The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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The Vivienne Files FAQ: Are Accessories Necessary?

March 4, 2014   Do you have to buy and wear accessories?  Absolutely not - except most of us will have to wear shoes... But I very strongly feel that just a few well-chosen accessories can make a world of difference in how the simplest of garments come together into ensembles.   If you're not comfortable wearing scarves, find a way to just throw one around your neck one day and then do your utmost to ignore it for as long as possible.  Make sure your first scarf isn't anything floaty or filmy that's going to blow up into your face at the first opportunity.  Maybe something quite small, tied up and out of the way so that you won't even really see it...   Jewelry is also pretty useful - earrings especially ... View the Post

Wearing Hermes Grands Fonds Silk Scarf All Year – January through June

January 13, 2014  

Hermes Grands Fonds (great depths) isn't available except in the vintage market, but it's worth hunting for one!  These shades of blue give you all kinds of possibilities for combining colors that you might have never before considered.Two quick notes:

I love doing these, and doing Start with Art.  Please keep sending me suggestions for both, as long as you're not utterly weary of seeing art bought to fashion life. Please do NOT think that I will only work with Hermes scarves - far from it!  I'm "in process" on some other scarves, and would welcome any scarf suggestion accompanied with a good photograph, or a link to a clear image!

Love, Janice  

The last six ... View the Post

More “Dressing Up” A Simple Dress

January 2, 2014   I had a few more variations of this floating around my computer, so for those of us who continue to party through the 12 days of Christmas, here are a few more suggestions!

  This first look is low-key dressy, with a hint of sparkly cardigan, some serious silver earrings, a wee silver bag and a hint of silver trimming the shoes.  All the accessories come from the same general family without being too matchy matchy.   The 2nd ensemble features a wonderful ornamented cardigan, so I kept the earrings small, the cross-body bag a bit lacy, and the slingbacks (low-heeled, thank you!) have that touch of white that echoes the pearls.  

Silver earrings – Oscar Figueroa, dress – Acne, ... View the Post

“Dressing Up” A Simple Dress

December 31, 2013   Sometimes we're confronted with an invitation that strongly suggests that we get super dressed up.  EEEEEK....   If you're sure that it's absolutely obligatory that you dress to the teeth, just brace yourself and go shopping.  But if you are pretty certain that you just need to be dressy, maybe a simple dress with some well-chosen accessories might be just the ticket!  

  love, Janice ... View the Post

From Desk to Dinner Party: Take off a Cardigan, and Add Some Bracelets!

December 27, 2013  

I don't see a lot of bracelets in the world, and I think that's too bad.  Bracelets elevate any outfit to something much dressier, and they're particularly effective at the dinner table.  Make sure that you're choose bracelets that aren't too bangy or clinky or clanky - you want to be beautiful, but not to the point of distraction!For all of these outfits, I've shown a very simple 3/4 sleeve ("bracelet" sleeve) top, in a color matching the pants, and for day I've topped them with a cardigan that makes sort of a statement, and some simple loafers.  Then after work, in addition to pulling on your bracelets, I'm suggesting some shiny shoes - always flat and comfortable though!  A change of ... View the Post

Neutral Accessories: Scarves, Part 1

December 11, 2013  

As much as I love to use a scarf as an accent to an outfit, once the weather starts to get cold, I find that I often turn to my black, black and white, or grey scarves.  A little bit of texture, a subtle print, or a pattern can lend a lot of interest to a monochromatic outfit.Tomorrow, I'll show you scarves from the other 8 neutral colors - I'm now including rust and teal as neutrals!

  love, Janice ... View the Post

Neutral Accessories: Earrings, Part 2

December 7, 2013   I love the subtle colors of some of these earrings - the brown diamonds are unexpected, and low-key, but very appealing...  And once you learn that certain semi-precious stones are perfect for your neutral color choices, your hunt for jewelry can be much more focused.   A couple of earrings here are gold, withOUT a stone of any sort, but I chose them because they felt like they had the right... aura?.. for the neutral in question.  Some colors are just plain difficult to find!  

love, Janice ... View the Post

Brooches for Winter

I fully intended to hold back this post until it was a bit closer to winter, and the winter holidays, but since all of these brooches are available right now, on ebay, I thought I'd go ahead and give you some eye candy... 

While a brooch might not be considered a wardrobe essential, even the "non-brooch" people among us have to admit that these are pretty - especially when aggregated thematically...  And the vintage brooches are often beautiful quality for a modest price!

love, Janice ... View the Post