Musings on my summer wardrobe (warning long!)

Now that I am cruising in and out of the forum on a more regular basis (isn't it always the case that when you become busier you actually find time for more?)

So we are heading into summer in New Zealand. My role as a Mum on the run (not just go run - I have a toddler!) and my job working in the political sphere mean that I am now convinced that to remain well dressed I need two capsule wardrobes, one for work and one for play!

My requirements at work are to be dressed at the smartest end of business casual, but I am not required to wear a suit, but do need a blazer/jacket for when I am up at Parliament when the House is in session. I also prefer closed or peep toe shoes or sandals with a lot of coverage for work.

Realistically, most clothes will last about 9 months of the year, with a bit of layering. Seasons in New Zealand are not as defined as in the UK. In Wellington at least, it never really gets above 25 C or below 5 C in winter. It doesn't snow, but we get a lot of wind year round (no floaty dresses or skirts here!) . Despite not being hot, when it is sunny it is easy to burn quickly, so I prefer tops with sleeves.

This year I am very much attracted to navy, blue and orange. I would like to include more white, but this is probably not realistic with a toddler (especially for bottoms).

The thing is a lot of my clothes could belong in either capsule, so segmenting my wardrobe in to two is going to be quite difficult. If you operate a this type of wardrobe how do you stop borrowing from the other side?

So far this year I have purchased the orange/red cardigan below, I have my eye on this mixed media top. I have one white jacket, but need at least one more. If I use navy as a base, I wonder if I could still to a black jacket? If not perhaps a pink? I think that a navy dress would be useful, also a pair of nude shoes.

I do feel like I am tying myself up in knots a little as I am not 100% sure what I want, but I know that it isn't what I have got at the moment, although I am not completely unhappy with how I dress at the moment. Ahhhh!

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12 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

If I were you I'd be looking for things that could be worn in both capsules to extend your wardrobe If you want to keep them separate though I'd start with x4 bottoms & x7 tops & a couple of jackets/toppers. If most of these work together then you probably won't need much else. For work I think an edgy suit or similar with pants &/or a skirt in navy would be the start of a fantastic wardrobe. You wouldn't need to wear them together but you would have that option.

Alassë

I was thinking like Caro - why separate? If the bulk of your wardrobe is smart casual & comfortable, you can add blazers & heels to dress up the items for work, and switch to cardigans/flats/etc. for at home. Unless your toddler is messy enough that you really do need a separate home wardrobe?

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

The reason that I need to separate is that I apart from Fridays I can't really wear denim and also I would want to include a pair of shorts in the casual wardrobe.

Some of Angie's Mom on the Go outfits would be appropriate for work, but some I would say might be too casual.

My toddler isn't particularly messy, but she is active. If I am with her I need to be able to go down a slide in what I am wearing

So maybe add a couple of pairs of jeans or similar casual pants & shorts for the time with your daughter. Couldn't you wear some of the "work" tops, at these times, if they were washable?

Yes I probably could, you are right. My understanding of a capsule wardrobe was that everything went with everything.

I think that I just need to have a big play this weekend and see what I can come up with.

PS: I think I may be coming across as if I am having a bit of a whinge, which is not intentional. I am just at one of those cross-road moments I think.

It didn't sound like a whinge I don't think everything has to go with everything in a capsule & unless you are going to wear x 2 pairs of pants together they probably don't have to work together either If all your tops worked with all your bottoms & shoes honestly you don't NEED many clothes - want on the other hand..........

unfrumped

I might keep them separate but have a smaller amount of each unless I misunderstand your work wear. Then a few of your work outfits can be for going places as MOTR, errand and such, but not exactly for playing in the sand. Or I mean, I might lower my expectations that the 2 worlds will blend well.

The blogger who used the term "comfortably dressy" aimed to not have any type of separate wardrobes, but I think that can be hard if you have any fit or fabric issues. Still, it is aligned with the possibility of having mostly one flexible capsule.
Keeping the same color palette for everything does at least give you the option of mixing and matching.

http://youlookfab.com/2012/08/.....purchases/

Not sure if you've seen this - I found it really helpful

Lisa

I'm with others, I don't think you need two distinct capsules. I find I get more mileage when items I blur the lines with my seasonal wardrobe.

Thanks for the link Caro, it was really useful.

Suz

(website)

I think in Angie's examples she shows everything-goes-with-everything -- but that is just the theoretical model, if you know what I am saying. An abstraction, in a sense. IRL she believes in mixing the capsules up and has said explicitly that not everything needs to work with everything else -- some outfits are great just as stand alones, and some items are maybe best with one or two others.

I live an existence that is almost the opposite of yours. I live in the opposite hemisphere, in a country that is somewhat overshadowed by its powerful neighbour, just like yours. I have a teen, not a toddler. I work at home, not at Parliament. So my home wardrobe is super-casual. But -- in my "off hours" I do a lot of traveling and some speaking engagements and need to look smart casual/ professional for those.

The way I work it is: I have considerable overlap, but also items unique to each capsule. I don't wear shorts in my summer "city visits" capsule (except for a pair of dressy shorts). But I do wear some of the same tops in both capsules. I don't wear my leather jacket when I work at home...but I do wear the same jeans (sometimes) for both capsules and some of the same sweaters.

It has made figuring out how much I need for each part of my life a bit complicated. I think I probably have more button down shirts than I, technically, need...but I never seem to have enough sweaters, however many I have. That sort of thing. So it is a work in progress.

I like the items you picked.

I wear black and navy or ink blue together all the time. The thing I find (with fair hair) is that on their own they are a bit dark-feeling for spring/ summer. So lightening up with white might be a good idea if you feel the same.

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