The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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A Warm-Hued Travel Capsule Wardrobe: Start with Art – Lane Near Wormingford by John Nash

November 13, 2023

This art is on the VERY short list to be included in next year's "Six Paintings, 12 Months..."

No Black Friday for Me, Thank You! She's leaving Thursday, after an early afternoon meal with her large, rowdy, noisy, messy family....

She will help clean up the kitchen and dining room.

She will help do dishes.

She will help pack leftovers for everyone.

And THEN... She's off to her favorite quiet rural area, where her favorite small hotel is holding a room for her....

Yes, she's going to change clothes before she leaves - she wouldn't want to wear her favorite silk shirt to muck about in a holiday kitchen!

She's just taking her small tote; she doesn't need too much for a long weekend ... View the Post

A Travel Capsule in Navy and Blues: Start with Art – The Blue Garden by Lilian Muheim

November 8, 2023

This is her favorite colors, all in one painting!

If you like floral paintings, I strongly encourage you to visit Lilan Muheim's website and enjoy the range of offerings - she's got a LOVELY talent...

One of the things she loves about her favorite paintings is that it includes both navy and olive green; having two neutrals available for one's wardrobe is always useful. She's Named For a Flower... One of the less common ones for names! But she's embraced the whole idea for decades - much easier than feeling ill-used by her parents!

And her favorite colors include the colors of her name-sake flower, so that works out well. 

Her color palette offers plenty of possibilities:

For her upcoming ... View the Post

Another Pair of Capsule Wardrobes: November Six Paintings – Twelve Months

November 6, 2023

Our final heroines for November! One of them is not at all concerned with getting dressed up, but the other is overwhelmed with invitations...

Let's start with our very relaxed, earth-toned heroine:

Her wardrobe at the beginning of November was 32 pieces that were as close to fool-proof as a wardrobe can get; last month she bought a plaid cardigan that still hasn't settled into place, but she's patient...

 

This month, she doesn't have any worries (yet?) about holiday festivities, so she finds an assortment of garments that appeal - the vest will be perfect with last month's dark pants...

She now is the proud owner of TWO plaid garments, and something in tweed too! Nonetheless, her ... View the Post

Two More Capsule Wardrobes: November Six Paintings – Twelve Months

November 3, 2023

More heroines, making "festive dressing" choices...

First, our pastel-loving heroine:

Her existing 32-piece wardrobe is complete, and depending on where she spends the holidays, she may be well-equipped...

But the weather is occasionally cool where she is, so she wants a sweater, and a neutral, dressy skirt. And when she sees the classic, elegant dress, her shopping is done!

Here's how her new purchases fit into her existing wardrobe - lovely additions!

Her new accessories fit in well - although both her shoes and bag are unquestionably the dressiest ones she owns! But those 2 pieces, put with almost any outfit, will make a major difference...

 

Her new skirt can be worn with ... View the Post

Two Capsule Wardrobes: November Six Paintings – Twelve Months

November 1, 2023

As I sit here at the dining table typing, it has just quit snowing in Chicago. Bear in mind that nothing has stuck to the ground, and for all I can tell, it didn't even SNOW down there! We live on the 24th floor; we see snow that never hits the ground...

I don't care. I love snow!

Let's visit our heroines and see what they're doing to prepare for the upcoming holiday season. It might seem terribly early to begin to look at festive attire, but remember that the really good stuff ALWAYS sells out early...

First up - my favorite painting of the six. I think. Subject to change!

You don't have to choose, really! I know people who walk into a room in a museum and immediately pick their favorite painting ... View the Post

Outfit Ideas! Starting with 8 Very Special Echo Scarves

October 30, 2023

Echo has released a total of 14 scarves so far, so let's take a look at the remaining 8 that I didn't visit on Friday...

Let's start with the scarf that I was convinced I didn't like, until I saw it folded. 

Sudden it dawned on me - camel and grey - what's not to love?

Those days when you're just not sure what's appropriate? This kind of outfit - lovely fabrics, subdued colors, and accessories that tie it all together without being gaudy or over the top... Just timeless elegance.

This scarf is the diametric opposite of the first - bold colors and a whimsical image...

I skipped the yellow and deep pink - but you could certainly use them as accent colors...

Those events where ... View the Post

Six Scarves! A Labor of Love from Echo Scarves

October 27, 2023

In case you haven't heard, Echo is producing a series of 100 scarves, designed by 100 different artistic, wonderful people... Only 100 of each scarf is available, and all of the profits are being donated to charity!

fwiw, I don't even get a commission on these scarves, but that's all good - anything for charities AND featuring artists is a mission for me!

I'm going to share them all, and show how I might wear each of them...

When you're considering the purchase of a scarf, thinking about what you're going to wear with your new treasure is only logical; buying a scarf that goes with NOTHING you own might be a lovely gesture, but it's not really practical...

Let's go!

There are - of course - more colors ... View the Post

An “Unfavorite” Color: Start with Art – Euphorbia by Pae White

October 25, 2023

She loves this - it's actually a HUGE tapestry! but MUSTARD?

The colors are the colors of the sports teams on which her children play! Maybe that's why she loves it...

Except. She hates mustard! She doesn't even like the food - no deviled eggs in her life...

But sometimes, she needs to wear a mustard sweatshirt... sigh...

Happily, she adores grey and burgundy - especially together!

Maybe it's a football weekend. Maybe it's a soccer tournament weekend... 

Or just a visit to see her kids! Whatever, she's got a plan...

This is what she takes with her - sometimes she switches her outfits around, but this is always her travel capsule wardrobe:

What can you do with 8 garments? ... View the Post

Tote Bag Travel that Starts with a Bracelet: Dazzling Lynx Bracelets by Fierce Lynx Designs

October 23, 2023

Yes, she's starting early. She knows full well that her friends will start planning holiday events, and she wants to be prepared. She's particularly eager to be able to pack just a few garments in a tote bag, for those overnight, 2-party weekends...

She's not crazy - there are lovely holiday things available right now that are selling out quickly. Nobody seems to be keeping deep inventories these days!

She's starting here!

 

She's one of those women - we all know one - who seems to carry her own illumination system with her! She walks in the door and people start to smile...

For years, she's kept her color palette VERY limited; it gives her lots of opportunity to find things that are amusing, ... View the Post

Start with Art: Silence in the Night by Emilio Pettoruti

October 18, 2023

Finally! She found the perfect painting... Maybe nobody else in the world would feel this way about this work of art, but to her it's just right...

The Simplest Suitcase Possible She's got to travel. She wants to have available a range of dressiness - nothing TOO casual, nor nothing TOO dressy. But still, a sense of choice...

She decides to work with black inner cores - black tee shirts and other tops, with black pants and skirts. Her accent colors will be worn as 2nd layers, scarves and jewelry.

Her first outfit, for travel, is the most casual - jeans and a corduroy jacket!

Her second outfit will include her favorite denim skirt, and purple accents!

She also packs a third outfit - ... View the Post

Six Paintings, Twelve Months: October – A Peasant Woman by Edgar Degas

October 16, 2023

Today's heroine is going to try an experiment; I'm not sure that it's entirely successful, but it's interesting!

Her inspiration is the lovely painting, and these wonderful, warm shades of brown:

At the end of September, our heroine was wearing this 29-piece wardrobe; I think it's lovely and versatile:

 

It's never really occurred to her to think about buying something in a print, but she kept seeing pretty sweaters in all sorts of patterns, and she finally succombed!

Her new wardrobe (with the addition of the 3 new garments) doesn't look a lot different than it did, but she's not sure how useful the plaid cardigan will be!

And please note, she doesn't plan to wear her new scarf with ... View the Post