The Vivienne Files - Page 149 of 269 - Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe One Piece at a Time

Unpacking my bag last night, I was thinking about how, for the last handful of trips I've taken, I've started my packing by choosing my travel outfit, and then adding 1 piece at a time until I'm at an appropriate number of garments for the length of my trip. It's a system that's working pretty well for me...I then started considering the possibility of applying this concept to the building of a wardrobe. Some people just aren't in a position to buy an entire wardrobe, or even an entire outfit, at one time. And for those among us who are more comfortable moving gradually into changes, this might be just the ticket!

Let's start with this outfit; maybe this is someone's very favorite ensemble, including the colors around which they wish to ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Nature: A Cardinal, in Warm Colors

So Wednesday I danced with the "cool male" cardinal; today, let's see what the "warm female" cardinal colors have to offer!

I'm going to use exactly the same red garments as I did on Wednesday, just to show how very different they feel when they're used with brown and camel.

Blazer – Emilio Pucci; pants – Austin Reed;

Blouse – Joseph; skirt – Austin Reed

Cardigan – Elder Statesman; trousers – J.Crew;

Tee – Sonia Rykiel; jeans – Austin Reed

V-neck blouse – Velvet; silk-trimmed top – Madewell;

Red sweater - Balenciaga; turtleneck – L.L.Bean

Camel sweater – J.W. Anderson; skirt – Adam Selman;

Space-knit sweater – Adam Selman; dress ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Nature: A Cardinal, in Cool Colors

February 17, 2016

There are a lot of cardinals in the park very near here - it's my favorite detour when I'm out and about to go look for them. They are SO striking, and such a spot of cheerful color on these short, grey winter days!I'm always taken with the way in which the male and female birds are colored differently. He is very high-contrast, in cool colors:

I'm going to visit her color scheme too, but for now, I was in the mood for a small 4 by 4 wardrobe in these colors. Maybe a miniature winter work wardrobe? (for those among us who do miniature winter work?)

Cardigan – L.L.Bean; pants – L.L.Bean; Blouse – Faith Connexion; skirt – Diane von Furstenberg

Cardigan – L.L.Bean; trousers – ... View the Post

The Finishing Steps: Shifting Accessories from Cool Colors to Warm Colors

February 15, 2016

When we left this project, it was neither fish, nor fowl, nor good red meat, as they say...But that's okay, because transition REQUIRES a period of "this and that." Unless you're going to throw out absolutely everything and start from scratch (which I don't recommend, and actively discourage!), you're going to find yourself in this kind of spot if you choose to make a major wardrobe shift. Just press on, patiently and intelligently...

Step 6 - Shoes for Skirts, and a Tote Step 6 of the clothing change gets rid of black skirts and move toward warmer pieces, so your black pumps and boots are pretty obsolete! And you might as well address a new tote bag, since you're in the "leather goods" mood.

Since ... View the Post

The Last 4 Steps: Shifting a Wardrobe from Cool Colors to Warm Colors

February 13, 2016

Okay, let's finish shifting this wardrobe!By now, you should be REALLY comfortable with the colors of your new clothes, and you should also be feeling slightly uneasy when you wear your older things. If you aren't finding this shift to be a big improvement in your love for your wardrobe, STOP SHOPPING. Don't make this shift if you're not 100% sure it's the right thing, and don't continue the move if you feel at any time that you might be making a mistake. There's no shame in stopping at any stage for a lengthy reassessment, and there's no shame in deciding part way through that it was a bad move. The only shame would be in persisting in taking advice from someone else about your wardrobe, when your instincts ... View the Post

The 1st Five Steps: Shifting Accessories from Cool Colors to Warm Colors

February 11, 2016

To me, changing the color palette of your accessories is more difficult than shift a wardrobe of clothes! Jewelry might be valuable, scarves might hold sentimental value, and shoes can be just plain hard to find...Especially when you're starting with a very nice assortment of items like this:

Hoop earrings – Charter Club; pearl earrings – Uno de 50; ring – Chico’s; pearl necklace – Nareerat; brooch – Chloe; square scarf – ImageDiary; tassel earrings – Cole Haan; teardrop earrings – Simon Sebbag; black pearl earrings – Khun Boom; blue necklace – Swarovski; bracelet – Withaya Cheunjit; silver necklace – Elina Miro; fringed scarf – Elizabeth Gillett; tote – Issey Miyake; boots – ... View the Post

The 1st Five Steps: Shifting a Wardrobe from Cool Colors to Warm Colors

February 9, 2016

It's a timeless question, frequently asked here on The Vivienne Files: "I recently had my colors done, and was told that I should wear warm colors. Most of my wardrobe is black - HELP!!!"

First and foremost, always remember that you don't HAVE to do what one color consultant tell you to do. Remember when I described two color consultations that I had. Two RADICALLY DIFFERENT recommendations.... sigh...

But if you choose to shift from cool to warm, I have some ideas about how it might be managed.

Let's start with the wardrobe from last Friday:

If I do say so myself, this is a pretty gorgeous wardrobe, and would see you through a lot of activities and events. But if you're trying to move away from cool ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a Scarf: Version 2 Hydrangea Haze by Ted Baker London

February 8, 2016

I was working on a casual version of this when everybody started asking for a casual version... Sometimes we all think very much alike!

Hydrangea Haze scarf – Ted Baker London

I swapped out the pinks for purple and blue - a great color combination. I also softened the grey from the first version of this wardrobe (revisit it here) for a pure white.And then I found that these 2 accents were VERY difficult to find... at least in items that meet my many requirements!

On Campus?!?!? Yes, of course I'd like to go visit - we're talking about my favorite freshman in the whole wide world. But we're staying ON CAMPUS for Parents and Grandparents Weekend!

Sleeping in a dorm. Eating in ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Fumee d’Ambre Gris by Sargent

February 6, 2016 I spotted this painting ages ago...

The exotic nature of the painting suggests a travel wardrobe, but I didn't want to go too far overboard into a desert vacation, so I went back to our "range of events" trips that so many of us are taking this spring and summer.

And I decided to break a few rules, too! Iconoclast Generally, she's described as the eccentric aunt, but she prefers to think of herself as an iconoclast. An original. A truly self-defined woman...

And she doesn't wear high heels! Nor stockings...

But she can get dressed up as well as anyone, even if it's going to be one of those long weekends with everything from formal dinners to weddings to a picnic. She can pull ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a Scarf: Reflections II by ImageDiary

WHAT a scarf...

And what delicious colors with which to work in a capsule wardrobe...

My goal here was to look for fluidity, as much as possible...What I wouldn't do for this dress, by the way. This is the kind of thing that you buy and then build outfits around - which wouldn't be difficult. While you can easily wear it as I show here, you could also put on tights, boots, a black cardigan and your Reflections II scarf in cold weather...

This scarf was described as having "water drops" as the pattern:

Pearls seems pretty obvious, when the theme is water:

PLEASE, cut the tag gizmo off of the blue sweater... What ARE they thinking?

There ... View the Post

Some Book Recommendations

February 4, 2016

You might remember that I often quote one of my favorite "French fashion" advice books: Ma To-Do List: Dressing, by Jeanne-Aurure Colleuille and Laure Gontier. (available here) One thing from there that I've never told you about is a list of books that they consider useful for refining one's sense of fashion culture. Let me quote them:

"In order to understand the mechanics of the fashion industry, or to be ravished by inspired images... A choice of books both perfectly subjective and totally timeless, to play a bit on the more intellectual side of fashion."

1. The Ladies' Paradise by Emile Zola - all things department store. It reminds you of how very LONG we've been allowing ourselves to be tempted to buy ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a Scarf – Hydrangea Haze by Ted Baker London

February 3, 2016 I love it when one of you falls into mad infatuation with something... This time, it's a lovely scarf!

It's easy for me to be sympathetic to those who fall for something from Ted Baker - the floral prints are SO GORGEOUS...

I actually own both a scarf AND a cardigan in the same fabric (no, I would never wear them at the same time, but I would pack them in the same suitcase in a heartbeat!).

The ground of this scarf is deep navy, and for today I'm using the soft grey flowers, and shades of pink, as the accent colors. There's definitely potential to use blue and purple as accents, if that's your preference.

Trailing spouse, my comfortably shod foot... She hates the term. ... View the Post