European Capsule Wardrobe
Life recently handed us an opportunity to head to Europe and we decided to seize the chance, since neither the hubby nor I had ever been to Europe before. We both felt strongly about bringing both girls, so that’s what did. In order to survive with as little luggage as possible, since we were navigating with a baby and a toddler, we packed as light as we possibly could bringing only the essentials.
Enter the capsule wardrobe.
As you may, or may not, know- I am a huge fan of capsule wardrobes! A vacation is a perfect introduction to a capsule to see if it is something that would work for your lifestyle. It’s an easy way to try it out without committing to “all or nothing.” When packing for vacation, especially for different destinations within that vacation, it’s all about the layers! I checked the weather forecast before hand to know what kind of weather we would be planning around. We had mid 70’s to low 80’s all week and sunshine.
Here’s a look at what I brought for our 9 day Europe vacation:
When planning any capsule wardrobe it’s all about versatile neutrals. You want to aim for pieces that look great alone but also layered together. Since I packed a muted, neutral palette I made sure my shirts had interesting details in form of fabric choice and fit. Both my white and aqua tee-shirt had pretty eyelet panels. A 3/4 sleeve striped shirt added some interest along with a bold polka dot print with my wrap dress. I stuck to skinny jeans and ponte-de-roma leggings for easy packing and comfortable travel days. Since I’m breastfeeding I opted to bring a trio of neutral cami’s instead of bras. This also helped extend the life of  my shirts since any sweat would be absorbed into the cami instead of the shirt itself. A sheer white blouse, a chambray button up, and a dark grey cardigan rounded out my tops. I opted not to take a jacket, but if I had I would have chosen my army green military style jacket.  For shoes I went with my grey Chucks, and a fun pop of maroon for my flats.
I kept my accessories simple, as it’s one less thing to pack and keep track of. I brought sunglasses, a watch, and a camera bag back-pack, that also doubled as my diaper bag. All in all, I was very pleased with my vacation wardrobe. The only thing I would have changed would have been to switch out one of the tee-shirts for a tank top and I would have also pack a skirt.
Stay tuned for a look into the capsule wardrobes I packed for both kids, and what baby gear we decided to bring with us!
2017 Summer Capsule Wardrobe for the Stay at Home Mom
This summer is all about light, fun and airy colors. As always, with any capsule wardrobe, you should always have a base of complementary neutrals. Next, layer in patterns, textures and pops of color(s). Here I chose to have a light lavender accent, with a base of grey’s, blue’s and white.
With a summer capsule wardrobe it’s important to also include versatile layering pieces. I made sure to include a light sweater, a jean jacket and a light, airy black shawl. You should also have pieces that are easily dressed up for any special occasions you might need to attend. In this capsule a floral maxi dress takes the role of special occasion dress if needed, but it can also be dressed down by throwing on the jean jacket, or layering one of the blouses, or button-up, on top. Besides a staple pair of stiletto pumps for special occasions and date night’s, a Mom’s capsule wardrobe should have practical footwear. Any heels should be chunky or wedged for maximum stability & agility. <Because it’s pretty important that you’re able to run after your crazed 3 year old who suddenly decides she should run away in the Target parking lot. #realmomlife>
This sample capsule wardrobe includes:
1 jacket ::: 1 cardigan/shawl ::: 1 blazer
2 long sleeved blouse ::: 1 light sweater
4 sleeveless blouses ::: 3 short sleeve t-shirts ::: 1 off the shoulder shirt
6 dresses ::: 3 pairs of denim ::: 3 pairs of shorts
1 pair of wedges ::: Â 1 pair of sandals ::: 1 pair of sneakers ::: 1 pair of booties ::: 1 pair of heels ::: 1 pair of flats
1 large tote ::: 1 medium back pack ::: 1 small cross-body bag
sunglasses ::: black choker ::: simple gold necklace ::: 2 earrings ::: 1 bangle ::: 1 watch
1 large tote ::: 1 medium back pack ::: 1 small cross-body bag
sunglasses ::: black choker ::: simple gold necklace ::: 2 earrings ::: 1 bangle ::: 1 watch
Shop exact:
Black Maxi dress
Fall Capsule Wardrobe
August is officially over and September has graced us with pumpkin spiced everything, deep maroons and the promise of cooler temperatures. We slowly start to trade our shorts, sandals, and summery dresses for our comfy cardigans, booties and army green jackets. Yes, it’s that time. Fall is here! But what should you wear?
As a stay at home mom do you ever feel like you almost never leave the comfort of your yoga-pants, beat up t-shirts and worn down sneakers? I certainly have those days. It’s usually on those days that I run into someone I know at the grocery store and I leave the impromptu interaction feeling self-conscious and frumpy. But, it doesn’t have to be that way! Dressing yourself in the morning can totally change the way you feel throughout the day. Wearing things that make you feel good can really go a long way. Dressing up doesn’t have to mean sacrificing functionality or comfort! To prove this I’ve pulled together a sample capsule wardrobe for this fall season.
The key to a capsule wardrobe is finding pieces that serve you and your lifestyle. As a Mom, being able to run after my toddler is a top priority so I choose articles of clothing & footwear that allow me to do so. I look for comfortable, easy to care for fabrics and a figure flattering cut.
Fall is all about layering! Temperatures vary greatly so you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of options for layering. A base wardrobe should consist of mostly neutral colors with a few pops of color for interest. In this capsule I decided to stick with taupe, cream, grey and olive for my neutral base and added in some mustard, maroon and deep teal for my pops of color. By keeping a mostly neutral palette you can be assured every piece in your wardrobe will be complementary, making getting dressed a snap.
Your capsule wardrobe should always include at least a couple of basic t-shirts, a pair of jeans, one dress or skirt, and a basic button up. Then, add in your seasonal items: long-line cardigans, over-sized sweaters, flowing tunics and we can’t forget the staples like a classic trench and distressed denim. Indulging in a few seasonal trends, like a comfortable pair of over-the-knee boots, can really make you feel current and confident.
Just because we spend our time wiping boogies from noses, cleaning up spilled milk, and chasing kiddos around the park doesn’t mean we should sacrifice ourselves. As a mother we already give so much to others. Shouldn’t we take a few minutes to make ourselves feel as amazing as we really are? For me, a capsule wardrobe helps me feel put-together, organized and ready to tackle the day. I’d say it’s almost as important as coffee…. almost.Â
Cheap to Chic: How to make your clothing look more expensive than it really is
Being a stay at home Mom means my family lives off of my husband’s salary. This means I don’t have the luxury of buying my dream wardrobe full of designer labels and costly price tags. Now there are certainly pieces I feel are worth investing a little more money in, like a great fitting jacket for example. Things that will not fall out of style and will be worn for many years. Yet, for the vast majority of my closet, investing in higher-end pieces just doesn’t make sense. Just because I can’t spend a lot of money on my wardrobe doesn’t mean I want to look frumpy or cheap. I figured I can’t be the only Mom on a budget so, I decided to share some of my go-to secrets in how I make my affordable, and sometimes down right cheap, clothing look more expensive than it really is.
To illustrate these tips and tricks, I decided to show you what a cheap dress (less than $10) can look like styled poorly and styled well.
There are a few rules I generally follow in order to enhance the appearance of my cheaper articles of clothing. In this first picture, I’m breaking all the rules! The dress is fresh from the dryer but is super wrinkly. Undergarments were chosen poorly and visible bra straps are distracting. My accessories are presenting conflicting messages. I have a glamorous bracelet and earrings, but my flip flops suggest a casual style. The long necklace draws focus to the fact that the eyelet lace is wrinkled and misshapen. The soft structured bag accentuates the softness of the dress, but not in a positive way. And lastly, my hair is a mess which just reiterates the whole idea that my outfit is messy.
Now, let’s look at the contrasting photo. Right away you notice the dress doesn’t even look like the same dress in the previous photo. A little starch and a hot iron go a long way in making clothes look their best. This is the first rule: take care of your clothing. Cheaper articles of clothing tend to be made with cheaper fabric. This can mean that the item won’t hold up well to washing or drying. Wash only when necessary and wash according to the stated directions on the tag. When in doubt, gentle cycle and hang dry. After washing, iron that sucker. Again, read the care tag! It will tell you if your specific item can’t be ironed or needs a cool iron setting vs. a hot iron setting.
Rule #2: choose the right undergarments for you clothing! White dresses, or sheer dresses warrant a slip. In addition to a slip a nude bra & undies set will eliminate the see-through appearance. Choose the right bra style for your article of clothing. Seeing a rouge bra straps detracts from the overall quality of your outfit presentation. If you want the best bang for your buck, make sure your wardrobe has a nude convertible bra. That baby will have you covered no matter what you choose to wear.<pun intended>
Now, let’s talk accessories. Rule #3: choose cohesive accessories that work for you. Think about the overall aesthetics of the outfit you’d like to create. Are you going somewhere casual? Somewhere more formal? Or perhaps somewhere in-between? All your accessories should correspond to where you’re going and what you’re going to be doing. You wouldn’t wear a ball gown to go gardening would you? Well, maybe you would, but be consistent in choosing cohesive accessories!
For my second, well polished look, I chose well-constructed but understated items to help make my dress the star of the show. A simple set of earrings and matching bracelet. A well structured bag, and well kept, detailed wedges help boost the level of chicness. By choosing not to wear a necklace I leave the focus on the pretty eyelet detail of the dress along with the crisp boat neckline.
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| 1. Ironed, well kept & well fitting dress 2. Cohesive accessories 3. & 4. The correct undergarments for the outfit 5. Cohesive accessories |
Lastly, let’s talk fit. When choosing something to wear, regardless of price, it should fit your body. Go ahead, be picky! Do not fall into the trap of only buying it because it’s a bargain. If it doesn’t fit you well, and you don’t feel great in it… it’s just not worth it – no matter how cheap it is.
Summer Capsule Wardrobe for the Stay At Home Mom
While I haven’t actually done a strict capsule wardrobe since the fall I do enjoy having a limited wardrobe. Â What I found most helpful about having a capsule wardrobe was it really highlighted the pieces that I felt were missing. It gave me a lot of time to hunt down that perfect shoe that I felt would be a useful addition. I’ve carried that over to my limited wardrobe. When I think of something that I’d like to add to my wardrobe, I take my time and really look for the right style, right fit, and right color. That way, when I do finally find it, I know the purchase is well warranted.
When doing a capsule wardrobe you need a palette of colors that are easily mixed together. Everything should be complementary to one another. I find that the main pieces should all be neutral colors with a few select pieces of color. You can bring dimension and variation to your wardrobe with textures of fabrics, interesting details and flattering cuts. As a stay at home mom, your clothes also need to serve you functionally as well. No sense in wearing 5 inch stilettos if you can’t chase your toddler around the playground. I look for shoes that will stay on my feet. I gravitate towards wedges for their stability & sturdiness, and I make sure there’s an ankle strap of sorts. Â By simply choosing a smarter shoe to fit my needs, I’m able to wear my heels comfortably all day long, weather I’m chasing Emerson around the playground, grocery shopping or simply running errands.
Following the same philosophy of making your clothes work for you things like skirts and dresses will tend to be longer length so I can easily bend over without flashing everyone my undergarments. And pockets? Pockets can be your best friend. Comfortable and easy to care for fabrics such as knits, chiffons, rayon etc. all help my clothing work for me. Things like silk are nice, but stay hidden in my closet knowing they’re dry clean only and wouldn’t stand up to a PB&J shit-show. When all is said and done, there’s no rule saying as a stay at home mom your wardrobe can’t be fierce. What’s in your summer wardrobe?
This is what my limited summer wardrobe is likely to include:
2 jackets ::: 1 cardigan ::: 1 blazer
1 long sleeved blouse ::: 1 chambray shirt
4 sleeveless blouses ::: 5 short sleeve t-shirts
4 dresses ::: 3 pairs of denim ::: 4 skirts ::: 3 pairs of shorts
3 wedges ::: 2 sandals ::: 1 pair of sneakers ::: 1 pair of booties ::: 1 pair of heels
Like this post? Be sure to check out Fall 2016 Capsule Wardrobe!
Preakness | Bold Black and White Striped Skirt
This past weekend was Preakness here in Baltimore. Preakness is a Baltimore tradition that dates back over 100 years. It’s a horse race held on the third weekend in May. I think the thing I like most about Preakness are the hats! No Preakness outfit would be complete without your big, wide-brimmed hat. A bold black and white striped skirt, soft pink blouse, black wide brimmed hat and simple heels completed my Preakness outfit.
Both my top and skirt will be making more appearances as they are both included in my summer capsule wardrobe! Make sure you check back in to see exactly what else my summer capsule wardrobe will include.
5 ways to wear light pink jeans
Part of my spring capsule wardrobe plan was to add in a pair of light pink jeans. This was the first pair of pants I’ve owned that hasn’t been white, green or blue. Knowing pink jeans were not something I was accustom to styling I turned to polyvore to throw together some inspiration outfits. I tried to choose similar articles of clothing I already owned. When my pink jeans finally arrived, I already had 5 ways to wear them!
Capsule Wardrobe for the Stay At Home Mom
This past fall I built a capsule wardrobe. For 3 months I only wore about 30 rotating pieces of clothing. In theory, a capsule wardrobe is supposed to stretch your creativity, be composed of things you love, and save you money. My fall wardrobe really didn’t measure up. I used what I had so much of it was just “okay” instead of things I really loved. I don’t think it saved me money, since at the end of those 3 months, while I hadn’t purchased any clothing, I had worn through 2 pairs of shoes, 1 sweater, 2 shirts, and 2 pairs of jeans. All those items will need replacing.
Enter ThredUp. Shopping on ThredUp* I’ve been able to afford higher quality items that I truly love. I could never purchase full priced designer jeans, but thanks to ThredUp I can get gently used designer items at budget friendly price. Shopping with ThredUp I feel even better about my purchases since I know I’m giving these pieces of clothing a second chance. That’s less waste, less consumerism and more money in my pocket! With the help of ThredUp I’ve begun thinking about a spring capsule wardrobe. <– Thred Up did not pay me to say this (I wish!) I just truly love their site so much that I went full out infomercial on you.
A Spring capsule wardrobe can be tough. It starts out cold, but quickly melts away into sunshine filled days, and higher temperatures. I need pieces that can be layered and transition from chilly to warm. My spring capsule wardrobe would consists of 4 sleeveless tops. These are dressier pieces that can be layered under a more casual button up or cardigan, or they can be worn on their own. I would have 3 short sleeved tee’s and one 3/4 sleeve tee. 4 button downs, 1 cardigan, 2 sweaters and 4 pairs of pants. Shoes would include 1 pair of sneakers, 1 pair of flats, 1 pair of sandals, 1 pair of wedges, and 1 dressier pair of booties. Outwear consists of a denim jacket, olive khaki jacket and a classic trench.
My spring palette is full of soft colors; pinks, nudes, light blues and your staples of black, white and grey. Items that could be added in would be a dress, a skirt and perhaps a pair of neutral colored shorts.
If you think you’d like to try ThredUp you can get $10 towards your first purchase by following my referral link*!
*this is a referral link. I also receive $10 for every person who makes a purchase using said link. I received no compensation for this post, and all opinions are my own.
Fall Capsule Wardrobe Update
I haven’t learned much from this capsule wardrobe except these few things:
- I can’t tell the difference between a regular wardrobe and a capsule because I didn’t have a lot of clothes to begin with, so sometimes, getting dressed is still hard.
- My clothes suck. Pairing down what I own to “the best” it became apparent that I need a higher standard of quality in my life. I have items with holes, stains, stretched out collars, and almost every sweater I own is pilling like a junkie.
- I really like neutrals. My capsule mainly consists of shades of taupe, cream, grey and black. I have the odd burgundy and emerald green. The pieces with more color get the least wear. Lesson learned? I love neutrals.
- I am cheap. And so are my clothes. Continually wearing the same things on repeat and I’ve started to get holes in some of my tops, my knees on my $7 jeans are threatening to tear and the clearance flats I purchased are almost worn through. See second point.
- I have no idea what’s in style anymore. It’s happened. I fell off the trendy bandwagon. I don’t know when or where, but somehow I’ve went from stylish & trendy to cheap & sometimes frumpy. Whhhaaaaat?
- I thought if I held out long enough my feet would be back to pre-pregnancy size… well, after a year of squeezing into shoes a size too small, I said enough! My capsule contains all shoes that fit me, and it’s been glorious.
- Accessories can be fun! I don’t have many pieces of jewelry, or other accessories but what I have I have been utilizing more and I’ve been enjoying it thoroughly.
- Your hair matters. When all you have are a lot of similar outfits your hairstyle can really transform the whole look. Same goes for lip color.
And now, for your viewing pleasure, I’ve compiled shots of some of my outfits from my fall capsule. To get you in the holiday spirit all of these outfits feature my green pants and red jeans. Fa-la-la-laaa.
In summary, I’ve learned that my wardrobe reveals a lot about my life. At this point I’m continuing to wear things from my capsule but have started a mental list of what I would like to upgrade or replace. First on my list? Jeans that fit! Make sure you keep following along. Only about 3 more weeks or so of this capsule and then I’ll give you the final run-down along with more outfits created from this fall capsule.
Capsule Wardrobes and Summer’s End.
The end of summer snuck up on me and I find myself catching moments of panic, where I fast forward to what winter will be like with a bored toddler on my hands. You know it’s close when Target clears out it’s summer gear in favor of fall scented candles, Halloween decorations, and chunky knit sweaters. Even writing this I can feel my palms begin to sweat.
Cue the self pep-talk:
Don’t be upset, you knew this was coming. Here, let’s take it one step at a time and think of all the nice things about fall…
okay. I mean, it sounds like a good plan.
It is! Just think of all the fun activities Emerson can enjoy this year: hayrides, apple picking, fall hiking, possibly fall camping!
hmmm… that does sound like a lot of fun. I bet Emerson would love Weber’s farm with the rubber duck races, hayrides, and pumpkin activities. She could even do some sensory activities with pumpkins.
Yes! And you know what else we love about fall? All the warm, cinnamon spiced scented candles. Let’s not forget scarves and weather warm enough not to need a coat but cool enough for cozy sweaters!
Well, that’s about 75 degrees for me, but I get your point. I do like a good fall wardrobe. Plus, toddler Emerson is going to look way too cute in big cozy sweaters.
Okay okay, so maybe you’ve convinced me Fall isn’t so bad after all! And speaking of wardrobes I think there’s something I’d like to try this fall. Maybe you’ve heard of it? The capsule wardrobe. The idea behind a capsule wardrobe is to eliminate all the work of putting yourself together in the morning, by limited the selection from which you do so. Basically, besides PJs and workout gear, your entire wardrobe for 3 months (or a particular season) is no more than 33 items. Although, truthfully this item limit varies person to person. Some choose less, some choose more. I’m not sure the exact number of piece I’ll choose, but I want it to be reasonable. My wardrobe is already pretty tiny, so it will be interesting to see just how many pieces I end up with. I’m hoping this challenges me to further understand my personal style. What do I prefer? What works well for my body and what doesn’t? And most importantly, what keeps me warm?! Because, and I’m just keepin’ it real, I’m a total baby about the cold. Yet, like it or not, fall has begun!
