The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Signature: A Grey and Ruby Autumn Scarf

October 3, 2013   So, I decided against an eternity scarf, and decided to purchase this beauty instead.  

  And as I admired how really pretty it is, and how nice the accents in ruby are, in the middle part of the scarf, I got to thinking about how this could be a really great focal point around which one could build their autumn wardrobe.  What a beautiful color scheme it suggests:  

  I already have my autumn wardrobe well and completely purchased, but if I were to go on a big shopping spree, this might be a fun splurge.  

Wool coat- Vanessa Bruno, earrings – Novica, sweater- Cuple, flannel trousers – Carven,  silk blouse – Emporio Armani, bracelet – CoriNa Mardari, tee  ... View the Post

Chic Sightings: A Simple Black Dress, a Cardigan, and SNAZZY shoes

October 2, 2013

 

Cardigan – Chinti and Parker,  Grey pumps – Everybody,  teal cardigan – House of Fraser, teal-trimmed pumps – Carolinna Espinosa    

Black & brown pumps – Softspots, brown cardigan – Paul & Joe Sister, camel cardigan – Burberry,  Camel and black pumps – Enzo Angiolini  

Grey cardigan – Massimo Alba, Floral slingback – J. Renee,  maroon cardigan – Sonia Rykiel, pumps – Marvin K.  

Dress – Stefanel   ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Double Lucky – Charley Harper

September 30, 2013   This is such a great painting - simple, but beautifully balanced and whimsical, with a wonderful usage of multiple shades of green.  Many people find green hard to wear, but if it looks good on you, I say wear it often, and with a smile.   From this painting, I drew primarily the idea of looking for a lot of different shades of green, and of balancing the outfits through the strategic use of green accessories...   Does anybody else remember reading a book - maybe as a child in the '60's - that included a character named Mrs. Moss?  She was a schoolteacher, and she ALWAYS wore green?  It's tickling around in the back of my head, and I can't figure out if I really read this, or if it ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Cliffs of the Upper Colorado River, by Thomas Moran

September 24, 2013   This painting made me think of subdued yet strong colors - both warm and cool.  Intensely pigmented, but muted in brightness...  It was a beautiful challenge.  

  Cardigan – A. F. Vandevorst,  jeans – Brunello Cucinelli, bag –nada,  loafer – Trotters, gold silk blouse – Lanvin, pearl necklace – Majorica,  skirt – Deborah Drucker, high-vamp pumps - Trotters  

 

 

Stud earrings-  Linda Friedrich Jewelry,  Blouse –Marc by Marc Jacobs,  jeans – Uniqlo,  ballet flats – Sofft,  taupe tunic – Maison Martin Margiela 4, pleated skirt – Uniqlo, triangle earrings- Robert Rose,  belt – Halogen,  pumps - ... View the Post

An interesting juxtaposition of timeless and trendy

September 11, 2013

So yesterday, I spent the afternoon with Slim, at an auction house here in Chicago.  They were having an extensive sale of Vintage Couture and Accessories - Vintage, using the term loosely...  Specifically, we wanted to see if it was within budget to bid on either of these two:

Turned out that things went a bit too rich for our budgets, but the contrast between the things we saw at the auction, and the contents of my email inbox when I got back to my desk, was striking:

There's nothing particularly wrong with thinking about next year's colors - if you're in the fashion industry.  But the difference between clothes that were impossible to date, and the implied "temporary-ness" of the lists of ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Fall Accent 2013: Turbulence

September 9, 2013   I've had lots of questions about the Pantone Autumn/Winter 2013 colors, and how to integrate them into a wardrobe, so I'm going to show a series of posts that might give you some ideas, or some help.     I'm starting with Turbulence, because it's easy to work with, since it's more of a neutral than a bright accent...  

 

Next, just for working purposes, I'll start with a very neutral wardrobe; 10 pieces that might be in almost anybody's wardrobe, are readily available, and easily combined with other items.

  Just off the top of my head, there are a dozen easy outfits added to your wardrobe.  Realistically, there are a lot more ... View the Post

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

Simply Seasonless: Navy Skirt with White Dots

July 19, 2013    

 

Navy sweater -  Maison Martin Margiela, Scarf – Brooks Brothers, Boots – Frye, Pink sweater – Proenza Schouler, Necklace – Georg Jensen, Sandals – Softspots

Anchor-trim sweater – Lucien Pellat Finet, Pearl necklace – Ann Taylor, Navy suede flats – Brooks Brothers, Quartz earrings – Nikki Baker, green boucle tee shirt – Michael Kors, Hermès vintage scarf,   Suede flats – Butter  

Navy tee shirt – Paul Smith, Striped bag – TL 180,  Pumps – Bettye Muller, White embellished tee shirt – 3.1 Phillip Lim, Leather bracelet – Totokaelo, Striped flats – Jenni Kayne  

Tank top – Organic by John Patrick,  Earrings – Georg ... 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

Signature: Anne Selby pleated silk scarf

July 12, 2013   These scarves are sufficiently beautiful that they would make a compelling focus for one's wardrobe.  Even if you didn't wear the scarf every day, using the colors in it as a unifying theme for your purchases could  be a brilliant idea...  

Ruffled silk scarf – Anne Selby    

 

Olive coat – Jil Sander,  olive sweater- Ralph Lauren, Earrings – Georg Jensen,  Silk top – Jil Sander, Grey cardigan – Tsumori Chisato,  Taupe cotton velvet jeans –Brunello Cucinelli, Taupe sweater – Nina Ricci,  Suede skirt – Jitrois, Bracelet – Gag and Lou,  Bag – TSM The Swedish Model, Loafers –Geox, Pumps – RSVP,  Grey jeans – BLK ... View the Post