Halloween

No capsule today.  It is Halloween!

Rae came up with the idea of being a mummy for Halloween and we ran with it!  I had so much fun making these costumes!  It was a ton of work, but so worth it.  I  might even keep the skirt portion of mine and turn it into a real skirt...

Fall 2014 Day 37

Another Thursday, Another I can't bring myself to dress up for work day

• Brown Cardigan
• Gold Tunic
• Skinny Jeans
• Copper Flats

I am honestly not sure why I am not more in love with this outfit today.  Is it the shoes? Is it the fact that I had to deal with the clash of 2nd grade drama and 5 yr old drama this morning, leaving me feeling a little drained?  I honestly don't know.

I used this front shot picture so you could actually see the detail on this shirt.  I love how it is gathered.  The cardigan was an attempt at layering, but maybe it is fighting the shirt? 

Fall 2014 Day 36

Weird Weather Wednesday

• Tan jacket
• White Shirt
• White Cami
• Straight Leg Jeans
• Converse

Would it surprise you to hear that I have errands to run again today?  Yeah, I am not.  This is a great outfit for running errands on a weird weather day.  I can take the jacket off at home and throw it on when I am heading out the door. 

Fall 2014 Day 35

Rainy Tuesday

• Blue Jacket
• Purple Boatneck Shirt
• Black Dress Pants
• Blue Heels

I LOVE this outfit.  It was not in my plan for today at all, but I threw this together after feeling like I hadn't worn this jacket enough.  I love the little details, like the purple sleeves sticking out from the sleeves of the jacket.  The proportions feel good, too.  I just love it.

Fal 2014 Day 34

First really cold day of the year.

• Cream cowl neck sweater
• Purple Cami
• Black Pencil Skirt
• Black boots

My office building didn't have power for most of the weekend, so I was sure it was going to be cold in the office (and it is!).  I finally get to wear this sweater.  I picked it up last year on a whim and really do like it.  If the office wasn't going to be so cold, I probably would have worn my kitten heels to dress it up a little more.  I think this is a good one to keep in my rotation.

I think that this black pencil skirt demonstrates one of my problems with the red pencil skirt - the fit.  I just don't feel like it fits the same.  The red one is a little boxier and a little shorter.  I am going to try this top and boot combo with the red skirt one day and see how it really compares.

Fall 2014 Day 33

Sunday!

• White shirt
• White cami
• Brown Sweater
• Straight leg jeans
• Copper Flats

Another good solid casual outfit.  I think I am finding my groove here - feels good to wear, looks put together, easy to pick out. 

Fall 2014 Day 32

Last Soccer Game of the Season!

• Blue Striped Sweatshirt
• Blue Striped Shirt
• Skinny Jeans
• Brown Boots

I really wanted this to work, but I fee like it falls flat. Just not quite what I was going for.  I think it is the sweatshirt.  I think this is one of those pieces that I may have to put away for a while and revisit.  Maybe it is only a summer sweatshirt that looks good with shorts. 

Fall 2014 Day 31

It's Friday!

• Tan jacket
• Cream lace top
• Straight Leg Jeans
• Copper Flats

I don't have much to say about this outfit, actually.  I thought I would feel great in it, but I think I need a brighter colored shirt. Though, looking at the pictures, it is fine, maybe even a nice outfit.  I think I am just not excited about the lace shirt.  I loved it when I initially bought it, and I love that it brings a feminine touch to my wardrobe. Right now?  Not as in love.  Maybe that's a sign that I need to pack it up for the winter.

Fall 2014 Day 30

Today's outfit is an experiment

• Purple dress
• Cream polka dot cardigan
• Black boots

An experiment in color.  I know that in my next capsule, I want more colors that work together.  I also know that this means I am going to have to get some of my basic pieces in something other than black, denim, or brown.  Before I go investing in that, I want to make sure that I am ok with mixing and matching.

In my head?  I am awesome at this.  I will wear colors that coordinate, but don't really match. I will mix patterns in a way that is cool and fun.

In reality? I am not feeling confident in those abilities.  I think somewhere along the way, I lost my ability to go outside the box.  I find myself wearing so much black and denim.  I find myself afraid of outfits that have more than one color.

As I was thinking about my outfit last night, I realized that I needed to get creative.  I knew I was going to start with the purple dress, but I wasn't sure what I was going to add to it.  My first instinct was this cardigan and my blue heels.  I had a back up, too - the brown cardigan and blue heels.  When I got ready this morning, I realized that maybe the heels were too much, so I switched to the boots.

So how do I feel?  I love this.  It is fun and playful (those are orange and gray argyle socks under my boots and yes, they are going to show all day), but the silhouette is still classic. I do think I could have managed the heels with it, but it is wet and my body is a little sore (Yay for Yin Yoga tonight, which will help so much!), so the lower heels on the boots helps.

I think I am on the road to finding my clothing mojo again.

Fall 2014 Day 29

Work at home and volunteering in Sam's class

• Brown Cowl neck sweatshirt
• Purple cardigan
• Skinny jeans
• Gray converse

Nothing fancy today, and I know you have seen this combo before.  I still love this sweatshirt and jeans combo.  Comfy and put together looking; my basic requirements for casual days.

I was thrilled to be able to volunteer in Sam's classroom today. Most of the volunteer opportunities are on days/times that I can't be there, but Wednesdays are perfect.  I was getting down on the floor a lot to help with an art project, so it was good to have some stretch in my outfit. Bonus I was called a cool mom because I wore Converse.  ;)

Fall 2014 Day 28

I lost a post somewhere.  Or deleted it.  Hmmm.

• Black dress pants
• Black Cami
• Gray cardigan
• Red shoes

I love the scarf and the color and texture it brings to the outfit.  I also love the red shoes.  The black hose?  Not a fan. I won't do that again.

I had this totally awesome ponytail thing, too, but I can't remember all the text...

Ponytails used to be my go to hair style, but when I grew my hair out again, I promised myself I wouldn't wear them as often.  Somehow that translated into "almost never" and my default hairstyle is to wear my hair down.  I thought I would play around with the ponytail again since I have been seeing some cool ideas on Pinterest and other blogs.

Normally, my pony tail looks like the one on the left. I don't mind it, it is fuller now that I had my hair cut in more of a blunt line than in a curve.  Yesterday, I was able to make it look like the one on the right. 

I like that it looks longer and sleeker looking.  A little dressier, maybe?  As a girl with a lot of hair, this also appealed to me because it mean that I wouldn't have as much hair toward the top of my head.

The only thing that I didn't like was that I could see the second ponytail from the side.  I managed to play with it a little on my way into the office, and that seemed to help.  When I checked it out when I got home, the side pony tail was basically hidden.

Fall 2014 Day 27

Another Work Day

• Purple crew neck
• Paisley camisole
• Gray tweed skirt
• Black kitten heels

Looking back, I realize that I wore this same top on Thursday.  I guess that's part of a minimalist wardrobe.  I am much less bothered by it than I thought I would be.

This combination is what I originally bough the paisley cami for, to be worn under this sweater.  It is really making me rethink how I want to handle this minimalist wardrobe concept.  Do I want pieces that all work together for tons of different outfits?  Do I want a few outfits that make me feel awesome, but not as much flexibility?  I think I am somewhere in the middle, but I haven't quite figured it out.

Fall 2014 Day 26

Pumpkin Patch on a Sunny Day

• White Shirt
• White Cami
• Skinny Jeans
• Gray Cardigan
• Copper Flats

These are not the shoes I actually wore today.  It was the rain boots because, well, it was muddy at the pumpkin patch.  If we had just been out and about, I would have worn these shoes though. 

I wanted to try the cardigan because a lot of my favorite outfits involve a cardigan.  I wanted to test if the cardigan was what was really helping an outfit, and it really helped today.  I felt put together, but comfortable.  Of course, the pumpkin patch was warmer than we expected, so I lost the sweater pretty early in the trip.  :)

I wanted to show off my hair today.  One of the things I LOVE about my long hair is that I get the chance to try new things.

This is one of those fake bun boosters and from the back it takes up most of my head!  I love it because it makes me feel like I am not just using a bun to hide dirty hair (but really, I am).  I also got these headbands a few years ago, but never wore them much but for some reason it really worked today.  I might have moved the rose over to the side a bit more, but overall, I liked it.

Fall 2014 Day 25

Another Saturday

• Galaxy shirt 
• Black cami 
• Straight leg jeans 
• Dansko clogs

Yep,  you've seen this one before.  I started with my converse to change it up at least a little, but they got soaked at an unexpectedly wet soccer game.  I am far enough into the wardrobe that I am going to start repeating outfits, especially on the weekend because I don't have a ton of casual options.

I think I have hit that point where I really am starting to feel like I need more variety.  I want to shop.  I know I need to focus on using what I have wisely, but it is hard right now.  

Fall 2014 Day 24

Working and Girls Night In

• Cream/gold cardigan
• White t-shirt
• Skinny jeans
• Low brown boots

This was supposed to be my outfit today.  (Yes that's my third white t-shirt, more on that another day.)  Unfortunately on my rush out the door, I managed to spill coffee on it.  We aren't talking a little dot or splash. We're talking a smear across the chest.  I tried to wash it off, but there was no saving it without a washing first. Luckily, I was still at home, so I ran back upstairs and switched to my gold tunic shirt.

I only had time for a quick snap, but I will try to get a full length shot sometime today.  Maybe in the work bathroom.  :)

Edited to add pictures from work.  These came out better than I expected given how dark the bathroom is.

I actually really love this top.  It is fun, has some great detail, and is my favorite color.  :) I definitely prefer it without the sweater though. The top is long enough to work on its own with the skinny jeans, which is why I bought it.

Fall 2014 Day 23

A simple outfit for a simple (maybe?) day at the office:

• Purple crew neck sweater
• Black dress pants
• Black kitten heels

I am not completely in love with this outfit, but I am also not uncomfortable.  It is passable for a day at the office.  I think over the last week or so, I realized that I need to rethink the top situation for the winter capsule.  I need more shirts that aren't just passable, but things I really love.  It seems like the winter capsule will have a lot more thought that I had originally planned.

I have another conundrum.  My new white shirt got ruined! It is completely my fault, though I am not sure how it happened.  I got black dye on it; bleaching didn't work.  I can't go back to the other white shirt, but I really don't want to spend time and money looking for a new white shirt.  I think I will revisit the items I stashed away and see if there is something else I can pull out.  Any other suggestions?  

Fall 2014 Day 22

Working at home with a "lazy" afternoon

• Cream Thermal
• Purple Cami
• Straight Leg Jeans
• Black Dansko Clogs

I am exhausted today (and it shows in the pictures) after a comedy of errors kept me up until about 2 am with a wakeup of 6:30 am.  Good thing I don't have to go into the office!

It is wet and cooler today, so I finally get to bring out this shirt.  I feel like it is a great example of taking a wardrobe staple, like a white shirt, and finding a version with a little twist.  I love these pieces.  Guess I should have more of them in my wardrobe, huh?  

I had lunch with a fellow capsule wardrober (I totally made that term up!) and we talked a lot about how the capsule is great, but we are both finding it harder to work with color.  She inspired me to think about it a little more when I plan for my winter wardrobe, but I am already inspired to add in a pair of colored corduroy pants! 

Fall 2014 Day 21

Work Day and Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences

• Red pencil skirt
• Blue striped shirt
• Brown Cardigan
• Brown Boots

 

This skirt is red, I promise!  Not sure what was with the lighting this morning.

I am really trying with this skirt, but it is SO hard.  I feel like I don't have a lot of options of tops to wear with it.  I think this one might not make it into the winter capsule.  I think I would be better served with a versatile black dress.

I purposely limited my brown work clothes because it let me drop a pair of heels and because I really don't wear brown to the office that much.  When planning my capsule, I figured that I could wear my other heels (red or blue) or my brown boots (like I am doing today) on that rare occasion I wanted to wear brown.  That plan works most of the time; I just don't know if it is fully working here.

Fall 2014 Day 20

Monday, work day and a long one at that.

• Blue Pattern Dress
• Black boots

 

One Monday a month, I have a meeting that I need to attend so YY takes the kids to school.  I try to take advantage of this to either get extra hours or if I have a week where I know I will be in and out of the office, get my hours in early.   This week it is the latter; I have lunch with a friend, parent-student-teacher conferences, mini-piano recital, girls night out and our anniversary mini celebration.  All this on top of our usual school/work/soccer/piano/Chinese school schedule.  Getting in early really helps with all of that.  :)

I bought this dress, without trying it on or even seeing it in the store, as a means to push myself into more patterns and different silhouettes. I really do like the dress, but I find that it is just one of those dresses that I only wear every 2 weeks or so because it is hard to change it up.  I am going to have to get creative if it is going to stay in a capsule.

Fall 2014 Day 19

All I wanted to do today was sit at home in my sweats,  but I accompanied Rae to a birthday party instead.

• Straight Leg Jeans
• Purple Boat Neck Shirt
• Dansko Clogs

 

And I promptly came home and switched to sweats and a t-shirt after the party.

Fall 2014 Day 18

(I missed posting this yesterday because we had a busy day.)

Two outfits today - morning soccer and afternoon fun with the kids followed by a Mom's Night Out

 
Outfit 1

• Brown Cowl Neck Sweatshirt
• White Cami
• Skinny Jeans
• Brown Boots

I wore this (with a scarf and my rain boots) for our only morning soccer game of the season.  I switched to the boots and ditched the scarf for an afternoon of fun with the kids.  It was overall a pretty comfy outfit.

For mom's night out with some of the ladies from Sam's school, I ditched the sweatshirt and added my white t-shirt and tan/gold open front cardigan.

Outfit 2

• Tan/Gold Open Front Sweater
• White T-shirt
• White Cami
• Skinny Jeans
• Brown Boots

This is the second of 3 pieces I bought before the start of capsule.  I knew I wanted a long sweater to wear with the skinny jeans and boots for the winter, but I didn't want a thin one.  I found this one on the rack and knew it would be just right.  I do have to be careful with it because it does pull easily (which is why I got it for $5).