The Vivienne Files - Page 16 of 269 - Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

Dressy Weekend? Start with a Scarf – The Raven Garden of Happiness by June Hunter

March 22, 2024

It's a dressy weekend - the weather will probably be warm... but there is always a chance of a cool snap!

But how to be dressy without bringing everything you own? Well, a tight color palette and planning ahead is always the way to go.

And how about starting with black and pretty accents?

Before you go down this path, you want to be ABSOLUTELY certain that wearing black isn't a problem. This wardrobe is actually designed for someone who's a prominent figure in a wedding, at which the bridesmaids will be wearing black dresses; I think she's okay with this!

She's wearing a very "normal" travel outfit - closed-toe shoes, and a cardigan for the inevitable freezing air conditioning... but she's rocking ... View the Post

Sorry for the change of plans…

March 18, 2024

I've got a domestic medical issue to handle, so I'm going to be AWOL for at LEAST tomorrow - possible longer.

In the meantime, enjoy my Irish lads celebrating their 2nd consecutive 6 Nations Rugby title...

much love,

Janice ... View the Post

Looking for Unique Accent Colors? Start With a Scarf – Emiliano Ponzi Scarf by Echo

March 15, 2024

Some of us like lots of colors in our wardrobe. And sometimes, we're looking for an inspiration for a new accent color (or two...)

How about this clever and beautiful scarf for some inspiration?

Let's assume that our heroine wears black as one of her neutrals, and is interested in adding at least a couple of new things to her warm-weather wardrobe in black. She then has three really "off the beaten path" accent colors from which to choose!

Most of us can stand to replace summer pants every few years, and a nice cardigan is never a bad choice. But this year, instead of a black & white striped tee, how about butter yellow?

For some of us, this dress might feel short - others might find it just ... View the Post

A Big Multi-Destination Trip? Start with a Scarf – Michela Picchi scarf by Echo

March 13, 2024

One of you has a BIG trip coming up - a week in New York, and then a yacht cruise!

WHERE TO START?

For me, I'm thinking that a color palette is a good place to start...

I'm particularly drawn to this scarf for this particular trip, because it includes the black that seems almost obligatory for New York (although I can assure you that it really isn't...), and then includes white for the cruise. Although, of course, this heroine is going to be able to wear ALL of her colors at both destinations.

The turquoise is perfect for this time of year, as is the yellow. This really could be the ideal color palette!

First up, let me state that for a trip this varied and this long, I assume laundry. At least once. ... View the Post

How Can I Wear My New Scarf? Elizabeth Olwen Scarf by Echo

March 11, 2024

Sometimes, you just know that you want a scarf! (and I suspect that this one will sell our really quickly!)

Such a great design! Lovely colors! Brown and ivory neutrals...

Let's work our way through some accent color possibilities... Starting with red! This scarf would be a nice touch as a belt? Or over the striped top - why not?

Imagine this scarf around your head, or on the handle of your bag, on a hot day...

Maybe you need something to brighten the world up a bit on a cool day...

Feel like your simple blue and bone outfit needs a spark?

Casual and simple doesn't have to be boring:

Maybe you just want to stick with a simple brown and ecru outfit, and put the emphasis on ... View the Post

Sudden Weather Change? Start with a Scarf – Ludovica Serafini & Roberto Palomba Scarf by Echo 100

A new Echo 100 scarf!

We're Still Going to Go... Even though the temperature has dropped about 40 degrees Fahrenheit...

She's sort of caught off guard, for only for a moment! She will start with her new scarf:

While her scarf doesn't actually INCLUDE brown, she feels like it's a comfortable addition to the palette - the brown of the animals, the brown of the tree trunks...

And since they're going to be indoors for most of the time, she's comfortable packing ivory pants!

Her "thrown together" wardrobe looks pretty good!

Since she packed at SUCH the last minute, she decides that she wants to see lots of outfits...

She could have packed brown pants. Or a red sweater. But she was sticking to ... View the Post

Like Green and Blue Together? Start with Art – Portrait of Woman in Green Hat by Picasso

March 6, 2024

She's been thinking about this painting a lot...

Lots of possibilities - from the most basic black and white, with tan accessories, to immersion in green and blue...

If you're only going to be away for a few days, and you're not going to see the same people twice, you can put together a wardrobe that might not be ideal for a longer trip...

And she would really like to see what it feels like to wear blue and green for 3 or 4 days in a row! She wears a LOT of black and white, so something colorful is a change of pace for her.

She won't be doing anything really dressy - a simple shirtdress is as dressed up as she will want to be... Mostly relaxed, casual tourist activities!

If it turns cool, she ... View the Post

March 2024 “Six Paintings, Twelve Months” – Part 2

March 4, 2024

First three paintings can be found here...

Let's visit our other 3 heroines, and their paintings! It's funny how much I love these paintings when I come back to them after almost a month...

At the end of February, our heroine had a cheerful and very practical 12-piece travel capsule wardrobe:

I fully expected to be adding white to this wardrobe at this point, but then I stumbled onto some lovely light grey, and decided it was wise to grab it! Gray in the summer can be really difficult to find, so avail yourself of it when it's around.

Her wardrobe now looks more like she wants to include a range of shades of grey - up until now, she's been pretty dedicated to charcoal... And the red is ... View the Post

March 2024 “Six Paintings, Twelve Months” – Part 1

March 1, 2024

Even with the extra day yesterday, I'm still not quite sure that I'm ready for March. But she will arrive regardless of my degree of preparation, right?

After a 50 degree overnight temperature drop, I'm not sure what season we're in, nor what to wear on any given day...

But let's look at art, and the wardrobes intrepid heroines assemble based upon their favorite colors and paintings!

So restful, calm and classic. I could walk for hours down this lane...

At the end of February, our heroine has this 12-piece capsule wardrobe:

As she's thinking about what to add, the burgeoning spring warmth suggests to her that maybe some green would be pretty!

Still a couple of sweaters - warmth doesn't ... View the Post

Want to Expand a Travel Capsule Wardrobe? Start with a Bracelet – Voyage to Tibet by Fierce Lynx Designs

February 28, 2024

Monday, our heroine started with her new bracelets, and assembled a small but cheery wardrobe to pack for a meditation retreat...

This was her wardrobe - doesn't this just feel bright, light and clean?

She had a wonderful retreat - and she was very happy with her travel capsule wardrobe. So much so that she decided to add another neutral and make this her warm weather wardrobe for at least a year or two...

But what neutral? Black would work, but might be hard to wear with yellow or green on a regular basis. Beige might wilt when paired with bright accents, as might olive or any other muted color...

Navy. It's obvious, really...

Her target number of garments for her warm weather wardrobe is 24, ... View the Post

Want a Cheerful and Meaningful Warm Weather Holiday Wardrobe? Start with a Bracelet – Voyage to Tibet bracelets by Fierce Lynx Designs

February 26, 2024

She's going somewhere hot! Well, hot during the day - cooler in the evenings...

Her trip is only for a long weekend, but she's excited, and she has a plan, based on her new bracelets:

She's NOT going to Tibet - that might be a longer trip than just a long weekend! - but she will be meditating, mostly on the world and the elements that compose it. So, a bracelet that includes blue (to represent sky and space), white (air and wind), red (fire), green (water), and yellow (earth) seems just right!

Yes, she fully understands that she might get dirty. But she won't be doing anything grubby or overly physical; meditation retreats are nice, quiet places...

For starters, she assembles her favorite core of ... View the Post

Want a Warm, Simple Spring Wardrobe? Start with Art – Labor by Norbert Schwontkowski

February 23, 2024 This Year, She Wants to Keep Things Simple... Simple, like this:

She doesn't want too many things. She doesn't want lots of flowers or stripes or novelty prints. She wants calm...

Her colors are going to be drawn from this painting - she's going to use the wee table legs as her excuse to include some brown in her Spring wardrobe!

She starts with rose... this is really what caught her eye first, when she found "her" painting.... that rose wall!

Next, she finds her beige things. They're not all the same color, and that's just fine. Beige is nice that way...

Knowing that Spring isn't always warm, she feels drawn to the idea of including some brown in her wardrobe...

And last, she wants ... View the Post