A “Formula” Color Palette Starting with Navy, and Starting With Art!

July 20, 2026 I used this painting here on The Vivienne Files back in April of 2020. Doesn’t that seem like a century ago? This color palette comes up at a great time – one among you is going to be an election observer in a town A LONG WAY FROM HOME. And it’s expected that she will have to be there for anything from 5 to 14 days. Sounds fun, eh? But to be practical, she wants to avoid both bright blue and bright red clothes, she doesn’t want to be TOO dressy, but she wants to be able to dress up if it is necessary. I always start a travel wardrobe with a cluster of clothing that could be worn (along with a travel outfit) in a lot of different ways. In theory, one could survive a trip with 8 or 9 garments, presuming that some kind of laundry is available… Cashmere dotted top – J.Crew; chambray shirt – L.L.Bean; navy tee – Lands’ End; navy cashmere cardigan – J.Crew; cotton knit barrel pants – Lands’ End This heroine is also using the 4 by 4 Wardrobe Template to keep herself on track;…