The Vivienne Files - Page 38 of 288 - Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

A Bold Travel Capsule Wardrobe: Start with Art – The Dream by Luciano Cian

January 12, 2024

The Clients Are Nervous... She sold the initial contracts... And now that it's time to actually execute the project, the staff assigned to the work are worried about how the clients have been acting. Sigh...

So she's going to travel with them, and spend a day - maybe two - with everybody. Just to make sure that the clients are happy, and that they understand that these very technical staff are part of the same organization. Yes, they're a lot more... conventional... than she is!

The clients were maybe expecting everyone to be as colorful and unconventional as their salesperson...

So she packs up a few things and books a ticket with the rest of the crew:

She's actually not ALL that "out ... View the Post

Five Outfit Ideas, based on Echo 100 Limited Edition scarves

January 10, 2024

New scarves from the Echo 100 Limited Edition series, released for their 100th Anniversary!

These scarves - even if they don't suit my very personal tastes - never disappoint. Such a wide range of ideas, styles and points of view. They're a delight...

Let's start with a scarf that I managed to overlook - amazing, since it's black and white, and I love it!

Even though I'm showing this scarf with a black and white outfit (my style to the millionth degree!), consider the possibility that this scarf could be treated in the same way as a necklace in onyx, set in silver, platinum or white gold.

Imagine wearing it with a red dress.

Or a bright blue shirt and black pants.

You get the idea...

This is ... View the Post

Start with Art – Hydrangea 1918 by C.F.A. Voysey

January 8, 2024

Flu still lingers, but I had enough "oomph" to spend some time looking at this beauty:

Technically, this should be called "Start with Wallpaper!" because that's what this is... I will maintain 'til my dying breath that you can choose (or find) your favorite colors almost anywhere.

Maybe not in garbage, but I'm not ruling it out!

My thinking here, from the very beginning, was that beige and denim/chambray would be this heroine's neutrals, and the green and lilac would be her accent colors. But I suspect that using beige and green as neutrals, with blue and lilac accents, would also work...

The colors I've chosen are for those who don't feel strongly about the duality of "warm/cool" colors - if you really ... View the Post

January 2024 “Six Paintings, Twelve Months” – Part 2

January 5, 2024

I'm not 100% over the flu yet, but I'm certainly well enough to share these paintings, and their wardrobes, with you!

Let's get the blues, eh?

For the first few months, I'm going to make certain that this heroine has all of her necessary navy garments, and her white essentials. I think TOO much mixing of blues, too soon, could make things difficult... Let's try to be at least a bit practical!

Well snoots, I forgot the painting!

She entered this year with these lovely core garments and accessories:

Yep - another irresistible scarf! Dark jeans, two perfect tee shirts, and I love a good sweater vest...

I don't wear navy - haven't since shortly after grad school - but I could travel with these 8 ... View the Post

Not the Best Start to the New Year

January 2, 2024

I have flu - you're not going to get to see the second trio of wardrobes until Friday...

But I found something beautiful for you - Morning Glories by Suzuki Kiitsu. This is a detail from a room screen that you can see here...

love,

Janice

p.s. Have you had your flu vaccination? I've been jabbed, but have succumbed anyway... ... View the Post

January 2024 “Six Paintings, Twelve Months” – Part 1

January 1, 2024

Happy New Year!

Let's go! I'm going to try - for the first few months - to be logical and methodical about building these wardrobes, rather the way an adult might go about buying clothes...

Just in case you want to look back to where we started, this will take you there!

Let's start with this most elegant painting:

Last month/week, we started this heroine out with the most basic of garments - but still enough for a couple of outfits!

Since this heroine lives where it's pretty cold, she thought that dark pants might be logical - it could snow! Maybe...

And she wanted an accent cardigan...

At this very early stage, she has an almost foolproof wardrobe; getting dressed in the dark might not ... View the Post

Travel Capsule Wardrobe for a Long Weekend? Start with an Echo 100 Scarf!

December 29, 2023

Only a few more days typing "2023!" Not quite ready, personally!

Let's look at three more scarves, and around each of them construct a 6-piece travel capsule wardrobe. Maybe you'd get sick of wearing the same 2 or 3 colors over a week or two, but for three days, it might just make things easier.

Isn't this lovely? And lots of possibilities...

The dark color might very well be navy in this scarf, but on my monitor it looks black, so that's what I've included. I'm sure you understand...

This weekend is a split between dressy and relaxed; I think she's ready for anything!

If you've ever wanted to own something designed by Romeo Gigli, here's your chance!

Red and orange together - without ... View the Post

Outfit Ideas? Five Limited Edition Echo Scarves for the Inspiration!

December 28, 2023

Struggling to pull together a new outfit from existing garments? Looking for an inspiration for a new accent color in your wardrobe?

I've got ideas - thanks to Echo's 100 Limited Edition Scarves...

First scarf? Black border, bright colors, and an arresting image:

When one distills the scarf down to the colors that are most prominent, this is what you get:

Want to get away for a weekend? This scarf could be where you start!

Our next scarf is also an image of a fascinating woman - it's interesting to me how some of the ideas of these 100 scarves seem to recur...

The colors here give you some interesting possibilities - you can pair the soft blush with black, or the denim blue with red, ... View the Post

It’s National Fruit Cake Day!!!

December 27, 2023

At least in the US - you can make it a holiday wherever you live...

I took Christmas Day OFF - we didn't do anything at all constructive!

But the downside of this is that I don't have my normal Wednesday post ready for you... It will be here tomorrow!

love,

Janice

p.s. Five years ago, we evaluated a very unusual wardrobe in olive, grey, gold, pink and white.... I couldn't do it again! ... View the Post

Start with Art: Six Paintings, 12 Months for 2024!

December 25, 2023

Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating, and Happy Monday to all the world!

Let's look at some art, and some tiny wardrobe clusters that I assembled to get our heroines started on their wardrobe-building adventures:

Someone mentioned that we had no red last year - this might fix that!

A range of greys, a range of red, and some pure white for relief!

All of our heroines are starting out with VERY basic clothes - the kind of things that you need, but don't necessarily get a big thrill out of buying...

I love this painting - these women are pretty dressy for just hanging around under the trees!

Our lover of all things olive green has an interesting palette with which to work - she's got ... View the Post

In the Mood for Something Pretty? Japanese 24 Seasons: Tōji – Winter Solstice

December 22, 2023

The shortest day of the year certainly puts many of us in the mood for a little treat - just something to brighten up the long, dark night...

You in the Southern Hemisphere - enjoy your long day and warm weather!

So for this post, I just cruised through all of my usual favorites to see what caught my eye...

My favorite place to look for accessories is ALWAYS Wolf & Badger; they represent a ton of small designers, and always have things that won't be seen anywhere else...

It didn't take long for me to spot some lovely pieces:

Of course, it wouldn't be The Vivienne Files without a few things from J.Crew! I had to share this cropped hoodie, in one of everyone's favorite shades of blue... And the ... View the Post

The Finishing Touches: Start with a Bracelet – Fierce Serenity Bracelets by Fierce Lynx Designs

December 20, 2023

One last visit to the navy, grey and Larkspur wardrobe - this heroine needs a few accessories to round out her 4 by 4 Wardrobe...

Remember, this is our basis. I don't know if anybody noticed - I added dark navy borders to the "pie pieces" so that we can visualize our 2nd neutral:

This is the assortment of clothing that our heroine is taking with her. If I were her, I'd be packing long underwear to wear as pajamas, and someone suggested a down vest too!

She also had chosen some lovely accessories - not enough, probably, but still lovely...

She stands. She looks. She thinks.

luggage won't pack itself!

Her idea is to work her way through a bunch of outfits, and make certain that she ... View the Post