Capsule Wardrobes

Hello again, savvy savers! Today I wanted to share with you one of my new favorite accessories, as part of my current Fall Capsule Wardrobe, my new Pura Vida Bracelets. Please note, we received the following bracelets were sent to us at no cost for review. Now, more about Pura Vida Bracelets.

For those who may not be familiar with Pura Vida, it’s best to start with their mission statement (from they’re about us section):

Here at Pura Vida Bracelets we dream to do more. That was our inspiration behind the Charity Collection. This collection was created to give back to different causes all over the world. We are partnered with over 190 charities and have donated more than $935,358 to date. We are also a member of 1% for the Planet, meaning we donate 1% of our annual net revenue to environmental organizations worldwide. We’re constantly looking to expand our charity line and we try to support as many causes as possible.

These beautiful Costa Rican bracelets help to not only keep your capsules fashionable but help to fund charities that are meaningful to our everyday lives, such as the save the Sea Turtles fund. 

Now, if you know anything about my blog, I always try to buy fair trade or portion-to-charity purchases first. I was impressed with Pura Vida’s mission statement and was proud to include their pieces in my cruelty-free capsule jewelry collection. 

Pura Vida Bracelets offers a wide selection online of individual bracelets and necklaces (which range in price from $5.00-$32.00 each piece), a bracelet-of-the-month club ($14.99/month cost) where you’ll receive 3 hand-picked bracelets (valued up to $50.00 value/month) from their current seasonal collections and their most popular styles to date, offer a selection of swimwear, clothing, and accessories (varied but affordable in price). Pura Vida also has available

Pura Vida also has available opportunities for boutiques and private, and even charity fundraisers, to sell their products by way of brick-and-mortar storefronts and pop-up boutiques.

Currently, Pura Vida ships out orders to the continental United States within 24 hours of orders being placed. For bracelet-of-the-month orders, your card of choice will be charged $14.95+tax around the 10th of each month, and your package will be scheduled to arrive around the 15th of each month.

Each shipment comes with a fun, stenciled, recyclable poly shipping bag, a note about franchise opportunities, and an invoice form.

The bracelets themselves come in a fun, natural, zero-waste linen storage bag. 

Rose Gold Mendala Bracelet in Seafoam – Value $15.00

Rose Gold Lotus Bracelet in Vanilla – Value $15.00

Seed Bead Bracelet in Sorbet – Value $24.00

Seed Bead Bracelet in Blush – Value $24.00

The bracelets were comfortable. Also, worth noting, all of Pura Vida’s bracelets are made with wax coated threads, ensuring a waterproof product and a non-fraying, easy-to-pull, adjustable band fitting. The bracelets can be worn as tight, or as loose as you want. These bracelets are made to last!

From swing dresses to blanket scarves, boots, and tunics, these bracelets will bring a youthful twist to both my upcoming winter and spring capsule wearing seasons. 

After wearing your Pura Vida items, you can tag a photo in your bracelet on Instagram with the hashtag #puravidabracelets, and then submit your photo here to receive a free bracelet!  

Personally, I think I received a clever, tasteful assortment of bracelets. I love the company’s mission statement, and the fact that their price point makes them affordable enough to buy individual pieces as well as to splurge on a monthly subscription for yourself is a bonus too! These bracelets are a real value for the quality of handmade bracelets you receive. Lastly, the design of each bracelet is modest, feminine, and are made to last, which definitely makes the worthy of my overall stamp of approval.

These are not just grown-up versions of friendship bracelets, they are lasting pieces sure to help you pull together casual looks on-the-go. Beyond this, I love the price, the value, and the presentation. This company is a keeper! 

So, savvy savers, what do you think of the Pura Vida Bracelets? I’d love to hear about it below!

Here’s to being your most fashionable self,

(Photo credit for San Diego/Costa Rica & Pure Vida, Pure Life Graphic. All other photos are my own.)

Hello again, savvy savers! It’s that wondrous time of year again when you get to bring your boots out of the hibernation and slip into cozy scarves, sweaters, and fun, flirty long sleeve dresses!

While Fall is the perfect time of the year to wear all things cozy, there are few cool weather outfits this frugal fashionista loves more than an awesome figure flattering dress. I mean who doesn’t love a dress that looks as good on as on the hanger as it does on you? A dress that is cozy and never clingy, drapes your body well, and can hide both a myriad of sins and makes you feel like a million bucks in it! For me, this season, my dress du jour is the easy, relaxed, flirty, and fun Cents of Style Remi swing dress.

In seasons past, various fashion bloggers cautioned plus size women away from the swing dress, stating its open design as being shapeless and unflattering. But as someone not only with a Capsule Wardrobe at home but as a beautiful, curvaceous gal myself, I’ve loved experimenting with the softer silhouette this dress gives me. I’m happy to have this practical piece as my new fall go-to dress. I’ve grown to not only appreciate the feel of this frock but to love the overall design of the Remi Cents of Style Swing Dress. 

So why the Swing Dress? A good Swing dress can take you from girly to glam, from funky to boho. The swing dress is more than just a silhouette, it’s like a fit-and-flare dress, that can be styled in whatever way is most inherently best for you. No doubt, this dress, a Cents of Style Swing dress, was made for me and my burgeoning Fall Capsule Wardrobe. 

Now as any frugal fashionista will tell you, a dress just isn’t a dress without the right accessories, and this dress is no exception. There are numerous ways this dress can be styled this season. From being paired with a basic denim jacket to a simple necklace duo, this dress can take you from day to evening with ease. While we all know that the right accessory can change the look of any outfit seconds, we can apply this to this Swing Dress as well. And my accessory of du jour? The classic plaid blanket scarf. 

Not only does this scarf remind me of my favorite seasonal Fall blankets, these scarves have become a versatile wardrobe staple, which will easily allow me to transition from season to season flawlessly. I also love that Blanket scarves are also as easy on the eyes as they are on the pocketbook. Sure, you could splurge on a Pashmina scarf. But with a blanket scarf, especially a blanket scarf with a vibrant pop of color, you can go from cozy to couture in moments, all while staying on a budget this season too!

What’s really awesome about the Cents of Style Blanket Scarves is that they can be worn in so many ways. And just for all my fellow curvy girls out there, I’ve put together several fun, frugal looks to show you how you can style a Swing Dress with Blanket scarves this fall.

So, let’s start with the basics. Blanket scarves can be worn as a faux Infinity, or loop scarf, perfect for what I like to call “throw and go” looks. You throw them on, loop them once, and go. Easy peasy. 

They can also be worn Pashmina-style, with the Blanket Scarf draped over one shoulder. This look will give the neck and shoulders a more modest look, which will also help you fight off the elements. 

Blanket scarves can also be worn easily with a jacket. To make a chic city look, just add a blanket scarf under your jackets collar for a softer, yet edgy look. 

Blanket scarves are also stunning when simply draped across the shoulders. A tip? A Blanket scarf can quickly take you for a fall business meeting to a casual holiday dinner party with just a few folds. During the day you can style your Swing Dress with riding boots, tights, and a blanket scarf tied in a French knot configuration (to achieve this look simply double your scarf in half and then pull the tail end of the scarf through the middle of your knot to secure the scarf in place), and later for evening wear transition your scarf to an over the shoulder number, sure to get you noticed in any room or gathering! 

And it’s worth noting that I’m currently wearing the Cents of Style Long Sleeves Swing Dress, which is available in US sizes Small-3X; noting that while my usual size 16 US, I am wearing a Cents of Style Size 2X. As you can see, the dress hits just a few inches below the knee on my 5’6″ frame and is a true three-quarters length dress. Also keep in mind that the fabric also flares generously over my hips to accentuate the full, twirly shape for most curvy girls out there. This dress is super comfy, and a must-have this season!

And now for the fun part! Currently, the Cents of Style Long Sleeve Swing Dress, available in 17 awesome jewel tones colors, is on sale for only $21.95 and FREE SHIPPING with promotional code DRESS2016 in your shopping cart. You can also pick up a Blanket Scarf, starting at only $17.95 shipped, or my favorite State or Tribe necklaces as well, starting at only shipped! 

Now, if you’re looking for some great pieces to transition into fall, the Cents of Style Swing Dress and Blanket Scarf will be all you’ll need to stay in comfort and in vogue this coming holiday season. I’ll definitely be picking up a few more things in the next couple of weeks!

While I hope this scarf and swing dress guide has helped illuminate a few of the different ways a blanket scarf can be worn this season to create a myriad of looks as well as styles, I hope that this post brings home my greater point, to invest in quality, staple pieces for your wardrobe at home.

Also, be sure to pin your favorite images, and go back to them when you need some inspiration, and be sure to share this post with a friend who loves cool weather scarves or is looking for ways to wear scarves too!

So, savvy savers, what are your thoughts on the swing dress? Is it a style you’re likely to try this fall and winter? Which of the Cents of Style swing dresses and blanket scarves is most appealing to you? I’d love to hear about it below!

Here’s to staying stylish,

Please note: This post is sponsored by Cents of Style. I was gifted the following pieces, and I selected the items and post theme myself, and all words and opinions are my own.

Good morning, savvy savers. Happy final day of Summer! As its the final day of the season, I wanted to share with you all a project I finished this past weekend, my Fall 2016 & Winter 2017 Capsule Wardrobe. 

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

• This capsule contains only 33-pieces.
• This is a plus size capsule, but each piece could easily translate to a smaller, more petite capsule.
• I no longer work in a corporate setting. As I’ve transitioned to fully working from my home office earlier this year. My capsule no longer includes clothes and accessories for a casual office setting.
• I live in the deep south, which makes for mild, breezy falls, and minimal winter seasons.
• Each item in my post will work with at least three other items.
• I don’t follow an arbitrary numbers rule for my capsule wardrobe but instead, focuses staples.
• Jewelry, including my necklaces, earrings, and wedding bands, are not counted in my capsule.
• I will not be carrying a bag or tote this season, and will instead be taking my money envelope/clutch with me this coming season.
• Also not included: two pairs of prescription glasses, a travel umbrella, and my various canvas totes for the library, groceries, and the weekend farmers market.

My current capsule wardrobe is built upon basic, year-round minimalist staples, all staples which remain in my closet year round. So each season I only need to add a few more pieces to make for room for seasonally-appropriate outfits. This particular season’s capsule relies heavily on three quality pairs of denim pants and numerous scarves, many of which are handmade.

Also, while I am continuing my healthy living journey with PCOS, and in the process of losing more weight, 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. I will be wearing all casual attire this season, including meetings, church functions, community activities, date nights with my husband, and the like.

This capsule reflects my current minimalist lifestyle and my plus size frame. For me, minimalism is a concept that can work with any size and with any personal style. This capsule and my personal stance on minimalism reflect’s just that, that in my current season of life, I am a work in progress. I love who I am. The beautiful woman who proudly wears a size 16. This capsule reflects my personal taste alone and is meant to only give others an idea of what may work for their own minimalist capsule wardrobe. 

So, without further ado here are my capsule wardrobe pieces:

Tops:

1. Basic white tank top.
2. Basic white tee.
3. Basic Black tee.
4. Cents of Style Life is Beautiful tee.
5. Basic White Poplin Dress Shirt.
6. Tan Cashmere Sweater.
7. Grey Tunic Sweater Dress.
8. Green Crochet Cacoon Sweater.

Accessories:

1. Blue Plaid Blanket Scarf.
2. Wool Orange Plaid Fringe Scarf.
3. Yellow Crochet Scarf.
4. Green Crochet Button Scarf.
5. Red crochet Scarf.
6. Grey and Beige Net and Fringe Scarf.
7. Tan Crochet Beret.
8. Cream Crochet Boot Cuffs.

Bottoms:

1. Cuffed Ripped Jeans.
2. Tuxedo Dress Jeans.
3. Dark Rinse Jeans.
4. Brown Fleece-Lined Tights.
5. Black Fleece-Lined Tights. 

Outerwear:

1. Grey Fleece Jacket.
2. Dark Rinse Denim Jacket.
3. Red Wool Pea Coat.

Shoes:

1. Black Rider Boots.
2. Brown Rider Boots.
3. Grey Cowboy Boots.
4. Black Low-Rise Cowboy Boots.
5. Cognac Combat Boots.
6. Grey Slouch Boots.
7. Brown Clogs.
8. Black Mary Jane’s.
9. Red Suede Mocassins. 

So, that’s it, folks! There is my capsule wardrobe for the several months. I am super excited by its simplicity and comfort. I am also looking forward to a more simplified, relaxed capsule this coming season. These pieces reflect lifestyle. minimalism is quality. The fewer pieces you own, the more often they will be worn. Not only that, you want a piece to last more than one or two seasons, you want to build a life wardrobe.

Overall, the one thing I tried to focus on in terms of this capsule, and minimalist clothing capsules, is quality. Each piece in this capsule will last more than one or two seasons. This is more than a seasonal capsule, this is part of my life wardrobe. These pieces are easy to launder at home. These pieces bring joy to my life and ease to my mornings. These pieces are frump-free and fabulous. And in terms of a capsule wardrobe, are all I could ask for. 

So, you may be thinking as to how you can start your own capsule wardrobe for this coming Fall and Winter, and I’ve also got a few tips for you as well:

1. Clean Out Your Wardrobe: You knew this was coming, right? There is no better way to evaluate everything you own, than going through your wardrobe methodically, piece by piece, season by season. Be sure to donate any piece that does not currently fit comfortably and reflects your true style.

2. Take A Style Inventory: Create a list of all pieces you have and are going to keep while going through your wardrobe. Identify key investment pieces you need and budget for them, including shoes, knits, coats, and bags.

3. Research Twice, Purchase Once: Go online and look at your favourite web stores, Pinterest, and Polyvore, and view their latest autumn/winter collections. See what styles and trends will fit your current tastes, and budget only for pieces you will wear for years to come.

4. Make a Style Inspiration Board: Use Pinterest to curate your favourite style inspirations and to figure out what you want your overall look to be for the season.

5. Reflect on Your Lifestyle: The perfect wardrobe should not only reflect your personal style, but also your lifestyle. Make sure your capsule reflects your lifestyle and not the life of others.

6. Show Your True Colors: A true capsule wardrobe should contain a majority neutral colors,a palette of blacks, greys, whites, and nudes, which allow to mix and match all your staple pieces dozens of ways in each season.

7. Quality Over Quantity: Ideally, a small wardrobe should consist of high-quality key pieces and low-cost essentials. This allows your personal style to shine. While trends may come and go, a great sense of style is timeless.

8. Seasonal Updates: All season trend items should be purchased in moderation. It is still acceptable to buy a few trendy pieces to carry your core wardrobe through each season and to give your wardrobe a refreshing lift, such as graphic prints and stripe varieties.

9. Buy Only What You Love: Careful consideration of what you need beforehand to prevent impulse buys and overspending. You should love everything you buy and each piece should compliment your style and be able to be carried through to next year.

10. Focus on Go-To Looks: Be sure to spend time putting together as many different outfits as you can for every scenario. Pay attention to detail like accessories and styling. Snapping pictures of your outfits can help laying out your clothes for the next morning all the easier.

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,

Hello again, fabulous frugal fashionistas! For those who may not know, when it comes to fashion and style, I’m all about practicality. So last Summer, when my journey into minimalism, I was at once intrigues by the concept of Capsule Wardrobes.  

So, you may be wondering what a capsule wardrobe is? A capsule wardrobe was originally a term first coined by London stylist Susie Faux in 1972. Faux’s original minimalist capsule wardrobe sought to turn a modest number of four season wardrobe staples into a budget-friendly, utilitarian, classically-styled wardrobe. The original capsule wardrobes consisted of under 33 wardrobe pieces for the entire year. 

Decades later sites such as Unfancy and Project 333, extrapolating upon Faux’s original capsule wardrobe model created capsules which now contained 33 and 37 pieces per season. Newer models contend that users can change out, replace, maintain, or add new pieces seasonally, allowing the individual style of users to emerge within four capsule wardrobe changes. For this reason I went with Project 333‘s model for capsule wardrobes. 

Still, the most compelling reason for capsule wardrobes? Each piece of the capsule wardrobes stands to make the wearer look their everyday best. Capsule wardrobes completely de-stress you. Image getting dressed each morning without having to second guess yourself one single time. Oh and you save a lot of money- think not having to go shopping for three straight months!

With that said, in my experience the modern Capsule Wardrobes have not only helped me re-think my wardrobe, they have completely changed my outlook on dressing. No longer do I dread outings, fearing I will have nothing to wear. Now I look forward to getting dressed for my day. Amazing. Epic. Change.   

This is minimalism in action. 

So, let’s delve a little more into the capsule structure.

What’s in a 37-piece wardrobe: tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, and shoes.

What’s not included: workout wear (items strictly worn to the gym, walking, running, etc.), pajamas, lounge wear (again items only worn around the house), hosiery, socks, foundation garments, unmentionables, accessories, jewelry, and handbags. 

What does a capsule wardrobe represent: We’ve all done it. We buy fun new clothes, but end up wearing old favorites? Me too. Ever go to your closet and feel like you have nothing to wear, even when your closet is filled with clothes? Me too! 

To me, a capsule wardrobe represents more time and energy in your morning for what really matters, and less time spent deciding what to wear, more money spent helping others , and most importantly, more personal contentment happiness, and positive body-image.

So, how do you start? Well, for me shoes.  I like having about 7-9 pairs of shoes per season. Typically I’ll have: three pairs of flats, three pairs of heels, and three pairs of boots, though this past winter I went way overboard, as you can see.

My first piece of advise: fine tune your shoes! Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing, even shoes!

I also like having nine bottoms: three pairs of jeans, three pairs of capris or skirts, and three pairs of slacks. I use the “rules of 3,” because I like having one casual pair, one statement pair, and one in-between pair, one carry-over from working in a professional office for most of my twenties. 

As for tops, I allocate room for 15 tops. Depending on the season I’ll use the “Rule of 3,” such as in winter where I will have three sweaters, three t-shirts, three button-up shirts, three tank tops, and three hankie vests. This changes in Spring and Summer as I live in the deep south and utilize more lighter layers and tees on a more consistent basis. 

Last but not least, I leave room for four jackets, coats, or dresses, which of course seasonally changes- in winter I might have four jackets, and in summer I encapsulate one jacket and three dresses.

So, where do I start? 

1. I start by cleaning out my closet. Every last piece comes out. I then dust my shoes sleeves, shoe rack, and sweep out my closet doors and floor. 
2. Then it’s time to purge. I go through my clothes, donating or selling back to Thredup anything that no longer fits, looks best, or makes me happy. 
3. All remaining clothing is sorted into two other piles, love it and will wear it again next season and pieces that will be worn in the upcoming season.
4. Seasonal. Anything that is seasonal, wool coats, vests, sweaters, sweater dresses, and the like are stored away neatly for another season. 
5. Re-access. Anything left in your closet should be your LOVE IT clothes. Clothes that fit just right, would be your first picks for church, vacation, work, and outings. 
6. Access what you have and need. Make a capsule wardrobe plan, mix and match outfits, and lay out clothing together. If you are missing a piece research affordable options to replace this item, or consider trading in unworn items for those you may need.
7. Replace new seasonal items in your closet, all 37 pieces.
8. Please note, I store my coats for each season in our home’s coat closet. This is done to make coats closer to our front door. I also store scarves (in a drawer folded), handbags, clutches, and totes in a drawer. This is just what I find neater. These items are not seen in my closet, but are counted in my capsule item numbers. 
9. Also, I store my workout shoes and gardening clogs in my closet, but as they are only for purposed working, they are stored in my closet but not counted in my capsule itemized numbers. 
10. Two tips? Use all matching hangers to make your wardrobe look more cohesive, and per Kon-Mari (yeah, I’m a fangirl) closet rules, where you should arrange all items by order of length. With the longer items toward the left of the closet and the shortest to the farthest right side of your closet. This creates clean visible lines for your wardrobe.
11. After this point a shopping hiatus is in place for the next three months. 
12. Two weeks prior to the start of the next season, I begin to plan my new capsule wardrobe. I write down the pieces that will be in my new capsule, then check my drawers and garment bags to make sure I have everything on my list. Should I need to acquire a piece, I give myself two weeks to purchase the items, as most of my clothing is purchased online. I give myself time and grace in forming each new capsule wardrobe.

So, recently I just switched over my Winter Capsule to my Spring Wardrobe and I wanted to share with you all my results. So, here’s my actual wardrobe:

Here’s my piece-by-piece breakdown:

My Spring 216 Wardrobe consists of:

• Tops: Gray tee, white camisole, black bolero jacket, olive tee, blue and white stripped poplin, white poplin shirt, white long sleeve tee, white short sleeve tee, white tank top, gray sweater, gray cardigan, gray kimono shirt, and aqua hankie cover-up.
• Jackets: Black leather crop jacket, khaki trench coat, and coral blazer.
• Pants: White joggers, white boot cut jeans, ripped jeans, ripped denim capris, khaki capris, polka dot pink capris, gray slacks, and black slacks. 
• Shoes: Gold heels, black low-top Chuck Taylor’s, gold jewel slides, black peep toe booties, white and jute espadrille sandals, coral wedge sandals, and tan platform heels.
• Accessories: Aqua infinity scarf, mint scarf, canvas tote, and tan wristlet. Please note, as stated above accessories do not need to be included in capsule wardrobe totals, but I did for demo reasons. Excluding any accessories my actual wardrobe is a capsule of 33 pieces.

So, that’s my wardrobe, and so far I love it. With Spring coming earlier this year I’m glad I have already made the switch and can start rocking my new pieces again!

Also, now that I’ve lived with my four distinct, separate seasonal 37-piece capsule wardrobes for the past year, I can honestly say that the once minimalist experience is now more of a lifestyle—and I’m all the better for having done so. Life like wardrobes changes so often, and I’m certain that my capsule wardrobes will continue to change as I evolve, and that’s a change I’ll always be happy to live with. 

Also, for those looking for other awesome examples of capsule wardrobes, be sure to check out two of my favorite bloggers, Stacy from Humorous Homemaking (which included great staple pieces, my shared loved of all things stripped and season-less maternity wear) and Amiyrah from 4 Hats and Frugal (which showed great, trendy colder climate winter capsule staples), bravely showing their personal capsules and closets this past winter. Yes, I said brave. Any women putting her closet, family, life, and herself out there for the world to see is brave, and these women did so with such grace! 

So, have you tried capsule wardrobes? I’d love to hear about what you will be wearing this season.

Love and light,