My Winter Capsule Wardrobe
It's that time again! After waiting til January to switch my closet over I finally had a chance to film my winter capsule and I'm very excited to share it with you today. My capsule this season consists of 35 pieces but as always it does not include shoes, accessories or outerwear. I filmed a quick overview of my closet ethos along with a close-up of each piece so I'll save you the length post here. That said though, I've listed each piece in my capsule below for you along with how long I've had each item (and any links when available) - because it doesn't need to be new to be exciting. I hope you enjoy and as always, let me know if you have any questions!
J.Crew Long Sleeve Navy Tee - 2 years
J.Crew Long Sleeve Black Tee - 2 years
J.Crew Navy & White Tee - New this season
J.Crew Black & White Tee - Over 1 year
Brooks Brothers White Shirt (Old) - Over 4 years
H&M Pink Blouse (Old) - Over 1 year
Everlane Black Silk Shirt (Old) - Over 2 years
J.Crew Chambray Shirt (Old) - Over 3 years
Zara White Peplum Top (Old) - Purchased last spring
Everlane Navy Cashmere Crew - Less than 1 year
Everlane Black Cashmere Crew - At least 1 year
Everlane Grey Cashmere Crew - New this season
Forever 21 White Ruffle Sweater - New this season
LOFT Black Skirt (Old), Similar here - Over 1 year
H&M Black Pleather Skirt (Old), Similar here - Over 1 year
J.Crew Green Lace Skirt (Old) - A few years
Massimo Dutti Silk Skirt (Old) - At least 4 years
H&M Black Pants (Old), Similar here - At least 4 years
Madewell Mid-Rise Jeans (Old) - New this fall
Zara Grey Moto Jeans (Old) - At least 5 years
Levi's 501 CT's - At least 2 years
LOFT White Jeans (Old), Similar here - Last December
Little Black Dress (Old) - 2-3 years
Club Monaco Silk Dress (Old) - 2-3 years
Ralph Lauren Shirtdress (Old), Similar here - Birthday present last year
Until next time,
Audrey
Adding Trend Pieces To Your Capsule
If you follow me on Instagram then you know that I finally filmed my winter capsule yesterday (it will be live tomorrow woo!). While I was setting everything aside to film I started noticing (unsurprisingly) that the majority of the pieces are classic essentials that I can wear season after season regardless of the current trends.
That said though, a few key pieces are 100% trend driven (like this sweater pictured above) and likely won't make it past a season or two. This dichotomy got me thinking about how I've arrived at this thoughtful mix and finally stopped buying into trend after trend only to have them sit unworn in my closet. Which brings me to the topic of today's post - how do you add trend pieces to your capsule without breaking the bank or your clothing rack?
To start, let me say that I love trends. Even though I tend to only invest in high quality classics that I can wear for years, trends have a special place in my closet each season. To utilize them to their full potential without losing sight of my personal style, budget and sartorial goals I like to add trends in three phases.
PHASE 1 - What's In & What's Out?
Before I make any trend purchases each season I like to take note of the trends that are new and those that are phasing out. Once I've done that I review my closet (accessories and shoes included) and jot down the trends I already have and any that I still want to add.
PHASE 2: Set My Budget
Next, when I set my budget for the entire season I set aside a portion specifically for trends. In general I try not to exceed half of my overall budget on trends unless there are no classics that I need to add and/or any of the current trends can last me longer than 1 season.
PHASE 3: Shop! And Fall In Love With Accessories
The last step in this process is also the most fun. Once I've set my budget and know the trends that I'm looking for I hit the shops (online or in-person). Even though this step seems like the most straight-forward, I like to stick to a few pointers to help keep me focused and from feeling defeated if a trend I've been dreaming about doesn't work out.
If a trend doesn't suit me, it doesn't mean theres something wrong with me. It just means that I can spend more on a great pair of classic shoes or a new handbag ;)
Accessories are your new best friends when it comes to trends. Instead of trying to force a new jean style or new sweater silhouette into my closet, I like to stick with accessories like hats, jewelry and shoes. I also like to use this tactic if I happen to be between sizes. Plus, accessories take up much less closet space than actual clothing so it's always a win-win.
That's all! Those are the 3 steps that I like to take each season when adding trends into my classic wardrobe. Before I go though, I'd love to know how you shop for trends. Are there any that you're loving this season? Let me know in the comments down below and happy Saturday!
Until next time,
Audrey
How To Style: 1 Tee, 4 Ways
Happy Thursday! Today's post I'm sharing another installment of Project 1-4-4 featuring the striped tee. Like the other posts in this series, my goal is to inspire you to do more with less and stretch your core basics across all four seasons. To help you do this on your own, I've put together four looks below and in the corresponding video (1 for each season) featuring the same striped tee. I hope you like it and would love to know how you re-work your own striped tees!
WINTER
When winter rolls around I love to wear my striped tee with cozy layers and versatile booties. During the colder months tights are also a must and I love to wrap up with a faux fur stole for a look thats equal parts casual and chic.
Camel Coat: Brooks Brothers
Faux Leather Skirt: H&M
Faux Fur Stole: Zara (old), similar here
Booties: Marc Fisher
Earrings: Baublebar Olympia Drops
SPRING
When spring makes her first appearance I love to pull out all of my brightly colored accessories like this bright silk scarf. The addition of classic flats, white jeans and a matching blazer will take this look from casual Friday to Sunday brunch effortlessly.
White Jeans: LOFT (old), similar here
Silk Scarf: Hermes, similar here
Flats: Louise Et Cie (old), similar here
Bracelet: Baublebar
SUMMER
FALL
Like in the winter, I love to layer up my striped tee in the fall. To keep the transition from sunshine to clouds easier I opt for brightly colored cozy scarves and neutral blazers. Classic jeans and simple flats and a great hat help round out the look.
Jeans: Madewell 9" High-Rise Crop in Bayview (sold out)
Blazer: Mango
Scarf: Zara (old), similar here
Shoes: Louise Et Cie
Before I go, I'd love to know which pieces you want to see next. Let me know in the comments down below and happy styling!
Until next time,
Audrey
5 Classic, Closet Staples Currently On Sale
Happy Monday! I hope you're having a lovely Martin Luther King Jr. Day! In honor of this special holiday a ton of retailers are having sales galore so I thought I would round up 5 classic closet staples that you can stock up on now in order to get the best bang for your buck. I've listed everything below and would love to know if you pick up any of these goodies.
First up is this gorgeous silk scarf from LOFT reduced to only $17! Made from 100% silk and featuring the loveliest floral print, this is a timeless accessory you'll wear for years to come.
If you love cashmere as much as I do, you probably like to wait for a sale to get the best deal possible. Well, nows your chance to score a beautiful J.Crew cashmere sweater on sale! Even though Everlane cashmere has become my go-to lately, I have a few J.Crew cashmere pieces and have been very happy with the quality so this lovely sweater is sure to make a great addition to your classic wardrobe.
Before I invested in my beloved Chanel ballet flats the J.Crew Kiki's were my go-tos. The shape of these is perfectly classic and the leather is absolutely beautiful. Plus, if you want a pair of flats that you can wear with everything these are perfect.
Next up is a black pencil skirt like this wool number from J.Crew. When I worked in a more corporate setting, this skirt was a staple in my closet and I can't recommend it enough. Even though I no longer reach for it as often as I used to, I always keep it on hand and have been incredible impressed with the quality - it still looks brand new after almost 4 years!
Last but certainly not least is a classic, white button down. My my favorite non-iron white shirt that goes with everything is currently reduced to $73 with an additional %15 off today. If you're in the market for a white shirt that always looks polished (and never needs ironing!) then this shirt is for you.
