The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

The Vivienne Files - Page 258 of 269 - Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

A kindly meant word of career advice…

If you work with men...

And you EVER have occasion to walk ANYWHERE with them, be it to a client meeting, or to lunch, or at a conference...

Please, wear shoes which enable you to walk as far, and at the same pace, as they walk.

Every day, I see groups of business people in which the men are striding ahead, conversing and laughing, while the women are mincing along in the rear on their high heels.  They're left out of the conversation.  They're left out of the main part of the group.  THEY AREN"T KEEPING UP.

If you dress in a way that limits your mobility, you cannot expect to be considered an equal to a person who dresses for a combination of business appropriateness and comfort.  No matter what any magazine tells ... View the Post

Capsule wardrobe of navy,greens, & rust, based on Hermes Fleurs de Lotus

October 5, 2011   Please note that the scarf photograph was provided by ebay seller The Snob (and she's anything BUT a snob!).  Thanks again, Snob!  

Navy suit separates – Stella McCartney, cardigan – American Vintage, Navy blouse – Stella McCartney, tank – Topshop, jeans – Place des Tendances,  scarf - Hermes  

Blouse – Chloe, navy sweater – Acne, rust trench – Aquascutum, Navy dress – Topshop, pants – Etro, skirt – Yves Saint Laurent, coat – Stella McCartney, peacoat – A.P.C.  

Navy cardigan – L.K. Bennett, print blouse – Marni, green sweater – Gucci, russet dress – Viktor & Rolf, striped top – Rag & Bone, teal skirt - Topshop, ivory sweater – Ralph Lauren, flowered top – Vanessa ... View the Post

The shopping fast: Month 1

 

Above illustrates EVERYTHING I wore in the month of September 2011.  A pretty modest assortment, but I have a few extenuating circumstances which kept this a pretty small collection.  

Foremost, I don't have a job, so I'm not getting up every morning putting on "grown-up" clothes to go out and play with the adults of the world.  

I spent a great deal of time wearing gym clothes; if I knew that I wasn't going out, and that I absolutely HAD to go to the gym (uh, that's every day!), I would put on my workout clothes immediately after my shower in the morning.  The other people in my (very large) building are accustomed to seeing me in these clothes.

Having stacks of sweaty gym clothes around ... View the Post

fast fashion vs slow style

My new mantra for my personal image.  Feel free to join me!  (copy and paste to your heart's content) and have a great weekend. much love to you all, Vivienne

                        ... View the Post

Maximize your ROI: A statement skirt

Skirt – Diane von Furstenberg  

Pearl & gold earrings – Lord & Taylor, Ivory blouse – Zac Posen, bracelets – Mathias Chaize, beige blouse – Paul Smith, necklace – Alexis Bittar, black blouse – Etro, onyx earrings – Primadina, black pumps – Bandolino, spectator slingbacks – Vaneli, black slingbacks – AK Anne Klein  

Ivory sweater – Carven, cobblestone necklace – Kate Spade, Beige sweater – Alexander Wang, leather & brass necklace – Lanvin, black turtleneck – Vince, beige scarf – Burberry, black lurex scarf – Chan Luu, slingbacks – Manolo Blahnik, camel pumps – Kate Spade, black w/beige slingbacks - Prada  

Beige cardigan – Zadig & Voltaire, black tee – 3.1 Phillip Lim, metal ... View the Post

Doing the right thing…

As many of you know, I've sworn off buying any new clothes (or shoes) for twelve months, beginning this September first.  I'm now 29 days into the project, and have felt no pain regarding it, so far.  In fact, it's been quite a relief to be able to just completely turn a blind eye to all of the "must-have" lists that float around this time of year.

Why is it that I don't see so many "must-have" lists for men?  They have more money than we do...  Maybe there's a connection there?  But I digress...

One thing that has become even more of a priority for me now is the upkeep and maintenance of the things I currently own.  This could sound like drudgery, but it really is quite gratifying for all sort of reasons:

The obvious saving of ... View the Post

Back to the roots of The Vivienne Files: Transition

Way back when, Vivienne assured me that she was not always going to have a wardrobe of black, white and red garments - she fully intended, as her hair turned gray, and her skin tones softened, to transition to gray, rose, and cream.

This is how I envision than transition...

Her original wardrobe, as we pictured it here, is this:

 

The first thing I could picture would be a feeling of discomfort with bright red.  Not every day, but just a sense that these garments were moving to the back of the closet... so they move out and a beautiful rose pink takes its place.

 

  The strongly contrasted black and white pieces would next make way for more muted items...  

    Black garments worn ... View the Post

not so crazy eights: the greens

Jacket – M Missoni, Cardigan – Ralph Lauren Black Label, Long-sleeved shirt – Elizabeth and James, Tee shirt – 3.1 Phillip Lim, Dress – Maxmara S Max, Sweater – Ralph Lauren Black Label, Pants – Malena Birger, Skirt – J. Crew  

1. Flats - Clarks, Scarf – Hermès, bag – Rag and Bone  

2. Boots - Tretorn, scarf – Missoni, hat - Borsalino  

3. Ballet flats - Balenciaga, necklace – Andara, earrings – Coralie Leets  

4. Boots - Koolaburra, ring – Blu Bijoux, bracelet – Balenciaga  

5. Pumps - Born, scarf – Hermès, bag – Yves Saint Laurent  

6. Canvas shoes - Keds, Labradorite earrings –  JCPenney, necklace – Kenneth Jay Lane  

7. Flats – French Sole, brooch – ... View the Post

Not so crazy eights: the blues

Cardigan jacket – M Missoni, Cardigan – Fat Face,  

Long-sleeved shirt – Organic by John Patrick, tank – Topshop, Dress – Peacocks.co.uk, 

Sweater – Rag & Bone, Pants – Levi’s, Skirt – Stella McCartney  

1. Shoes – Pas de Rouge, Scarf –  Dennis Colomb, bag – Coach  2. Brogues – Robert Clergerie, necklace – Francoise Iberl, earrings - Mawi    

3. Boots - Wetseal, scarf – Reiss, sunglasses - Fendi  4. Moccasins – Tod’s, ring – Swarovski, bracelet – Alexis Bittar  

5. Flats – Chloe , scarf – Liberty of London, bag – Mulberry  

6. Penny loafers – Fratelli Rossetti, Labradorite earrings – Monica Vinader, necklace – Citrine by the ... View the Post

How do you tie an Hermès scarf? Don’t ask me!

You're much better served to ask my friend over at Mai Tai's Picture Book.

She's an expert at all things Hermès, and her site has TONS of videos on how to fold and tie scarves.

Available on her website are some beautiful necklaces, horn bracelets, and really amazing scarf rings.  I know that some people counsel us against using scarf rings, but I'm a firm believer scarf rings ROCK.  If your concern is that a scarf ring looks a little bit "mumsy", just check out how Mai Tai uses them and you will never feel that way again!

You can thank me later... ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe Starting with Nature: floral landscape as an inspiration

blazer – Rag & Bone, Cardigan – Diane von Furstenberg, silk shirt - Equipment, raspberry shell - Topshop, skirt – Lanvin, pants – Rachel Pally, jeans – Rag & Bone, Scarf – Ken Scott  

printed blouse – Matthew Williamson, Purple blouse – Dorothy Perkins, white cardigan – Debenhams, dress – Barbara Tfank, flowered tee shirt – Debenhams, Turquoise long-sleeved tee shirt – Oasis, skirt – Dolce & Gabbana, off the shoulder top – Donna Karan  

 

Floral scarf – Browns, turquoise drop earrings – Kenneth Jay Lane, abalone ring, earrings – Judith Jack, purple suede clutch – Christian Louboutin, feather drop earrings – Asos, block print scarf – Pierre-Louise Mascia, blue agate necklace – Chan Luu, ... View the Post