The Vivienne Files

Capsule wardrobes inspired by art and nature

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Can You Build a Travel Capsule Wardrobe Around a Bracelet?

June 30, 2017

 

Of course you can! And our heroine here on "Financially Reckless Friday" is going to do just that. (really, I am going to settle on these posts on Wednesdays, I promise...) It WAS Illegal... And they owe her a LOT of money. Now she has to fly back to the Federal Court Offices to sign the paperwork and pick up the check!

She decided to spend the weekend there, in order to take in a concert of a favorite violinist, so she felt that a bit of shopping might be in order; she certainly wants to be appropriately dressed for her legal encounter, and her other activities...

So she starts at Alexis Bittar, where she falls under the spell of a bracelet:

She can immediately see the possibilities - serious black ... View the Post

Can You Build a Travel Capsule Wardrobe Around a Piece of Jewelry?

June 21, 2017

 

I'm thinking that these kinds of posts could be known as "Wildly-Extravagant Wednesday..." A Ridiculous Business Trip She loved the ring from the moment she saw it, and now she wears it every day...

So when they told her that she had to fly to headquarters on Friday JUST TO DELIVER A FOLDER... she decided that she was going to stay through the weekend and go all-out. See an opera, do some serious dining, and people-watch...

She's got to go straight to the office when she lands, so she's going to fly in "grown-up" clothes. The flight's not all that long, so this will be fine - not a lot different from sitting at her desk for the morning. (except she doesn't have to do anything any more taxing than ... View the Post

How to Pack for a Quick, Dressy Trip? Start with a Scarf…

June 15, 2017 Her Favorite Artist Everybody probably has one that they like the most, but this is the one about whom she wrote EVERY English language essay she had to write, all through high school and college.

She has framed posters in her home. She's read the biographies. She even listens to music that was supposed to be the artist's favorite.

And now there's an exhibition.... IN MADRID.

She has no vacation time to take. Okay, maybe 2 days...

But she has some airline miles to spend...

And enough money for a few hotel nights...

And enough money for a couple of AMAZING dinners...

Yes, she's going alone. Nobody else is going to want to spend 2 solid days in 1 museum...

Well okay, she might ... View the Post

When All Else Fails – Reruns!

My computer is grumpy, and my sore throat is grumpy... it's just grumpy world here!

So I'm going to suggest that you go back and visit a post from about a year ago, that's one of my favorites...

I really love the consistent moon and stars feeling, as well as the variety of pieces available in navy and white. And her story of insomnia...

Some days, I'm positively proud of what I create!

love, Janice ... View the Post

How to Pack for a Long Weekend (in Paris?)? Start with Art: Eiffel Tower by Robert Delaunay

April 28, 2017

 

This painting just makes me sigh...

This color scheme has so many possibilities:

More and more I find that brown leather is a great way to incorporate brown into almost any outfit!

I know that it's possible to just go to Paris for a long weekend (I've done it - it was insane...) if you live much closer than those of us in North America. Imagine that our heroine is going there, to spend some time outdoors - maybe photographing sculptures in the many parks?

I'm assuming that for this trip, she's going to neither climb nor crawl, so she doesn't have to wear absolutely hard-core work clothes. Just a handful (+1) of nice things that will look attractive during the day and not leave her ... View the Post

How to Pack Light for a Long Weekend? Start with Art: View of New York by Charles Sheeler

April, 26, 2017  

Do you remember one of my very favorite all-time posts, where a woman went to visit friends to look at the stars? Her wardrobe colors were inspired by the colors of the common shelduck - brown, black, and white...Well, she's found a painting that she really likes, so this year, when she's going back to visit her friends again, she's in the same color scheme. The weather is warmer, but you might recognize a few of her accessories from last winter's trip...

Her color scheme expands to include cream and grey (earlier, she was pretty strictly black and white with brown leather accessories), and some day she's going to try something in sky blue. Some day...

She knows that it's going to be warmer in April ... View the Post

Build a Warm Weather Travel Six-Pack by Starting with Art: Palimpsest 46 by Kamrooz Aram

April 24, 2017

I'm smitten with this artist, Kamrooz Aram - you're going to see more from him:

 

I love these colors - especially those little touches of brightness! I didn't use them in this Six-Pack, but in a larger wardrobe, you would definitely see them... I also don't have any grey garments included here, but for a trip that would last a few more days, a nice grey summer dress, and certainly a tee shirt and shorts, would be such simple things to add.

And while I don't have style notes here, I'm definitely thinking that this is a woman who loves flowers, but who also appreciates the compelling power of large patches of solid colors, arranged in a way understood only by the artist.

My heroine is traveling ... View the Post

How to Pack for a Long Weekend by Starting with Art: Le Rêve by Puvis de Chavannnes

January 27, 2017

I saw this when I was in Paris in December; it's stunning...

Finally, Her Work is "Trendy"  

She's spent her entire career studying ways to forecast how many hours of sunshine there will be in any location, on any day in the near future. It's weather related, of course....

Scarf – Nordstrom; jacquard tee - L.L.Bean; earrings - Manka;  watch - Skagen; jeans - L.L.Bean; cardigan - L.L.Bean;  loafers - Børn; tote - Tumi  

But now that everybody is finally concerned with solar energy, her work is a "big deal..."

tee – Uniqlo; bracelet - Aoy; earrings - Komang Wijayana; cardigan – Lands’ End;  blouse - Reinaldo Lourenço; dress – Creature of the Wind; clutch – Jimmy Choo; ... View the Post

Build a “Six Pack” Travel Capsule Wardrobe – Using Another Velvet Swatch

January 16, 2017

 

This swatch is VERY similar to the one that I used Friday, but there are subtle color differences that I really wanted to explore. The subtle details can make all of the difference!

If You're SURE You Want Me To Go Too...

Every year, after the new year, when all the kids are back at school and the house quiets down, her spouse wants to go golfing...

A long weekend at the most talked-about golf resort of the current season.

She hates golf.

But she likes to sit in the garden and read. The staff keeps her well-supplied with drinks and tasty snacks...

 

She likes to walk around the neighborhood and take in all of the flowers, and the trees that still have leaves. It's a nice break ... View the Post

Build a “Six-Pack” Travel Capsule Wardrobe by Starting With… Art? Fabric?

January 13, 2017   The Art Institute of Chicago currently has an exhibit of velvet fabric, tucked away in the basement rooms that seem to be reserved exclusively for fabrics. It's a small exhibit, but SUCH beauty...  

Mental Health Break

 

It sounds terribly dramatic, but she really just wants to see her toes... with polish, if possible!

So a long weekend away, at a very un-chic beach. Renting a very un-chic suite with a kitchenette...She wants to wear something on her lips that isn't Carmex or ChapStick...

She doesn't want to "dine." She wants to walk, on sand, maybe in her bare feet!

 

 

She wants to carry a tote bag with a snack, something upon which to sit, and maybe a ... View the Post

Build a Travel Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Winter Scene in Moonlight by Henry Farrer

January 4, 2017

This looks pretty familiar, weather-wise...

"You're Going WHERE for the Weekend?"  

"The farm... you know that I've kept the house cleaned up so it's habitable..."

 

"Yes, but it will be FREEZING cold, and there's absolutely nothing out there to do..."

She hesitates.... these don't sound like big problems! 

  "I'll dress warmly. I know that the tenant has at least a couple of cords of firewood there for me; I talked to him over Christmas..."

 

"Well, if you're sure...."

She's very sure. She wants a fire, and some books, and some peace and quiet, and a chance to see the night sky without a million street lights....

When she returns to work, she's just ... View the Post

Build a Travel Capsule Wardrobe by Starting with Art: Femme au Col Blanc by Marc Chagall VERSION TWO

December 22, 2016

  Done with Winter (for a weekend, at least) Our heroine is ready for a couple of days of warmth. She'd like to see her toes... It's the same heroine we've been following all week; she's referencing her first color scheme, seen here:  

  Since she's leaving a cold climate, long sleeves, a sweater, and "real" shoes are essential: earrings – Stephen Dweck; scarf – Echo; cardigan– L.L.Bean;  tee – Stella McCartney; bracelet – Vera Bradley; loafers – UGG;  tote –Louise et Cie; jeans – L.L.Bean   But once she's on the ground for the weekend, she's VERY hopeful that she's going to be able to wear capris, and sandals, and tee shirts, and bright ... View the Post