The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

The Vivienne Files - Page 265 of 269 - Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

You have a moral obligation to buy expensive clothes!

Lucy Siegle recent released her newest book To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out the World?   This book is full of chilling statistics, including the following:  

The average British female:

invests in 62 lbs. of clothing each year. has upwards of 20 garments hanging in her wardrobe that she has never worn. owns four times the amount today than she did in 1980. is expected to spend £133,640 ($217,232) in a lifetime on fashion.

When you buy this much clothing, a lot of it has to be made in conditions that are less than salubrious for the factory worker, with environmental standards which may be non-existent.  Pile on a few thousand miles of transporting the garment, and the issues around how that item will ... View the Post

Vivienne Veto: stupid shoes, part two

Unless you've come to Paris to run the marathon, or you have an enduring and severe orthopedic condition, there's NO reason to resort to this type of shoe for sightseeing.  Remember that when you go somewhere to enjoy the people watching, you have an obligation to be "watchable" yourself! Admittedly, these have NOTHING for support.  But they're certainly a step in the right direction. And if you're young enough (or hip enough) to pull these off, they'd be a great option.  Bottom line on Vivienne's ongoing shoe rant:  try to strike a balance between beauty and practicality.  There are literally hundreds of thousands of shoe designs in the world; there is unquestionably something being manufactured (Cole Haan/Nike, ... View the Post

Back to the roots of the Vivienne Files – part 8: Vivienne’s Valise, continued

I've been asked how I managed for almost 6 weeks with the very limited amount of clothing that I took with me on that trip that will live in infamy. I had a plan, believe me!

Just for reference, remember that these are the clothes that I had with me.

For flying, I pretty much always wore jeans, with the black v-neck sweater. Usually I would put either the white tee shirt or the striped tee shirt under the sweater, depending on how warm it was where I was leaving, what the weather would be where I was arriving, and what was clean!

First thing I did in the door of every new hotel in every new city/country was to give some clothing to the in-house laundry. This is always risky, because you never know when someone's going to ... View the Post

Job Hunting details – what seemed to work for me

Someone asked how I managed to get a job so quickly.  (and at my age - 51!)

My best advice has to be to use the LinkedIn website.  Create a complete profile, and ASK PEOPLE TO WRITE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU!

LinkedIn has an option where you can change your status and be flagged as a job hunter.  It costs $29.95 per month, but it means that headhunters and recruiters can see that you're job hunting, and they can search your profile based on your qualifications or other key words.

When you profile has some recommendations on it, put a link to the profile in your cover letters.  Basically, you're letting people see your recommendations without even having to interview you.  My profile ended up with TWELVE ... View the Post

Vivienne Veto: stupid shoes, part one

It is indeed very warm in Paris during the summer.  And when you're out hiking about all day looking at the beauties that Paris has to offer, you want to stay cool.  And of course there's always that pressure that goes along with the fact that you're in PARIS; you want to look your very best - up to date and stylish.  But SERIOUSLY...

This is the time of year when Vivienne's staff spends quite a bit of time calling doctors to the hotel, or occasionally sending someone off in an ambulance to this hospital, because of shoe-related injuries.  No kidding.  Once a day, at least, right now, they'll have some absolute BIMBO IDIOT stagger into the lobby with a broken heel or torn straps, as well as broken bones and torn ... View the Post

Vivienne’s Fashion Challenge

  As a rookie, fledgling blogger, and someone trying to channel a frequently reluctant muse, I'm often very insecure about how this whole blogging thing is going.  Does anybody read?  Am I wasting my time?  Am I making a digital, online fool of myself?   So receiving the Fashion Challenge from another blogger meant the world to me.  And without further ado, I shall try to answer the questions to the best of my ability, keeping in mind that I speak for both myself and the elusive Vivienne.  (she answers emails when she's darned good and ready, and not a day sooner...)   (1)  What International brands would you like to try on, and why?   I have to admit this one is hard, because I've ... View the Post

What my French friend wears to work: The roots of the Vivienne Files

Vivienne and I first got to be friends because of packing - she works in a hotel in Paris and was helping me pull together a training session I was running - and after the first or second day, she said something like "you got dressed in my closet this morning" and then we wound up having drinks, and THEN she came up to my room to eat room service (Gratis, since she works for the hotel) and hanging out with me while I did my ironing.

Bottom line, I know the girl's packing philosophy cold, since she and I have the same approach.

Start with a base of 5 garments, no matter how long or how short the trip:

Jacket or cardigan Pants that match Skirt that matches Top that goes with the above Another top that ... View the Post

I am the luckiest person EVER….

Today is my birthday - 21 for the 30th time!  And my most beloved partner in life surprised me this morning with the above absolutely GORGEOUS little tidbit...  It's surprisingly not as "blingy" as I had thought it might be; it fits quite snugly on my wrist and while it's not a shy little bauble, it's not terribly overwhelming either.  A good lesson to continue to be open to the possibility of changing preferences and tastes, within the general guidelines of our personal style signature.  This always had potential for me: black, white, pearls - sort of screams my name...

Job yesterday, birthday today.  Sometimes the amount of happiness in my life is almost impossible to digest.  But I WILL try to be worthy! ... View the Post

French Chic: The origin of my French wardrobe fascination

Thirty years ago (heavy sigh) this book was released, and this is where it all began for me - the whole fascination with French wardrobe planning, the idea of a minimalist, well-chosen wardrobe that would take me anywhere.  The following images that delineate the possibilities inherent in seven pieces of black clothing were revolutionary to me.  Up until this time, I was very stuck in the "gray suit, navy suit, white shirt, red bow tie, black pumps" aesthetic of the time (thanks for nothing to the Dress for Success theories).     Breaking out into black opened my eyes, changed my self-image, and finally gave me the excuse to spend a lot of money on clothes that I actually really liked.  I know that this idea ... View the Post

A rant on stereotypes

I watch a lot of sport - most of it from outside the US.  Over the past weekend, I saw a French team playing, and then another game in which there were French players.

During the first game, the English announcers expressed their concern that "the French weren't emotionally invested in the match - that happens with French teams", and also that "if the French team goes behind, they'll lose all confidence, the way French teams do".  These two supremely psychic individuals were able to KNOW the emotional and psychological make-up of the entire team.  Amazing.

The second sporting event saw a French participant moving slowly at one point during the game.  The United States announcers pronounced that "well, sometimes ... View the Post

Ironing – my secret love

My closest friends have known this for years - I really don't mind ironing.  

I've tried to assume a rational, grateful approach to ironing.  If I'm going to be able to look the way I want to look, I'm going to have to either iron my clothes or pay someone else to do it.  And other people, no matter how well-intentioned, will not be as careful as I am.

And if I really LIKE the clothes I own, it should be a pleasure to touch them, to care for them.  If I'm not willing to invest some of my time in the maintenance of my possessions, I need to reconsider why I purchase things at all.

Finally, I try to focus on the gratification of a closet full of immaculate clothing, or a drawer full of crisp, perfectly folded ... View the Post