We Aim To Slay

Last week I walked you through my process of breaking down a dress code – what is a dress code, the standard Western dress codes, and how to dress appropriately for each! This week, I’m sharing my tips and tricks to maximize your outfit options without having to maximize your wardrobe!

I’ll be discussing the basics of a capsule wardrobe; how to use the clothes you already have in creative ways; having the confidence to try something unexpected; and,  some best practices for updating your wardrobe!

Remember that getting dressed in the morning is a form of self expression. You should wear the items, colors, and patterns that spark joy in your life! 

What is a Capsule Wardrobe?

 Before we get started, there’s a concept I’m going to be discussing throughout this post – a “capsule wardrobe.” Traditionally, a capsule wardrobe is “a collection of clothing and accessories that can all mix and match to make several different outfits. While it contains fewer pieces, it’s built around a color palette, and all those pieces coordinate,”  explains Kelly Olson (@outfitted_by_kelly), a New York based stylist, according to this article from the Nordstrom website. 

Olson’s definition is my favorite version because she emphasizes what I find to be the most important detail: “it’s built around a color palette, and all those pieces coordinate.” Most people create their capsule wardrobe using these standard neutral colors; black, white, beige, and navy. 

But I believe your capsule wardrobe should reflect your personal style, so my wardrobe neutrals include black, gray, white, blues, maroon, and olive green. I also like to accentuate my wardrobe with lots of prints such as autumnal plaids and summery florals. 

Because the point of a capsule wardrobe is to make getting dressed easier, having a wardrobe that can be worn interchangeably is helpful. But, I still recommend investing in stand out pieces to have fun and experiment with!

How to Style Your Clothes!

When I was in high school I used to love getting my monthly edition of Seventeen Magazine because they shared a section where they would take one article of clothing and show you how to style it each day for a month. This is a concept that has stuck with me since, and it helps me to never get bored with my wardrobe!

Take for example, the white button down shirt I shared in last week’s post, I’ve now worn this shirt twice to work – once as the standout piece in a black and white outfit, and once as a base layer tucked into a satin skirt and worn beneath a houndstooth printed moto jacket. 

Or one of the pieces I wear frequently, like these beige trousers purchased from SheIn. I’ve been able to dress these pants up and down, largely depending on the accessories of the day!

Even though all of these looks have many of the same components – such as the rhinestone snake belt I wear almost everyday – each outfit looks distinctively different due to the styling.

Never be afraid of a fashion “faux pas” – as long as you’re confident, that’s what people will see! For example, I wore two different outfits earlier this year – one that I really loved, and the other was me trying to recreate the same “vibe” with different pieces.

There is something so cohesive about the shade of orange in the plaid on the left that flows so nicely into that light brown corduroy, an effortlessness that I wasn’t able to recreate with the maroon flannel and black jeans.

In last week’s post I mention a viral video that states, “If an outfit isn’t interesting through color, then it has to be interesting through shape, and if it’s not interesting through shape then it has to be interesting through texture, then it has to be interesting through color.” Essentially, this means that we’re aiming for balance; either between the colors, textures, or volume of the items you’re wearing.

Try Something Unexpected! 

Now that we have a basic understanding of our wardrobes, we can start to mix and match pieces in order to create outfits! Even though I believe that everyone’s wardrobe should be personalized to their comfort and style, there are some pieces that I believe everyone benefits from owning, starting with the little black dress! 

One of my favorite styling hacks is to layer different pieces over a dress – like I did here! I created these six looks using the same two base items: the LBD I got from Renee’s Resale (left) and a bodycon dress from Forever21 (right)! This is where the idea of balancing your look will come into play.

The Clara Sun Wu dress is tank top cut and swingy, making it a great piece to wear over something like a white button down because the layers will lay smoothly. It’s also a great piece to pair with other swingy style pieces – such as this printed wrap – because both are giving billowy movement, or, you can go the opposite way and tie an oversized shirt around the waist in order to add more structure to your look!

With a body-con dress like this one from Forever21, you’ll get the most bang for your buck by wearing it as a base layer, either by folding the hem to wear beneath a pair of pants – like these trousers or overalls – or by pulling a longer skirt on top of it! Layering short dresses beneath long, flowy skirts has become one of my go-to styling hacks, especially for work!

One of the most important things to remember is that through layering, you can end up adding a lot of drama to each individual piece in your wardrobe. And sometimes an unexpected pairings can make the biggest statement!

Sell, Donate, and Up-Cycle Before Buying New!

I am currently working on a closet clean out in order to bring some of my items to Renee’s Resale to make a consignment sale before bringing the remainder to be donated to different homeless shelters in my area. 

Donating my clothing, shoes, and lightly loved luggage is one of my favorite ways to make a big impact in a small way – you’re helping the environment by keeping our clothing out of a landfill; helping people by giving them items to make their lives better; and making space for new and exciting pieces!

You can also try clothing swaps, offering things to friends and family, and if you’re extra crafty you can try up-cycling! My mom, sisters, and I always share clothes back and forth amongst the five of us, which is a super fun way to try out new and different styles without having to buy them new yourself!

What Do You Think?

Are you #TeamCapsuleWardrobe or #TeamMaximalist? I think my wardrobe falls somewhere in the middle – what do you think? Let me know in the comments below!

I’ll be back next week to share my holiday gift guide, right on time to take advantage of the Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday Deals!

Have a great rest of your week, and remember to SLAY!