The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Wardrobe of the Week: June 11 – 17, 2023

June 18, 2023

This was a challenging week - I'm still wearing a brace on my right wrist 24/7, on my left wrist at night, AND I got a cortisone shot in my left foot! I was left unable to put on any sort of shoe over the top of my foot for the entire week; it was cool enough that I would have preferred sneakers or loafers...

Also, I'm sharing a snippet of the fabric of my 2 pairs of pants - they're both black and white, but quite different. Note that my black and white dress is made of the same tic-weave fabric as one pair of pants. In that fabric, I also have the tunic, and the sleeveless top, and a dress... When something is just exactly what you love, you stock up, right?

Maybe the most interesting thing about looking at what I ... View the Post

Wardrobe of the Week: May 21 – 27, 2023

May 28, 2023

It's STILL not particularly warm in Chicago - it may get up into the 70s by Monday!

Thus, I am still wearing long-sleeved shirts (in linen, though!) and sweaters or sweatshirts.

Note - I bought my linen shirts from J.Jill at LEAST 10 years ago, and they're still going strong. Linen is tough...

Happily, our apartment is like a wee greenhouse, and warms up tremendously in the morning, when the sun streams in over the lake and into our huge windows! A great view, AND heat...

love,

Janice ... View the Post

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

An Exciting Event (for me) and a Fun Distraction for You

March 13, 2023

Tomorrow, the very elegant and highly esteemed auction house Hindman is holding an auction of "Spring Fashion & Accessories." It starts at 10 a.m. Central Time, and can be viewed online...

The exciting part? I'm auctioning my Hermes Poster (lot 243)!

If you've never watched one of these auctions before, they're worth the time! Seeing what's still around, what things are worth, and just getting caught up in the bidding excitement...

I wanted to share!

love,

Janice ... View the Post

OOTD becomes WOW – Wardrobe of the Week!

January 15, 2023

I've realized that it makes no sense - NONE WHATSOEVER - for me to pretend to wear different outfits every day. Some days, I wear pajamas all day! Some days, I'm dressed in "real" clothes for only a few hours, in which case I very likely wear the same outfit the next day...

So what a more normal woman might present as Outfit Of The Day has become Wardrobe Of the Week. Yes, I'm cheating on the acronym because I love the idea of a WOW wardrobe!

You can't improve your wardrobe's efficiency, and suitability to your needs and preferences, if you don't know how you use your clothes - day by day or week by week.

Socratic wardrobe study!

love,

Janice ... View the Post