The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

The Vivienne Files - Page 258 of 285 - Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

In praise of old clothes

"Clothes should be worn. They should be used. They become more personal, more distinctive and more beautiful - for me - when they have been worn lovingly for years.   ...One of the key reasons I believe well-worn clothes look better on everybody is that the wearer is inevitably more comfortable in them. You never look stylish when you are conscious of what you’re wearing.

  This leads to several conclusions. First, invest in clothes that are good enough to last a long time. Cheap clothes come and go. You rarely develop the same connection with them as with something that has worn with you over several periods of your life.   Second, don’t acquire too much. I know it’s a wonderful position to be in, but I know I have ... View the Post

Variations on a tee shirt: black, short-sleeved, with skirts

Tee shirt – Topshop, flower earrings – Blue Nile, skirt – Orla Kiely, flowered flip flops – Debenhams, bangle bracelet – Alexis Bittar, gold skirt – P.A.R.O.S.H., gold & black flats – Marc by Marc Jacobs  

Tee shirt – Topshop, turquoise earrings – Kenneth Cole, dotted skirt – Jil Sander, blue sandals – Wallis Fashion, bracelet – Dexter Jewelry Collection, chambray skirt – Preen, leather & denim sandals – Dolce & Gabbana  

Tee shirt – Topshop, garnet stud earrings – Macy’s, color-blocked skirt – Jason Wu, red shoes – Nine West, black diamond earrings – Deborah Pagani, black & white skirt – Marni, black & white sandals – Matt Bernson  

Tee shirt – Topshop, red skirt – J. ... View the Post

Variations on a tee shirt: Black, short-sleeved, with pants

Chic sightings of black tee shirts abound - especially in New York!  

Tee shirt – Topshop, bracelets – Chamak by Priya Kakkar, black & white cropped pants – Marni, sandals – Debenhams, leopard earrings – Belle Noel, camel cropped pants – Blumarine, leopard flats - Madewell    

Tee shirt – Topshop, turquoise earrings – Ippolita, flowered pants – Romwe, pink flats – Roger Vivier, olive bag – Barbour, pants – Haider Ackermann,  olive loafers – Thierry Rabotin    

Tee shirt – Topshop, orange flower ring – Kate Spade, gold pants – Elie Saab, flowered pumps – Tropic of Dancer, black & white necklace – Whitney’s Designs on etsy.com, white linen pants – CP Shades, black & white ... View the Post

A Four by four Capsule Wardrobe: the entire summer

So if you remember from yesterday, we had these garments in our Four by Four capsule wardrobe, planned for a trip to the shore:   

After finding that these items worked really well for our specific needs, it was determined that the entirety of the summer wardrobe would be purchased with the same guidelines.First, a little something in darker colors, just so our jeans don't get lonely in the laundry!

And then a really pretty color, just because it's summer, and because it goes with our three neutrals:

Some more tops, in a variety of colors, and a few more essential summer accessories...

With these 24 garments, your summer is pretty much handled...And NO, I AM NOT TELLING YOU TO GO BUY YOUR ... View the Post

A Four by four Capsule Wardrobe: summer at the shore

When I see the ocean, it is NOT at the beach - it's more Humboldt County, California, or the west coast of Ireland, or the coast of Maine.  Warm, sunny days, cool evenings, and a gray and damp day every now and then, where you spend the day sitting by the fireplace...  This Four by Four Capsule Wardrobe gives you options for any kind of shoreline...

 

Yes, our rental house DOES have laundry facilities....

Throw in a little bit of color....

 And essential accessories.

I'm not necessarily saying that you need to run out and buy your entire summer wardrobe from L.L.Bean - I use these clothes as an example of what's possible.  But if you're a sturdy New Englander, with a ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a scarf: Hermès Mosaic au 24

June 19, 2012

Dress – Jarbo, earrings – Tinley Road, pumps – Joan & David, white jeans – Awear, boots - Repetto  

Tank – Patagonia, White skirt – Topshop, orange cord sandals – Debenhams, cream lace dress – Romwe, orange denim jacket – Delias, espadrilles – Fair+True  

Cashmere sweater – J. Crew, Black skirt – Joseph, riding boots – Frye, navy tee – MTWTFSS, capris – Toast, navy sandals – Wallis Fashion  

Silk blouse – Acne, pants – Fenn Wright Manson, belt – Asos, flats – Stuart Weitzman, trench coat - Patagonia, boots - Hunter   ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a bracelet: Stripes, from Mexx

Tee – Toast, Skirt – Fair+True, sandals – Office, Denim dress – Komodo, white jacket – Topshop, Slingbacks – Bella-Vita  

Camp shirt – Old Navy, Denim skirt – Closed, sneakers - Superga, bracelet – Mexx, orange jeans – AG Jeans, jeans – Paige, tee – Reiss, sandals – John Lewis  

Dress – Yigal Azrouel, cardigan – J. Crew, sandals – Seychelles, embroidered tunic – Calypso St. Barth, white capris – Mango, green flats – Corso Como  

Bracelet – Mexx, dress – Balenciaga, green flats – Debenhams, green sweater – Chloe, blue skirt – Diane von Furstenberg, patent flats – Madewell   ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a scarf: Tallyrand Scarf

  This scarf beautifully illustrates the flags of the 17 participating countries of the Marshall plan, and architectural details from the State Apartment of the Hotel de Talleyrand.  The border of the scarf features a quote from General Marshall regarding the necessity of the Marshall Plan.  The Hotel de Talleyrand served as headquarters of the Marshall Plan from 1948 - 51.

Dress – Alberta Ferretti, cardigan – Jil Sander, sweater – Junya Watenabe, red jeans – Marc by Marc Jacobs, ballet flats – J. Crew   

Tee – Rag & Bone, pants – Emporio Armani, Red loafers – Gucci, tunic – Monki, beige capris – Maxmara, espadrilles - Debenhams  

Dress – Alice and Olivia, cardigan – Tory Burch, ... View the Post

The key to travel

Being fit.

Travel, at least the way I seem to do it, involves a lot of walking, standing, lifting and carrying.  If you're not prepared physically to handle that aspect of the journey, everything is more difficult.

If you've got a trip coming up, do yourself a favor and invest in some hand weights, and a good pair of walking shoes.  And use them.  You will be happier, in so many ways...

Back to normal blog posting service tomorrow! ... View the Post