Week 2 Minimalist Work Wardrobe Challenge Roundup

I'm a little behind in getting this up, but two weeks are down with two more to go in this month long challenge!

This week I started to feel the limitations of only have a handful of items at my disposal.  This challenge is showing me I really like having more options and the minimalist lifestyle probably wouldn't be a great fit for me long term.  However, I also had the thought that if you made it into a 15 piece collection you'd get more options, but could also easily include weekend/casual looks with it.

One item I have really been enjoying is my duster.  I never had one in my closet, so having this pieces adds some drama to an otherwise 'boring' outfit.

Here are a few duster options (including the one I have) - Amazon, Nordstrom, ASOS, H&M

Scroll down to see all my looks from last week!

Week 1 Minimalist Work Wardrobe Challenge Roundup

 Here's a photo round up of my first week using only 10 pre-selected pieces from my wardrobe to wear to work.  I've already found some pitfalls and will continue to make these pieces work, but overall I like the fact that I'm not overwhelmed in the morning with too many options to pick from.

Tuesday - Lightweight sweater, black crop pants, heels
Wednesday - White t-shirt, midi skirt, heels
Thursday - White blouse, black crop pants, heels
Friday - Lightweight sweater, skinny jeans, white blazer, heels

I would recommend finding a pair of shoes that really works for you.  There are days I wish I was in flats, but overall these heels are comfy because they have a more blocky style heel (instead of a traditional pointy stiletto heel).  My current favorite option is the Friday look, it WILL be going into a regular rotation.

First thing I've learned is if you're not a fan of wearing the same item twice in a week, but multiples of it.  As you can see I wore the sweater twice this week, and more than likely one top will need to be worn twice each week.  If you're a particular germaphobe or can't get on board with wearing something twice before washing, then pick up two basic t-shirt (probably your least expensive option).

Second tip is to work with layering.  You'll see eventually that mostly this capsule is 7 looks, but then you can expand them  easily with layering the blazer or duster on almost any look.  Make sure you under layer pops out from the sleeves to add dimension and that casual 'styled but not trying' look.

I'll keep you in the loop next week, but always follow my IG page for daily looks, plus my makeup looks!

August Challenge - Business Casual Capsule Wardrobe

While I cannot take credit for the idea, I'm super excited to try a new challenge in August.  One of the many people I follow on Youtube, Miss Louie, put together a 10 piece/25 look capsule wardrobe for the office environment(watch it here).  That sparked my interest, as sometimes I desire to be minimalist, and other times I desire to have ALL.THE.THINGS.

So, over the course of August - Monday through Friday - I will create looks from the following 10 pieces.  Many of these pieces I already had in my closet, and a few I picked up because I realized I had some holes in certain categories.

Tops
Lightweight Sweater
Blouse
T-shirt

Tank dress

Bottoms
Cropped trousers
Skinny dark wash denim
Pleated midi skirt

Toppers
White Blazer
Taupe Duster

Nude heels

I'll round up my outfits each week (I will still be doing daily photos on my IG) in a post and talk about what challenged me in putting things together, or what I learned about making one particular item have more longevity.

I'm excited to learn with you as to how to make less work more!

Stitch Fix #4

So it's been a hot minute since I got a post out, and an even HOTTER minutes since I've gotten a Stitch Fix.  With the seasons changing and having dropped a few dress sizes, I've found myself browse online a lot.  One of the great things about services like Stitch Fix and Trendsend is you have the comfort of shopping from your own home, without the commitment of buying unless you like it!

As always, if you're interested in trying out Stitch Fix for yourself the link HERE will direct you there!

Here's what I got in this fix!  I asked for staple pieces that can be mixed.  There were some hits, and some misses.


I got this Joie scoop neck tank/blouse, and it's got a LOT going on.  I normally wouldn't reach for such a busy print, but it looks great with casual shorts or a skirt.  What's not great about this shirt is the price, at $158 it was WAYYYYY to steep for my budget.

Next was this textured skirt by Margaret M.  It fit like a glove and I loved that the textured aspect could make it appropriate for the fall weather as well.  The price was reasonable at $78 ($20 styling fee applied) so this definitely stayed with me, and here I show it dressed up for work or down for date night or drinks with friends!

The next two dresses I had a hard time convincing myself I didn't need.  The budget this month didn't allow me to get more than one piece, and the skirt was the most versatile piece.  But the colors on this Collective Concepts Katelynn Dress call to me, like sirens in the night.  I personally feel it needs a belt to break up the print and make sure your waist is defined (mine is actually a maternity wrap belt I use, but desperately need one that fits better).  This would be perfect for a summer wedding and it's pretty reasonable at $78!

This next dress, from Donna Morgan, did a great job mimicking a few Pinterest posts.  The Josie may not look like a lot for $158, but it's the peek-a-boo back that really adds that extra bit.  It's a more linen material -- so it does wrinkle -- but that makes it so soft too!  Was sad to see this have to go back, the neutral color pallet make a great canvas for fun shoes or jewelry!

The last piece was this Greylin Scottie blouse.  It's perfectly fine for the office - again a pattern I wouldn't normally be drawn to.  But sticker shock on this one too, $128 for a TOP!

It was fun to get another box, I have a quarterly subscription so I'm excited for fall to roll around and see what the send!  I've also got another Trendsend box coming and my summer Fab Fit Fun box arrived, so more reviews on the horizon!

Hope everyone has a great week, and I'll see you later - back here in my closet!

Finding the 'A-ha' Moment

This past weekend I had the pleasure of helping a college friend talk through her wardrobe and work through what concerns she has.  It was a step in the direction I'd love to take, helping women feel confident that they can reach into their closet and put something together that makes them feel good.

When I asked her what was her biggest concern, it was 'not feeling finished'.  And I get that.  Her workplace is very casual, so we didn't have much to discuss there, so she uses the weekends to feel more put together and like an adult.

I talked to her about finding that 'weekend uniform' which works for her.  Mine is a pair of shorts (printed, colored or denim) and a tunic style pop-over top.  When it gets warm outside I pretty much wear this combination both Saturday and Sunday.  But to feel 'finished' I work with jewelry, a cute scarf or pair of fun sandals.  Finishing is all about the extras....but not necessarily about having a lot to choose from.

Here are two weekend looks I put together using the same denim button down top.  Adding a dark layer over helps make the pieces more a 'look' and help create a slimming illusion by creating some vertical stripes on top.

This was really an 'a-ha' moment for my friend...she had never even thought to wear her button up shirts unbuttoned!  She even made the statement that is even doubled her wardrobe options!  You can do the same with neutral denim and a printed button up!

Before we left I wanted to challenge her to put together an outfit for her evening mass that she would be attending later that night.  She started by selecting the base pieces, then we starting talking about how to finish the look with jewelry and an extra layer.  Here's her finished look, and I think she looks amazing!

I had a great time just talking through what items she could slowly incorporate into her wardrobe to help increase her options (BLAZERS!!) and how important it is to do a ruthless wardrobe purge every once in a while!

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend, I'm still mentally recovering!  Keep interacting with me on Facebook, and if you're interested in a little wardrobe overhaul, contact me!  I'll see you all later, back here in my closet!

Feeling Put Together for Easter

I'm so excited to announce my partnership with my local Talbots store for this post!  It's been a place I've always known about, but never felt was my style.  That is until I went for a little fall fashion event with my alumnae chapter in November.  I was amazed that they'd updated their look for the fashion forward working woman....with a preppy under current.

I worked with the ladies there to put together a few looks that you could wear at your family gathering, no matter it's level of formality!

Let's get into the looks!

This first look is what I consider most traditional for Easter.  If you were going to church and then a more formal brunch after with a full family affair.  Right when I walked into their 'staging' area I saw these pieces together and it just screamed 'EASTER' at me -- directly.

I'm wearing a sz 12 in the dress and a medium cardigan.  The dress is a classic sheath cut and hits me just above the knee.  I would recommend some great nude flats or heels to finish this look off, and your favorite Stella & Dot accessories(although most jewelry in these pictures is from Talbots as well)!

The next dress is for those who might not want something so form fitting.  I would still consider it perfect for church and after events!  The skirt is really flowy and I loved spinning around in it!  Again, for reference I was a size 12 in this as well, but I felt I might have been able to go down a size for my personal fit preference!

The next sets of outfits are for those that aren't incline to wear dresses, or are maybe just getting together with family and want to feel 'adult' and put together.  I went into today's styling knowing that I would be buying these pants, since I saw them in the catalog just two days ago.  But when I paired them with this blue and cream peplum-esque top, the whole outfit HAD.TO.BE.MINE.  I feel it really is the epitome of my style - modern classics.

I realized when I got home, Rob never got a full length view for the pants.  They are a skinnier fit, cropped right at the ankle bone.  I'm in a size 12 pant and size 10 top.  I can see me getting some MAJOR use out of both these pieces come full spring/summer weather!

I also wanted to put together a look in case it was a little chillier in your neighborhood, or if you don't happen to like your arms (which is totally OK).  I got a large in this sweater, and definitely could have gone down a size!  It's a great weight for summer days with shorts and will keep you warm when it gets a little brisk at night!

The final look I really wanted to make sure I put out there is the casual one.  I know not everyone goes to church, or has a big to-do with family.  Sometimes it's just you, your fur baby and some Netflix on Easter.  Although, even if you were with family, I think this next outfit would still make you feel 'together' in front of your in-laws.  I even rocked the completely casual vibe by being barefoot!

It's from the T by Talbots active wear line.  These jogger style pants have a heathered-like print that gives them interest, and the whole darn outfit was just comfy.  I could definitely see pieces from this line fitting easily into a busy mom's weekend wardrobe.  I was a large in all these pieces, would probably only go down to a medium in the cardigan for fit.

I recommend if you're still looking for that nice outfit for Easter, swing into your nearest Talbots to give some of these options a try!  They are investment pieces, so go in knowing you may pay more than you normally would, but you're going to get an item that will power through several trendy seasons.  I look forward to working with Talbots in the future!

  


I'm excited to go home for the holiday, see friends and help a few college friends style their wardrobes! I hope you all get to spend quality time with your loved ones!

I'll see you later, back here in my closet!

Transitioning seasons

Have you ever bought something for an upcoming season, but can't wait to wear it??  It's happening more often as retailers put out future season pieces earlier and earlier!  I try to figure out how to make the most of these purchases, so that's what inspired this post today!

I was flipping through my latest issue of People Style Watch and this 'Look for Less' is really what inspired me.  I liked that the white fringe pieces scream summer vacation, but using army green and heavier shoes has made it wearable as the seasons *slowly* shift.

I had purchased this white beach tunic from the Stella & Dot summer preview collection mainly for our summer vacation come May and any pool going to do this summer.  But I liked the way it was also wearable day to day.  Below is my interpretation of the Look for Less, using a jacket I recently purchased from JustFab and my trusty neutral booties.

Disclaimer - I probably wouldn't wear this until it was MUCH warmer, or unless we were going directly to the beach....it's pretty short and even I was feeling a little self conscious on the length.

But, I also wanted to find a way to really wear this now, when it hovers around 50 degrees outside so you still need your legs covered.  So I tucked the tunic into a shirt (using the length to my advantage and wearing it loose) and paired with a great pair of boyfriend denim.  This is something that I think would look great a lots of skin tones and body types. 

I'll put shopping links below!  But check out my stellar modeling!

Straight out of senior pictures 101

Tunic - Stella & Dot

Jewelry - necklace, ring, wrap bracelet, engraved bracelet

Jacket - JustFab

Jeans - Old Navy

Booties - Famous Footwear

Bag - Longchamp

I enjoyed putting some more casual looks together for you guys!  I hope you have a great week, and I'll see you later, back here in my closet!

This Week in Outfits

Another week down!  I find myself saying to co-workers 'It's been one of those days' a LOT recently.  So I was intent on not letting another week wear me down....however, by Thursday I was struggling.  What do you do to keep energy when your work load really starts to weigh heavy on you??

Monday - By now you'll start to see a lot of repeats in my work wardrobe....and that's totally normal!  I'm not someone that buys or receives new clothing every week.  Hopefully you'll find some inspiration in my combinations!

Cardigan - similar, similar

Blouse - similar, similar

Pants - exact, similar, curvy fit

Shoes - similar, similar

Jewelry - Stella & Dot

Tuesday - I couldn't wait to wear my new HM crop pants!  I wanted to wait until my tried and true heels were back from the shoe doctor (getting re-heeled).  

Top - similar, similar

Pants - similar (couldn't find the exact style online, in store only)

Heels - exact

Jewelry - Stella & Dot, Stella & Dot

Wednesday - I always feel particularly feminine in this conservative sheath dress.  It's from Banana Republic Factory a few years back...and to think when I bought it I couldn't even zip it up all the way!  Set non-scale goals for yourself!

Dress - similar, similar
Heels - similar (LOVE), similar
Jewelry - Stella & Dot

Thursday - I was actually wearing blue until 10 minutes before I left for work until I realized I couldn't let St. Pat's go by without wearing green....so this outfit came together pretty last minute.

Top - similar
Vest - similar, similar
Joggers - exact, similar
Heels - exact

Friday - We had a designated casual day at work to do annual record retention (aka throwing LOTS of paper away).  It's tricky being casual at work..I always reach for dark wash denim to still feeling put together if you're thrown into a meeting last minute!

Shirt - similar, similar
Tank - similar, similar
Jeans - curvy, similar
Shoes - exact, similar, similar
Jewelry - Stella & Dot

I'm also moving all my daily pictures to a new Instagram account (@MeanwhileBackInMyCloset) so go follow me there and remember to like my facebook page for your chance to win $20 in Stella & Dot cash!

Short work week for most people next week, and I've got some Easter inspiration outfits coming mid-week!  So I'll see you here, back in my closet!