The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Your best color, and a Signature Scarf

Back in the dark ages of the 80's, when I was in graduate school, I worked for a department store.  (very un-glamorous, I assure you).  This was back when department store inventories were NOT driven by individual "designer" boutiques; we had separate departments for suits, for sportswear, for formal wear etc.

For a while, I worked in the area which sold tee shirts, blouses, shirts and sweaters.  We carried at least a dozen styles at any point in time, depending on the season, and each style was available in a couple of dozen "cosmetic" colors.  In other words,  we always had tops available in every possible shade of coral, peach, plum, pink, berry, cherry, crimson, scarlet or whatever other lipstick-like color you ... View the Post

Somebody hates what you’re wearing….

July 16, 2013

Yes, someone hates what you're wearing.  Someone else hates what I'm wearing.  Ultimately, there is absolutely NOTHING any person can wear that will be pleasing to 100% of the population.

Okay, maybe the only person who hates your outfit is some disenfranchised 14 year old with purple hair and a bad attitude.  But the underlying message is the same - you can't make everybody happy.

We know that about so many other aspects of our lives, but we can lose sight of it when it comes to getting dressed.  The idea of choosing a polarizing garment (like my favorite skirted leggings) can be terrifying for some people- they'd much rather wear safe, neutral garments that doesn't say anything, rather than ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Weeping Cherry & Bullfinch by Katsushika Hokusai

July 1, 2013   This painting is so beautiful - the first thing that struck me was the clean simplicity of it.  So I was initially drawn to cool, somewhat architectural clothes, of course in blue...  

  More blue - still simple, clean, with silver accents.  

  I loved this sweater juxtaposed with a lace skirt- it felt like it captured the balance between the simplicity of the overall painting contrasted with the delicacy of the flowers.  And there was no way I could resist chambray...  

  And even winter clothing can reflect the beauty of this painting.  Soft sweaters, tweed, suede, all capture the gentle grace Katsushika Hokusai brought to life ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Scorned as Timber, Beloved of the Sky by Emily Carr

June 20, 2013

  So very simple.  Tall, austere, lean, yet radiant. Vertical is balanced with the striations of the sky. Soft, cloudy, stormy around the edges, luminous throughout.  A lifetime of personal style inspiration could easily come from this...   A stunning dress, with simple earrings, pumps, and a structured bag.  A casual tee shirt dress, with shoes and a necklace that echo the sky in our inspirational painting.  

A cloudy grey coat, with soft suede boots and a stormy sky scarf, or a lacy dress with some dark accents, a soft and flowing wrap, and skylit shoes.  Even the earrings are lacy!

 

Another sleek dress with simple silvery accessories, or maybe a ... View the Post

Thinking about grey and black; color, and your immediate environment

June 5, 2013

 

The comments about my recent Project 333 post were an interesting conversation about colors, and who's comfortable wearing what colors in what environments.

I'm looking out my window right now, which faces south and west, looking out onto downtown Chicago.  The only colors I can see are shades of grey and beige - even the sky is grey right now.  If you love cities (and I DO love cities), it's a beautiful view. But if you're looking for color, this is not where you'll find it.

I take all of your comments very seriously. I read every one of them, and think about what you've taken the time to say. I gave a great deal of thought to comments which thought that my current wardrobe is dark, ... View the Post

I am not a movie character; hard, but necessary, wardrobe decisions

May 31, 2013  

  Somewhere in my imagination, I walk across windswept moors, my long flowing hair sweeping behind me. I'm dressed in something graceful and fluid, and it's all very dramatic and romantic...

 

And for a long time, I would occasionally buy something for this life..   Reality check? I wouldn't walk across a windswept moor, I'd stride at about 4 mph. My hair won't GET long - it won't grow past my shoulders. And even if it would, it would never flow. It might boing and sproing and ping and pong in it's curly way...   The fluid garments would get snagged on the gorse, and would get all wet and muddy around the hem...   The hardest part of having a focused wardrobe is the ... View the Post

Surviving the Treadmill – The Great Courses

May 23, 2013  

Yes, I go to the gym five days a week.  I walk two miles, at least, on a treadmill, at something just over 4 miles per hour.  It's boring, and tiring.And I don't really find that television keeps me amused...

So a few years ago, I started buying and downloading courses on music, philosophy and literature from The Great Courses. 

 

    I'm particularly smitten with this professor - Dr. Robert Greenberg.

 

He's smart, he's funny, and I know more about opera, symphony, and a bunch of composers...

You might as well enjoy yourself and learn something while you're burning calories.

Why yes, I AM running behind schedule... More normal posting will ... View the Post

Do you actually WEAR your favorite clothes?

May 10, 2013   Yesterday, when I was getting dressed, I reached out for my favorite silk jacket. It's from Eileen Fisher, it's a color she calls cobblestone, which is sort of bronze/grey/green, and when I wear it I look tall and thin and young, and AMAZINGLY stylish.   I reached.  And then I pulled back.  WHAT?????   Somewhere in the back of my mind lurks this voice that says "oh, save that for a special occasion..."   Really?  At my age?  It's not like I'm going to get dirty on the playground, nor spill chocolate milk on myself at lunch. (mmmmm....chocolate milk....)   What's the worst thing that can happen?  

I might be the best-dressed person at work.  (Oh bother) ... View the Post

Considering Colors – 2 more books

February 22, 2013

This first book is chock full of color combinations, with specific references to a variety of adjectives (which you might find appropriate, or laughably odd).  Not everything to my taste (NOTHING should ever be exactly to my taste, unless I wrote it myself), but certainly many good ideas, and lots of thought-starters.

 

 

Turns out that all three books by Kobayashi are fascinating little volumes, and cover a great deal of the same ground...Remember the 180 words, from which we were requested to choose our favorites and least favorites, that I wrote about back on February 5th?  Color Image Scale printed a list of the 30 preferred and disliked words...  Clearly, the ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Les Bateaux, by Vincent Van Gogh

Sand, sky, and deep water - the perfect juxtaposition of cool and warm colors...

Van Gogh painting, "Les Bateaux", suede jacket – Les Bateaux, blue sweater – Jil Sander, pants – Burberry, loafers – Bottega Veneta, blouse – Vanessa Bruno, earrings – Target, suede skirt – Ralph Lauren, pumps – Nine West    

Van Gogh painting, "Les Bateaux", sweater – Acne, pants – Dsquared2, scarf – Yarnz, loafers – Bottega Veneta, cardigan – Lauren by Ralph Lauren, necklace – Mita Marina Milano, turtleneck – J. Crew, pants – Theyskens Theory    

Van Gogh painting, "Les Bateaux" ,  sweater – Romwe, scarf – Stella McCartney, leather skirt – Carven, loafers – Via Spiga, sweater – Romwe, scarf ... View the Post