The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

The Vivienne Files - Page 260 of 283 - Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

Building a Capsule Wardrobe: by Fours

May 14, 2012   People ask me every day how to build a capsule wardrobe.  There are as many different approaches as there are women in the world, but one of my favorite ideas is to work in "pods" of four garments.  Find a color and fabric that really REALLY appeals to you - one that sings to your heart, and either buy or have someone make for your four core garments - two tops and top bottoms.   Seamstresses are going to be very useful friends...   And note, everything in this entire post is from L.L.Bean. I love them, and they've never (yet!) given me a single piece of clothing in exchange for shamelessly promoting them...  

  Immediately, you have four new outfits:

 

But no ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a necklace: peacock

I love this necklace, with the range of colors that it presents, but the thing that I kept returning to was the possibility of using a warm, caramel-y, golden color to pick up the burnished metallic setting.

Tee shirt – Joseph, silk skirt – Silvian Heach, sandals – Ralph Lauren, dress – Alberta Ferretti,  

leather jacket – H&M, sandals – J. Crew  

Dress – Diane von Furstenberg, cardigan – Issa, ballet flats – Lanvin,

 navy boots – Vanessa Bruno, sweater – Something Else, velvet jeans – J Brand  

Sweater – The Row, Skirt – Valentino, boots – Banana Republic, 

tee shirt – Vanessa Bruno, cropped pants – Paul & Joe, sandals – J. Crew  

Dress – Balenciaga, flats ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a scarf: Hermès l’Ivresse de l’Infini

What a great scarf - blues, orange/corals, shades of grey!  So many possibilities...

Tee – Maison Scotch, denim skirt – J. Crew, sandals – Ohne Titel, denim jacket – Mango, sandals – Debenhams, dress - Modcloth  

Taupe earrings – Kenneth Cold New York, Blue dress – Theory, taupe sandals – Jonak, blue sweater – Angela’s, suede slouch boots – Isabel Marant, taupe jeans – Paul Smith  

Earrings – Ten Thousand Things, Sweater – Miu Miu, skirt – Comme des Garcons Shirt, boots – Joules, linen tee – LnA, cropped jeans – Acne, sandals – Michael Kors  

Dress – Ter et Bantine, cardigan – CC, sandals – Balenciaga, pants – Stella McCartney, sweater – T by Alexander Wang, loafers – J. Crew   ... View the Post

A dilemma, and a wardrobe math solution

So I've not done the best of jobs in cleaning out my wardrobe, and I think I finally understand what's holding me back.  Somewhere in my heart I hold onto the hope (delusion?) that I'm going to get an office job again some day, and that I therefore won't be wearing an apron non-stop.  Therefore, I think I have to hold onto ALL of my office-worthy business clothes...In order to get past this, I've tried to approach the problem the way Vivienne would.  Basically, what are the available options I have RIGHT NOW, just with the clothes that I've decided to keep in my wardrobe up to this point?

If you remember, I'm at the 32 garment point in my plan:

 

  And from these garments I've decided that the following, ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a scarf: Hermès Peinture Fraiche

A scarf without a lot of color in it can be a challenge, but I think of scarves as silk jewelry.  As such, this scarf, for me, became something made of silken pearls, and a of a burnished, brushed pewter that just happened to be fiber rather than metal.  When taken in that sense, this scarf goes anywhere that "cool" toned jewelry would go.  It was lovely to study...

Taupe pearl earrings – Adrienne Vittadini,  Navy dress – Alberta Ferretti, navy pumps – Debenhams, bracelet – Chan Luu, taupe sweater – Vince, moccasins – Minnetonka, ivory jeans – Windsmoor Classic  

Studded pearl earrings – Renee Lewis, sweater – Cruciani, Boucle skirt – Marc Jacobs, boots – Nine West, bracelet – Antik Batik, tee shirt – ... View the Post

Chic Sighting: Burlington Massachusetts Mall

Sigh...  My trip wasn't really fruitful, in terms of Chic Sightings.  Midway Airport in Chicago is NOT the place to look for fashion icons...But I was in the Burlington Mall on Sunday, and saw a lovely young woman - long blond hair, no makeup, radiant smile, and this colorful ensemble.  She looked comfortable and happy, and it didn't hurt that she was with a very attractive young man!

Tee & cardigan – J. Crew, Jeans – Awear, pearl stud earrings & heart necklace - Tiffany, bag – Bottega Veneta, ballet flats – Jimmy Choo   ... View the Post

12 ways to wear a blouse: Hot Tips by Frances Patiky Stein

May 3, 2012

Actually, she included 24 ways to wear a blouse, but some of them were a bit... unusual...

Blouse and matching skirt:

Blouse and pencil skirt:

Blouse over tee shirt with matching skirt or shorts:

Blouse with trousers, or AGAIN with a matching skirt:

Blouse as a jacket over a tank top and trousers, or with white trousers:

Blouse with matching trousers, worn as a jacket over a striped or a solid tee shirt:

I'll be away for a few days at a family celebration, so I won't be posting, or responding to comments and emails. Rest assured, I'll be back here Tuesday late morning, after my ridiculously early work shift!

love, Janice

PS - If you are looking for more color ... View the Post

A Travel Capsule Wardrobe – Packing for summer on the coast of Maine

A dear reader asked me for some suggestions about what to take for a summer on the coast of Maine.   She has these garments (well, garments very similar to this) that she currently really likes:

white linen shirt – Ralph Lauren, orange striped tee – Debenhams, navy striped tee – Sandro, purple striped tee – Splendid, white shirt – Marc Jacobs, white & dark wash jeans, denim jacket – Adriano Goldschmeid, black shirt – La Garconne  

And she told me that she really likes blue, so I suggested the following additions (some of which she may already have), as well as some essential accessories.   A few possible combinations follow.  Enjoy! and dream of the beach...

Blue cardigan – Paul Smith, white tee – La ... View the Post

Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a scarf: Hermès Belles du Mexique in blue, grey & rose

It would be so easy to build an entire wardrobe around these shades of rose, grey, taupe, coral, peach and slate blue...

 

Taupe dress – D&G, taupe open-toe pumps – Rupert Sanderson,   

taupe sweater – J. Brand, satin pants – Acne, taupe oxfords - Camper  

   

 

Angora cardigan – Stine Goya, grey suede flats – Corso Como, grey dress – Love Moschino,   

cream sweater – La Garconne, faded pink jeans – Isabel Marant, Taupe short boots – Tilly Rose  

     

 

 

Coral knot-front top – Dorothy Perkins, denim skirt – MAJE, sandals – Musa,   

biker jacket – All Saints, white espadrilles – Andre ... View the Post