The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Travel with Janice Archives - Page 9 of 17

Are These Trends for You? Autumn/Winter 2015

Two people sent me this list, from a well-known magazine, asking if I thought that the items included on this list were things that they should consider buying.Oh, me and trends.... it's a conflicted relationship...

On the one hand, I don't think we should EVER let ourselves be dictated to in terms of what we buy. Unless someone else is going to flat out GIVE me something, I will make my own purchasing choices. And I think there's something inherently self-defeating about chasing trends: you spend money that you probably shouldn't waste on things that are, by definition, going to be obsolete in a short period of time.

That said, I think that unless you're a very famous poet, you should try to look as if you're somewhat in touch with ... View the Post

New York: What I Bought, What we Did

March 28, 2015  

Although I was ill for a shockingly large portion of our vacation, I did manage to get some shopping done too! One day, we walked a long way south through The Village and then over into Soho, where I was mystically compelled into the Eileen Fisher store... Two short-sleeved dresses were the happy result - dresses because they will accommodate my shifting body composition as I work out more, and sleeveless because I've lifted so many weights that my arms DESERVE some time out in public!

Belovedest had a store in mind he wanted to visit - the very charming little Miansai shop, which is the motherlode of leather bracelets. I've never been driven to have a leather bracelet, but when B and I decided to each get one ... View the Post

The road to New York was paved with good intentions…

  Yes, I took my gym clothes with me to New York. I was not in the gym once... But, in my defense, I spent four days of our vacation sacked out in our hotel room, sicker than a dog. Our theory is that the very first meal we ate after arriving is the culprit, but if you've done any research into food poisoning, you know that it could have been anything for days before...

I am one of the very few people to go to New York on vacation and lose weight!

However, in the few days that we were able to be out and about, I did some excellent sight-seeing, and some power shopping! (remember POWER? Purchase Only When Everything's Right). I'll tell you more about what I bought, and where, tomorrow.

But I will close today with a beautiful ... View the Post

Handling Temptation

February 4, 201   Saturday, one of my friends too me to the most AMAZING store... It's completely unassuming name is Juju's Vintage Resale Shop, and it's in a strip mall in Chicago, but very near Niles, Illinois. You could drive past it every day for a decade and never imagine the amazing wonders to be found inside...   This is just one of dozens of displays. It's almost all vintage costume jewelry, it's gorgeous, and the abundance makes your head spin!  

 

 

  Maybe an entire ETAGERE of black and white holds some appeal?  

  It was pretty clear that we were going to be in this store for at LEAST an hour, just admiring all of the amazing items, and the creative and appealing ways ... View the Post

Chic Sightings: A Mixture of Greens

December 12, 2014   I rarely see anybody wearing green, and I almost NEVER see a mixture of shades of green in one outfit, so it was truly a red letter (or a green letter, I suppose) day when I saw both of these women. Sometimes it's certain that these kinds of ensembles are the result of carelessness, or color-blindness, but in both of these cases it was clear that a deliberate plan was at work. Bold statements, but eye-catching and fun. Not for the faint of heart, but certainly something in this to inspire us.  

    love, Janice ... View the Post

Chic Sightings: RED, in the cold weather

December 9, 2014  

We spent a lot of time running around the city this past weekend, finalizing the purchase of gifts for a host of interesting small people! And one of the best parts of being outside on a crisp winter day in Chicago is the people-watching...   The first outfit was pretty conventional, albeit beautifully pulled together; what made it really stand out were her bright red shoes! It was a perfect day for a statement shoe, as there was no precipitation, and nothing slushy on the pavement. She was young, with long dark hair and a brilliant smile. No red lipstick, although that certainly would have been an option!   And the 2nd ensemble was notable for a few reasons. First off, a white coat is a brave ... View the Post

ASAP – As Sustainable As Possible – A New Paris Store (to me…)

  Belovedest and I were doing our usual wander about Paris on our last vacation, when we saw this store across the street. It had the usual clean, simple look that many stores in Paris have (the stores there seem to be either very sleek and simple, or charmingly cluttered in a tiny and inviting way...). With reckless disregard for our safety, which is really the only way to walk in Paris, we crossed the street in the middle of the block and went in...   Before we escaped, we had purchased a beautiful linen plaid scarf for Belovedest, in soft tonal beige, tan and ivory, and I had a new cashmere hooded sweatshirt in traditional grey. I bought the largest size available in the sweatshirt, because I was looking for smooshy, cuddly ... View the Post

Starved for Options

November 14, 2014  

  When B and I go to Paris, we have a standing joke that we share - basically, think of jewelry in some relatively uncommon design or motif (like a bracelet that are a bunch of hands holding each other, or earrings that look like lily of the valley), and without fail, somewhere along our walks, we will find said jewelry, and a million other things we would never have imagined...   I contrast that right now with the offerings in the US, where most department stores costume jewelry departments are dominated by no more than 5 designers, and maybe three other recognizable names. There aren't any small boutiques downtown that carry smaller brands, so if I'm going to make my purchase in-person, I'm ... View the Post

We are SO ahead of our time!

  October 18, 2014

When we were in Amsterdam last month, we of course went to the Rijksmuseum. They have lots of Rembrandt's, some Vermeers - it's worth the effort, trust me. It's a museum that will linger in our memories for the rest of our lives.

But there was one thing there that really caught my eye - our TICKETS!

 

 

  Both of the paintings are in fact details from The Night Watch by Rembrandt - arguably the crown jewel of the Rijksmuseum collection. But note the color schemes on the left side, drawn from the paintings! Remind anybody of our Start With Art? These two bit posters were outside the entrance to the museum. The first is colors taken from The Milkmaid by Vermeer:

  And this is ... View the Post

Denim Shirts in Paris – 12 Versions

October 7, 2014   As I mentioned Saturday, I saw lots of denim and chambray shirts in Paris - they were worn in an amazing variety of ways...   Most simple is wearing these shirts with black.  This can be a nice relaxed "out for the afternoon" outfits with pants and flats, or much dressier, with a pretty skirt and clutch bag.  Sleeves can be rolled, collar stood up in back - anything that personalizes your shirt and makes you happy!  

  A collarless chambray shirt can be a nice counterpoint to a dressy skirt.  Where something lacy or floral might go WAAAAY over the top, these outfits look like you mean to be dressy, but you're not getting carried away. (and look - NO ... View the Post

What They’re Wearing in Paris – Autumn 2014

October 4, 2014  

Well, the weather was so nice in Paris when we were there, at least part of the time the women were still wearing summer clothes! There's absolutely nothing more evocative than a pair of espadrilles that are about to fall apart, on the last warm days of the season... But this is what I saw:

Hosiery. Yes, it's back. Sheer black, sheer nude, opaque black of COURSE, and some interesting black on black stripes and checks. For those of us with less than perfect legs, this is good news. That dark red color that is named for every kind of wine imaginable. I'm NOT going to get into the semantics of what color is which, but I saw a lot of leather goods in shades from a very purple-ish burgundy to a much more ... View the Post