July 2, 2014 Somehow, one of the great mysteries of the internet, this post vanished, and was replaced in its entirety by a post from two years earlier! Happily, I have all of my images saved on my computer, and in the cloud, so I'm able to recreate the look of the original post. I think that my explanation will be much as it was, because I'm still working with essentially the same brain! Any time you notice things that look complete bizarre or inexplicable here on The Vivienne Files, please send me a note: [email protected]. Your assistance is deeply appreciated! Next step in the Starting From Scratch Capsule Wardrobe - you don't own a skirt or dress yet! A skirt is the more versatile of the two, because ... View the Post
beige Archives - Page 25 of 34
How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe from Scratch: A Brief Pause to Check the Map
June 27, 2014
This seems like a good time to stop for a moment and assess what we've accomplished so far with our capsule wardrobes, and make sure that we're happy with the direction in which we're moving. The items that we've brought into the capsule wardrobe so far give us over a dozen outfit options (I'm showing 2 dozen, but if you take off the cardigans, there are additional outfits). Some of these outfits work better than others, but none of them are unwearable. What might be reasonable to do right now would be to stop and look at each of these outfits, and decide if we're comfortable with most of them. Certainly some are going to be... not to our taste... but if your choice of colors has been ... View the Post
How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe from Scratch Step 7: A Base in the 2nd Neutral
July 26, 2014 Today's step will bring our second neutral color more fully into our capsule wardrobes, by the addition of another "suit-like ensemble" in this color. Please note that you can choose a really different cardigan style from your first one, or you could choose a jacket - even a denim jacket! And I'm opting for ballet flats for this color - no matter what shoes I choose, someone somewhere is going to detest them and want something very different. I'm including these in a really neutral style mostly for illustrative purposes - I want to focus on the role that a second pair of shoes, in a different color, will play. Tomorrow, when I show outfit options, this 2nd pair of shoes will make a big ... View the Post
How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe from Scratch Step 6: Accent Color Tops and a Scarf
June 25, 2014
Now, the fun starts! A couple of accent color tops and another scarf will bring each capsule wardrobe to life and give you many more options. Don't be terribly fanatic about matching up your accent colors, because you won't be wearing these pieces together; just make sure that you're choosing items that convey your preferences and your personal statement... That's what this is all about - showing yourself to the world exactly as you wish to be seen.
Yellow tee – Warehouse, scarf – Collection Weekend, aqua tee - Reiss
Red blouse – Cutie, scarf – Brooks Brothers, blue shirt - Uniqlo
Pink shirt – Fenn Wright Manson, scarf – Twisted ... View the Post
How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe from Scratch Step 5: Accessories round one
June 24, 2014
Now that we have enough clothes in our capsule wardrobe to put together at least a handful of combinations, it's time to pause and make sure that we're truly heading down a path which we like; if we want to change courses, now is the time!
At a minimum, wearing coordinating accessories with your wardrobe will keep you from making that excuse in your mind - "this wardrobe isn't working because I don't have the right earrings (watch, scarf, bag); when I get THAT then it will be okay." So let's take a break from clothes and take a look at our accessories. Unless you're making a completely radical change of colors, you might find that you have accessories already in your collection which will work beautifully ... View the Post
How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe from Scratch Step 4: Jeans and a Shirt
June 21, 2014
From the very beginning of this capsule wardrobe project, some of you have been clamoring for a pair of jeans. (actually, someone sent me a shockingly rude email when I didn't start with jeans; nobody should care so very much about what a blogger suggests...)
So now we're going to find a wonderful pair of jeans in our first neutral - yes, this gives us a core of four, which I consider to be a great starting point for a wardrobe.
When you're looking for jeans, try on lots and lots of them. And don't worry about price - more expensive jeans aren't automatically anything special, and inexpensive jeans might fit you beautifully. Just don't compromise on the quality of the denim, nor on the construction. After ... View the Post
How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe from Scratch Step 3: A cardigan and tee
June 20, 2014
After much consideration, I decided NOT to start our capsule wardrobes with a suit, but I'm going to now pull in a second layer garment that can give you "suit-like" utility if you want it to. These two pieces could certainly be purchased as a true twinset (I personally adore twinsets), or you can find pieces that are closely related in color but not matchy-matchy.
You can buy a cardigan without any buttons - a waterfall style - but make sure that it's nice quality, and doesn't look like "the cardigan that I keep on my desk chair all the time in case it gets cold in the office". And do bear in mind that a cardigan that buttons can be worn without anything under it - as a sweater in its own right. A handy ... View the Post
How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe from Scratch Step One: A Nice Pair of Pants
June 18, 2014 Many people would tell you that you should start building your capsule wardrobe with a black suit. And there's an undoubted crowd who would vote in favor of a little black dress. (for me, personally, that's where I would start...) But after wrestling with this question for weeks, I've finally decided that most of us might find the most utility, and the most immediate transformation of our wardrobe, could come from investing in a really NICE pair of pants. Trousers. Even (very unpopular word) slacks... If you've changed sizes, a new pair of trousers that fit you perfectly will immediately elevate all of your old blouses and shirts. If you want to improve the overall quality of your ... View the Post
How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe from Scratch: Choosing Color Schemes
June 17, 2014
It's a question that's as old as The Vivienne Files - if you're starting a capsule wardrobe from scratch, how do you start?
What an ambitious question! But after thinking about it for three years, I'm going to give it a try - a step by step approach to rebuilding your wardrobe from the ground up.
Before you buy any garments at all, you've got to make a couple of decisions. One thing you'll have to work out for yourself - which silhouettes suit you best. I'm really not qualified to answer this question for every woman, but I encourage you to address this question on your own; you know better than anybody else in the world what shapes and sizes of garments suit you best...
But the next question - truly critical - is ... View the Post
Start with Art: Lucy Hessel at the Seashore by Edouard Vuillard
June 4, 2014 My readers have the very best taste; this painting was sent to me to consider for a "Start With Art", and I thought the colors were so beautiful!The mood of this painting - languid, soft, dreamy, relaxed - made me think of a honeymoon, or a second honeymoon...
These were my color choices:
If you wanted to pack for a second honeymoon, you could certainly do worse than this!
As always, a well-chosen handful of outfits selected with a unifying theme will give you lots of options.
love, Janice ... View the Post
Start With Art: Paris Street; Rainy Day by Gustave Caillebotte – Version 2
May 22, 2014 A second look at this great painting - focusing on the left half of it, and picking up the lovely periwinkle/chambray blue details...
It is interesting that such a drizzly and cold painting lends itself so beautifully to hot-weather clothes.
I love this dress...
A couple more garments, some accessories, and shoes:
Soft and pretty - a great travel capsule wardrobe!
love, Janice
Looking back: 2012 - What to wear with a necklace: dragon pearls 2013 - We look at a whole bunch of ways to wear One Dress: Six Ways in Black, White and Pink ... View the Post
Neutral Accessories: Shoes Part 2
May 16, 2014 This is the second half of the Neutral Accessories: Shoes post that I started yesterday. Although I'm trying to show all of the 14 neutral colors that I've included in my Combination of 3 Neutrals document, I chose put both of the shades of grey together. Similarly, I've put natural and khaki together... In both of these cases, the number of items available are so small that it didn't make sense to break them into separate listings!
love,
Janice Looking Back:
2012 - one of my favorite paintings of all time - I got to Start with Art: Monet Water Lilies. 2013 - Sometimes I need to be reminded of my Project ... View the Post
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