The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

The Vivienne Files - Page 230 of 268 - Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

Emerald, and A Common Capsule Wardrobe

To great fanfare, 2013's "color of the year" has been announced, and it's the very easy-to-wear emerald!  Emerald's particularly "neutral" to most capsule wardrobes, because it's a perfect balance of yellow and blue i.e. a perfect balance of warm and cool.  This means, theoretically, that pretty much everybody should be able to wear it without looking ghastly...First off, let me make it perfectly clear that if you don't LIKE green (okay, LOVE it), you don't have to participate in this little marketing-driven pseudo-trend.  Green becomes the color of the year when everybody is TOLD that it's the color of the year, and then they all buy it, and voila, the prediction comes true.  Heaven knows that I didn't participate in ... View the Post

How much do you need? Really?

December 8, 2012

My commenters are the most insightful people...  Yesterday, someone pointed out that, to her, having 33 pieces of clothing didn't seem like a big sacrifice - it in fact felt like a lot of clothing to her.  And she continues by asking me - is this a cultural thing?Well, I know people who have over 200 tee shirts.  Over 100 pair of jeans.  Over 100 pair of shoes.  More than a dozen handbags.  Who buy 2 or 3 items a week, EVERY week, although when you do the math, you can clearly see that they're not wearing 10% of what they ALREADY have...

The average American DISPOSES of 68 pounds of textiles per year.  Yea, this includes towels and bedding, but it's still a LOT of stuff...  and that doesn't even touch the huge ... View the Post

33 = 208 (at least in my world!) with Capsule Wardrobe Project 333

You don't need to make teeny pictures in order to create a Project 333 capsule wardrobe for yourself; a list will do just fine...   It would, of course, be possible to print these images and then "check them off" as each ensemble was worn.  But the point, ultimately, is NOT to have an infinite number of different outfits, but rather to have just enough choices to be able to quit shopping and move on to more rewarding activities!   And of course, 208 is NOT exhaustive... but it would get me well into July, so I just plain quit finding new combinations.  I think after 6 months, I will be ready to ditch cashmere, tweed and ... View the Post

Preference meets practical: my 33 to start 2013

December 6, 2012   I set up my collapsible clothing rack (this very portable baby), and started pulling garments out of the closet, and onto the rack, in order to isolate the 33 that are going to be my wardrobe for the first three months of 2013.My priorities: 1. My favorite stuff must be here! 2. It could get cold... (I say this after being able to sleep with the window open most of this week) 3. I've got to look appropriate for work, probably a serious meeting or two, and my leisure time.Here we go!

 

 

love,

Janice ... View the Post

75/25: A Warm Common Capsule Wardrobe, and Signature Blush

Top row – L.L.Bean, cream shirt – Kitsune, peach blouse – Chloe, cardigan & v-neck sweater – L.L.Bean, brown long-sleeved tee – La Garconne, tan pants – Jil Sander, cream jeans – Les Copains, brown pants – Maison Martin Margiela    

Cardigan – Miss Selfridge, tee shirt – People Tree, jeans – rag & bone, sweater – Vanessa Bruno    

Scarf – Ahilya, sunglasses – Charlotte Olympia, earrings – Irene Neuwirth, bracelet – Folli Follie, watch – Anne Klein, bag – Alexander Wang, ballet flats - Lanvin    

 

 

 

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75/25: A Common Office Capsule Wardrobe, and Signature Purple

Blazer – Paul Smith, tee shirt – Jane Norman, paisley sweater – Sonia Rykiel, tweed skirt – Eastex    

Fringed scarf – Gucci, geometric print cashmere & modal scarf – Athena Procopiou, square silk scarf – Hermès, bag – Folli Follie, pumps – John Fluevog    

Turtleneck – L.L.Bean, blue striped shirt – Golden Goose, blue shirt – D&G, white shirt – Theory, navy blazer – A.P.C., grey sleeveless sweater – J. Crew, grey cardigan – J. Crew, navy v-neck – J. Crew, navy shirt – J. Crew, navy pants – A.P.C., grey skirt – Comme des Garcons, grey pants – Theory    

 

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75/25: A Warm Common Capsule Wardrobe, and Signature Red

Lest you thought that red was not going to work with warm colors...    

Cardigan – La Garconne, shirt – Rag & Bone, jeans – MiH, sweater – Bird of Paradise by Trovata      

Scarf – Givenchy, sunglasses – Ray Ban, earrings – Michael Kors, bracelet – Punch & Judy, watch – Skagen Denmark, bag – Banana Republic, flats - ChicNova      

 

 

 

 

 

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Style Suggestions from your Inner Child

We're all wrestling with the idea of choosing signature styles and colors...  I remember a moment that was sort of a key "a-ha" for me - I started thinking about clothing and the role that it's played in my life, as far back as I could remember...

As a tot with curly dark brown hair and brown eyes, I was VERY out of place style-wise in my family of blue-eyed, and wispy-fine mousy haired family.  Literally everybody but me had the same coloring, and thus the big clothing colors in my household were baby blue, lilac, and peach...

All I longed for was a dress with a black bodice, or in bright, bright red...

Did you adore sailor dresses?

Were you a tomboy?

Were you a baby hipster?

Or did you love the most feminine ... View the Post

75/25: A Common Office Capsule Wardrobe, and Signature Red

Cardigan – Stella McCartney, striped top – La Garconne, tweed skirt – Dolce & Gabbana, red shirt - Equipment    

Bag – Aldo, wrapped scarf – Spun by Subtle Luxury, mixed plaid scarf – Free People, square silk scarf – Hermès, ballet flats - Repetto    

Turtleneck – L.L.Bean, blue striped shirt – Golden Goose, blue shirt – D&G, white shirt – Theory, navy blazer – A.P.C., grey sleeveless sweater – J. Crew, grey cardigan – J. Crew, navy v-neck – J. Crew, navy shirt – J. Crew, navy pants – A.P.C., grey skirt – Comme des Garcons, grey pants – Theory    

 

 

 

 

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75/25: A Common Capsule Wardrobe, and Signature Red

November 29, 2012  

Originally, where I thought I was going with the idea of a common capsule wardrobe was to show that a wardrobe of 75% neutral, basic, "work horse" garments could be made unique and extremely versatile using 25% "signature" garments.  We all got swept up in a tide of great accessories, and I lost track of where I was headed!  But now I've returned to my original idea: the Common Capsule Wardrobe, with 4 "accent" garments, and some accent accessories...Does it go without saying that you could wear one of these outfits, pack the rest of the garments, and be in good shape for quite a long trip?

 

And muddle this over for a moment - project 333 could be 2 ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Project 333: caramel & black accessories, 3 weeks of outfits

Accessories for a Caramel and Black Project 333 Wardrobe

Check silk scarf – Burberry, flower earrings – Banana Republic, paisley scarf – Drake’s, blue & brown checked wool scarf – Burberry, Maltese cross brooch – Dsquared2, square silk scarves – Hermès, gold flowered bracelet – Alkemie, gold hammered cuff – Jose & Maria, gold knot brooch – Jose & Maria, brown blue flowered scarf – Epice, gold hoop earrings – Target, suede tote – Fendi, riding boots – Sperry Topsider, gold knot earrings – Lord & Taylor, tiger eye necklace – Harrison Morgan, triple chain necklace – Julie Tuton, black oxfords – Rag & Bone, pumps – Stuart Weitzman, suede moccasins - Madewell  

Caramel and Black Capsule Wardrobe ... View the Post