shirt - that can be worn with either of your neutrals, and A ... View the Post

Petrol, Black and White: A Twelve-Pack for Uncertain, Mostly Cool, Weather

December 14, 2013  

 Yesterday we packed six garments, for a short week or long weekend, and for uncertain weather.

 Today, I'm assuming that we know our trip is going to be longer - up to two weeks or more, and that we know that most of our weather exposure is going to be colder. So in addition to the original six garments we packed, I'm adding six more carefully chosen items, and a few accessories.  The clothing items are chosen in pairs - sort of like adding outfits, but with an eye to being sure that we can use each item in a variety of ways.

Another pair of pants is very important in cool weather, so black jeans are my first addition. With the black cardigan, it's a long line of black that can have ... View the Post

How to Pack for Changing Weather

October 26, 2013  

My recent adventures took me from decidedly summery weather to something more in keeping with gloves and scarves.  As usual, I was limited to just a carry-on bag... But I was really delighted with what I took with me.Nobody around you is going to be fooled into believing that you have a vast and limitless wardrobe at your disposal, and you're going to need to be able to do some laundry occasionally with this little ensemble. I found, however, that I was covered (or uncovered, as the case may be) for everything that I encountered.

AND!!!  I deciphered the reason that all of this worked so well, and next week I'm going to explain the secret, and show some other ... View the Post

Transition: Whatever’s Clean shifts from Summer to Autumn, in Beige and Green

Hypothesis:  You've had a lot of success with a small "Whatever's Clean" wardrobe, and you'd like to be able to make a seamless transition to cooler weather.

First off, shorts and sleeveless tops just feel wrong when school starts and the calendar rolls over to September.  So these would be the first three items to phase out.  

[/caption] In October, it might be time to give up linen pants and your simple white tee shirt.  

[/caption]   For November, these three are ready for a break:

[/caption] But of course you don't HAVE to put the nine replaced garments away - they'll still work well for layering.  Except the shorts - accept that most of us can only wear shorts in November in the ... View the Post

Packing for a Special Event, Urban, Early Spring

June 26, 2013

 

Rose quartz earrings – Nikki Baker, Bag – A. F. Vandervorst, Dress – Paule Ka, Coat- Jil Sander, Taupe pumps – Kristin Michaels     Yes, this is the second day in a row that this lace-trimmed scarf is shown - I think it's both amazingly beautiful and quite versatile.  I can't imagine anything that you might wear from this travel wardrobe that wouldn't look just a tiny bit nicer with this somewhere.  

Cardigan – Eric Bompard,  Blouse – L’Autre Chose, Watch – Movado, Pants- Gardeur,  Loafers- Munro, Scarf – futabaya,  Suitcase – Tumi     And yes, there are a couple more tops in here from Eric Bompard.  If ... View the Post

Packing for a Special Event, Urban Setting, Autumn

I get tons of questions about how to pack for various special occasions - weddings, graduations, etc. To me, this sounds like the perfect time to break out a really wonderful dress.  Nothing flouncy or bright or conspicuous - that wouldn't be comfortable, at least for me.  But something with an amazing cut, in luxurious fabric... Coupled with a drop-dead spectacular coat...   In fact, the whole trip could be an excuse to pick up a handful of the most beautiful garments: a wonderful sweater, along with the perfect jeans, another more casual but still exquisite dress, and a show-stopping skirt, along with a couple of blouses.   While grey might not be your cup of tea, many of us could travel a long, long time with just ... View the Post

A Simple Brown and Beige summer wardrobe, with orange accessories

Silk cardigan – Marni, sunglasses – Ray-Ban, pearl stud earrings – Dorothy Perkins,  necklace – BCBG Max Azria, barrel hoop earrings – Michael Kors, tee shirt – Warehouse, bracelet –  Good Charma, cotton scarf – Mapoesie, pants - Topshop, scarf – Hermes, flat sandals – Cole Haan, ballet flats – Banana Republic  

love,

Janice ... View the Post

A simple black & white summer wardrobe, with accessories

Oooh, I could live in these clothes for the entire summer... This first outfit would be fine for work, and then slip on the skirt in place of the pants, ready to go out to dinner. 

A striped tee shirt isn't usually worn with a skirt - I wonder why?  And the cardigan and scarf take a simple tank top and capris, and make them perfect for all kinds of activities.

Some days, simple white and khaki, with silver accessories, is all you need.  And your sundress kicks it up quite a few notches with the jacket, a nice necklace, and dressy, but still comfortable, sandals.

With the more classic, trim, cardigan, the tank top and capris take on a more traditional look.  And amazing diamond earrings add a lot of spark, and ... View the Post