Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature
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
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
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
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
August 15, 2013
In the interest of full disclosure, if your click on any link to Boticca and purchase something, they give me a (very) small commission. That's not why I use their accessories on The Vivienne Files; I use them because they're timeless, elegant, classic, and unique, just like us!
love, Janice ... View the Post
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
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
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
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
July 5, 2013
For a business event that is quite dressy, this ensemble below would be wonderful. And I particularly like this whole assortment of clothes, because it is all very suitable for those of us who do not have a well-defined waistline. Do remember, this much unrelieved black relies heavily on judicious and generous accessorizing to avoid looking monastic...You may not feel comfortable wearing a black dress to some occasions; I see them more and more at weddings - but of course now many brides dress their attendants in black, which opens up the possibility for the guests also. It's all about how comfortable you will feel - that's the only standard that ultimately matters.
Dress- ... View the Post
June 21, 2013
There were lots of black dresses on the streets of Chicago yesterday, and lots of all-black outfits. But a few really stood out from the crowd by virtual of their carefully chosen metallic accessories. From the young lady in the spikey necklace and woven flats to the executive with her Ferragamo shoes and bag, (and great silver sunglasses), black and silver caught the eye.
The first woman I saw who really got me noticing the all-black outfits with metallics was wearing a simple sleeveless top with shorts, but her accessories really elevated what might have been a very stark outfit. Right behind her was a lovely person in a sleeveless dress with gold flower jewelry - uncluttered, but very charming.
In the Loop, ... View the Post
June 13, 2013
It's tempting to starting thinking of each scarf as being "married" to (or at least going steady with) a particular outfit that you own, and moreover, to always reach for the same scarf when you put on a favorite outfit. I do this often, and I'm trying to break out of this habit, and shake up my scarf/clothing combos a little bit. So I took one outfit that I wear a lot (this sweater is linen, so it can be worn through all but the hottest summer months) and tried to see how it would pair up with a variety of scarves.I show Hermes scarves here, but PLEASE bear in mind that this exercise is true of any scarves you own. Vintage from a thrift store, hand-crafted from a street fair, or heritage ... View the Post
