The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Start a Capsule Wardrobe With Archives - Page 154 of 154

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Down on His Luck, by Frederick McCubbin

Jacket – Oscar de la Renta , Cardigan – Michael Kors, Blouse – L’Agence, Tee shirt – T by Alexander Wang  

Jeans – Acne, Skirt – Bottega Veneta, Cords – Current/Elliott, Scarf - Hermès   

Vanilla blouse – Vanessa Bruno, coat – Tibi, Dress – Diane von Furstenberg, coat – Alexander Wang  

Sweater – J. Crew, Pants– Burberry Prorsum, Skirt – Maje, Jacket – Michael Kors    

Dress – Maxmara , Sweater – Vanessa Bruno, Tee shirt – Zoe Tees, Short-sleeved blouse – Alberta Ferretti  

Sleeveless top – Steffen Schraut , Blouse – Gucci, Velvet pants - Gucci, Sweater – Calvin ... View the Post

Wardrobe: Hermès Ferronnerie in burgundy

Blazer – Maison Martin Margiela , Cardigan – Ralph Lauren Black Label, Silk blouse with merlot cuffs – Stella McCartney, Tee Shirt – J. Crew, Pants – Maison Martin Margiela, Skirt – A.L.C., Jeans - Levis, Scarf - Hermès  

Silk blouse - Aces, Trench coat – Derek Lam, Winter coat – Vanessa Bruno, Dress – Balenciaga, Corduroy jeans – J. Brand, Skirt – Diane von Furstenberg, Sweater – Stylebop, Black wool jacket – Alexander McQueen   

Dress – J. Crew, Cardigan - Crumpet, Purple tee shirt - Debenhams, Tee shirt – J. Crew, Cashmere v-neck – Ralph Lauren, Pants – John Lewis, Sweater – See by Chloe, Sleeveless ... View the Post

A capsule wardrobe of blue & grey, based on abalone shell jewelry

Someone brilliantly requested that I build them a wardrobe based on the colors of the abalone shell.  With the inspiration I got from looking at abaloneshelljewelry.com, I built the following:

 

Blazer – Chloe (similar here), Cardigan – Miu Miu (similar here), Blouse – L. K. Bennett (similar here), Tee Shirt – J. Crew, Pants – Chloe (similar here), Skirt – Anglomania by Vivienne Westwood, (similar color here)  

Jeans – Rag and Bone, (similar here) Scarf - Hermès  

 

 

blouse – L’Agence (similar here), Trench coat – Z Spoke by Zac Posen, Winter coat – Calvin Klein   

Collection, Dress – Chloe, Pants– Current/Elliott, Skirt ... View the Post

Decoding the mysterious “weave knot”

This scarf knot has been receiving a lot of attention in the blog world recently; I saw a NINE step instruction diagram/hieroglyphic on how to tie it!   Rest assured, it's not at all complicated - it's really just a clove-hitch knot, which any self-respecting boy scout could tie blindfolded.  So in the interest of beautifying the scarf world, I'm going to tell you how to tie this knot, in five steps, in less than one minute, without a mirror.1.  Arrange the scarf with the two ends hanging down in the front - the left side reaching to about your waist, and the right end (now fondly called the long end) to your right.

2.  Cross the long end under the short end across your chest.  You are now finished with the ... View the Post

Did you put on your sunscreen this morning?

My dear mother has a divot on her forehead the size of a small ravioli (or maybe a cocktail-sized crab cake - I'm really hungry!).  She had a malignant skin cancer removed a few weeks ago, and she is going to have a pretty severe scar for the rest of her life.  Happily, they are confident that the entire cancer was removed, and they don't at this time believe that she has any other "spots" that will become a problem.  But from now on, she has to be checked head to toe every six months.

She never was a sun-bather, but she worked in our yard and garden throughout the year.  I never saw her wear a hat, and I don't remember her ever putting what we used to call suntan lotion on her face.  She never seemed to be ... View the Post

Coup de Coeur

 

  Vivienne taught me years ago that it is essential to only buy things you really love - for which you experience that elusive "coup de coeur". This is a phrase I particularly love, because while it is generally understood to mean love at first sight, it has a more... physical?  feeling about it. After all, a coup de pied means a kick, and a coup d'etat means overthrowing the government, so to me, a coup de coeur is like a kick in the heart, or your heart being overturned. What we're looking for here is a really deeply felt, visceral reaction.

And this is something that I've struggled with for a long time. I've always been very influenced by other people's opinions about the right things to own and wear, and so ... View the Post

Easy as…. biscuits?

 

I firmly believe that at least once every late spring/early summer, dinner should consist of nothing but strawberry shortcake!  It's not nutritionally balanced, but it's not the worst thing you could have for a meal, and everybody needs to take some time out once a year and truly savor strawberries.  As William Allan Butler reminds us "doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did."

   

    If you really want to look like a cooking genius with very little effort, make homemade biscuits to use as shortcakes.  Biscuits are truly one of the easiest foods in the world, if you have the essential tool (show above): a pastry blender (or cutter).  Sure, you could ... View the Post

Paris shopping: Au Nom de la Rose

These tiny little shops are tucked all over Paris, and they are like little floral jewelry boxes, with fragrance added.  They often spread rose petals on the sidewalk outside their shops, which just about breaks your heart.  Floral arrangements are available from the most tiny nosegay (what a treat to carry to dinner!) to the most immense "boy did I screw up" apology bouquet imaginable.  Only in Paris could roses be so cherished!

www.aunomdelarose.fr ... View the Post

A coat that I admired…

 

  Getting off of the train on my way to visit relatives, I started chatting with a woman wearing the above jacket.  Her outfit was very simple, black pants and a classic handbag, and the jacket made her look - simple and elegant.  I've not had another rain jacket in my shopping plan, but this sighting of sleek chicness has me thinking...

love, Janice ... View the Post

A different criteria for my possessions

Over the years I've looked at all sorts of schemes and organizational plans for how to decide what to purchase - are you building a capsule wardrobe?  maybe buying the entire matching set of sheets?  For whatever category of product you're purchasing, someone somewhere will give you some guidance regarding what to buy. But I don't really want to live my life (or spend my money) according to someone else's guidelines, so I've searched for years for a different way to evaluate the merits of the things I'm going to buy.

A few years ago, a distant relative died, leaving nobody near to her to clean out her home.  My mother and I gamely volunteered to take on the project, and in retrospect I think we were both suffering from ... View the Post

So I just realized that people are still reading what I wrote….

And so I've decided to take matters into my own hands and create my own blog!  I'm still in touch with many fascinating and fabulous French females, and so I will try to use this space as an opportunity to share with you what I learn from them.  If you have questions which you would like for me to pose to my companions, just let me know! ... View the Post