The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Wardrobe of the Week: March 26 – April 1, 2023

April 2, 2023

I've finished my 31 days wearing the same black wool tee shirt - and getting dressed the first day of April was difficult! Well, not difficult, but I did have to hesitate for more than a moment to think about what I would wear...

It's difficult to explain just how amazing wool tee shirts are - after 31 days, my tee shirt STILL DOESN'T SMELL BAD!!!

It's tempting to say that it's because I am in some way free of any bodily contaminants (ahem...), but one must credit the amazing qualities of wool. I can't encourage you enough to try one - even in warmer weather. If we're all going to live with smaller, more carefully-chosen wardrobes, tee shirts that are THIS comfortable, and hold up THIS well, must be ... View the Post

Wardrobe of the Week: March 12 – 18 2023

March 18, 2023

The weeks go by...

Every day so far in March, I've worn the same black long-sleeved wool tee shirt. It's sort of a miracle the way it does NOT smell bad. It's hard to explain unless you actually wear one yourself, I guess... But these things that I'm learning about wool clothing are going to change the way I dress - less, better, and less laundry!

love Janice ... View the Post

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Flowers by Sir Cedric Morris

March 15, 2023

Beware the Ides of March...

Or maybe not! Maybe the Ides of March bring flowers to you...

This palette is particularly good for someone who wants variety in their wardrobe - it would be possible to find maybe 10 accent colors in this painting!

Our heroine starts with beige; you can do a lot and go a long way with a simple beige outfit!

Next, she indulges in olive green...

Before she forgets, she tosses in her favorite blue spring sweater, and a pair of jeans in a very light beige...

She wants shorts! So it makes sense to stock up on olive - some accessories will be useful...

Now let's get to those accent colors! A beautiful cotton sweater in a delicious shade of purple? Don't ... View the Post

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: (Country Doctor) Night Call by Horace Pippin

March 13, 2023

She is ready to simplify. The recent report "Unfit, Unfair, Unfashionable" recommended that people living in 4-season climates should have a wardrobe of no more than 85 things - garments and shoes... 

For winter, she's going to start here:

If she's going to have 85 items, that means 22 per season, with a bonus item; she's already decided that her bonus item will probably be a wool dress than can be worn all year!

The colors:

She's going to go outfit by outfit - 3 garments and a pair of shoes... And she's starting with jeans!

Next she starts with her black knit pants...

A simple grey and white outfit with jewelry:

And black jeans too! Her life is pretty casual...

She ... View the Post

Wardrobe of the Week March 5 – 11, 2023

March 12, 2023

We expected, but did not experience, TWO snowstorms this week...

I'm reading a report on the environmental impact of fashion on climate change:

Unfit, Unfair, Unfashionable

It's a somewhat challenging technical slog, but sobering; they recommend 85 garments (including shoes) in a wardrobe for a 4-season climate.

More on this to come, I'm sure!

love,

Janice ... View the Post

Second Half of Six Paintings, 12 Months – March 2023

March 3, 2023

Let's check on our other 3 heroines!

Boy do I love these colors...

This heroine felt like she was in a pretty good spot for pants - she's got black jeans, and another pair of black pants; those of us who wear black could go for weeks with just these 2!

AND... she found 2 cardigans she loves, as well as 2 scarves that are perfect with the cardigans. So she grabs a black tee shirt to give herself that "column of a neutral color" that is so versatile, and away she goes!

Her wardrobe now has 11 garments - enough for a week-long trip, if she so chooses...

It's pretty easy to see how versatile this wardrobe can be!

If someone magically put all of this into my closet, I could certainly look pretty ... View the Post

Part 2: HOW CAN YOU WEAR A NEW ACCENT COLOR? PANTONE AUTUMN/WINTER 2023/24

February 27, 2023

Let's spend some time with the other 5 colors that Pantone identified as "important" for Autumn/Winter 2023/24...

yes, I would definitely put a brooch over the logo on this cardigan; I just couldn't resist this, because the color is so perfect!

Of course, this color is lovely with navy:

I think I could have found a better name for this shade of green, but they never ask my opinion!

I'm not sure about this with navy - I think I will pull together a beige core wardrobe next week and try all of the colors with it...

I love this color! 

And I love it with navy; navy is a great neutral!

I think Pantone almost always include some shade of blush peach/pink. It's a pretty ... View the Post

Wardrobe of the Week February 18 – 25, 2023, and a song of praise for my 4 Objects blazer

February 26, 2023

We were out and about a bit this week - I don't have a lot of opportunities to dress up!

The only really "snazzy" outfit that I wore was the following, which I wore for a lengthy test to determine that I am NOT allergic to aspirin! My arthritis is grateful...

I've been asked about my 4 Objects blazer - WELL...

This is a detail of the fabric, and of one of the lovely front welt pockets...

When I first unpacked my blazer, the first thing that I noticed is that the garment is three-dimensional! It doesn't just lay flat when you put it down - the armholes have dimension, as does the collar!

And this is the inside front breast pocket, which was turned out like this when my blazer ... View the Post

Wardrobe of the Week: February 12 – 18, 2023

February 19, 2023

We had a quiet week, with 1 appointment out of the apartment. Snow on Thursday meant that we all stayed tucked up for a couple of days...

I made a deliberate effort to wear the same general look, and the same pants. More and more I find that I'm VERY comfortable wearing the same small assortment of clothing. 

Life is complicated enough, without wardrobe angst!

love,

Janice ... View the Post

Build a Travel Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with a Bracelet: Transformational Lynx Bracelets by Fierce Lynx Designs

February 15, 2023

She's ready for a big change, and she's going to use this bracelet as her inspiration:

For decades, she's worn navy with pink, or light blue, or pale yellow... It fit in with her office and her job. But now...

She started with the bracelets, and THEN she saw the coat! She was wearing sneakers with green stripes, so it seemed fated... A divine brooch, the perfect scarf, and some wee earrings were all she needed:

Gradually, she added a few things to her wardrobe, while she held onto her favorite work skirt and pants:

Suddenly, she finds that she's prepared to present her new color palette at almost any activity in her social life:

She's excited about the options of soft lavender or deep, ... View the Post