The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

Home » Travel with Janice » Page 14

Travel with Janice Archives - Page 14 of 17

Paris: shopping @ Agnes B., Muji, French Trotters

Of COURSE we shopped.  It would require super-human discipline for belovedest and I to stay out of stores in Paris.  Partly, of course, shops in Paris are a great opportunity to get some insights into the French aesthetic - the way the stores are arranged, the way the merchandise is displayed - it's just NOT like shopping in Chicago.And then, there are some stores that just don't exist in Chicago - specifically Agnes B. (who had a store here which closed a few years ago), Muji, and French Trotters.  If I were absolutely forced to purchase all of my clothing from one store, it would be Agnes B.; her designs appeal to me completely.  And Muji is just cool - streamlined products of every possible sort.  French Trotters ... View the Post

Parisiennes: White Jeans in October

Women of all ages were still wearing white jeans, without seeming to even consider that they might be "out of season".  Except for avoiding slush and puddles, why NOT wear white jeans all year 'round?  The ban on white is sort of archaic, isn't it?

Jeans – J Brand, plaid shirt – Patagonia, loafers – Vaneli, sweater – Sheinside, pink loafers - Valentino  

Jeans – J Brand, sweater – Elizabeth and James, oxfords – Mel, flowered sweater – Dolce & Gabbana, kitten-heel pumps – Stuart Weitzman  

Jeans – J Brand, blouse – Equipment, white leather jacket – Blk Dnm, purple flats – Puma, chambray shirt – Madewell, cardigan – Zadig & Voltaire, pink flats - Modcloth  

Jeans – J ... View the Post

Paris: Hotel Pavillon des Lettres

Our hotel was perfect.  It's rare that anybody can say that with complete sincerity, but in this case, there was absolutely nothing we would have changed.

The Pavillon des Lettres is a 26-room hotel, designed around the theme of authors.  Rather than numbering the rooms, they assign each of them a letter (hence the 26 works our very well).  Each room is then dedicated to an author who's last name begins with the letter of the room.

We stayed in Ibsen.  It was very small by the American standard of "one must be able to square-dance in one's hotel room" (yet another reason to pack lightly!), but exquisitely designed, quiet, and comfortable.

Anybody who believe that Parisians are rude has never stayed at this hotel ... View the Post

Chic Sighting: Black Top(s)

Black tee – Dorothy Perkins, denim shorts – Awear, sandals – Jimmy Choo, black asymmetrical top – Rag & Bone, capris – Patagonia, flats - Toms  

Black tank – Splendid, rose print trousers – Topshop, flats – Charlotte Russe, off the shoulder top – Red Valentino, floral print pants – J. Crew, sandals – Jil Sander  

Black camisole – BKE, linen pants – CP Shades, tennies – Converse Chuck Taylor, black polo – Barbour, chiffon pants – 3.1 Phillip Lim, wedge sandals – John Lewis  

Black blouse – Fever Millie, print skirt – Rebecca Taylor, sneakers – Keds, tank – Forever New, lace skirt – L’Agence, black pumps – Jimmy Choo  

Black sheer blouse – H&M, denim skirt – Industry of ... View the Post

Chic Sightings: A Base of White

Although it might seem reckless to wear white in the city, lots of us do it all the time.  New York was full of women using white as a base for a wide variety of very personal looks... Flowered tank – Tillys, denim capris – True Religion, purple sandals – Debenhams, dotted top – Giambattista Valli, capris – Dorothy Perkins, sandals – Jil Sander  

Sleeveless top – Romwe, denim shorts – True Religion, sandals – Bottega Veneta, striped tee shirt – Mango, Bermuda shorts – Vince, espadrilles - Debenhams  

Tee shirt – Kain Classic, linen pants – CP Shades, espadrilles – Missoni, red sleeveless top – Raoul, cotton pants – Moschino, loafers – Nicholas Kirkwood  

Tank – Malene Birger, ruffled skirt – ... View the Post

Visualizing French Chic: Taupe

July 24, 2012

 

Way back when, the original French Chic book listed seven garments, and then a dozen ways to combine them and accessorize them.  I've chosen to visualize this potential in a non-black color (and in some "not quite solid" pieces), and in some younger and less conservative iterations...

And please note that your clothes don't have to all be out of the identical dye lot; a bit of blending is quite alright.

 

 

 

 

love,

Janice ... View the Post

Chic Sightings: Black & White Stripes

Striped sweater – D&G, red jeans – Current/Elliott, loafers – Jil Sander, bue sweater – T by Alexander Wang, striped & dotted skirt – Yohji Yamamoto, blue flats – Roger Vivier  

Striped dress – Dorothy Perkins, yellow cardigan – Black Fleece, sandals – K. Jacques, barcelet – Aspinal of London, striped shirt – Persona, white capris – J. Crew, pink flats – Bottega Veneta  

White shirt – Mango, Black pants – Derek Lam, Striped socks – Monki, white loafers – Tod’s, black tank – DKNY, striped skirt – Vila, sandals - Born  

Striped blazer – Romwe, black tank dress – Raquel Allegra, polka dot sandals – Marni, dress – Vince, striped bag – Jane Norman, ballet flats - ... View the Post

Chic Sighting: bright pants X four

Tee shirts – J. Crew, bracelet – 9 West, blue capris – Dorothy Perkins, Orange sandals – Stuart Weitzman,

 pink capris – Diane von Furstenberg, scarf – Missoni, sandals – Hush   

Tunic – Emanuel Ungaro, earrings – Alexis Bittar, pants – Yigal Azrouel, ballet flats – Isabel Marant,

 brown tee – La Garconne, scarf – Hermès, jeans – Exit Brooklyn, sandals – Dolce & Gabbana   ... View the Post

Visualizing French Chic: olive, and young, and casual

 

Jacket – Virginie Castaway, vest – Humanoid, cardigan – Manestrale, dress – Go Green M by M, Rolled capris – Dorothy Perkins, jeans – J Brand, shorts – D&G  

Black tee – Uniqlo, sunglasses – Lacoste, athletic shoes – Nike, White tee – Fat Face, bracelets – 1928, boots - Cordani  

Tank top – Madewell, fedora – Forever 21, Sandals – Mulberry, flower earrings – Lord & Taylor, gold clutch – Style & Co., gold sandals – Sam Edelman  

Short-sleeved shirt – Old Navy, cross body bag – 9 West, sunglasses – Wetseal, tee – Nike, espadrilles – Mad Love, woven flats - Blowfish  

Tee shirt – J. Crew, scarf – Tillys, ballet flats – Aldo, earrings – Inc International ... View the Post

Chic Sightings: three pairs of ideas

Maybe it's because I was in such a good mood yesterday, but I saw LOTS of nicely-dressed women yesterday.

After a while, I realized that I could group these sightings in pairs, so that you get two perspectives on how to wear beige capris, two different outfits based on bright blue pants, and a way to wear the separates of a navy suit, paired with yellow.

Two things I must call out: 1.  If you would wear a dress over a swimsuit, you probably shouldn't wear it to an office. 2.  Leggings are NOT pants.  And FWIW, neither are yoga pants...

Blouse – Giuletta, Capris – Miu Miu, belt – J. Crew, black sandals – CL by Laundry, cardigan – A.P.C., leopard tee – Romwe, ballet flats – Jimmy Choo  

Tee – J. ... View the Post