From Desk to Dinner Party: Incorporating a Gem Tone into Neutrals

Many readers ask me about incorporating a brightly color blouse or shirt into their neutral wardrobe, particularly for evening events.  So I'm using the same basic "suit" type garments that we've seen before, and bringing in bright red, emerald green, and ruby...

Note that, while it's tempting to echo the color of the accent in shoes or another accessory, it's not strictly necessary.  So long as your accessories are festive, your look will be coherent and beautiful.

More tomorrow!

Grey cardigan – 3.1 Phillip Lim, loafers – Born,  grey trousers – Viyella, tee shirt – Weekend Max Mara, silver bracelets – Achara, satin pumps – Adrianna Papell

Cardigan – Authentic Original Vintage Style, navy loafers – VC Signature,  navy trousers – Chloe, green silk blouse – Gigue, chandelier earrings – Julie Tuton Jewelry, gold lace bracelet – Julie Tuton Jewelry, navy sparkle flats – Adrianna Papell

Blazer and skirt – Eastex , pumps – Trotters,  ruby blouse – BGN, earrings – Alexis Bittar, bracelet – Alexis Bittar, bronze sandals – Pelle Moda 

In Which I do NOT buy Something, but Rather Choose to Sell...

Too much stuff!!!  I'm plagued by it...  I want to sell these four scarves, to start...  Send me an email at theviviennefiles@gmail.com and we'll talk...

This one is already sold!

This one is also sold!

What actually got me started on the selling was a recent decision I made NOT to buy the charcoal grey skirted leggings that I'd been coveting for weeks.

When I was getting dressed, just a day or two ago, I grabbed my wonderful grey wool pants from Pendleton.  I've had them for quite a while, and they're wonderful, classic, high-quality, and I don't wear them nearly as often as I should...

And then I realized that I also own a pair of grey "slouch" pants from Eileen Fisher.  Wonderful pants...

AND, I have a grey wool Pendleton skirt.

More than enough charcoal grey.  One more would just be one too many.  It's so hard to remember that it's very possible to have enough, and to stop shopping.  Even in the face of beautiful, perfect things to buy, I can still say no.

grey pants - Pendleton, slouch pants - Eileen Fisher, grey skirt - Pendleton

From Desk to Dinner Party: More Silk Blouses

When combing through your wardrobe for something to use as the "key" piece in a day-to-night transition, remember that most of the focus will be on your face, especially if you're sitting at a dinner table.  Look for the key ideas of shine, sparkle, shimmer, any kind of texture-y interest, and don't forget that sleeveless often conveys a sense of occasion...

Velvet pants are among my favorite garments - I wear them all fall and winter, for regular days as well as festive moments.  This mix of brown and black is a great opportunity to wear smoky quartz jewelry...

Blazer- MaxMara,  loafers-Munro, brown silk blouse – Erika Cavallini, velvet pants – L’Agence,  earrings – Mija,  pearl and quartz bracelet – Neeru Goel, pumps- Corso Como

A beautiful lace blouse is comfortably businesslike under a knit blazer, but can stand alone with feminine dash after business hours... 

Knit blazer – BARK, loafers – Geox, navy lace blouse- Ella, grey trousers – Boss Hugo Boss, labradorite earrings- Irene Neuwirth, clutch – Nina,  pumps – Adrianna Papell

Don't forget the impact that a ring can have - I always notice them on other people, so it only seems logical that they might see them when I wear them...  Roll your sleeves a turn or two, unbutton two (or three) buttons, and smile!

Cardigan – Authentic Original Vintage Style,  pink silk blouse – Acne, navy trousers – Chloe, loafers – Robert Zur, earrings – YooLa,  ring- Marie Helene de Taillac,  bag – Marc Jacobs, slingbacks – J.Renee

From Desk to Dinner Party: Silk Blouses

If you know you have to go straight from work to a nice dinner, it's easy to plan ahead so that you can look special without having to do a complete change of clothes.

First off - even if you wear jeans, a nice silk tee shirt can spend the day under a cardigan and a scarf, but then can stand on its own with a gorgeous necklace and festive, but still comfortable, shoes.

Cardigan – A La Fois, stripe cashmere wrap – Nordstrom, silk tee shirt – BLK DNM, stone jeans – CC Fashions, loafers –Geox, necklace  - Neeru Goel,  flats - Halogen

A beautiful blue blouse (that matches your eyes?) looks perfectly serious and businesslike under a cardigan during your business day.  But lose the cardigan, pop on some dazzling earrings, and a slightly dressier shoe, and you're ready to go.

If you have any reason to believe that you're going to have to carry a drink around, shake hands, and maybe juggle an appetizer or two, a small cross-body bag is essential. As much as we love beautiful clutch bags for dressy events, sometimes you have to have your hands free!  

Grey cardigan – 3.1 Phillip Lim, loafers- Fitflop,  blue silk blouse – Ann Demeulemeester,  grey trousers – Viyella, earrings- Komang Wijayana, crossbody bag – Whiting and Davis, pumps – Joan and David

As much as you might be tempted to put on some killer high-heels, think seriously before you put yourself at risk of being in pain, or of walking like a wading bird...

Even if you work in a suit, you can still chose a beautiful blouse that will stand on its own later in the day.  Some silver jewelry that will show at the dinner table will make all of the difference to make your holiday-worthy!

Beige silk blouse – Armani Collezioni, blazer and skirt – Eastex, pumps- Naturalizer, earrings and bracelet – Priyo Salim

The Winner of the Novica $25 Gift Certificate

This morning, last Monday's post had exactly 100 comments!  I love the tidiness of that...

And the winner is comment #40:

Sue - from the most excellent blog "Over 60 and Over Here"!

Sue, send me an email and I'll send the code for your gift certificate.  And you MUST blog about your purchase - I'm dying to know what you get.

Thank you, everyone, for entering.  Novica is a really worthy place to buy something beautiful...

Petrol Black and White for Uncertain Weather: A 12-Pack for Mostly Warm Weather

You probably remember that we started last Friday with a core of six garments that would be suitable for a long weekend, and then on Saturday, I expanded the capsule travel wardrobe to a 12-pack, for cooler weather.  Now I'm going to do basically the same thing, only oriented toward a much warmer visit...

Again, six carefully-chosen garments:

1. Shorts - I like white, but you could easily choose black or petrol.
2. A great printed tee shirt that includes all three of your colors. (that's one outfit)
3. A beautiful fluid top in your accent color, and
4. A skirt that combines your accent color and either of your neutrals.
5. Another top - dressier than a tee shirt - that can be worn with either of your neutrals, and
6. A great, neutral dress.  

 Yes, this capsule is long on skirts - you could easily substitute shorts, capris or pants for the skirt and the dress.   And more sandals won't go amiss...

Mineral print tee- 2nd Day, wrap top – Maison Martin Margiela, Bermuda shorts – Kai-Aakmann, Ikat print skirt- Peserico, black and white tunic – M Missoni, sandals – Sofft, black dress- Ann Demeulemeester

Cardigan- Uniqlo, tee shirt- Emmanuel Ungaro, earrings - Caine, black crepe pants - Damsel in a Dress, scarf-Pyaar, trench coat - ADD, loafers - Munro, bag - Tumi

Scarf – Lieke Van Opstal, chalcedony bracelet – Neeru Goel, chalcedony necklace – Neeru Goel, mineral print tee- 2nd Day, cardigan – Uniqlo, floral tee – Alice and Olivia, white tee –Uniqlo, wrap top – Maison Martin Margiela, black dress- Ann Demeulemeester, blue dress- L.K.Bennett, blue sleeveless top – Twelve-T, flats – Cobb Hill, capris- Mint Velvet,  sandals –Munro   Bermuda shorts – Kai-Aakmann, Ikat print skirt- Peserico, black and white tunic – M Missoni, sandals – Sofft, 

Petrol, Black and White: A Twelve-Pack for Uncertain, Mostly Cool, Weather

 Yesterday we packed six garments, for a short week or long weekend, and for uncertain weather.  Today, I'm assuming that we know our trip is going to be longer - up to two weeks or more, and that we know that most of our weather exposure is going to be colder.   

So in addition to the original six garments we packed, I'm adding six more carefully chosen items, and a few accessories.  The clothing items are chosen in pairs - sort of like adding outfits, but with an eye to being sure that we can use each item in a variety of ways.

1. Another pair of pants is very important in cool weather, so black jeans are my first addition.   With the black cardigan, it's a long line of black that can have anything (or nothing) under the cardigan.  With the blue cardigan and all of the other tops, you have a more casual black trouser alternative.
2. Now we need a top: warm, works well with out color scheme, and can be layered under either cardigan if the weather is truly nippy.  I choose a black and white striped turtleneck, but if you're turtleneck-averse, you could always choose a long-sleeved flannel shirt or tee shirt, along with a scarf.
3. My packing always tries to strike a balance between pants and skirts, so we're due for a skirt, and for cold weather, tweed seems a great choice!  Tweed packs really well (it can't show wrinkles much at all), and it blends effortlessly with the colors you've chosen.
4. Add a sweater that looks great with your skirt, and you have an easy, warm, but dressy outfit.  The sweater should be equally at home over both pair of your pants.
5. I feel like a dress, two pair of pants and a skirt is a comfortable number of "bottoms", so I would choose to include a simple white shirt at this time.  It can be worn under the cardigans, over the tee shirts, or on it's own. If you don't usually wear white shirts, don't eliminate this idea without at least considering the possibility of a button-front white tee shirt/jacket.  They're becoming easier to find (L.L.Bean) and will serve much the same role in your capsule wardrobe.
6. And finally, a simple v-neck sweater in a flat knit, a medium weight, and either in your accent color or your neutral.  This sweater in black would be just as useful, and when worn on it's own with black pants and some jewelry, can be quite dressy if the need arises.

I've also included a pair of boots, which you might want to consider wearing with your travel outfit, if your luggage is starting to be crowded.  Don't forget warm opaque tights, a pair of two of socks in a whimsical print (or your accent color), and maybe another scarf just for dash!

striped turtleneck – Hallhuber, black bootcut jeans – Dorothy Perkins, opaque tights – Dorothy Perkins, blue turtleneck – Avant Toi, tweed skirt – Jigsaw, zigzag scarf – Missoni, checked socks – Bernhard Willhelm, ankle boots – Munro,  white shirt – Jil Sander, v-necksweater-Puro Cashmere

Scarf – Lieke Van Opstal, chalcedony bracelet – Neeru Goel, chalcedony necklace – Neeru Goel, zigzag scarf – Missoni,cardigan – Uniqlo, floral tee – Alice and Olivia, white tee –Uniqlo, blue turtleneck – Avant Toi, white shirt – Jil Sander, dress- L.K.Bennett, sleeveless top – Twelve-T, flats – Cobb Hill, capris- Mint Velvet, opaque tights – Dorothy Perkins, striped turtleneck – Hallhuber, ankle boots – Munro,  tweed skirt – Jigsaw, checked socks – Bernhard Willhelm, black bootcut jeans – Dorothy Perkins, v-neck sweater-Puro Cashmere, sandals –Munro

Cardigan- Uniqlo, teeshirt- Emmanuel Ungaro, earrings - Caine, black crepe pants - Damsel in a Dress, scarf- Pyaar, trench coat - ADD, loafers - Munro, bag - Tumi

I realize that I STILL haven't shown any ways to wear the blue sleeveless top...  Think of the additional options that you have with that in your suitcase too!