uncomplicated: What Capsule Wardrobe?

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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

What Capsule Wardrobe?

The other day, a friend texted me and asked me if I'd do a capsule wardrobe, as she had seen this thing all over the blogsphere and wanted to know if I was going to get in on that action.

I'll admit: I had to google it. And when I read through the concept, I had a good, long, hard laugh.

The cliff notes version of a capsule wardrobe is to get 33 items (shirts, pants, shoes, etc) and mix and match them to create outfits. You supposedly do this for every season, and it helps to prevent you from over-shopping.

See why I laughed? I got 99 problems but over-shopping aint one.

Anyway, I got to thinking: Do I even have 33 items (non-maternity, non-workout wear) in my closet?! Not for every season, I mean AT ALL? The answer was a big fat N-O. Isn't that crazy? And a lot of the stuff I did have was from my undergrad (ten years ago) to grad school (five years ago) days.

"Babe, can I have a budget to get some new clothes?!" I asked my husband desperately. "Sure, get whatever you want. As long as you look cute :)" Was my hubs text reply. Can we all just give this man a round of applause right now?

I started to shop online, but thought it was time to head out and actually try things on for once. So I packed up my little man and rolled out to my own personal hell on earth - a shopping mall. I parked by Nordstom, so logically my excursion began there. Except... Their stuff was not my style, although I know it's super stylish. I saw some Calvin Klein dresses that were fantastic, but let's get serious, I'm not going anywhere that would require me to be that fancy. "Welp, I tried to veer from the norm and it was a big ol FAIL!" I thought as I headed right on over to my main squeeze, J Crew.

Cardigan and jeans: J Crew; shoes: Vera Wang; watch: Michael Kors; necklace: Mark & Graham


You know what's lovely about my Crew? They have a stylist in-store to work with you. I told her I wanted some new jeans for what will hopefully, eventually be fall here in the hottest state on earth Texas. Boyfriend jeans were everywhere, so she grabbed me no fewer than 20 pairs to try on. Now, I'm a tall, slender person. But I particularly have NO thighs. So these curvy cut pants just looked absolutely d-u-m-b on me. Until I tried these (couldn't find online, similar here). I spent a small fortune on them, but ohmygosh are they broken in and comfy!

Jeans: J Crew Point Sur denim; shirt: J Crew; shoes: BCBG; necklace: street vendor in New Orleans. Yup.


They're still a boyfriend shape, but a more slender cut so I don't look completely homeless. I picked up a few tissue t-shirts, since they're my fav and so wearable for a SAHM. I also found a cardigan for the three months a year it is sweater weather here. Then I decided to get some pants that were more my typical style, and was pleased as punch when these had a decent inseam length for the beanpoles I call legs.

Jeans: J Crew Point Sur denim; shirt: J Crew; heels: Guess; scarf: another drunk purchase off a street vendor in NOLA. I mean, you can walk around with cocktails in that city, how am I supposed to remember where I made purchases?!


I'm still trying to figure out how to best style the boyfriend jeans. Since they're baggier, I think they need a fitted top and girly accessories. I have styling the dark matchstick jeans down, since most of my clothes are longer cardigans that will go great with it. With these new additions to my wardrobe, I don't feel as dated or frumpy and you'll be happy to hear (you know, if you care at all, and it's totally cool if you don't) that I now indeed own 33 items in my closet. The best part for me though? The part that made this whole mall experience well worth it? I was buying my pre-pregnancy size. Hell. Yes.

Do you wear boyfriend jeans? If so, how do you style them? What about this capsule wardrobe concept - will you be participating in it for the upcoming fall/winter seasons? Tell me all about it!


24 comments:

  1. How fun! I don't wear boyfriend jeans, although I think they're adorable. I'm really short and I just can't find any that look right on me. Every time I've tried some on, they're way too baggy and make me look frumpy. Yours are adorable, though! You can definitely rock the trend.

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    1. That was the exact way I felt about them too - way baggy and not flattering! It was by luck and with the help of the stylist that I found a great pair... And I'm still a little reluctant to wear them. I bet you could find a pair that look fab on you! If, you know, you want to devote that kind of time to jean shopping ;)

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  2. Love the first outfit and those VW shoes! So pretty!

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    1. Thanks girl! I hope that little beauty of yours is feeling much better!

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  4. I'm not sure I could ever do that project lol - but it would be fun to try!! Love the BF jeans look on you! Also that first outfit is great!

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    1. Haha! I'm still a bit on the fence about the BF jeans, but the first outfit is totally my style all the way.

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  5. damn girl you look fabulous! those first jeans, holy heck i need them in my life. my husband would never say 'sure' if i asked to spend money haha. i havent bought anything this month, go me, but i do have a slight shopping problem. i couldnt do this capsule thing because it would be all work clothes really, and how boring.

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  6. I have never been brave enough to try the boyfriend jeans! A. I'm kinda on the shorter end of average height and B, I have no idea how to put outfits together. I'm stuck in bathing suit cover ups and flip flops in summer and sweatpants and ugg style boots in winter. My idea of dressing up to go out and about is yoga pants. The only thing is, I have a ton of stuff in my closet! I shop twice a year and then since I don't wear any of it hardly, it stays in my closet in mint condition so I have just accumulated so much. I thought about doing something like this but just thought I'd refresh my boots, tights&get myself the winter coat I've always dreamed of (but don't need here with the temps we get in my hometown in winter). I feel like I have an idea to bulid on now! Thanks for the inspiration! xx

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    1. Hey lady, I still have, wear and love Ugg boots! When I was in Minneapolis, I wore them Sept-May. Now, I get about two months a year out of them, but they're still just soooooo comfy!

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  7. Ummmmm can I forward this one over to Mark ;-) Anyways I absolutely love your picks! I am all about ballet flats but I do love styling those boyfriend jeans with some heels also! Well when I say styling I mean pinning....because I still haven't found a pair that looks good on me. Those tissue tee's are being added to my cart as I type!

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    1. Haha! Kirk could teach all husbands (and future hubs) how to properly respond to their wives, couldn't he?! And you should totally look into this pair of BF jeans. They're not online, but in the store. Especially if you have a more slender build, these don't go all MC Hammer on you :)

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  8. Love the boyfriend jeans. They look so good and I bought a pair two years ago and still wear them all the time. They're the perfect casual but fitted look. I should take a note from your book, because I have way more than 33 items and feel slightly ashamed by it. I like the idea of the 33 capsule thing...does this include accessories? Because they really change up and outfit and I'm pretty sure I have 33 scarves so that'd be my entire wardrobe right there.

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    1. 33 scarves?! Dang girl! But I think you should get a "pass" for that... You live in Canada, and are already dealing with snow. You need all the scarves you can get! ;)

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  9. I've never heard of this "capsule concept"....but I'll go ahead and admit that over-shopping MIGHT be a SLIGHT problem for me....so I can't commit to doing the capsule thing. HOWEVER, I've been in search of a pair of boyfriend jeans (bc I thought I was the ONLY.PERSON.ON.THE.PLANET who didn't own a pair), but everything I've tried has look ridiculous on me! I am going to go check out your J.Crew recommendation...and then hope they go on sale!

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    1. I know, I felt like I had to seriously step up my style game and get with it with the BF jeans! Check out my beloved 'Crew. They put great stuff on sale all the time!

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  10. The BF jeans look great on you. I've never tried them, but I think you've talked me into it.

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  11. These outfits are too cute. I didn't know J. Crew has an in store stylist. I'll need to pop in the next time I'm in the mall. I don't have any BF jeans, but they look really cute on you.

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  12. I've given a ton of clothes away lately because I can't seem to figure out what size I am--I gained weight while I was pregnant with my daughter, then lost the baby weight and then some...which is awesome, except my wardrobe has no clue what to do. :) I basically live in a handful of tops and shorts right now since it's still practically high summer here in SC, but I'm hoping to add a few more stylish pieces to my wardrobe come fall. Your new clothes look adorable! I wish I could wear boyfriend jeans, but since I have the opposite thigh issue as you do (too much!), boyfriend jeans make me look forty pounds heavier than I really am. I love the dark wash jeans, though! :)

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  13. I love this! I have been working on updating my wardrobe every month, one outfit at a time and it's been wonderful! I love your new additions!

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    1. Thank you! I should try that approach... One outfit at a time. I like to go all-or-nothing, but it'd be friendlier on the wallet if I slowed it down and just kept at it overtime. My husband will thank you for that idea! :)

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  14. I too have seen the concept of capsule wardrobe around the blogsphere and thought to myself I should try. I just do not think I could commit to it right now but maybe....Love the items you picked out. Cute styles!

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  15. You look great! I can tell you really enjoyed your shopping trip. I need some of those jeans.

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    1. Thanks so much! I actually did enjoy myself on that shopping trip... Which is a rare thing for me to say! But Henry napped the whole time and I got some cute stuff, so it was a win-win!

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