The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Capsule Wardrobe Project 333: Scarves

October 8, 2013   Who am I kidding - I will wear more than six scarves before the winter is over - there will be WEEKS during which I will wear more scarves than this. But these six scarves represent the critical categories into which my scarves seem to fall.  None of them is still currently available - and I can only remember buying two of them at all clearly.  I DO remember buying my pink scarf the first time I visited Paris (1998?), and being absolutely horrified with myself that I spent so much on a scarf.  Now that I've worn it about 500 times, I no longer remember the price...  

    Mostly pink/blush colored scarves:

Halogen,  La Fiorentina,  Nordstrom, ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Project 333: Shoes

October 7, 2013  

Lots of people have been interested in where I purchased my various Project 333 items, and what designers or brands were represented.  So I'm going to break down the whole show, by category, and review what I have.  Better yet, since so much of my stuff is no longer available, I'm going to source out reasonable facsimiles or replacements.Starting with shoes:  I have 2 pair of loafers included in this assortment, and 2 pair of oxfords.  If I were starting from scratch, I'd probably only get one pair of each.  But here are the autumn shoes, shown in order of absolute criticalness in my life.

 

My loafers are from Stuart Weitzman, the tall boots are from Eddie Bauer, the athletic ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Project 333: The Full Lagerfeld

Yes, Karl Lagerfeld wears the same outfit every day.  And I'm going to be getting close to that point...I can see how people who are continually immersed in fashion all day, every day, can get completely burned out on making clothing choices.  For every garment or accessory that I show here on my blog, I estimate that I look at over 100 items that get rejected.  Sometimes, I can say with confidence that I looked at over 500 pair of pants, or 700 bracelets, before I found what I really wanted to include here for you.  

After I've written a blog post, I want to wear absolutely simple, plain, easy and uncomplicated clothes. I don't need to have more than a dozen discrete, discreet outfits, so this upcoming Project 333 ... View the Post

Chic Sightings: A Simple Black Dress, a Cardigan, and SNAZZY shoes

October 2, 2013

 

Cardigan – Chinti and Parker,  Grey pumps – Everybody,  teal cardigan – House of Fraser, teal-trimmed pumps – Carolinna Espinosa    

Black & brown pumps – Softspots, brown cardigan – Paul & Joe Sister, camel cardigan – Burberry,  Camel and black pumps – Enzo Angiolini  

Grey cardigan – Massimo Alba, Floral slingback – J. Renee,  maroon cardigan – Sonia Rykiel, pumps – Marvin K.  

Dress – Stefanel   ... View the Post

Chic Sightings: Beige Cardigan, 6 different outfits

September 27, 2013   Now that we can occasionally pull out our sweaters in Chicago, I've noticed that a LOT of women are wearing a simple beige wrap cardigan in all sorts of lovely ways:  

Cardigan – Alpha Massimo Rebecchi, Tweed skirt – Stella Jean, ivory sweater – Stefanel,   taupe suede pumps – Naturalizer,  black sweater – Stefanel,  printed skirt – Weekend by Max Mara, black pumps - Sofft    

Cardigan – Alpha Massimo Rebecchi, Grey trousers – Giorgio Armani, grey blouse – See by Chloe,  grey flats – Munro,  navy top -  Shirt C-Zero,  navy trousers – Paul Smith, navy fabric loafers – Munro    

Cardigan – Alpha Massimo ... View the Post

Travel Capsule Wardrobe Packing for a Book Tour: Leaf Green and Black

September 16, 2013   After I finished today's post for Tish at A Femme d'un Certain Age, I looked around at some other possible colors with which the black items could be worn... and stumbled upon some beautiful green options.  Not something which you might want to wear every day, but an interesting choice if you want to be remembered and make a statement of originality!  

Blouse – Uniqlo,  earrings – Annette Ferdinandsen,  Black slouch pants – Helmut, black cardigan coat – Ann Demeulemeester,  scarf – Nordstrom,  watch – DKNY ,  flats – Delman , tote – Victorinox  

Peridot and blue topaz earrings- Ippolita, green asymmetric sweater – Allude, earrings – Arunashi, green tank ... View the Post

Four pack: Tan, with THREE printed items

August 26, 2013  

The travel outfit is always the most important decision when packing a tiny suitcase.  In the worst travel outcomes, you can be stuck wearing this outfit for a REALLY long time.  Even if everything goes perfectly, this is the outfit in which you arrive - your first impression at the branch office, or the hotel, or with the relatives.   As much as I adore textured and patterned cardigans, for the Four Pack, I'd stick with a solid-colored cardigan.  This amazingly beautiful sweater might get a lot of action, if the weather proves to be cool, and a solid makes it easier to coordinate other items.  

   Now you have a variety of choices!  This doesn't exhaust the ... View the Post

Transition: Phasing out a secondary neutral

I repeatedly make the questionable choice of including beige or khaki in my summer wardrobe... sigh...  it's not a great color for me.  So here, in addition to addressing the idea of moving toward warmer clothes, and buying with a purpose, I'm also showing a move from one color in a wardrobe to a different one.Remember, this was the summer Whatever's Clean wardrobe:

 First, because I'm starting to really feel like beige isn't working well, the 2 beige pieces are going to take a back seat. And of course white linen pants aren't going to go too far into the fall...

 Here's where grey takes the place of beige, and a pair of jeans will replace the white linen pants.

 Second step:  the ... View the Post

Packing for Business Travel: The Reluctant Tomboy

July 17, 2013  

Even those of us who would rather wear gym clothes sometimes have to go on business trips...  so we have to pack in a way that strikes a balance between work-appropriate and our personal style. A tuxedo-ish coat, some dapper trousers, a youthful pleated skirt and a cardigan make up the core around which everything else will revolve.

  An accent color is important - purple is used here - another simple cardigan, a snazzy turtleneck, and a silk blouse all work together. The oxfords were irresistible.  

    The tops appealed to my tomboy side, but they still will look fine with the black suit pieces... And you can't travel without loafers!  

  Sigh... but a dress will ... View the Post

Packing for Special Occasions: Brown and Black

July 15, 2013

Dress – Oro Pagoda, Scarf – India Flint, Gloves – Buscarlet, Bag – I Santi, Coat – Violante, Pumps – Stuart Weitzman  

Printed top – Burberry Prorsum, Corduroy pants – Patagonia, Cardigan – Eric Bompard, Watch – Rotary,  Loafers – Cole Haan, Carry-on bag – Tumi

Polo sweater – Eric Bompard, Black jeans – MaisonScotch, Scarf – Barbour Gold, Black cardigan –Barbour, Skirt – Patagonia,  Striped tee shirt – Wolf and Badger, Boots – Isabel Marant

 

 

  ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Project 333 continues, with 3 substitutions

July 11, 2013  

Now that I'm home during the day, I've found that I don't need to dress like a serious business executive all of the time, and I'm able to indulge my fondness for ballet-ish garments, and a lot of dark neutral colors.  I find that being able to have a simple, monochromatic wardrobe makes sense for me...   This month's additions: the most excellent Preloved tee shirt that I bought in Toronto, a charcoal tank top from Eileen Fisher, and a pair of black skirted leggings.  You either LOVE, or HATE, skirted leggings.  I've found that I love them - they're comfortable, flattering, and just unusual enough that they make me happy.  

  This was what I was using for Project 333.  I ... View the Post