Capsule Wardrobes

‘Bargain Or Bust? Behind The Scenes Tips For Second-Hand Purchases That Actually Save You Money’

We all know by now that shopping second hand is a modern lifestyle must. The environment, for one, is guaranteed to thank us. And, of course, our bank balances won’t look too shabby as a result, either. At least, they won’t if we approach with the right mentality.

Luckily, bagging a fantastic bargain through second hate sales is now easier than ever. Whether you thrift from a store or online, it’s now possible to find most of what you need for less. That said, with largely unregulated prices on selling sites especially, there is a risk that you’ll end up paying over the odds despite your best efforts.

It’s a reality that no second-hand shopper wants to face yet, as thrifting habits reach the mainstream, sellers are finding ways to cash in. The question is, how can you continue to shop second-hand and still guarantee that you’re securing decent bargains?

1. ALWAYS be clear on the condition

These are pre-used items, and scratches, dents, or even outright malfunctions are sadly not unheard of. Worse, many sellers will refuse to take things back, especially if the small print or pictures revealed the damage and you didn’t look. This is obviously easier to overcome when thrifting in person, but you should always seek to understand conditions ahead of time when shopping online. More often than not, scrolling through the listing in detail will reveal a condition description. If not, don’t be afraid to message the seller. If they lie to you, you’ll have grounds for a return, so the chances are that they’ll be upfront here, freeing you to make an informed decision about whether an item is a bargain or not.

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2. Seek warranties wherever possible

Make sure, too, that you seek warranties for second-hand goods. This won’t be possible with small items, but warranties of at least two years are typically offered on high ticket pieces like this used Rolex Submariner, furniture, and electricals. These simply secure your investment by guaranteeing returns if things do go wrong. Perhaps more notably where initial expenditure is concerned, a warranty is a sure sign that a company believes in quality enough to back this item and the price at which it’s listed.

3. Remember to shop around

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Too often, we jump to second-hand buys because we’re convinced we won’t find that item elsewhere, but this is a sure way to overspend. Plus, with second-hand sales now such big business, finding precisely what you’re looking for isn’t half as flukey as it once was. Instead of jumping for the first thing you find, then, be sure to shop around. If you don’t find anything else, you won’t lose anything. If you do, you could end up paying significantly less than if you just settled for the first seller you came across.

Ultimately, buying second hand is rewarding and even fun shopping. Keep these pointers in mind, and you should even find that this habit can save you a not-so-small fortune.

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Where to Save and Where to Spend for the Ultimate Everyday Wardrobe

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When we look into our wardrobes and moan that there’s nothing to wear, it’s all too easy to jump in the car and head to the shops for a bit of a spree to brighten up your wardrobe. Whilst sometimes you might have saved and budgeted for this, doing it on a whim can be damaging to your personal finances. Below, you’ll find some wardrobe items and ideas that will freshen up your look and provide you with a solid foundation on which to build on a budget. You’ll also find some items that we think it’s worth spending a little more on – both so they’ll last, and because they’re the thing a look is built around. So read on for six ways you can reimagine your wardrobe.

Jeans

This is one area where it’s good to budget for a slightly pricier pair. A good pair of jeans will last you for years – Levi’s are so committed to this that every pair of jeans they sell comes with a two-year warranty. Once you’ve found the perfect pair, you’ll find they’re worth every penny. Not only will they be the basis of many different outfits, but get them fitting right and they’ll make you feel fantastic as well.

Tops and Tees

An iconic t-shirt can make your outfit. Create the perfect casual outfit, whether you’re looking for raglan shirts or jersey long-sleeved tops. Wear them under cardigans and shirts and they’re perfect for using to layer up other items, so you can shop around for the best bargains on your tees.

Bra

Similar to jeans, this is one item when a poor fit can really ruin your day. Bad bras can give you back problems, as well as not providing you with the support to comfortably go about your day. A well-fitting bra will give you the shape you’re looking for beneath any and all of your clothes so it’s worth buying the best quality you can afford.

Repurpose Old Clothes

Even if you’re not handy with a needle and thread, there are plenty of simple ways you can repurpose old clothes. Not just for things that have started to fall apart, if there’s something you aren’t wearing anymore, would you use it if it was something else? Repurposing can breathe new life into old items and make you feel as if you’ve got a whole new wardrobe.

Swap Shop

Organize a swap party with your friends. Everyone has items in their wardrobe that are gathering dust. Either you’ve kept it because it might one day fit again or somehow appeal to whatever side of you it was that bought it, or you’re keeping it for sentimental purposes. Well, try taking a picture of clothes you don’t want to forget because of the memories attached to them and get swapping.

Makeup

Not one to cut back on, cheap makeup can cause you skin problems and even allergic reactions. There are still plenty of ways to manage your makeup and skincare routine economically, but remember that good makeup will last (you don’t need much) and a fresh face is always a great look.

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Winter 2019 Plus-Size Capsule Wardrobe

There are so many great things about this time of year. From peppermint lattes to warm throws and reading by the fire, winter is a magical time of year.

Especially when it allows me to pull together my seasonal capsule wardrobe full of cold-weather staples. I mean, who doesn’t love throwing on sweaters, tunics, and boot cuffs?

Despite many parts of the country still being in the grips of unseasonably cold freeze warning, the weather in my part of the country will get warmer before you know it. In fact, next week is slated to be in the mid-50’s!

Now that we are officially in the throes of the new winter season, I wanted to share with you all my Winter 2018 Plus-Size Capsule Wardrobe!

Just a few things to know about the creation of this capsule:

This capsule contains 37-pieces.
While this is a plus size capsule, but each piece could easily translate to year-long capsules.
I no longer work in a corporate setting. My capsule no longer includes office attire.
I live in the deep south, which makes for mild, breezy falls.
Each item in my post will work with at least 5 other outfits.
Jewelry, eyewear, workout gear, and lounge items are not counted in my capsule.
I will not be carrying a bag or tote this season.

My current capsule wardrobe is built upon basic, year-round minimalist staples. Staples which remain in my closet year round. Each season I add new or additional pieces as needed while making room for seasonally-appropriate outfits. This particular season’s capsule relies heavily on three quality pairs of denim pants, scarves, and boots.

While I don’t follow an arbitrary numbers rule for my capsule wardrobe, while instead focusing on building staple outfits, you will notice an increase in the number of garments from my previous fall capsule. This is because I lost a great deal of weight this year and by buying and styling options opened up significantly as a result!

As my healthy living journey with PCOS continues, I am looking to wear loose, simple layers that allow me to feel comfortable but yet still allow me to accentuate my style with seasonal, stunning color.

This capsule reflects my current minimalist lifestyle, my plus size frame, my personal stance on minimalism, body positivity, and my continued efforts to aspire to live a life with slower fashion in my current walk of life. I am a work in progress. I love the beautiful woman who proudly wears a size 16.

Without further ado here are my current 37 Capsule Wardrobe pieces:

Tops:

Basic cream tank top
Basic white tee
Basic long sleeve white tee
Pardon my French graphic tee
Ivy Park graphic tank
Basic white poplin dress shirt
Short sleeve orange tunic
Burnt orange v-neck sweater
Chocolate brown crew neck sweater
Gray tunic sweater dress
Buffalo plaid tunic
Chocolate brown waffle knit hoodie
Navy hankie duster jacket
Gray scarf duster jacket

Dresses:

Short sleeve knit jersey LBD

Outerwear:

Army green military surplus jacket
Black vegan leather moto jacket

Bottoms:

Medium rinse cuffed boyfriend jeans
A light rinse distressed jeans
Dark rinse skinny jeans
Dark rinse jeggings
Black leggings
Black hose

Accessories:

Crochet boot cuffs

Shoes:

Vegan leather black rider boots
Vegan leather brown rider boots
Vegan brown booties
Charcoal heeled mary janes
Cranberry athletic mary janes
Gold glittered flats
Leopard print flats
Minnetonka burnt orange moccasin flats
Black Bob’s flats

So that’s my capsule wardrobe for several months. I am also looking forward to a more simplified, relaxed capsule this season.

These pieces reflect lifestyle. Bring ease to my mornings. In terms of a capsule wardrobe, that’s all I could ever ask for. And that makes me happy!

If you would like to pull together your own capsule wardrobe this coming season, check out my previous capsules here.

Consider this post a reference in establishing your own easy, stylish, affordable wardrobe this Winter too! I wish you nothing but fabulous and frump-free fashionable days ahead!

For those who have already started your own capsule wardrobe this winter or have ideas for next season’s capsule wardrobes, I’d love to hear about them below as well!

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2018 Plus-Size Fall Capsule Wardrobe

There are so many great things that come along with this time of year. From pumpkin spice lattes to warm throws and blankets. Fall has and will always be my favorite time of year. Especially when it comes to pulling together my seasonal capsule wardrobe! I mean, who doesn’t love throwing on sweaters, tunics, and boot cuffs?

Despite many parts of the country still being in the grips of unseasonably warm, summer-like conditions we are now officially in the throes of a autumn. Which is why I wanted to share with you all a project I finished this past weekend, my Fall 2018 Plus-Size Capsule Wardrobe.

Just a few things to know about the creation of this capsule:

This capsule contains 37-pieces.
This is a plus size capsule, but each piece could easily translate into year-long capsules.
I no longer work in a corporate setting. My capsule no longer includes office attire.
I live in the deep south, which makes for mild, breezy falls.
Each item in my post will work with at least 5 other outfits.
Jewelry, eyewear, workout gear, and lounge items are not counted in my capsule.
I will not be carrying a bag or tote this season.

Without further ado here are my current 37 Capsule Wardrobe pieces:

Tops:

Basic white tank top
Basic white tee
Basic Black Tee
Cents of Style Life is Beautiful Tee
Basic White Poplin Dress Shirt
Tan Cashmere Sweater
Grey Tunic Sweater Dress
Green Crochet Cacoon Sweater

Accessories:

Blue Plaid Blanket Scarf
Wool Orange Plaid Fringe Scarf
Yellow Crochet Scarf
Green Crochet Button Scarf
Red crochet Scarf
Grey and Beige Net and Fringe Scarf
Tan Crochet Beret
Cream Crochet Boot Cuffs

Bottoms:

Cuffed Ripped Jeans
Tuxedo Dress Jeans
Dark Rinse Jeans
Brown Fleece-Lined Tights
Black Fleece-Lined Tights

Outerwear:

Grey Fleece Jacket
Dark Rinse Denim Jacket
Red Wool Pea Coat

Shoes:

Black Rider Boots
Brown Rider Boots
Grey Cowboy Boots
Black Low-Rise Cowboy Boots
Cognac Combat Boots
Grey Slouch Boots
Brown Clogs
Black Mary Jane’s
Red Suede Mocassins

Friends, that’s my capsule wardrobe for the several months. I am also looking forward to a more simplified, relaxed capsule this season. These pieces reflect lifestyle. Bring ease to my mornings. In terms of a capsule wardrobe, that’s all I could ever ask for. And that makes me happy!

Now I want to ask, have already started your own capsule wardrobe this fall or have ideas for next season’s capsule wardrobes, I’d love to hear about them below as well!

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Making Your Look Truly Unique

Tired of following trends that don’t suit you as well as they should, or seeing your outfits constantly on other people? It can feel a little undermining to feel like you don’t have your personal sense of style, but the truth might simply be that you’re looking in the wrong places.

If you want to develop a unique look, you’re going to have to go for some unique sources, too. Here are a few tips on how you pin your personal style.

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Know thyself

The first thing that anyone should do when evaluating their style and what direction to take it into is to take a better look at themselves. Body shape plays a huge role in choosing clothes that flatter you and make the best use of your best assets.

Choosing the right clothes for your body type is all about finding out the points you want to flatter the most. Tones matter, too. There are plenty of online guides that can help you find your signature palette based on your skin tone, eye color, and hair color.

You don’t necessarily have to restrict yourself to what these guides say, but it can be helpful in defining a sense of style that’s more “you”.

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Look in new places

If you go local for your all your outfits, you shouldn’t be surprised when you see other girls picking up exactly the same things. This is especially true if you live in an area where your options are limited.

When going online, the big brands are going to be just as ubiquitous. Instead, look for the lesser known fashion havens, like the top online women’s clothing boutique. If you’re a plus size woman, look for those stores that better accommodate your body, too.

The online world offers so many more options for outfits than you’re likely to find locally. Don’t be afraid to go further afield than usual, you’re not likely to see too many women wearing the same things you get from your new favorite online stores.

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Old places can be just as good

One exception to make to the rule of “don’t go local” is buying second hand at thrift stores. Lots of people still have hang-ups about second-hand clothes, but they might not be looking at it right.

If you shop second-hand, then you’re probably already aware of the issues of finding clothes that fit perfectly, but since they’re that much cheaper, it’s much less of a risk to simply get crafty with it and to make a few adjustments.

Similarly, if you’re good with a sewing kit (or you simply want to practice) you can customize your outfits so that you’re practically guaranteed you won’t find any copies roaming around.

You don’t have to go way outside the box or your own comfort zones to develop a look that’s unique and better suited to you. Simply know your strengths and look for the places that cater to them. Don’t be afraid of getting a little crafty and experimenting, too.

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3 Ways You’re Wasting Money On Clothes

Buying clothes is one of the biggest expenses for some people. If you want to look good, you’ll have to buy a load of new outfits every few months to keep things fresh, right?

Actually, you probably didn’t realize it but most people spend way more money on clothes than they need to. It’s a common misconception that cutting down on the amount you spend means sacrificing style but it doesn’t have to. If your monthly clothes bill is getting out of control, you’re probably making one of these mistakes.

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Not Getting The Most Out Of Outfits

This is a big one and most of us are guilty of it. If you buy a dress, for example, and only wear it in certain situations, you’re wasting money. Finding clothes that are more versatile that can be worn on a lot of different occasions is one of the best ways to cut down the amount of money that you’re spending on clothes.

The key to getting the most out of your outfits is to accessorize them well. If you do that, you’ll be able to create multiple outfits from the same couple of pieces, meaning you’re paying for one outfit instead of three. When you’re choosing accessories, always invest a little more money in good quality stuff that will last. Michael Kors accessories, in particular, are great. They’re stylish and good quality so it’s worth spending a little bit more money on.

Buying Cheap Clothes

It stands to reason that buying cheaper clothes will help you spend less money every month, but it’s not quite that simple. If you’re buying cheap clothes, they won’t last you that long and you’ll constantly be replacing them. But if you spend a little bit more money upfront, those clothes will last you a lot longer.

If you added up the cost of buying lots of cheap stuff and compared it with the cost of occasionally buying something a bit more expensive, you’d realize just how much money you’re wasting.

Buying Stuff You Won’t Wear

We’re all guilty of making impulse buys from time to time but if you’re just grabbing something off the shelf because it looks good, you might be wasting money. If it’s not something that you’ll ever actually wear, you might as well be flushing that money down the drain.

Before you spend money on anything, you should think about what occasions you would actually wear it on, if you can’t think of anything, it’s probably not a sensible purchase. The best thing to do if you’re unsure is left it and think about it for a while.

If you still want it next time you go shopping, pick it up then. Cutting down on those impulse buys is the best way to stop you from wasting money on your clothes. It also encourages you to make the most out of the stuff that you already have in your wardrobe.

Stop making these 3 mistakes and you’ll cut your clothes bill in half in no time.

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Spring & Summer 2018 Plus-Size Capsule Wardrobe

Spring is here and Summer is right around the corner. Which is why I’ve been spending time this past week thinking about which new pieces I’m adding to my 2018 Spring Capsule Wardrobe.

But this season I’ll be doing something a little different. Instead of turning over my entire closet with spring-only styles I’ll be reinvesting in a capsule wardrobe with fewer pieces that offer more wear. This is partly due to being in a year-long no-spend challenge.

Its also because I’m currently still on a weight loss journey and I’m currently in between sizes. Which is why I want to get as much usage out of the threads I have on hand. With this capsule reflecting my current minimalist lifestyle and my plus size frame. The beautiful woman who proudly wears a size 16 and is proud of the body I am in.

I’m also a person who strives to live a transparent life. As a plant-based person, I am often conflicted in keeping clothing staples that are derived from animals. But in my current season of life, I will be keeping these pieces until they no longer fit and at which time they will be donated and removed from my collection. In the meantime, I’m wearing them all!

For me, less is more when it comes to perfecting your small wardrobe. Even in tricky seasons like Spring. Where you need pieces that will suit both those end-of-winter cooler days and beginning-of-spring warmer days are a must. Like me, you’ll likely have a few items that will carry over from your winter wardrobe, but if you’re in need of some new spring style inspo, check out me finished Spring 2018 Capsule Wardrobe for ideas.

Just a few things to know about the creation of this capsule:

This capsule contains 33-pieces.
I live in the deep south, which makes for mild, breezy mornings and warmer afternoons.
My capsule goal is to have each item in my closet work with at least three other items.
Jewelry, including my necklaces, earrings, and wedding bands, are not counted in my capsule.
Not included: 2 pairs of prescription glasses, a travel umbrella, and my various canvas totes.

Here are my capsule wardrobe pieces:

Tops & Dresses:

Basic white tank top
Basic white tee
Black Tunic Tee
Basic Pink Tee
Basic White Poplin Shirt
Gray Cashmere Turtleneck
Pardon My French Tee
Gray Maxi Dress
Black Maxi Dress

Bottoms:

Cuffed Ripped Jeans
Tuxedo Dress Jeans
Dark Rinse Jeans
White Capri Tights
Gray Palazzo Pants
Dark Rinse Capri Jeans
Dark Rinse Jeans
Khaki Capris
Linen Wide Leg Pants

Outerwear:

Gray Duster Sweater
Khaki Trench Coat
Dark Rince Denim Jacket

Shoes:

Black Biker Boots.
Smokey Mary Janes
White Espadrilles
Coral Slides
Snake Print T-Strap Sandals
Robins Egg Converse
Sloggers Midsummer Gardening Clogs
New Balance Cross Trainers
Adidas Sandals

Accessories:

So, that’s it, folks! My capsule wardrobe for this Spring. I am looking forward to a more simplified, relaxed capsule this coming season. Pieces reflect my minimalist lifestyle at home.

Better still, these pieces are easy to launder at home, bring joy to my life, and add ease to my mornings.

So, everyone, I hope this post will be a good reference in helping you to establish an affordable, easy stylish wardrobe this Fall and Winter. I encourage you all to look into creating your own version of the capsule wardrobe as well.

Here’s to being comfortable in all your own clothes,