Start with Art Archives - Page 39 of 61

Winter Travel: Knitting a Stocking by Sir Francis Grant

February 13, 2019

She's thoroughly high-tech... She sells software. In her dreams, this might be her life:

But right now, she doesn't sit by the fire all that often! Still, she was smitten with this image, and thus it became the inspiration for her wardrobe palette:

Yes, five colors in a wardrobe might be difficult. But one of the qualities that our heroine most loves about herself is her ability to make things that everyone believes to be complicated into simple, straightforward projects...

Yes, she loves the poncho over her cardigan - she doesn't live in an area with horrible winter weather... It gives her a lovely layered look that seems complicated, but really isn't all that...

For a woman who ... View the Post

Winter Travel: Madame Leon Clapisson by Renoir

January 14, 2019

Oh my... She sings in the opera. Not one of the stars, but she works all the time, and enjoys it immensely!

Even though she's not the primary singer, she's still a bit of a diva; she identifies quite a bit with the woman in the painting:

So when she purchases her clothes, she uses this color scheme - enough neutral colors that she can find what she needs, but with lovely soft accent colors that appeal to her feminine side:

Her opera company is travelling to give a few performances in another city. She will be spending most of her time rehearsing or performing, but she will have a bit of time to sight-see, shop, and dine.

She's quite dressy...

She realizes that packing only dresses and cardigans ... View the Post

Winter Travel: Briqueterie a Tortosa by Pablo Picasso

January 9, 2019

Solar panels. She designs installations for solar panels - big installations, small ones - whatever is ordered, she will optimize both the appearance and the productivity. She's very proud of what she does...

So when she saw this painting, it spoke to her - the angles, the bright sunny feel, the combination of grey (like metal frames) with orange and green - the colors of things that grow and bloom:

She decided to choose a color palette that she could use for all of her travel wardrobes (and maybe all of her clothing, eventually):

One challenge she always faces is that she travels to place where it is inevitably warmer than where she lives! So she dresses warmly for her departure, and ... View the Post

L’Oiseau Forestier by Ernst, Revisited for Summer 2018

August 3, 2018

She's the toughest negotiator in the office, and nobody can quite believe it! She managed to settle one of the toughest ongoing negotiations her company had on their docket back in January, and was made chief negotiator in recognition. Her co-workers really didn't "get it" when she was sent to represent their firm at a weekend retreat to discuss negotiating techniques...

She takes her style inspirations from this painting - it doesn't seem particularly intimidating or overbearing, does it?

We're Not Quite Sure... "What the client wants or expects. It could just be a get-together with the union officials... you know - a picnic, a few rounds of golf, some pressing the flesh..."

"OR. They might be planning for ... View the Post

Start with Art: Building a Capsule Wardrobe by Revisiting Jack Pine by Tom Thomson

May 16, 2018

Someone asked me to revisit this most striking of paintings... Years ago I showed some outfits that were based on this work, but it's well worth returning to works of art from time to time. If you choose a work of art or other lovely image/object to be your style inspiration, you'll be coming back to it often, so why shouldn't we do the same here on The Vivienne Files?

As much as brown plays a really big role in the painting, I've chosen to not include brown in this wardrobe because it's terribly difficult to find for spring and summer! If you've got a good source of beautiful brown garments for warm weather, take advantage! That's the only way these colors will move back into the marketplace...

I'm imagining that ... View the Post

Instruments de Musique by Pablo Picasso – Inspiring an Unusual Business Tote Bag Travel Wardrobe

January 18, 2018 A Square Peg...

She knows it - she doesn't fit in the way most other staff at her firm does... She works the difference to her advantage.

Many of their clients are as different from her co-workers as chalk is from cheese. She's MUCH more like the clients... and that helps!

Often she can get insights and answers that elude much more senior staff... They marvel at how she does it...

She fits in with her co-workers, superficially, but if someone was paying close attention they would see that she's got her very own approach to things!

One would think that the orange suitcase might be their first hint? Or maybe the concrete necklace...

love, Janice

p.s. Now that I've built ... View the Post

Dame au Chapeau by Natalia S. Gontcharova Inspiring a Tote Bag Travel Capsule Wardrobe

January 17, 2018 She Doesn't Mean to Attract Attention...

But she always seems to... So she takes advantage of her conspicuousness...

She's always trying to encourage her students to think of things differently...

In the same way, she encourages everybody who sees her to think of colors in different ways, by wearing distinctive and unique combinations that give her great pleasure...

She can be spotted far across campus, which is a mixed blessing...

Her appearance exudes energy and cheer, which is always welcome in the dead of winter!

She would LOVE to get a hat, but it's going to have to be just perfect.... Maybe in the spring?

love, Janice

... View the Post

Passion Flower with Hummingbirds by Martin Johnson Heade – Inspiring a Tote Bag Travel Capsule Wardrobe

January 16, 2018 Quiet.... It's just the way she is...

She appreciates peace. Tranquility. Simple pleasures that don't involve amplification...

Which is not to say that she's boring - just that if you're going to see the interesting things, you might have to look a little while!

Her color palette is mostly muted, with a single bright accent of geranium pink... She shops with incredible patience to stay true to her long-standing preferences!

When she travels, she doesn't need much. Because everything she owns suits her to a "T," she can be contented with just the necessities and a few lovely accessories...

A long time ago she heard a phrase - maybe in an advertisement? - that said that "if you ... View the Post

Fonds Marins by Lee Ungno – Inspiring a Start with Art Tote Bag Travel Wardrobe

January 15, 2018 They Keep Telling Her That She's an Iconoclast... But she likes to think that she just knows what she likes!

She likes black and white, and she likes pastels...

She likes linen shirts, untucked!

She loves scarves, and bracelets...

She likes to travel light...

She likes to carry a handbag in an unexpected color!

She's comfortable mixing pastel colors...

She's comfortable wearing multiple shades of blue...

But she would NEVER break an icon - they're works of art!

love, Janice

... View the Post

Study in Verticals (The Cathedral) by Frantisek Kupka – Start with Art for a Tote Bag Business Travel Capsule

January 12, 2018 She Never Knows...

They send her out for as the mediator for meetings - sometimes between really big, powerful clients - and she never knows what the experience will be...

She tries, when she arrives, to be a forceful but feminine presence, striking a balance between pushing toward a decision and encouraging compromise. It's a narrow line to walk...

So, even though she's going to be there for only 2 or 3 days, she tries to be prepared for any sort of "personality" that she needs to bring to the table...

She tries to travel light, but offer herself a lot of options!

Happily, she finds these adjustments pretty easy, because she's a woman of many facets...

love, Janice ... View the Post

Flowers in a Crystal Vase by Edouard Manet – Inspiration for Tote Bag Travel

January 9, 2018 You're a Soil Conservation Engineer?

"I can't imagine spending all of my time working with dirt!"

It's SOIL, not dirt...

"It just doesn't seem like there would be that much to do - it's dirt! It's all over the ground! What else is there to know?"

Well, keeping it all from washing away into rivers, and thus into the ocean, is a good start...

"And you're going on a business trip? What can there possibly be to talk about? Dirt isn't really that interesting..."

But new ways to conserve and enrich soil can be fascinating, and it's always great to be able to spend some time with people who share you passion for the SOIL...

"Something that's really hard for me to understand - this just doesn't ... View the Post

Shallow Deep by Wassily Kandinsky – Start with Art for a Travel Capsule Wardrobe

January 8, 2018 20 Sixth Graders in New York City... Yes, she's completely insane! (if she isn't, she will be by the end of the weekend...)

What's puzzling to all of the other teachers (and the parents!) is how she makes it all look so simple, and so much FUN...

She's always bright and cheery, in both her demeanor and her wardrobe... Comfortable, but still fun and appropriate.

Her clothes always have a touch of color that makes it easy to spot her in a crowd. In New York, that might be useful...

Nobody seems to notice what a tight system she has for her travel wardrobe...

Although they're only going to be there for 2 nights (2 REALLY long nights...), she likes to have plenty of options. Accidents will ... View the Post