Hi! I have been a longtime YLF reader, but have never before posted on the forum. However, I am in desperate need of advice, and would love to hear all of your comments on my current wardrobe situation (warning- this might get long!).
I graduated college a year ago, packed two bags, and got rid of everything else I owned to move to Morocco for a year. I will be returning to the states this summer to work, and then to London for graduate school in the fall. As a result of my last move, I currently own a very specific set of clothing- things that are appropriate to either the heat or the rainy season, and are very conservative/modest. Additionally, because I do not have my own washing machine, I had to send out much of my clothing, and the result (unfortunately) is a lot of items with bleach stains, small holes, and shrinking. In order to be dressed appropriately for my summer job (smart casual/business casual), I will need to purchase a capsule from scratch, as I have one or two very formal interview outfits only. However, I also need to refresh much of my clothing before the fall, as it is worn out, frumpy, and I have been wearing the same five outfits for months now! Before this adventure, I had a much clearer style; I would like to return to that, but with a slightly more grownup take, along the lines of "modern classic with edge," my favorite outfit being skinny trousers, a drapey, waist-surrendering, silky blouse, and a fitted blazer or leather jacket with booties. I'd like to look put together, polished, and work/graduate school appropriate, without feeling like I'm playing dress up in my mum's closet!
So my question is this- how would you go about planning and purchasing a smart casual capsule that will work for my summer job, and whose pieces can transition into a non-office life, on a tight budget, with the caveat that all of my clothes have to fit into one suitcase in September. Any tips or advice would be much appreciated- how many pieces should I plan on purchasing? How should I divide that up between tops/trousers/skirts? What should I buy right away, and what should I save until after my first couple paychecks? It is one thing to read all of Angie's great wardrobe-planning posts, but another to try to put it all into action! What has worked for you?
I know this is a big question, but advice and encouragement would be much appreciated, especially from a group of such stylish women!
Thank you,
Desiree
I graduated college a year ago, packed two bags, and got rid of everything else I owned to move to Morocco for a year. I will be returning to the states this summer to work, and then to London for graduate school in the fall. As a result of my last move, I currently own a very specific set of clothing- things that are appropriate to either the heat or the rainy season, and are very conservative/modest. Additionally, because I do not have my own washing machine, I had to send out much of my clothing, and the result (unfortunately) is a lot of items with bleach stains, small holes, and shrinking. In order to be dressed appropriately for my summer job (smart casual/business casual), I will need to purchase a capsule from scratch, as I have one or two very formal interview outfits only. However, I also need to refresh much of my clothing before the fall, as it is worn out, frumpy, and I have been wearing the same five outfits for months now! Before this adventure, I had a much clearer style; I would like to return to that, but with a slightly more grownup take, along the lines of "modern classic with edge," my favorite outfit being skinny trousers, a drapey, waist-surrendering, silky blouse, and a fitted blazer or leather jacket with booties. I'd like to look put together, polished, and work/graduate school appropriate, without feeling like I'm playing dress up in my mum's closet!
So my question is this- how would you go about planning and purchasing a smart casual capsule that will work for my summer job, and whose pieces can transition into a non-office life, on a tight budget, with the caveat that all of my clothes have to fit into one suitcase in September. Any tips or advice would be much appreciated- how many pieces should I plan on purchasing? How should I divide that up between tops/trousers/skirts? What should I buy right away, and what should I save until after my first couple paychecks? It is one thing to read all of Angie's great wardrobe-planning posts, but another to try to put it all into action! What has worked for you?
I know this is a big question, but advice and encouragement would be much appreciated, especially from a group of such stylish women!
Thank you,
Desiree
