June Sampler Wardrobe: 30 Items for 30 Days

In my last post, you heard about my self-proscribed overstuffed wardrobe antidote: The Sampler Wardrobe.

Today I'm going to share the contents of my first (public) sampler. These are all the clothes I will be wearing for the entire month of June -- barring exercise and sleepwear, of course.

As I'm not fancy with Photoshop and too lazy to sort through doppelgänger pieces on Polyvore, I've simply provided a list of my thirty selections for now, sorted into their respective activity clusters. Over the course of the month, you'll see an assortment of outfit combinations that will better illustrate the individual pieces and also show you what a sampler wardrobe looks like in action!

JUNE 2017  Sampler Wardrobe Selections

• Work (Host) - 1
• black rose-print tank blouse
• white black-tie blouse
• black high-waist trousers
• black velour pencil skirt 
• black Mary-Jane pumps
  
• Work (Host) - 2
• off-white tee blouse
• periwinkle tunic tank blouse
• black military-style jacket 
• crimson stovepipe trousers
• black oxford flats
• Work (Nanny) - 1
• fuschia crochet-seam tank
• pink dotted tank
• indigo bootcut jeans
• blush wrap dress
• olive green sandals
• Work (Nanny) - 2
• white & black striped banana tee
• gray marled moto-style cardigan 
• denim jacket
• black skinny jeans
• gray low-top sneakers
• Weekend - 1
• white men's dress shirt
• white crop tee
• black leather jacket
• black maxi tank dress
• black heeled ankle boots 
• Weekend - 2
• lavender crewneck tee
• peach babydoll dress
• wine a-line skirt
• lightwash boyfriend jeans
• brown ankle boots

Remember, when creating clusters for your own sampler wardrobe, make sure you have enough options per activity to last a full laundry cycle. While each cluster can operate separately, ideally they will also blend with (a) their counterpart cluster and (b) across other activities! For instance, while I can't go to work in my crop tee (Weekend 1), I love how it pairs with my black high-waisted trousers (Work Host 1). So I might combine the two for an after-work date night or something.

The rules are yours for the making. The only important thing is that each activity's items work together and you're excited to wear every piece you've selected!

Happy Sampling!

14 Outfits for September 2018

Happy Autumn, everyone! It's bittersweet to announce that this is my twelfth and final sampler wardrobe outfit post. I've kept up the process for exactly one year (see this page for the archives!), and while I intend to continue exploring wardrobe construction and personal style, to post another series of lookbook photos would soon prove redundant. After all, the purpose of this whole process was to wear less, more often. Especially in the case of my work wardrobe, which has really become a true capsule now, you've seen just about every outfit combination I've come up with!

Employing and fine-tuning this method of wardrobe minimizing was so fun for me. I learned a great deal about what shapes & fabrics I love, what kind of uniforms I gravitate toward, and what color palettes already exist in my closet. The great thing is, now I have a full year's worth of photos to use in further analysis and discussion! So expect to see future posts detailing what I learned throughout the sampler process.

Without further adieu, let's dive into my September wardrobe!

As you may be able to tell from these shadowy photos, our daylight is quickly fading -- a clue that cooler weather is finally upon us! We New Yorkers have been patiently (and sometimes not-so-patiently) waiting for the humidty to die down, and in the past two weeks our dreams finally became a reality. I felt pretty clever outsmarting my own autumn-obsessed brain, reminding myself that sleeveless options still take precedence over cozy cover-ups in city-September. But when I woke to a 65-degree morning last week, I was grateful for the sole jacket I'd included!

Stepping out of summer meant banishing white from my wardrobe -- not because I care about all that Labor Day mumbo-jumbo, but because it was necessary to make room for all the black. Devotion to this non-color runs back about three generations of women in my family, and try as I might I've never been able to abandon it entirely. In summer, I avoid black for obvious reasons, so when it comes to lighter transitional items (i.e. the crochet-sleeve boho blouse, black shorts, and military button jacket), I have to make the most of them during this brief period.

One thing that's been really exciting about the sampler process overall is mastering how to identify & maintain a palette. I've never had much success subscribing to set colors in the past, but I finally feel like I've hit upon the secret (which I'll share in a future post.) With the exception of that pop of blue in my work wardrobe (hello, summer holdover!), I've got a nice mostly-neutral thing going here: black, taupe, olive, and cream, plus some orange-y accents for interest. Mmmm... fall.

A mere 24 garments made up this month's capsule, which I believe is my record for the year. It's satisfying to think that in this last week I was still jotting down new outfit combos to parade around before month's end. That's the beauty of mindful limitation -- it often serves your creativity even more than boundless freedom!

I hope that the sampler wardrobe experiment has been useful to some of you on your own style journey. As mentioned, check back soon for future tips and analysis on the sampler year as a whole. Thanks for tuning in!

July 2017 Sampler Wardrobe

Last month's Sampler Wardrobe went better than I even hoped. It finally felt like I got to wear my pieces enough, and in moments of boredom, I simply reminded myself that I'd be diving into a whole new selection of clothing in one month's time. Limiting my wardrobe to just 30 pieces brought both peace of mind in its simplicity, yet creative fertilizer in its mixability.

Naturally, I was feeling pretty pumped to dig through my in-storage items, tucked away on the high shelf of my closet since May 31st. As usual, I dumped everything onto my bed, poured myself a wine glass of ice water (who says you can't stay classy without A/C?) and turned on my favorite playlist.

First, I reviewed each of my thirty June items, chucking some to laundry, some to storage, and a few special favorites back into my July consideration pile.

Then, I promptly snatched up all the pieces I've been dreaming about wearing since the NYC humidity reared its ugly head. (OH HEY, DENIM CUT-OFFS.)

Then I had a lil' squealing fit over a few clothes that I'd momentarily forgotten I even owned. (They don't call it "shopping your closet" for nothing!)

With my June experience fresh in mind, I felt fairly confident in selecting what I'd need for the next (sweaty) 31 days. But I was a bit disappointed to find last year's high-summer duds a bit more worn than I remembered. So there's some chance of this list shifting in one or two places as I replace those threadbare bits. (First I want to make sure I'm not just looking for an excuse to go shopping...)

I also chose to limit my nanny clusters in favor of expanding my weekend ones, as I have some days off this month.

Here's what came together:

JULY 2017  Sampler Wardrobe Selections

• Work (Host) - 1
• black & cream print tee blouse
• off-white tee blouse
• black a-line skirt
• black & cream pleated dress
• black Mary-Jane pumps
  
• Work (Host) - 2
• white black-tie tank bouse
• periwinkle tunic tank blouse
• cream & chocolate polka dot dress
• black high-waist trousers
• black oxford flats
• Work (Nanny) - 1
• pink dotted tank
• white & black striped banana tee
• olive cargo skinnies
• gold sneakers
• Work (Nanny) - 2
• fuschia crochet-seam tank
• chocolate tank dress
• black lace-pattern shorts
• olive green sandals
• Weekend - 1
• black & cream printed jumpsuit
• floral print maxi dress
• strawberry sundress
• denim jacket
• black cork wedges 
• Weekend - 2
• white cut-off tank blouse
• pink floral-pattern crop tank
• ((various camisoles))
• white & green cardigan
• white shorts
• denim cut-offs
• brown ankle boots

A little note on those "various camisoles" above.

First off, I'm really at a loss for what else to pair with those high-waisted cutoffs in the summertime.

Secondly, I consider camisoles to be something closer to underwear or pajamas, so I don't tend to include them in minimal wardrobe inventories. I've listed them here as one item, however, to remind myself that I need not purchase any tight-fitting tanks -- I have plenty at my disposal when I consider my underwear drawer. And real talk here: NYC humidity has a weird way of making you feel suddenly comfortable wearing stuff from your underwear drawer right out onto its frying-pan streets. So yes, I technically have a couple extra tops to choose from. But who am I to deny mom jorts their summer soulmates??

Happy Sampling!

Introducing The Sampler Wardrobe: A Cure for the Maximalist

Okay, so you've made the commitment to transition to a more sustainable, modestly-sized wardrobe. Good for you! Perhaps you've identified the clothes that spark joy and arranged them in artful folds on your closet shelves. Maybe you've started curating a seasonal capsule. Chances are, if you followed the myriad of instruction on how to declutter your wardrobe, you now have a pile of clothes that you've decided just aren't your style. You'll do your best to find them a new home through donation or sale, and the rest you'll take to textile recycling, because that's the sustainable fashionista you are. The special unicorns among us will float into a land of dreamy, curated bliss, perfectly pleased with their selected pieces and never again at a loss for what to wear.

This is what is promised to us by so many well-meaning bloggers. This is what I too imagined would happen when I started the capsuling process three years ago.

The hiccup in the capsule transition is that the majority of us -- including those who fall in the relatively modest ownership average of 103 wardrobe items -- will end up with the following:

• a reasonable wardrobe of clothing we love
• a likewise reasonable donation pile
• an enormous pile of not-quite-perfect items which are nevertheless still interesting & possibly useful.

For years I found myself obsessing over that final category. Was I supposed to simply bid farewell to the formal dress I hadn't worn in three years -- the one which still fit and, more importantly, still made me happy to twirl around in? Should I stuff my hiking boots in the Goodwill bag and greet my next uphill journey with a pair of hip sneakers? What about the oversized Christmas sweater I saw only once a year, but which somehow found its way onto me seven mornings in a row? Yes, I had a more reasonable sweater in my capsule, but I don't always want to be reasonable, do I? Some days simply call for a bit of extra spice.

Despite my devotion to the capsule system, it was heartbreaking to have to continually subvert my quirky thrift store finds (arguably the pieces that meant more to me) to the more practical items that happened to all fit a singular color palette. From a sustainability standpoint, I was also struggling with the idea of excusing myself from responsibility for my belongings. I'd purchased these clothes for a reason, hadn't I? In most cases, I realized those leftovers sitting in storage weren't unusable or unfashionable -- I was just bored with them. And I wasn't content to let that boredom invite more mindless shopping.

There had to be a better solution, I thought. Something that would force me to get creative with what I already owned yet still allow me to feel stylish and comfortable in my day to day life.

About a month ago, it came to me. Rather than continuing to build the work and weekend capsules which left me bored and overwhelmed by season's end, why not select a smaller sample of pieces from my closet inventory and wear them more frequently for just one month's time?

Part of the joy of styling for me comes from innovation and mixing things up. But the paradox of my creativity has always been that the more options there are (i.e. the more decisions I have to make), the harder it is for my brain to pull something together. The idea of working with a smaller pool of clothing was comforting to me, and the monthly opportunity to swap out what was no longer inspiring reintroduced a creative freedom to my personal styling process. (I also won't pretend I wasn't attracted to the totally ridiculous luxury fashion concept of never repeating an outfit.)

Of course, the method didn't come without drawbacks. When working with less options, it becomes even more important to make sure your pieces coordinate, however wacky they may be. Since I was working within the confines of outfitting myself for three different life modes (nanny work, restaurant work, and weekend activities), I had to ensure that my selections could continually see me through an average week.

Enter The Cluster Method. A few weeks earlier, I'd stumbled across a blog I hadn't heard of before, The Vivienne Files. One of Vivienne's closet-decluttering posts advised using "clusters" to identify one's most versatile pieces. Clusters typically consist of four items: three tops, all of which can be paired with a single bottom piece to create a complete outfit. The idea is, so long as those foundation clusters coordinate, you will never be without something to wear. I applied this method to each of my three wardrobe categories to calculate how many pieces I would need. The result was a wardrobe that I was truly excited to experiment with; one that suited my minimal closet dreams without limiting my creative ability.

If you're struggling to wear everything you own right now, or if you're lacking that creative spark, you may find that this process works for you too! Here's how to get started:

1. First, take a moment to determine how many clusters you will need. You may want to approach this by considering your laundry habits. Those of us who do bulk laundry loads twice a month will need more items than those who wash their clothes every week. If you don't mind repeating outfits, you may need even fewer pieces.
   
   Here's how I calculated my cluster total. I ended up with seven total clusters, for a total of 28 pieces. Later, I broke up the third weekend cluster to distribute coats and shoes (for practicality's sake) and some dresses (for variety) across all categories.
   
• NANNY: x8 outfits / month
• = 2 clusters
• HOST: x8 outfits / month 
• = 2 clusters 
• WEEKEND: x12 outfits / month
• = 3 clusters
2. Remove all your clothing from hiding -- be sure to check closets, hooks, hampers, racks, drawers, and storage containers. It's important to see everything.
3. Sort out any items which do not align with the current season. (In summer, for instance, you're unlikely to need winter coats, gloves, or boots.) Find a place to store these items and label them clearly for later retrieval.
4. From the remaining items, decide what you're intuitively drawn to. Perhaps you're having a love affair with the color teal right now, or maybe you have a bohemian summer vibe that is perfectly encapsulated by hippie dresses. Group each of these pieces an appropriate cluster. (For example, your favorite pair of jeans might cluster well with that printed blouse you can't stop wearing. A flashier statement skirt might stand alone for the time being.)
5. Now, locate the pieces which will complement these intuition items. (In the instance above, you would select an additional two shirts to pair with your favorite jeans.) If you have a lot of stuff, this will take some time. Treat it like a party: put on some music, and take note of which outfits make you feel excited to go somewhere.
6. Add as many coats, jackets, and shoes as your lifestyle calls for. These items should pair with most of the other pieces, so you may want to stick to neutrals here. You may also wish to add singlet items, such as dresses, during this time.
7. Store any unused clothing out of sight -- it's off limits while you focus on making the most of your monthly sampler!

In the upcoming posts, you will see the pieces I've selected for my own sampler wardrobe. Then I will illustrate how they combine to create enough unique outfits for one month of wear. See you on Monday!

 

8 Amazing Resources to Inspire a Simpler Wardrobe

Hello everyone, and thank you for bearing with me through my August sojourn -- which has now unfortunately bled into September! *laughs and cries at the same time*

To be perfectly honest, I have not bothered to create or maintain a sampler wardrobe this month because I have yet to figure out what my day-to-day life looks like. As I am no longer nannying, I've been working on sorting through the kid-friendly-casual portion of my wardrobe to determine whether or not those pieces could still be useful to me. This change has also resulted in my taking on more shifts at the restaurant, which means I need to take stock of my hostwear as well. I'm actually sitting here in yoga pants and a grubby t-shirt because some days I can't even pretend that I know what my life is.

One thing I know for certain: I need to be practical with my time and money right now (aka: use hours off to find my next central source of income), so fall shopping has receded to the back of my brain. It's a bummer, because like most of the blogging world I love autumnal clothing, and a few of my duds are badly in need of replacement. Ain't budgeting grand?

In my absence, though, I wanted to offer a few resources for those of you seeking some fall wardrobe inspiration -- with a minimalist twist, of course! While my brain is craving novelty, I'm nevertheless still firmly on my path toward a sustainable closet. It occurred to me recently that I no longer follow bloggers for outfit inspiration and trends. Rather, I'm focusing on writers who offer perspective into their wardrobe structure and challenge themselves to maintain similarly ethical values. Most of them have been mentioned on Inspirsession before, but I thought it would be useful to document my favorites all in one place. Plus, it gives me an excuse to share this dorky picture I drew:

In the off chance you've come here seeking inspiration and/or guidance, please don't hesitate to check out their sites, podcasts, and channels! Each sketch has a link to their particular corner of the internet. Below, you can also read a brief summary as to why I think they're awesome. Enjoy!

Un-Fancy

Caroline basically pioneered the on-trend American capsule, in all its denim-and-white-tee glory. She came onto my radar around 2014, and while she no longer blogs as regularly as she did then, I still find myself checking in on her clean, to-the-point posts and pictures. Everything about her presentation is exactly as she promises -- un-fancy -- and I like that I leave her blog feeling calm, joyful, and content, rather than envious of her living room or breakfast.  Can't miss: Free Capsule Wardrobe Planner

Into-Mind // Anuschka Rees

Anuschka's blog was one of my earliest introductions to the capsule wardrobe process, and it also served as the direct inspiration to Un-Fancy, according to Caroline. Anuschka has provided the most thorough wardrobe-building process I've found to date, and her infographics are out of this world. Since the publishing of her book, The Curated Closet, she posts less often these days, but her archives are well worth a deep dive.  Can't miss: This amazing flow-chart

Paris to Go

Ariana is one of the sassiest writers I've come across on the blogosphere. There's something in how she presents her life that gives me the feeling I'm reading an epic novel -- one woman's journey toward ultimate sustainability. Where Caroline is gentle and forgiving, Ariana is frank and cutthroat. I love the contrast, and I really wish she was my friend.  Can't miss: Any post where she lists all her possessions. You won't believe how little this woman owns.

What I Wore 

Jessica Quirk is OG. Like, had-an-established-blog-before-I-even-knew-the-word OG. Like, her-blog-is-actually-still-on-Tumblr OG. She currently lives in Indiana with two kids and a husband, which is not something I can exactly relate to, but I still use her book, (also entitled What I Wore) and photo archives for outfit-mixing tips. Though I wouldn't consider her process truly sustainable, I love that she mixes her new clothes with thrifted vintage and homemade items.  Can't miss: Her book!

The Minimalists

Ahhh, these guys. If you haven't seen their documentary on Netflix, now is the time to open a new tab on your browser and take care of that. I've been listening to their podcast regularly and really enjoy most of what they have to say about what they call "living a more meaningful life." Their work certainly doesn't center on clothing specifically, but all their topics are worth a listen, 'cause everything's connected, really.  Can't Miss: Podcast #56-Clothing -- and all the ones on budgeting.

The Vivienne Files 

It's not every day you meet a blogger over the age of, well, Had-A-Modcloth-Phase. But this gal not only proudly aligns herself with L.L.Bean and Hermes scarves; she also has a taste for churning out beautiful art-inspired palettes to create functional, minimal wardrobes. And that's fun for all ages, I say.  Can't Miss: Core of Four

The Daily Connoisseur 

If Emily Post merged with Donna Reed and then simmered down to a grownup version of that cool-yet-levelheaded babysitter you admired in your youth, this would be Jennifer L. Scott, author of The Daily Connoisseur book, vlog, and blog. Her concept may seem over the top to some (wear pearls for your baby, vacuum in your silks, dine daily over your best china), but I think a good question lies at the core of the matter: What "someday" are you saving those precious possessions for, anyway?  Can't Miss: Her original video on The Ten Item Wardrobe

Light By Coco

Coco just recently stopped blogging to focus on her real life/job. While that's fair and all, I already miss her a lot. Also, it took me until just now to realize her blog and channel have been emptied of all their content. So I guess this is a rather sheepish way to end my post. (Oops!) You'll just have to take my word for it that she was pretty cool.

June 2017 Sampler Wardrobe Outfits (D)

Friends, Romans, Countrymen... we have reached the end of June. Summer is in full swing, and my goodness, what a creative jolt this month has provided me! Sketching and painting these weekly croquis has simultaneously anxiety-inducing and exhilarating; the process seemed to imbibe me with an artistic focus and confidence I've been lacking as of late. It's a joy to feel that burst of energy again. (Thanks, sunshine!)

This panel is, obviously, the remainding items of my sampler wardrobe (minus the jackets, for which I may need to do an extra painting), but I'm pleased to see that they also harmonize into something of a "basics" category. Due to their simple versatility, most of the pieces above were my June workhorses -- my partner even commented that I wore his retired white dress shirt more often than he ever had to work!

Unfortunately some of these regular-use pieces are beginning to show major signs of wear-and-tear. My low-tops are sporting some nice holes, my favorite black skinny jeans have been patched not once but three times, and my brown ankle boots might even be past hope of a cobbler at this point. It's always a bit sad saying goodbye to beloved clothes, but that's what limiting yourself to a smaller wardrobe is all about: selecting clothes you really love to wear and wearing them out!

Stay tuned for my July selections! I'm so excited to shop my closet tonight...

15 Outfits for July 2018

For me, July was a month of travel and special events, both of which called for unique considerations outfit-wise. While I admittedly have two cocktail dresses which I keep specially for formal occasions (i.e. the wedding I attended this month), there were several casual events to take into account while planning this month's sampler wardrobe; among them a rehearsal dinner, two fancy brunches, an Independence Day soiree, and my high school reunion, for which I shamelessly wanted to look my best. I also had to ensure I pulled enough travel wear to get me through two long plane rides and both east and west coast summer climates. Between all that casual-wear planning, I decided it would be best to leave my work wardrobe as-is, so you may notice those pieces are exactly the same as July's -- just styled differently in the photos below!

For all these constraints, I'm proud with how this sampler turned out. With just 24 articles of clothing, I kept things fresh by mixing in accessories and rotating separates. A distinct color palette emerged almost by accident, and I correctly anticipated what little interest I'd have in sleeves this month. Incredibly, I'm not yet bored by my rollover work wardrobe, and while I am still seeking a lighter-toned trouser or skirt, you may see most of these pieces remixed a third time for August!

To my delight, I had a chance to put my wardrobe organization studies into practice when I visited my parents. My mom, who shares my fondness for a variety of clothing styles, felt overdue for a closet purge, and I set to work making room for more space, order, and "her-ness" within her current collection. We spent five fun-filled hours together, pairing like with like and creating a series of new looks she felt excited about. It was a joy to see my mother exercising her panache for creative problem-solving with pieces she'd been uncertain about before; I've always admired her willingness to embrace change. If I can figure out her secret to doing this, I'll consider myself twice blessed!

It's always hard after vacation to rev up the engines again; to put in motion all those hopes you dreamed up while away from reality. The reunion provided a good chance to check in on what I've been doing (and not doing) in the ten years since I left home. Presently, I'm doing my best not to get swept up again in the current that is New York City; to keep my head above water and my feet kicking forward, my breath level and my eyes on the silhouette possibilities that I chased here, rather than the distractions which lie around every corner, however delightful they are. It feels quite grown-up to think in that way, and I believe I'm finally ready to let myself grow up a little bit more.

15 Outfits for May 2018

Remember back in grade school when you defined yourself and all your friends by your favorite colors? Akin to inquiring “What’s your sign?” this served as a perfectly adequate way to pigeonhole one another — distinguishing the pinks personalities from the purples. My own best friend at that time loved blue — particularly the lightest, softest shades — and I, in my typical over-enthusiasm, declared a devotion to yellow. This preference lasted until I painted my bedroom walls lime green, and then a new obsession was born. In recent years, I’ve shied away from the pale yellows of my youth, figuring they make me look babyish (or worse: sickly!)

But there’s nothing so delicate about bright yellow! In fact, I noticed that wearing this shade really boosts my confidence. Pairing it with shades of denim lent the essence of a sun-filled sky to even the chilliest, dreariest storm day. I adore how these colors pop in this month's photo spread — especially alongside my more sober-toned work outfits. Between all the navy and black, I included some lighter blouses and dresses, but I do intend to find at least one warm-toned professional trouser or skirt before summer's end.

While storing pieces at the end of my April sampler, I decided to take a full closet inventory categorized by season. As it turns out, I have an ideal number of warm-weather pieces, some room for expansion in my cold-weather category, and waaaaaaaay too many transition pieces for the brief spring and fall periods which characterize New York. As mentioned in March, this is likely due to holdover from Seattle, the climate of which necessitated such pieces about 80% of the year.

Spring and fall are difficult seasons to resist shopping, as this is when stores roll our their new inventory, but I did my best to redirect my attention away from the abundance and instead toward anticipating key summer items in need of replacement. I'm glad to have taken this approach, because surely the $50 required to resole my singular pair of sandals would have quickly been spent on a novelty dress with an irresistible print — or three. Ergo, my main takeaway tip for you this month: Understand your city's unique division of seasons, and stock your wardrobe accordingly.

Another obstacle I ran into this month: redundancy. In addition to the pieces listed above, I had also included an additional tunic-style tank blouse and another pair of skinny jeans. They worked well together, but when their rotation came up I found myself reaching for something else, and my error was realized. Three pairs of jeans was, of course, overkill for the casual section of my wardrobe — especially while trying to get the most wear out of my favorite transitional dresses. The featured white floral maxi and peach babydoll are two of my most favorite pieces, but their fabrics call for ideal weather conditions to make them truly wearable. So, second tip for sampler wardrobe-ing: Identify your seasonal favorites and make room to wear them as much as possible.

Style-wise, I would happily wear this wardrobe another month if I could. Transitional seasons are my favorite because they provide the opportunity to play with layering and quirky pairings without winter coats or summer sweat obscuring the fun. Unfortunately for me, we've already soared into the 80s a few times here, and a portion of my casual wear will need to be swapped out to accommodate the rising heat. That said, my work basics are here to stay; continual air-conditioning means longer sleeves and pants are not only possible, but essential. It also means increasing my casual wear options, as I'll soon have commuting outfits to consider alongside my regular off days'. If that seems excessive, I invite you to try boarding a crowded subway car with broken A/C in an outfit selected for several hours of standing below a chilly vent... NYC humidity DGAF about your best silk work blouse.

But let's hope we still have a few weeks of spring left to celebrate before all that.

See you in June!

June 2017 Sampler Wardrobe Outfits (A)

Here is the first collection of outfits created from my June Sampler Wardrobe, as defined in my previous post.

From left to right, the illustration shows how I might dress for (a) a day off, (b) a day spent nannying, and (c) a day working at the restaurant. Nine of the thirty clothing selections are detailed here.

This little panel seems to have been inspired by berries -- all those red-violets and blues! I suppose it's only fitting, as I'm eating pounds of them now that summer is practically here. Just call me Violet Beauregarde...

July 2017 Sampler Wardrobe Outfits (A)

Welcome, July! It's hot in the city, but I'm feeling pretty cool in my new looks this month!

For this month's sampler wardrobe, I stuck with 30 pieces but made sure to strive for mixability, particularly in my host wear. To feature all of the July pieces, I realized I'd have to do four sketches instead of three, so that's why you see an extra figure here.

Nanny days call for easy-wash materials, so I aimed for lots of cotton and denim in that category this time around. My weekends lately have involved a great amount of catching up with friends, from both in and out of town, so pieces like this lightweight jumpsuit keep me comfy on long walks while upping the snazz factor. And for hosting? I'm drawn more and more toward black and white. Maybe it's the servers influencing me, but there's something unbeatable about that sophisticated contrast!

Enjoy the sun.

12 Outfits for March 2018

We've reached the end of March! As you will see in this month's outfit photos, I am celebrating the end of winter with bundles of bright, sunny flowers. While I'm one of those rare oddballs who actually loves winter, I don't think I've ever been so restless for spring. This season's felt colder, longer, and fuller of personal reflection than any I can remember -- and now I'm rearing to go outside, get moving, and take action!

Lucky for me, my March sampler wardrobe did not disappoint. Beyond the overhasty storage of my wool coat, I was pleased with its mixability and overall boho-chic look. It's immensely satisfying to finally discover the perfect blend of basics and statement pieces. I've been pendulum-ing between those two extremes for a long time.

When I planned this sampler at the end of last month, I was struck by an instinct to lunge for my skirts and sundresses. I'd already identified my spring inspirations and made a shopping list for the warmer months ahead -- fare-thee-well, winter! I've always thought of March as marking the start of spring and, calendar-wise, that's true. But nowhere I've lived has spring actually ever started when it's "supposed" to do so. In New York, spring is the shortest season after fall, lasting about 2/3 as long as winter. It makes up for the lack of sunshine during its miserably long summers, but essentially nullifies the transitional basics acquired during my time in Seattle. My favorite long sleeve dresses, light sweaters, and down vest seem to lie constantly in waiting.

What did work during transition time:

• Choosing a palette and sticking to it. With the exception of my lightwash jeans and floral dress, everything in this wardrobe fell into the category of a neutral (black, white, gray, and beige) or a green. Palettes aren't a requirement for maintaining small wardrobes, but they do allow for maximizing a limited collection. When everything goes with everything, you can mix and match to your heart's content! It also creates a lovely harmony in your personal presentation, which suggests a certain reliability of character.
• Focusing on duality, not transition. Winter and spring can coexist in the same wardrobe, but as mentioned above, unless you live in a truly temperate climate, weather fluctuations are going to demand one season at a time. If you're struggling with adjusting to temperatures changes, you may consider including both wool sweaters and light tees in the same collection, as opposed to relying on spring jackets which will likely prove too cool for wintry days and be cast off in the sunshine.
• Rejoicing in the power of accessories. Another troubling aspect to season transition is that it seems like the wrong time to buy anything. On the one hand, it can feel risky to invest early in warm-weather styles and nonsensical to buy cooler pieces just to store them in a few week's time. This is when I turn my attention to those necklaces, scarves, hats, bags, and tights which haven't journeyed beyond my bedroom in awhile. I'm super pleased by the mileage I got from my bejeweled collar necklace, afghan scarf, and leather backpack this month -- and it's nice to know they feel loved in return.

Additionally, completing my bi-annual personal style overhaul was rewarding as ever. This process gave me time to reflect on last year's wants and purchases and served as an invitation to pour over a cast-off Vogue with tea and cookies, which is always a welcome treat. It came together just in time for the Housing Works sales, and it was comforting to know I was shopping on more than just impulse. I can't wait to share the new treasures I found in future samplers!

What else is on the horizon for spring? The annual stream of fair-weather visitors is arriving, and I couldn't be happier to have an excuse to tromp around the city with my out-of-town pals. (Always a fun time to plan some new outfits!) Daylight savings time has brought brighter light to the restaurant, which has in turn brought more attention to the state of my work garments and necessary repairs therein. Sporadic nannying opportunities require having one or two kid-proof outfits on hand. And if I can get over whatever hump's been looming before me, auditioning will start to take more of a front seat in my life again. In preparation for the warmer weather, I'll also be giving my winter items a final laundering before storage, including multiple-wear pieces like coats and hefty handwashables, like my merino sweaters. Gotta harness those last days of radiator heating!

Until April, everyone.

15 Outfits for August 2018

Dear Reader, I hope you can't tell how absolutely over it I was when I took this batch of photos. It was "the hottest day in August," as the song goes, and between posing, changing, and running back and forth between my tripod, it's a wonder the main feature of this spread wasn't my shiny, sweaty brow! I got so lazy by the end, I phoned it in on two work staples and used previously shot images. To be fair, I've photographed these particular items about five times now and am running out of innovative ways to style them. Without further adieu, here is my sampler wardrobe for the month of August, which up until this mini heatwave has been practically perfect in every way.

As predicted in my last post, the work portion of my wardrobe stayed the same as it has since summer started. I'm happy to report that rather than getting bored with my pieces, the constancy has blessed me with much peace of mind. My getting-ready process is essentially figuring out which top I wore least recently, rotating my bottom pieces the same way, and accessorizing as the mood strikes me. I'll be happy to see my cooler weather pieces again, but in truth I could probably wear these for the rest of the year and be pretty satisfied. Conclusion: A rotating capsule wardrobe is ideal for the day job portion of my life.

Meanwhile, over in the creative sector, I've been incorporating two lovely new pieces, both of which were generously handed down to me from two stylish ladies in my life. One, the white sweater (pictured here with white denim shorts), is made from the floatiest, loveliest material -- cool enough to be worn on an 80-degree day -- and has cheeky little buttons down the back. Two people (men, naturally) have already speculated I have it on backwards, which elevates it to "statement piece" status as far as I'm concerned. The other piece is this dreamy pale blue tulle skirt, something I never would have thought to purchase for myself but immediately fell in love with as soon as I put it on. It's got me feeling like Ballerina-Cinderella, which is really my main goal in life. 

Constructing my wardrobe this month was pretty straightforward; I stuck with the exact same number and mostly same ratio of items. The summer work trouser I was seeking seduced me into H&M for the first time in ages, but I couldn't justify the purchase value-wise*, particularly outside of their conscious collection. So I'll just have to hope I come across them in a thrift shop one day.

While September will no doubt remain very warm, I'm thrilled to be inching closer to long sleeves and cozy knits again. Scrolling through Instagram, I envy my PNW friends, who are already donning beanies and jeans while I cower beneath the sweaty arm of a fellow train passenger and pray the AC doesn't break down mid-commute. Sigh. At least I look like Cinderella. Maybe I can befriend some of New York's finest subway rats...

'Til fall! 

*Value-wise meaning captial-V values, not cost-value. H&M is of course quite affordable.

14 Outfits for January 2018

With full intentions to post my December sampler wardrobe as usual, between holiday season at the restaurant, traveling home for Christmas, and two bouts of winter colds (I am now battling a low-grade flu, and having just recovered from those colds, it hardly seems fair!), life just ate up any opportunities for personal photo-shoots. Hopefully this post is a welcome reintroduction to the sampler process, detailing how you can build a variety of unique outfits from even the smallest of wardrobes.

Here in NYC, January marks our transition into true winter weather. Per the advice of my wardrobe-building guru Anuschka Rees, I performed just a minor closet assessment during this season change. Rather than seeking out new styles or silhouettes, I turned my attention to cold-weather additions that would help me get through those single-digit days. Upon this assessment, I found myself fairly well-equipped for weekends, what with my inability to resist (and afterward ever part with) loose-fitting knitwear. When it came to winter-proofing my work attire against our front-of-house freezing winds, however, I was stumped. Finally, I settled on a simple black turtleneck, which has already proven itself to be a real wardrobe MVP. Pairing my usual silk blouses beneath more tailored sweaters has also been a godsend through single-digit dinner shifts.

After five days of work in those nicer garments, crawling between the folds of a chunky sweater or broken-in jeans feels almost indulgent, and I basically lived in this combination on the weekends. Typically I'm not much for the "uniform" approach, but a variety of sweater shapes and two different styles of jeans was enough to keep me from ever feeling bored.

My winter outerwear pieces are not featured in the photos, but of course I have a few on rotation. One is a cozy neutrally-colored parka and the other a slightly fancier black wool toggle coat. My down layer has also featured heavily due to the freezing temperatures we experienced at the start of the month. Those three options, layered with my knitwear, have seen me through even the chilliest temperatures without complaint. Having hauled enough elephantine Canada Goose parkas to and from coat check, I'm very much over the idea of burdening myself (or anyone else for that matter) with something heavier.

One hurdle I have yet to overcome in developing a more conscious closet is how to balance my sustainable standards alongside an appetite for creative spontaneity. I'm not bothered by the structure my sustainability journey has imposed -- an over-thinker by nature, I feel much better making choices within a set of guidelines -- but what drew me toward styling in the first place was the potential for new discoveries. So this month I loosened the reigns enough to "impulse-buy" a pair of black platform hightops (featured above.) While I'd typically go for a more practical look, these took me straight back to my high school obsession with all things 80s (Goonies, anyone?) Once I confirmed their comfort and affordability, I was happy to indulge that gut-reaction.

 
Come springtime, it will be time for a more in-depth style overhaul, perhaps exploring some new directions for the warmer half of the year. For now, I'm just focusing on gathering inspiration -- like a little chipmunk hoarding seeds! -- so I'll have plenty of material to draw from once March rolls around.

Springtime. It sounds lovely right now, doesn't it? Birds chirping, the scent of fresh flowers, sunshine peeking through the budding trees... I try not to get ahead of myself, but on days like these it's hard not to dream. For now, as I shiver along these city streets, I remind myself that once the July humidity comes rolling in, I'll be dreaming of winter all over again.

xoxo,
R

12 Outfits for February 2018

Welcome to the end of February, friends! I really enjoyed structuring my sampler wardrobe for this month. My birthday falls in February, so naturally it's always been one of my favorites. I've never had qualms about sending out all the love on Valentine's Day, cheesy or not, so I made an effort to select garments that reflected my love for, well, love! As a result you'll see splashes of reds and berries alongside my usual neutrals of gray, black, white and denim. I also tried to focus on lace, ruffle, and bow details, which speak to the prototypical "feminine" aspect of this occasion. But of course you'll never catch me getting too cutesy; there's still plenty of tomboy influence tempering out these additional frills.

Glancing over the looks above, you may detect a noticeable outlier in the bunch, and that's the sage blouse + rust/black maxi skirt combination. Ironically, this outfit is probably my most favorite! (The first time I wore it, I felt like I'd finally unlocked my own version of Molly Ringwald's Breakfast Club ensemble.) While sorting through my January wardrobe selections, deciding what to pull forward vs. what to put back in storage, I found I'd shied away from giving the skirt much airplay, possibly out of bashfulness at how bold it is. For February, I decided I'd challenge myself to embrace its attitude, and once I got over my own hesitations it turned out to be surprisingly versatile. So I'm glad to have kept it in rotation, even if it didn't perfectly fit the rest of the chosen palette. A good reminder not to get too hung up on following "the rules," for it's these spontaneous gut-instincts that unearth our truest style!

Speaking of discovering style, it's odd that as my fashion type becomes less definable (while the influences are there, I don't think you could label these looks altogether classic, urban, or bohemian), my sense of personal style is becoming more and more clear to me. It's pretty easy to enter a shop now and know what's worth taking home. I spend far less time in the dressing room than I once did, because I know what I like, and I know what fits me. While I can still be indecisive about whether something is worth the cost, that gut voice has gotten louder, and I'm letting myself trust it more.

For those of you struggling with any aspect of defining your style, I can only suggest spending more time with what you already own. Ask yourself what you wear most often and why. Take notes on which fabrics you're drawn to and which ones drive you crazy. Put on some music, mix up some outfits, and admire your creations in the mirror. Styling can be its own form of self-care, and in the month of romancing, it's just as important to give some love to yourself!

Looking ahead, I anticipate March in New York will be chilly as ever, so I'll be styling for another month of winter rather than pulling springtime pieces. That said, my favorite Housing Works' Best of Spring sale starts next week, so I'm jump-starting my bi-yearly closet analysis to come with a game-plan in hand. For those of you interested, the guidelines I use for this process are outlined in Anuschka Rees' The Curated Closet -- which, as I mentioned last month, is pretty much my style bible. If you're looking for a fail-safe way to build a versatile, compact wardrobe, this is a perfect resource.

More soon, lovelies! Best of luck as we wander toward the greens of spring.

June 2017 Sampler Wardrobe Outfits (B)

As much as I love color, everyone's gotta have some neutrals in their wardrobe!

Many a minimalist dresser has relied on black and white for their staples, and while I've always thought of this approach as somewhat unimaginative, I'm falling for it nevertheless. It really does make getting dressed so easy, and whether I'm thrifting with a girlfriend, showing VIP guests to their table, or sweating it out on the subway with lightsaber-battling children, black & white keep me feeling balanced, sophisticated, and chic.

May I also just say I'm totally in love with this banana shirt? Guys, it's a banana... What even?

13 Outfits for November 2017

Seasons Greetings, yall!

With November winding to a close today, it's time to reflect on my lastest sampler wardrobe. November has always been one of my favorite months. There's Thanksgiving to look forward to and, naturally, a lead-in to the rest of the holiday season directly after that. My childlike wonder for this time of year never seems to fade, and you can probably guess which member of our household was guilty of cuing up Christmas tunes and vats of homemade hot chocolate before her Halloween decorations even came down... oops, did I give myself away? ;)

For my wardrobe this month, I held onto a few of my favorite transition pieces -- the hi-lo maxi dress featured at the top of the graphic, the chambray shirtdress, and most of my work basics for hosting. I was also excited to welcome some newbies to the closet. Adding to my growing collection of secondhand silk scores, I've been loving this versatile green blouse, pictured below with my drop pearls. (I called it "olive" below, but it's really more of an evergreen hue which has my soul aching for PNW pine trees!) Two new cardigans found their way into my life as well: the elegant little gray one with its adorable ballerina-esque tie front, and this amazing, deliciously-chunky cable knit number. Both items were purloined on their way to the trash, so I've started referring to them like other normal people refer to their dogs and cats: "Oh, thank you - she's a rescue."

Remember that thrift stores are wonderful to both shop and donate to this time of year. One person's cast offs could become your new favorite outfit, and giving quality items which you no longer find useful yourself might make a less fortunate someone's holiday a whole lot brighter.

For my own part, 2017 had me needing the distraction of Christmas about five months early, so I'm breathing sighs of relief that the time has finally come to relax, count my blessings, and look toward action for the year ahead.

16 Outfits for October 2017

Since the start of fall, I've been fretting over how to get back on top of my outfit posts. Life is still very en l'air at the moment, and it's clear things are no where close to settling down. If I've learned anything, though, identity crises and strict budgets are no excuse for neglecting one's personal style -- in fact, they offer a perfect opportunity for refining it!

Instead of returning to my watercolor croquis, I was inspired this month to revisit self-photography, hearkening back to my first-ever capsule wardrobe post. Let me just say: It's shocking how much a brain can forget about DSLRs in the space of a few years. Even after Internet-jogging my memory on aperture settings, remote configuration, and manual focus, I still had the challenge of our dim apartment to contend with. Add that to the slogging process of photo-editing on an overstuffed computer.... This is all to say I may not have saved any time, but stepping back in front of the camera sure was fun!

Let's talk about how this little wardrobe came together.

Continuing with my monthly sampler concept, I started by reserving a selection of items from my September wardrobe -- items I could see myself wearing for at least another month. The remaining September clothes went into storage for next spring, when the weather warms up again. Next, I sorted through my in-storage pieces. I looked for:

• anything that might be useful for the season ahead (like my oversized cotton turtleneck)

• anything I was just "itching" to wear (like my oh-so-Halloweeny lace-sleeve silk blouse)

I chose to leave shoes out of the equation, because I don't own many shoes. Between work and city walking, they all get worn fairly equally, and I don't gain much from storing them.


Here's what I ended up with:

Since a large portion of my clothing is secondhand, my wardrobe is regularly in need of maintenance; throughout the month, I make notes on anything requiring mending, cobbling, or replacement. When replacement time rolls around, I must take care to buy mindfully, as most secondhand items cannot be returned. So alongside the maintenance notes, I keep track of general inspirations and obvious gaps in my closet contents, to form a clear list of needs before I so much as window shop. This month, for instance, my list went something like this: 

• COBBLE ALL THE BOOTS
• Morticia Addams = October fashion queen
• ethical tights that don't cost a fortune... is that a thing?
• shop: work-appropriate sweater or turtleneck (likely black)

Speaking of shopping, I did acquire a few new-to-me clothes this month, thanks to the Housing Works Best of Fall sale. Most of those items will be featured in November, with the exception of the fabulous bell-sleeve silk dress you see above -- because can you get more Morticia than that?

Happy October, everyone! Enjoy your Halloween! 

July 2017 Sampler Wardrobe Outfits (D)

One more for the road, guys!

I'm feeling under the weather today, so I'll leave this one short and sweet: black, white, gold, and berry tones. Mmmmm, this palette's got me feeling like royalty...

I promised I'd let you know what's up for the month of August, so let's touch on that: As I'm doing some traveling in the upcoming month, I'm not planning to create a sampler or keep up on croquis panels during that time. Rather I'll be pulling together a vacation-capsule better suited to my travel needs. Hopefully I'll find some time to share that process here on the blog. If not, I'll see you in September!

In the meantime, journey on, sustainablistas.

16 Outfits for June 2018

Whew! It's been a full day of sorting through and editing this outfit spread, as there was lots to feature this month. June's sampler was packed with tops (for reasons I'll explain further on), which of course meant taking more photos to feature them properly. The summer foliage on the tree outside our apartment means natural lighting is more difficult to come by these days. And of course the infamous humidity is starting to creep in as well. Needless to say I'm a little nervous for my July & August shoots! Good thing ballet taught me how to smile through a whole lot of sweat.

Can I get personal for a moment? This season has been somewhat of a turning point for me in my attitude toward the future. I'm finally coming head to head with some thought patterns that have been present my whole life but which have never served me. I'm doing a lot of thinking about where I've come from and where I'd like to go from here. Particularly, I'm willing myself to let the past remain in the past; to finally let myself move forward from habits, expectations, relationships, and dreams which no longer resonate or bring joy to my life. I'm doing my best to siphon the good memories and avoid tossing the baby with the bathwater, but as someone with a truly sentimental soul, who's always been guilty of nostalgia, I'm realizing it's better for me to focus on what's ahead, rather than obsessing over the lessons left behind. Most of all, I'm hopeful that things like exercise, mental health, and goal-setting are going to reclaim their seats as my shotgun navigators. In the past three years, I feel like I've taken one detour after another, exploring to my heart's content and letting my whims take the wheel -- but now I'm ready to merge back onto the freeway and make some serious mileage.

What does any of that have to do with my wardrobe? Why, getting out of my comfort zone, bien sur! Personal style is an excellent way to experiment with your own boundaries. While they feel like extensions of my soul now, some past examples of such tests exist in the peach babydoll dress (Am I this girly?), the white crop tee (Do I need a toned stomach?), and my beloved vintage denim cut-offs (Is a mom jean too "mom" if it actually belonged to your mom?) These pieces were obviously worth branching out for, as they're all still here, being paraded across my blog. It's so satisfying to try something you're not sure about and wind up feeling really great in it. So give yourself the permission to shake things up every once in a while. Especially when something calls to you in a thrift shop, where there's usually little monetary risk involved.

I've also made a point to embrace those aspects of my body I don't typically feel comfortable displaying. Crop tops, high-waisted jeans, short shorts, and even flat shoes all pose potential problems on my short figure, but I'm training myself to ignore such style scripture. You may be struggling with your own personal hang-ups, but if there's one thing I've learned about personal style, it's that you can (and should!) dictate your own rules. So long as you feel comfortable, who really gives a damn? I care A WHOLE LOT about my wardrobe, but we should all remember: at the end of the day, it's just fabric!

All in all, I only increased my item count slightly this month from the last, but I have two good reasons for it:

1. Adventures in Subway-ing. While I'll happily lay around the apartment in a camisole and boxers, I naturally want to look more presentable for my commute. Getting to and from work means about 30 mins of walking in the sunshine / summer-storm / sticky evening air, waiting 5-15 mins in the sultry subway, and at least 1.5 hours on the train itself -- the interior of which can range anywhere from refrigerator-esque to hot-yoga humid, pending on the AC situation. While my workwear requirements remain fairly consistent through the seasons, those to-and-fro 'fits have to be adaptable. Hence the variety of outerwear and sleeve lengths in this month's casual stock.
2. More Laundry, More Problems. It doesn't take a genius to figure out wearing two tops per work day translates to an increase in laundry, one way or another. Since I'm far more interested in having additional outfits than doing additional chores, I chose to balance my wardrobe accordingly and schlep larger loads on my usual laundry days.

While my ice-cold winter heart will always be faithful to the cold seasons, I have to say I'm melting a bit toward enjoying warm-weather dressing. In all fairness, NYC hasn't reached its full heatwave potential just yet, so take that admission with a grain of salt. For now, there's a certain element of fun in trying to anticipate what the day will call for -- like whether I can get away with long sleeves and bare legs. I live for these narrow windows of Goldilocks temperatures!

A lot of you are probably taking trips out of town for the summer. I'm pleased to report this little wardrobe held up perfectly for a family vacation to Colorado. For four days of travel, I managed to fly with just a small backpack and a lunch tote -- probably my most minimalist pack to date! Everything I wore felt comfortable and stylish, I did NOT wear pajamas on the plane, and no money was spent on overpriced airplane food. (Am I radiating enough smugness here??) I'm just rearing to go for next month's challenge: a ten-day trip to the west coast, with three special events to boot! Bring it on, July!

July 2017 Sampler Wardrobe Outfits (C)

Remember that song about making new friends but holding on to your old ones? "One is silver and the other is gold," it says. Well, I'm a weirdo and sometimes I think of my clothes as friends. And this week's panel is a pretty good representation of the wide range of "friendships" going on in my closet.

The oldest item in this illustration is actually those denim shorts -- they were purchased by my mom around the time I was born, making them vintage now, I suppose. But they're fairly new to me, as only recently were they gifted to me with permission to revive them as cheeky cutoffs.

The item which has belonged to me personally for the longest time is this wonderful floral print maxi dress, which you've seen featured here before. Nearly eight years after its purchase date, it remains one of my favorite items because it checks so many of my boxes: it's comfortable, it's whimsical, it makes a statement, its made of a durable, natural fabric, it took a hunt to find it, and it was a total steal. (RIP Macy's Clearance Center of Spokane, WA... you bestowed so many gifts upon me.)

The newest item? Those amazing black trousers! I have to stop myself from wearing them to the restaurant too often. My coworkers are no doubt onto my secret, anyways: I'm basically rolling out of my pajamas every morning only to put on something just as comfortable.

Throw in these other pieces and I'm left with a neat little timeline of my personal style from the last decade or so. And you know what excites me about it? This is the good stuff. These are the pieces that have outlasted both the washing machine and my ever-changing fashion sense. It's great to see them working in tandem; histories upon histories, informing one another in their mixed memories and continually building new ones with each new wear.

July is almost over! Stay tuned for my final panel and a word on what to expect on Inspirsession for August.