First ever attempt at capsule dressing

Still a new member to YLF and learning so much.
Last week I have started with a closet edit. For this week I pulled out dresses and jackets and focused on wearing those - I will update those in another post.
next week I will add in skirts and and tops
What I have learned from this experiment so far
1. I do not wear pants to work - very rare
2. I tend to shop for my work wardrobe and have very little in my casual wardrobe
3. My casual wardrobe consists of yoga pants and running tops.

So with that in mind I am following the advice Angie posted for a casual fall wardrobe that will get me through the November
1. 6 tops - okay I'm moving it to 8 since we are talking late summer/early fall
2. three bottoms
3. two pair of shoes
4. accessories

Things to consider
1. I dress up for work - I am a principal of a larger elementary school
2. I do not wear pants to work Mon - Thurs
3. On Friday I usually dress casual and wear a spirit wear shirt - sometimes pants, sometimes not
4. This really is primarily a Friday, Saturday, Sunday capsule. On the weekends I like to wear pants and have a dress/skirt option for church
5. I don't want to change after church but want to look put together.
6. I am embracing less and better quality clothing that has perfect fit.

Help me round out my casual wardrobe with my first every NAS purchase
Tops
1. off white tank I own
2. striped navy blue tank - I own
3. Grey T-shirt - I own
4. Striped shirt - I own
5. Gray and orange sweater - I own
6.
8.
Bottoms
1. Gray pants
2. Boyfriend jeans
3. To be decided - I kinda want a casual dress - I really am a dress gal - I have a black and white striped Maxi or the EF skirt below which I feel has great mix and match potential for a casual wardrobe and could be worn with spirit wear
Toppers
1. Black leather from sale (below )
2. A Green military jacket from closet (love it and don't wear it enough)
3. Fab orange vest (I snuck in a third since this will be a late summer early fall casual) - this might be moved into the winter capsule
4. Added the red jacket because I live in Minnesota and honestly you can't have enough winter jackets
Accessories
1. Red purse - I own - Though I'm madly in love with Crossbody purses right now and would love to add one in. I always like my purses to be a pop of color.
2. blue scarf to be bought
3. Orange scarf I own
Shoes
I have that covered with what is in my current wardrobe

So wonderful YLF ladies help me round out my casual wardrobe.

Nordstrom

Eileen Fisher Asymmetrical Jersey Skirt (Plus Size)

$148.00

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Nordstrom

Sejour Lightweight Jersey Top (Plus Size)

$20.39

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Nordstrom

Lauren Ralph Lauren Faux Leather Trim Quilted Jacket (Plus Size)

$218.00 $146.06

Sale

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Nordstrom

Eileen Fisher Ballet Neck Jersey Tee (Plus Size)

$108.00 $53.98

Sale

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Nordstrom

Sejour Elbow Sleeve V-Neck Jersey Top (Plus Size)

$49.00 $29.40

Sale

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Nordstrom

Sejour Waterfall Front Leather Jacket (Plus Size)

$368.00 $220.80

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Nordstrom

Eileen Fisher V-Neck Stretch Knit Top (Regular & Petite)

$178.00 $69.97

Sale

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10 years ago

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

You have got such a good start! It looks like you only need a few tops and one bottom, right? Are the finds you've added here the ones you're deciding among?
I really like the idea of a tunic, but it wouldn't really go well with boyfriend jeans, so it depends on whether it will pair with the gray pants in your casual capsule. What is the silhouette on them? The other tops look like they would be fantastic additions to mix with other things you listed.
I love the Eileen Fisher skirt--that looks like a really versatile piece. It would seem to fit with what you are looking for on Sundays.

Ok, if this is for now through November, in Minnesota, I'm guessing you need to be covering summer/fall/early winter with this casual capsule? I like that EF skirt, as long you can wear the same length tops with it as with the jeans & trousers in your capsule (I get around this by tucking my tops into skirts). And it looks like you have space for 3 more tops (if you want 8 total).

If it were me, because your bottoms are neutral & 2 of your 3 toppers are as well, I'd use those 3 spots to add more colours (most of your current tops are neutrals) and at least one more pattern. Weight/fabric depends on your climate of course. One of the spots might go to a silk button down that I could wear on its own in early fall & under the sweater when the temps cooled. But it's difficult to make any real suggestions when you haven't told us your style preferences. (I checked your profile too, but it hasn't been filled out yet.)

frannieb

Good questions about my style preferences - I'm learning as I go - I will start adding these thoughts to my profile
1. I do not like button down shirts at all.
2. Really re-thinking this I really don't like jeans all that much and mostly just when camping so changing bottoms to be
3. In my closet edit I'm working on right now - i really don't like patterned shirts - I have them and never wear them
4. I like to add color through my topper or a scarf - now those I go kinda crazy with the patterning and the color
5. I am a curvy plus size pear with a great waist - so tucking shirts with a great belt and topper is something I like to do - or having shirts with a bit more ruching

Bottom rewrite
1. Gray ponte pants - are slightly flared
2. Black NYDJ pants that are skinny legged
3. Thinking the black skirt
I am learning so much - see this is why i have a closet full of orphan clothes and no casual capsule - I never thought about the weight of fabrics thing

I am so excited about this process thank you for you help.

Sara L.

You're so organized! I have no advice but just wanted to say that I admire how focused you are.

rachylou

Fun. My overall impression is that you've got a colour scheme going: Red/Orange, White, Blue, and Grey - with grounding Black. Which sort of explains why the Green military jacket has been somewhat orphaned.

How about sleeve lengths? Preferences? Practical considerations?

Liz

Isn't it fun doing outfit and capsule planning? It will make a world of difference for you this fall! Some thoughts...

* You have a good collection of plain basics, but do you have actual outfits in mind that you will create from these pieces?
* When you imagine wearing your planned outfits to work, to church, or to whatever you do on Saturday (errands, date night, hanging out), do you feel great in them? Do the outfits have the right "tone" for the activities?
* I notice you have both "cold" colors such as black and gray, and "warm" colors such as olive, orange, and teal. Does one set of these look better than the other? (You may not care about colors, which is just fine; there is no requirement that you need so.)
* Since you don't like jeans and do like dresses, what about a casual straight skirt in denim, canvas, or corduroy? You could wear that into fall with tights, and it would provide at least one piece with some structure. (As a larger pear myself, I like to have at least one structured piece in an outfit.)

Sleeve lengths - I prefer short sleeves and long sleeves over tanks. Tank tops are for camping and lounging around the house.

Thinking about adding in some tops with color that would be a better fit with the green jacket, orange vest and black leather jacket
Added some choices below of what I think could possibly work
1. the blue vince would work with the black leather jacket, gray pants and skirt and black pants
2. The floral sweater nic and zoe sweater would work with all the toppers and bottoms
3. The zebra striped top would work with all the toppers and bottoms
4. The grey tank would work with all the toppers and the pants, the skirt if tucked in
Taking this same line of thinking
My previous don't have as much versatility with the green jacket
Of the above pics
1 Blue top - would go with the leather jacket, two of the bottoms
2. Gray long sleeve top - all toppers and bottoms (skirt if tucked)
3. Red top - leather jacket, bottoms (skirt if tucked)

Seriously I am learning so much and see how my first go would have ended up with an orphan piece in my capsule.

I love the green military jacket an want to keep that in the mix. It is really a much more casual piece then work.

Vince Camuto Mini Stripe Bandage Top (Plus Size)

Nic + Zoe 'Floral Vines' Top (Plus Size)

$148.00 $88.80

Sejour Zebra Stripe Pullover (Plus Size)

$78.00 $38.97

Eileen Fisher Scoop Neck Long Cotton & Silk Shell (Plus Size)

Liz brings up such a great point -I think I don't want a structured skirt in my casual capsule because that is what I wear to work Mon - Thurs most of the time.
I do have a denim skirt that I could put into the casual capsule but I like wearing it to work. Something to think about.

Some skirt options -

Vince Camuto Ruched Stretch Knit Midi Skirt (Plus Size)

$59.00

Vince Camuto 'Desert Leopard' Midi Tube Skirt (Plus Size)

Hi Frannie!

Well if you don't like prints or button downs, that's my suggestions out. I think all of your top ideas sound like good ones: perhaps it's time to order some & try them on with their potential capsule mates and see which ones work best? However, if you don't wear the patterned tops you already own, would you wear the patterned ones you're thinking about?

**Eva

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