Start With Art: Woman in Hat with Pompoms and a Printed Blouse - Picasso

Many readers asked me to work with a Picasso painting, and I happily oblige.  These outfits are based on beige, just as the painting is literally on a beige background.  Accents of red, orange, yellow, a touch of green, and you're set for almost anything!

My guiding adjectives for this project were warm, saturated, and clear, with unexpected bursts of bright against the toasty neutral.

Woman in Hat with Pompoms and a Printed Blouse – Picasso, earrings – Shanny Alon, dress – Charles Anastase, organza scarf – Yuh Okano, sandals – Sbicca, bracelet – La Diosa, tee shirt – Jucca , yellow capris – Bellerose, ballet flats – Pantofola d’Oro

Woman in Hat with Pompoms and a Printed Blouse – Picasso, striped tee – Blue Les Copains,  cropped trousers – Donna Karan , tote bag – Alexandra de Curtis, sneakers – Paul Green, hat – Brunello Cucinelli, tee shirt – Sandwich, coral capris – Patagonia, gold sling-backs – Walking Cradles

Woman in Hat with Pompoms and a Printed Blouse – Picasso, tee shirt – Phase Eight, shorts – Harvey Faircloth, bracelet – La Corza by Sabo Designs, sandals – Naturalizer, pinstriped skirt – Complice,  tunic – Armor Lux, sunglasses – Fendi,  orange sandals – Birkenstock

Woman in Hat with Pompoms and a Printed Blouse – Picasso, tee shirt – Pantone, cotton twill skirt – L.L.Bean, earrings – Somluck Komolmith, espadrilles – Manebi, charm bracelet – Tiraphan Hasub, green dress – J’Aime Les Garcons, beige slides – Walking Cradles

This is a wardrobe that could see someone through much of the summer!

Wearing Hermes Les Clef Silk Scarf All Year - July through December

In the hottest of hot weather, your scarf may just be tied around the handles of your bag, or around your ponytail...

Dress – Mandula, gold lace earrings – Liz Law,  bag – Artessorio, sandals – BC Footwear, tank top – L.L.Bean, earrings – Yoox,  crinkled skirt – Jeremy Laing, sandals – Aerosoles

 Don't let your scarf get wet, but wearing it on a rainy day can brighten things up...  And finding a print skirt in the colors of your scarf can be tricky, but when it happens you can have a lot of fun!

Sweater – Uniqlo, black jeans – Seven, rain boots – Hunter, rain jacket – Stutterheim, cross-body bag – Marc by Marc Jacobs,  turtleneck – Uniqlo, skirt – Fendi, wingtip loafers – Aerosoles

 Tweeds that meld together the main colors of your scarf are a particularly interesting thing to look for - you can wear your scarf from the most conservative family or professional functions to the dressiest of business outings at the holiday season.

Hoop earrings – Roberto Coin, Dress –   Roberto Collina, bracelet – Aurelie Bidermann, suede pumps – Isaac Mizrahi,earrings – Arosha Luigi Taglia, tweed jacket –Viyella, velvet skirt – Christopher Kane, clutch bag – Fabiola Pedrazzini,  jeweled pumps – Coach 

And after a year of using your scarf as the core inspiration for outfits, you have a relatively coherent wardrobe!  Some of the camel and yellow garments aren't going to play nicely together, but overall, you have a balanced but not boring capsule wardrobe that literally spans the seasons.

Wearing Hermes Les Clef Silk Scarf All Year - January through June

I was recently asked if it was possible to wear this scarf all year 'round. (the scarf is Hermes Les Clefs - the keys - and it's only available second-hand)  This scarf is particularly versatile, because in addition to black and white, you can wear this with camel, gold, or yellow.  Camel suits the cooler weather very nicely:

Black cloche – Nordstrom, camel and cashmere coat – Burberry, tote bag – BracherEmden, boots – Ecco, earrings – GemstoneJewelry of Southern Brazil, sweater – Rag and Bone, pleated skirt – Yumi, ankle boots – Louise et Cie

 Brighter yellow is perfect for spring - and gold is ideal for dressy activities...

Cardigan – Paul Smith, pinstripe pants – Reiss, socks – Hue, loafers – Aerosoles, watch – Movado, metallic fringe trimmed dress – Altuzarra, pearl earrings – Arosha Luigi Taglia, pumps - Seychelles

Even when it gets warm, this scarf would make a great belt!

Cotton shirtdress – Hope, chevron stud earrings – Enelle London, clutch bag – Esin Akan, slingbacks– Trotters, twisted rope bangle – Elyona,  tee shirt – All Saints, shorts – Dorothy Perkins, sandals – Nomad

The rest of the year will be here on Monday - have a great weekend!

Start With Art: "A Mysterious Hand Leads to Another Path" by Jan Toorop

This painting is currently at the Art Institute of Chicago, as part of the Celia and David Hilliard Collection exhibit.  I'm not sure if it's oil - I suspect it might be pastel - but it captivates me immediately...

My impressions from this were of warmth, and simplicity - clear lines and powdery soft colors, with matte finishes. 

“A Mysterious Hand Leads to Another Path” – Jan Toorop, blue topaz ring – Zayd Makarim, blue linen tee shirt – Isabel Marant Etoile, natural linen shorts – Comme des Garcons, denim blue sandals – Popet  seafoam linen dress – Paul Smith, scarf – U-NI-TY, silver sandals – Dr. Scholl’s

“A Mysterious Hand Leads to Another Path” – Jan Toorop,, tunic – Kristina Ti, rose capris – Amanda Wakeley, scarf – Jardin des Orangiers, espadrilles – Lauren Ralph Lauren, moonstone bracelet – Mahavir,  dotted tee shirt – Topshop, linen capris – Bikkembergs, patent flats– Vince Camuto 

“A Mysterious Hand Leads to Another Path” – Jan Toorop, peach tee – T by Alexander Wang, linen gauze skirt – Michael Kors, flat sandals – Bernardo , scarf – Coast,  tunic – Maliparmi, blue scarf – Jardin des Orangiers, espadrilles – Azura by Springstep

“A Mysterious Hand Leads to Another Path” – Jan Toorop, dress – Silk and Soie,  agate bracelet – Caipora Jewellery, ballet flats – Wanted, earrings – Clizia Ornato, mint tee shirt – T by Alexander Wang, blue shorts – Megan Park, green sandals – Chinese Laundry

Don't these eight outfit, when assembled together, give you a great summer wardrobe - especially for travel?  Okay, you may not want to pack eight pairs of shoes...

I love working with art - do you have any suggestions?  

 blue linen tee shirt – Isabel Marant Etoile, blue topaz ring – Zayd Makarim, agate bracelet – Caipora Jewellery, peach tee – T by Alexander Wang, moonstone bracelet – Mahavir, mint tee shirt – T by Alexander Wang,  dotted tee shirt – Topshop, earrings – Clizia Ornato, tunic – Maliparmi, scarf – U-NI-TY, blue scarf – Jardin des Orangiers, tunic – Kristina Ti, scarf – Coast, scarf – Jardin des Orangiers,  natural linen shorts – Comme des Garcons, rose capris – Amanda Wakeley, linen gauze skirt – Michael Kors,  seafoam linen dress – Paul Smith, dress – Silk and Soie,blue shorts – Megan Park,  linen capris – Bikkembergs,denim blue sandals – Popet,  espadrilles – Lauren Ralph Lauren, flat sandals – Bernardo ,  espadrilles – Azura by Springstep, silver sandals – Dr. Scholl’s, ballet flats – Wanted,  green sandals – Chinese Laundry, patent flats – Vince Camuto

 

  

  

More "Dressing Up" A Simple Dress

I had a few more variations of this floating around my computer, so for those of us who continue to party through the 12 days of Christmas, here are a few more suggestions!

This first look is low-key dressy, with a hint of sparkly cardigan, some serious silver earrings, a wee silver bag and a hint of silver trimming the shoes.  All the accessories come from the same general family without being too matchy matchy.

The 2nd ensemble features a wonderful ornamented cardigan, so I kept the earrings small, the cross-body bag a bit lacy, and the slingbacks (low-heeled, thank you!) have that touch of white that echoes the pearls. 

Silver earrings – Oscar Figueroa, dress – Acne, sequined cardigan – Armani Collezioni, silver cross-body bag – Elizabeth and James,suede and leather pumps – Pierre Hardy, white beaded cardigan – Moschino Cheap and Chic,  pearl flower earrings - Bhavesh, embossed clutch bag – MeDusa, slingbacks – Miu Miu

Sequins always make a major statement, so I didn't incorporate any more sparkle.  The earrings move and dance, the bag has hints of silver hidden behind the weave, and the woven shoes (low-heeled again) echo the weave idea.  

The last ensemble is a DEFINITE statement of evening!  Feathers make anything black-tie worthy.  The earrings sway and sparkle, the wee clutch bag is affordably gorgeous, and silver cap toes on your sensible pumps elevate the usual classic.

Labradoriteearrings – Julie Tuton Jewelry, silver beaded cardigan – Religion, woven clutch – Poupee Couture,  woven sling-backs – Dolce and Gabbana, feather cuffed cardigan – Louis Feraud, chandelier earrings – Alexis Bittar, silver minaudier – Glint, silver trimmed pumps – Miu Miu

Organizing Our Wardrobe Clusters

Would this form be useful for you as you organize your clusters?

Send me an email (theviviennefiles at gmail dot com) and I'll send you either the Excel or the PDF document. Just let me know which is better for you - although of course you can have them both...

Happy New Year!