Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature
November 6, 2022
I've been in the apartment, or in our building, most of the time. Today we are going out to visit our favorite garden center in the city - looking for our Christmas wreath! (yes, it's wildly early, but we want to get the perfect one!)
I hope everyone is having as wonderful a day as we are!
love,
Janice
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November 4, 2022
I think this is my favorite...
This imaginary heroine had the exceptional good luck to wander into Banana Republic to do her shopping this month!
One might say she went a bit overboard, but if she's reasonably careful, she should have some of these things for the rest of her life! (I would buy a black suede shirt...)
Everything she's purchased goes beautifully with her existing wardrobe:
And her accessories are gorgeous:
Camel and black look wonderful together, as do camel and ivory. This heroine is going to love her new pieces:
Let's look at our next scarf:
Today's 2nd heroine had the equally good fortune to be in J.Crew when she decided that it ... View the Post
November 4, 2022
What HAVE I been doing for the last 4 days? Living my normal life: working on The Vivienne Files, seeing friends when I have a chance, watching the World Series, taking care of things at home.
You know, LIFE!
love,
Janice
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November 2, 2022
What do you do when you've got a real longing for some new clothes?
What about when you're in a store, and you decide you're going to shop?
That's what I'm thinking about this month... Our first heroine wanders into Boden, and wander out with some interesting things!
Remember, her inspiration is this scarf:
Our heroine was pretty disciplined - she stayed with green and pink accents for her purchases... The sweater, though...
When she brings her new things home (or when they are delivered, more likely!), she can see that the pants blend in perfectly, her green silk top goes with a lot of things, and the paisley sweater... is lovely.
Maybe this is the time for her to remember that her entire ... View the Post
October 31, 2022
It's described as grey on the Boden website, but it really looks more taupe to me, and to the reader who wrote to me with her concern...
What do you do if these sweaters arrive in your home, and they're lovely and fit beautifully and you really like them, but they're a color that is completely new to you?
My first thought is to treat this color like an accent color; if you can find shoes that match, it's a bonus!
The cardigan could be worn over any other color with the same intensity and saturation i.e. any soft, kind of muted pastel...
Of course, you can always wear the 2 pieces with pants or a skirt in your favorite neutral...
Yes, you've seen this skirt before! I've found that my pleated ... View the Post
October 30, 2022
A lot of time with my family, which is my favorite thing!
love,
Janice
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October 28, 2022
She's Hard to Describe... For one thing, she's the only woman a lot of them know who can wear a ruana and look like a heroine from a romance novel...
She thinks that she's very low-key and inconspicuous - after all, she wears a lot of grey!
Her accent colors aren't bright, or gaudy...
But still, there's something about her that catches your eye, and doesn't readily let go...
If someone is truly beautiful, the world will see it...
Even if their beauty is entirely inside. Or maybe, ESPECIALLY if their beauty is internal...
love,
Janice
p.s. Nine years ago, I sorted out the "Triple Top Secret." It was something that I'd been doing for years without really seeing the ... View the Post
October 27, 2022
Out and about both days - doctor appointments and lovely lunch dates!
love,
Janice ... View the Post
October 26, 2022
Eloping...
Everyone assumes that they're already married - and that they've been married for years!
On Tuesday, they decided to make it legal, for so many reasons...
They dashed over to the Justice of the Peace in the middle of the afternoon, when they got a phone call that they could sneak in during a gap in the schedule. They went dressed in their "work at home" clothes!
And now, they're going to sneak off for a long weekend together!
They're going to their favorite city, for a few days of museums, concerts and dinners. Nothing over the top, but lovely and romantic!
She's never packed for a last-minute honeymoon before - but she things this will work just fine!
How can she ... View the Post
October 25, 2022
A warmish day, and then a rainy day. My dress adapts...
love,
Janice
... View the Post
October 24, 2022
This is just about the time each year when you realize that you're going to need to wear a sweater (or sweatshirt) just about EVERY DAY. If that's what you're facing as autumn peaks, and winter starts to make itself felt, maybe you deserve a really NICE sweater...
If you start buying cashmere sweaters when you're 30, and you buy 1 per year, you will have almost 3 dozen of them by the time you retire! Not a bad wardrobe to wear through your "golden" years, eh?
It goes with every neutral, and probably flatters almost all of us - what's not to love about burgundy/wine/merlot/berry?
Of course, if you look good in gold, WEAR GOLD! It's so lovely...
Frost can be beautiful...
Autumn and winter do ... View the Post
October 23, 2022
We're off for a walk - we need to pick up our race packets for the "Carrera de los Muertos" next weekend!
So unseasonably warm...
love,
Janice
... View the Post
