The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Start with Art: Sport Coat by Pierre Mourgue

May 26, 2023

Okay, this is NOT at all in season, but I couldn't resist! I suspect that we will take a look at more of this artist - I'm quite smitten... Family, and Sport

Once upon a time, when a woman was attending a sporting event in the autumn, she would dress like the women in this lovely painting. Now, our heroine is using her colors, and her calm confidence, as her inspiration!

From time to time, one will be invited to see a family member do something sporty - a niece or nephew who plays football, or American football. Or any other number of sports - there are a lot of possibilities!

Our heroine wants to appear calm, relaxed and pretty. Not such bad goals, eh?

She can absolutely bet her entire retirement ... View the Post

First Half of Six Paintings, 12 Months – May 2023

May 5, 2023

Our heroines are branching out - their lives are different from each other, and their wardrobes will also be different... Seems obvious, except for those times when we're all told to get a beige trench coat, or a little black dress...

Our first heroine is experiencing some REALLY warm weather, interspersed with days when it pours rain and is chilly!

She decided to just forget about the cool interludes, and jumped onto a beautiful warm-weather outfit in soft shades of green and blue:

She doesn't have a third of her wardrobe in each of the 3 colors, but this still feels balanced:

And her accessories are spot-on! How fun to find the perfect light blue sandals...

As always, her new clothes bring her ... View the Post

Second Half of Six Paintings, 12 Months – April 2023

April 5, 2023

It's tempting to think of what one might do with a completely new wardrobe - horrible as that would be in reality. I admit that I would be really tempted to wear all different shades of grey... hmm...

So this "every shade of brown to ivory" really appeals to me - using texture and lots of accessories to keep things interesting, while at the same time always being easily recognizable!

This heroine's not all that interested in Spring, yet. But she has the good sense to at least get a pair of linen pants, and some sandals!

Many will find this boring, but I'm very drawn to the calm variations of color here:

And I'm quite smitten with her accessories!

Let's see what new possibilities our heroine's ... View the Post

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: (Country Doctor) Night Call by Horace Pippin

March 13, 2023

She is ready to simplify. The recent report "Unfit, Unfair, Unfashionable" recommended that people living in 4-season climates should have a wardrobe of no more than 85 things - garments and shoes... 

For winter, she's going to start here:

If she's going to have 85 items, that means 22 per season, with a bonus item; she's already decided that her bonus item will probably be a wool dress than can be worn all year!

The colors:

She's going to go outfit by outfit - 3 garments and a pair of shoes... And she's starting with jeans!

Next she starts with her black knit pants...

A simple grey and white outfit with jewelry:

And black jeans too! Her life is pretty casual...

She ... View the Post

Accent Colors to Wear With Gray – Pantone New York Autumn/Winter 2023

March 6, 2023

Grey for warm weather is hard to find! Later on, I might be able to find gray linen without a lot of trouble, but right now we have to think of grey as something we will wear on cool spring days...

All I'm doing here is showing all 10 of the Pantone Colors for Autumn/Winter 2023, as chosen from the New York Fashion Week shows... (which means that there will be ANOTHER bunch of colors for London, and probably ANOTHER bunch for Autumn/Winter, without any fashion show connection!)

I'm eager to hear from you all about which of these color combinations you like, and which you ... View the Post

Second Half of Six Paintings, 12 Months – March 2023

March 3, 2023

Let's check on our other 3 heroines!

Boy do I love these colors...

This heroine felt like she was in a pretty good spot for pants - she's got black jeans, and another pair of black pants; those of us who wear black could go for weeks with just these 2!

AND... she found 2 cardigans she loves, as well as 2 scarves that are perfect with the cardigans. So she grabs a black tee shirt to give herself that "column of a neutral color" that is so versatile, and away she goes!

Her wardrobe now has 11 garments - enough for a week-long trip, if she so chooses...

It's pretty easy to see how versatile this wardrobe can be!

If someone magically put all of this into my closet, I could certainly look pretty ... View the Post

Japanese 24 Seasons of the Year – Ursi – Rain Water

February 22, 2023

We've had as much rain as we have had snow in the last month! Not an "average" February in Chicago!

But if you've got a rainy day facing you, a cozy outfit with warm socks for indoors, and with sneakers for later, when the rain stops, is just the thing...

This is a good time to find sweatshirts and sweaters in pretty colors - the cheer of spring to wear during the cold of spring!

While these outfits are great on their own, they also give you new garments and new accessories for your wardrobe:

If you can hear the rain on your roof, it could lull you into a nap!

 

Even if your wardrobe is traditional colors, you can still snuggle up!

Sweatpants are so useful in changeable ... View the Post

First Half of Six Paintings, 12 Months – February 2023

February 1, 2023

I'm already at the point where it's better to break this post into 2 posts; it's a lot to digest (or to produce!) at 1 time!

The order of the paintings is different this month; I'm hopeful that I can remember to re-order them each month to keep things fresh...

First up - the train station!

Maybe it's the single-digit temperatures today, but I realized that all of our heroines could probably use a jacket (although these are NOT the jacket one needs for the dead of winter)... Another tee shirt is pretty important at this point, and jeans or other pants. 

This heroine is due for something in beautiful soft green (called "eucaluptus steam" - it feels like a humidifier when you have a cold!), and a pair ... View the Post

Japanese 24 Seasons of the Year – Daikan – Major Cold

January 23, 2023

It's certainly cold enough, although I'd give quite a bit for some real snow...

I hope that it's safe to assume that we've all worked through all of the autumn and winter sales, and are more than ready to start thinking of Spring!

If you're difficult to fit, or picky, or wear an unusual size (especially shoes!), this is when you should start looking at your warm weather wardrobe. Having an entirely new outfit queued up for the first warm day is sensible AND fun...

This soft light camel can be worn with darker brown now, and with white later on:

Is this the year that you get yourself a great new spring jacket?

In winter, as in all seasons, the beauty sometimes lies in the details:

The ... View the Post

Start with a Scarf: Gabriella by Elizabetta

December 30, 2022

Happy Birthday, you down in Georgia!!!

You Have to Choose...

She's a judge. She has to pick. Every time. 

Now that she's packing for a few winter days away, she will NOT choose between warm and cool colors. She doesn't want to, and she doesn't feel that she needs to either!

She's heard it all - "it's not right to wear gold with grey," "Olive is only for women with a certain coloring," "shades of green can't really be worn together - especially cool greens and warm greens."

Humbug, she says.

It might not always be easy to find the right things.

It might not always look like what others are wearing.

It might draw a 2nd look.

She loves the subtlety and nuance of these colors ... View the Post

Six Paintings, 12 Months – a 2023 Preview!

December 23, 2022

It's like an early Christmas gift! And if you don't celebrate Christmas, it's just a gift, full stop.

This was quite a bit harder than choosing 6 scarves; there's something to be said in defense of any painting, so rejecting any of them was difficult...

Let's get started!

 

I couldn't resist this! Black and white with pink and purple, and just enough blue to include denim in the wardrobe...

Flash back to the wardrobe from when we first saw this painting.

I'm starting each of our heroines with some simple essentials:

Yes, we looked at this painting just recently...

But for those of us clamoring for brown, this is worth looking at some more!

Her basics are pretty lovely, ... View the Post

Part 3 December 2022: Six Scarves, 12 Months

December 7, 2022

Our last 2 heroines! I grow attached to these projects...

First, let's visit our heroine with the Chrysanthemum scarf:

This heroine isn't planning to dress up much this season - she's more interested in warm and casual!

Her wardrobe of 40 garments looks coherent and very versatile:

And her accessories are wonderful - accessories make so much difference...

Her new garments can be worn more than 2 different ways (each), but she makes certain that she has at LEAST those options...

And now to my favorite heroine - the one who figured out that wearing brown and black together is magical!

THE BLAZER. Oh great shiny chocolate-coated Buddha on a bagel, THE BLAZER...

If I could wear ... View the Post