Search Results for: capsule wardrobe

My Favorite Spring Accessories

by whoorl

red-shoes

I am officially in love with this season’s shoes and bags, which is just perfect for me, considering I don’t find myself buying much clothing since the capsule wardrobe days. I definitely have my “uniform,” so I really just look to adding pops of color and making seasonal additions through accessories.

This season, I added a neutral gladiator sandal, a spring bootie, a small black crossbody bag, and some fabulous red pointy-toed flats. I’m all set.

Here are some other fantastic picks for Spring if you are looking to add to your closet. Enjoy!

Gorgeous Everyday Dresses by Marie Hell

by whoorl

marie-hell-tied-white-dress

photography by Caroline Cohenour

If I’ve learned anything about dressing during my capsule wardrobe experimentation, it’s that well-loved essentials are imperative. (Just ask me about my favorite v-neck tee. I own, um, a lot.) When you have quality items that make you look and feel great, the (frequent) moments of blindly staring into the abyss of your closet suddenly vanish. Although I’m not officially wearing a summer capsule, my practice of fewer, yet better things has stuck like glue.

A solid guideline is to own lovely, simple garments that you can wear in almost any situation. For me, that means clean lines and solid colors, as I personally use accessories like scarves and jewelry to spice up an outfit.

Take Marie Hell dresses, for example. Oh, they are so lovely. The fit is fantastic – every style has the exact same silhouette from the armhole down, and will not stretch, sag, or lose its shape. Neither straight or A-line, nor clingy or dowdy…the fit is sooooo good.

The TIED and CRAVE dresses are absolutely timeless – I simply can’t imagine a style era in which a delicate halter or crew neckline wouldn’t be well loved. However, the best part about these dresses isn’t just the shape…the fabric is divine. Heavy enough to drape the body beautifully, yet perfect for all seasons. The styling possibilities are countless!

Here’s the TIED dress in White.

marie-hell-tied-white-dress-tie

(more…)

Chambray All The Way

by whoorl

chambray dress roundup

Let me tell you a little story. A few days ago, I was sweating sitting at my niece’s softball game in 90-something degree heat and 1,235% humidity. Like a good rule follower, I was donning items from my Spring capsule wardrobe, but as you can see, the options for my lower half are extremely limited when you factor in OPPRESSIVE HEAT. (Seriously, can you imagine sitting in the blazing sun in skinny jeans? It is the worst, I tell you. THE WORST.)

Anyway, while I was marinating in my own pool of sweat and tears, I began daydreaming about lightweight chambray dresses. I love chambray – the way it feels on the skin, the shade of blue that works with anything, and most importantly, the way it keeps you cool as a cucumber.

I will be buying one very soon. Oh yes, I will. Maybe two, capsule be damned.

Here are some of my favorites, and I threw a few denim skirts in there for good measure. I’m crazy, I tell ya.

top image credit: the sartorialist

Summer Shoes for Kids

by whoorl

Capsule wardrobes for kids? Ha. My kids’ feet are growing at such a supersonic pace, I’m looking for new shoes all the damn time. (That or my son trashes a pair in less than a month – do you feel me out there?)

Luckily for those of us who are on the perennial shoe-buying track, Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly Sale started today, and they have some great deals on kids’ shoes. (Well, okay, on women’s shoes too. And clothing. And you probably shouldn’t look at the sale bags….)

Here are some of my favorite picks for the upcoming season, and, yes, they are all on sale! (Rollover for prices.)

Crossbody Bags

by whoorl

crossbodybags

It hasn’t escaped my attention that I’ve been posting quite a bit about clothing and accessories lately, which seems a bit incongruous considering I’m personally living a capsule wardrobe, no-purchasing lifestyle. But, hey, I know most of you aren’t doing the capsule thing, and, let’s face it, I was born to enable shoppers around the world. I can’t help it, y’all. It’s a gift. Maybe not the gift I had hoped for (global peacemaker, making discoveries worthy of a Nobel Prize), but my own teeny, tiny, precious gift. A style sourcing wunderkind, if you will.

Although I’m obviously not pulling the trigger on any of these bags, I simply must convey my love of the Crossbody bag to you. I wear a crossbody almost every single day – although my daily bag is a no-frills tote, the reason I bought it was the additional longer strap that I always use. Why? Well, for starters, it’s way more comfortable, it leaves me totally hands-free, doesn’t fall off my shoulder like many traditional totes, and I just like ’em, capiche? Let’s face it, if you’re walking around town with a heavy bag slipping off your shoulder, YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG. Plus, spring is the perfect time to wear a crossbody, in my opinion. (It was a bit more difficult getting my bag on and off during the coldest part of winter, when I was bundled in 59 layers. Also, Crossbody Bag + Coat Hood = Frustrating. #themoreyouknow)

But I digress. Occasionally, when I feel like torturing myself, I peruse some of my favorite online retailers, and boy, I’ve noticed some cute bags o’crossbody. So, so many. Please to enjoy.

left to right:

tan :: yellow :: stone

blue embroidered (don’t look at the price, just admire and move on) :: nude

tan :: black :: red

black :: mint :: black

1237_10015408

Odds and Ends

by whoorl

wash1

1. Hahaaa, do you feel this way about laundry care symbols?

2. You guys, I am shoulder-deep in sourcing for my spring capsule right now. I’m changing the rules for the next capsule…instead of sourcing and purchasing two weeks prior to the new capsule, I’m giving myself a month. Things were a little bit easier in Southern California, where I could walk into almost all of the stores. In Oklahoma, there’s a lot more online shopping happening, thus many boxes being shipped to me and most times, returned to sender. It looks like I’ll be adding about 5-6 items to my spring capsule. So! Here’s where you come in. I’m looking for a pair of black leather sandals that have a wooden block heel. I’m considering these, but don’t know if the buckles will annoy me over time. These are nice too. I’m definitely sold on the natural-colored wooden block heel (not a wedge). What say you?

3. Speaking of capsule wardrobes, here are my outfits from this past week. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

4. Where you should live, according to your Myers-Briggs personality type. I’m moving to Zurich, Switzerland.

5. Have a black thumb? 9 houseplants that are virtually impossible to kill.

6. This was the best thing I saw on the internet this week.

7. An iPhone inside a guitar. Is this real?

8. This is a great article…yes, parenting is not what it used to be. Maybe I should have a martini at lunch today…

9. Just go ahead and look at how many women have been sponsored at Krochet Kids Peru. You guys are AWESOME, and we are so close! Only 8 women haven’t been sponsored yet. I know we can do this.

10. Lastly, sale alert! I have the red and black shade of this blouse in my current capsule, and wear both all the time. Just got marked down from $110 to $62. Super deal, folks.

Happy Friday, everyone!