Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature
January 29, 2023
A pretty normal winter week for us - it did finally snow!
I've noticed that if I keep track of what I wear, as I have been doing since the first of September, it becomes clear exactly what clothes are my favorites.
This, I suspect, means that I should be able to figure out what I have but don't need, right?
love,
Janice ... View the Post
December 16, 2022
I kept thinking that I would hold this post for a few days, until we actually HAVE snow in Chicago. I've surrendered...
But I must mention - this was DIFFICULT, because lots and lots of stores are running out of things. I have a policy on The Vivienne Files that I won't show any item unless it's available in a full range of sizes; right now, that makes finding the clothes I want to share with you hard to find.
So be warned that if you love something, grab it pretty quickly or be prepared to be disappointed!
What about some outfits that you can wear to work, or to something festive, and fit in without wearing Santa earrings or an ugly sweater:
Maybe you want to wear pastels this winter!
This ... View the Post
November 16, 2022
Black and white tweed. Pull-on waist (which is delightful is you're among those of us who don't tuck in our tops!). LINED TO THE KNEES!!!
Pretty tempting...
Well yes, if you can use a pair of nice but not formal pants, these would be great...
Of course they're perfect with all of the black sweaters in the world:
If you like pattern mixing, tweed is maybe the easiest pattern to include. It's subtle enough not to glaringly clash with other things...
These pants will go with ANY solid color - bright, muted, pastel, neutral:
If you find yourself attending those kinds of events where NOBODY knows quite how dressy things will be, these pants are a great option:
If you like subtle ... View the Post
February 14, 2022
Remember, we are evolved enough as humans that we can buy our own Valentine's Day gifts... Do something beautiful for yourself today (and every day, frankly!).
Today, I'm pondering the role of a plaid, striped or printed shirt in one's wardrobe...
This little teal and navy cluster is a perfect example of the Triple Top Secret! You can - obviously - wear this outfit just as it's show above; in bitter cold weather, 2 shirts and a sweater isn't excessive. Add a pair of long underwear pants, boots in place of loafers, and some hard-core outerwear, and you'd be fine in Chicago in single-digit temperatures!
But if you own these 4 garments, you have SEVEN outfit possibilities!
depending on the style ... View the Post
December 20, 2021
Is it cold yet where you are? (Northern Hemisphere, obviously!) Chicago is NOT "Winter cold" - more still like Autumn... With the first day of Winter tomorrow, I still don't think it's going to suddenly snow and get freezing cold!
That said, it's still cold enough to wear layers - I've been layering 2 tops, and then wearing a down vest as my outerwear. With a scarf and gloves, I have been warm enough, so far.
So all of these outfits are right in my wheelhouse!
Cotton turtlenecks are great for warmth, for bringing some much-needed light and plainness under a bold or bright top, or for giving you some softness under a scratchy sweater. My favorite fisherman knit crewneck is itchy as heck, so I never wear it ... View the Post
July 30, 2020
If you're tasked with finding a winter wardrobe right now, I wish you all KINDS of luck. This is not a year during which all of the retailers have rushed to thrill us with cashmere, velvet, tweed, and lots of boots...
Nevertheless, we persist...
Remember this wardrobe from week 26 of The Weekly Timeless Wardrobe? I love this one...
So what IS a cluster, anyway? To me, a cluster is a group of clothes - 4, 5 or 6 at the most - that all go together, that give you a range of ensembles, and that are built around 1 or 2 "bottoms."
My logic is that if you have a couple of spare tops to wear with a pair of pants,
you aren't stuck when you're traveling and someone spills coffee on your shirt; if the weather ... View the Post
September 18, 2019
She spent most of the summer at the beach house; she had been allowed to work from home for years, so she was able to work while sitting on the balcony, looking out at the shore...
You'll Have to Work in the Office... Since the acquisition, she knew that things would change, but she hadn't expected this. But they're giving all of the staff who had been telecommuting a small bonus to re-establish their commute. (or their office wardrobe?)
So she reverts back to her favorite painting, and starts planning...
She knows that she will need some neutrals, so she gets a great cardigan blazer, some washable wool pants, and a really cool coated denim skirt! But she's determined to include her favorite red and tan ... View the Post
January 30, 2019
On New Year's Eve, I made the brave commitment to not purchase any clothing during 2019! My plan for managing this is to have 4 5-piece clusters each month from which I will get dressed. Because I spent so much of January in Florida, my normal wardrobe didn't really apply (when I'm there, I wear a lot of gym clothes, and just the occasional "normal" outfit...) and so I only put together 2 clusters for January.
But now, moving into February, I'm going with the original plan. Four clusters, 20 pieces of clothing. From this, I'm going to pack for 10 days in Ireland!
Two of these clusters should look pretty familiar:
This last cluster is for getting dressed up - we won't be in Chicago ... View the Post
