The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

The Vivienne Files - Page 2 of 248 - Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

A Capsule Wardrobe Idea – Start with Art: Waldlichtung im Nebel mit Mond by Erich Buchwald Zinnwald

September 7, 2023

Art can be the inspiration for your accent colors; your favorite neutral doesn't actually HAVE to be in the painting!

It translates as "Forest Clearing in Fog with Moon"

"You Know it Could Snow..." Yes, she knows...

But they're going for a couple of weeks, and she has no intention of cancelling, or coming home early, just because of a little bit of cold weather!

So she start her travel capsule wardrobe with a warm jacket, and 2 warm sweaters!

She realistically understands that most of the time, the weather will be cool - possibly even chilly. She is not a child, and she knows how to dress warmly!

Also, she knows how to choose pretty things that make her happy!

She loves ... View the Post

Three Capsule Wardrobes: Second Half of Six Paintings, 12 Months – September 2023

September 4, 2023

I'm so happy with these; sometimes I struggle to find things to add to these wardrobes, but this month I feel like it all just fell out of the skies and into my computer!

This very casual heroine came into September with a wardrobe that's got a lot of soft, gentle colors... 

She knows that she wants a pair of casual pants for cooler weather that AREN'T grey, as well as a couple of darker tops, to reflect the changing season; this is what she found:

Her wardrobe retains its distinctive look and feel, but offers her more options if she wants to wear darker colors!

 

And her accessories are wonderful...

She has plenty of outfits - including warm, darker-hued choices for cold, ... View the Post

Three Capsule Wardrobes: First Half of Six Paintings, 12 Months – September 2023

September 1, 2023

It seems as if ALL of the children in the Northern Hemisphere are back to school! This time of year always makes me want to pull on a sweater and corduroy pants, some short boots and a lovely wool scarf...

Soon enough for cool weather!

Let's get started...

This heroine found herself last month with a 26-piece wardrobe; most of us could manage for quite a long time with that many clothes, if they were for the right weather...

Our heroine clearly understands that she should grab yellow things when she sees something just right. She loves her navy cotton skirt so much that she would like to find another navy skirt to start to dress up for longer evenings ahead... She could certainly get a narrow skirt, ... View the Post

Assemble an Autumn Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Lonely by Erika Giovanna Klien

August 30, 2023

Sometimes a painting just grabs your attention and won't let go; that's how she felt about this...

Yes, she has almost black hair, and eyes that are either aqua blue or green, depending on something she can't quite figure out... 

So for her upcoming trip, so thought that this would be a great inspiration!

Until the last day or 2 before she leaves, she's not sure what she will wear in transit; she decides to assemble her wardrobe far ahead of time, and then just choose her travel outfit when she knows what the weather will be.

Start with the neutrals, with some essential accessories:

yes, these are the same 5 grey pieces from last week!

Now the fun starts! She's been collecting tops ... View the Post

A Cool Weather Wardrobe Accent – 10 Sweaters, with Accessories

August 28, 2023

Let's assume, for the sake of fun, that we know what our core neutral wardrobe color will be for upcoming cool weather (in the Northern Hemisphere, of course!). 

But most of us are going to want to add something to accent our wardrobes for the upcoming 6+ months of sweater weather...

I've already found mine - I bought the Lands' End Velvet Plum Heather cashmere cardigan THE MINUTE it was available. I didn't wait for it to go on sale, because it had real, serious whappage, and that means grab it now!

I could have purchased the crewneck, but I already have a purple crewneck sweater - in a different purple! - so this filled a wardrobe gap, and also sang sweet songs of cashmere to my heart...

But there are ... View the Post

Building a 12-Piece Winter Wardrobe in Camel and Charcoal Grey – Start with Art: Damp Autumn by Ivon Hitchens

August 25, 2023

This painting is about as far as you can get from Chicago weather right now; our heat index is over 100F, and we are NOT leaving the building...

But we still have to prepare for autumn and winter; one thing we can be certain of is the eventual arrival of bitter cold and wind! 

Hurrah! /s

Our heroine has always believed that shades of grey belong in an autumn wardrobe - where would beautiful trees be without their trunks?

She's onto something...

She pulls winter clothes out of boxes, and garment bags, and other odd places, and starts to sort, steam (the clothes, NOT her!), and prepare things to donate...

First - charcoal grey!

And then camel - THIS scarf is so perfect for this ... View the Post

Start with Art: Lattice and Awning by Arthur Garfield Dove, as an inspiration for a Travel Capsule Wardrobe

August 21, 2023

An Unconventional Woman That's how she thinks of herself. She knows that she has been described as such, more than a few times! And that's when people are being nice...

Now that she's retired, she is embracing her uniqueness, starting with her wardrobe, but branching out in all kinds of ways...

She's the person who goes into the city for a long weekend when the Natural History Museum gets a new exhibit of fossils...

She attends all of the opera world premiers, no matter HOW weird the music is reputed to be. If it's unusual, she figures she has a good chance of having fun!

She is beloved as a supporter of new artists and musicians. She will try any dish in any new restaurant. It's just the ... View the Post

Build a Travel Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art – Spanish Moon Moth by Rebecca Zwanzig

August 17, 2023

This artist's works are available to purchase here! This includes tee shirts and sweatshirts... From Moths to a Book Tour...

It started one night on her back porch, when she noticed that there was not ONE INSECT fluttering around her porch light. She was particularly disappointed to not have any moths about - she really admires moths...

So she converted both her front and back yards to native plants and grasses... And she helped her friends do the same...

"You should write a book!"

So she did; she called it Bug Love...

And NOW, she's on tour!

She goes out for long weekends, mostly, to be interviewed at bookstores, and on television, and sometimes on the radio, and sometimes on podcasts. ... View the Post

Start with a Bracelet – Dignified Lynx Bracelets by Fierce Lynx Designs, and a Travel Capsule Wardrobe in navy, blush & purple

August 16, 2023

A Calming Presence That's how she's been described, and she's happy with that. For years, she has worked toward being a mature and reassuring woman... If you want a "grown-up" in the room, she's what you need.

At work, she always wears a dress or skirt under her robes; nobody would know, but she feels that it's all a part of her demeanor...

So even when she travels, she sticks to her classic clothing preferences, accented with timelessly elegant accessories:

Often, she is the only person in the room wearing a skirt or dress. She doesn't mind; she feels comfortable, and authentically herself! THAT is what real style is all about...

She fully understands that there may not be another woman in the ... View the Post

Accenting Navy with Bright or Deep Colors

This is called: "I have NO IDEA what the day, or date, is this month!" Please understand that I will NOT have another post tomorrow morning!

August 13, 2023

Hi! Someone made a great point in Friday's comments, that I want to address. They pointed out that there are a LOT more ways to mix a neutral and an accent color than just "column of neutral + accent cardigan + accent scarf and shoes."

Of COURSE there are! But I've tried to keep these outfits as similar as possible, with the only variable in the accent color, so we can focus on the effect of the color and not be distracted by things like necklines and drapes and lengths and all of the other dozens of variables in clothing.

I'm always more than happy to approach these ... View the Post

Accenting Navy with Pastels

August 11, 2023

Okay, we're going to have THREE posts about navy, because I want to look into the pretty potential of pastels (death by alliteration!), as well as what might be interesting and useful in the world of bright accent colors...

Let's go!

I might have found a softer/lighter pink cardigan, but I really love the sleeves on this one! And it's just right with the scarf...

If you prefer a warmer kind of pink... Well, this is technically called Peachskin. Yes, all 1 word.

Yellow was hard! Really REALLY hard. Maybe as the weather cools down, and we have more sweaters available?

I don't wear pastels, but I could easily be tempted by mint green! I don't know what it is about this color...

Light blue ... View the Post