Here are the first few outfits from my “deep winter” capsule, a collection of 40-45 items that I’ll be wearing from now through mid-March.

1-2: medium-wash skinny jeans, white popover shirt, light blue-gray cardi, winter village scarf, cognac riding boots

The proportions here aren’t quite ideal, I think. It would be better if the shirt were longer. This shirt is always shorter than I expect it to be! (Not that it has shrunk, just that my brain hasn't accurately recorded its actual length.)

I also have to say something about this cardigan, which is a vintage cashmere piece that I recently scored for $8 (!) on Poshmark. Waaaaay back in high school, I thrifted a vintage cropped light blue cardigan. It was really pretty — shell buttons, pointelle knit, grosgrain trim at the placket. I gave it away a couple of years ago as the condition was not great (it was discolored in spots and the cuffs were fraying in a way that I didn’t think I could fix) — I hadn’t worn it in years but just hadn’t been able to let go of it. When I received this sweater, it seemed really familiar. At first I couldn’t pinpoint why, then I realized that the color and the buttons and something about the texture of the knit reminded me of my old thrifted blue vintage sweater. I feel like my old friend has come back to me! Anyway I am very happy about this, and now I’m fantasizing about finding a new version of the saffron-orange Madras plaid skirt that I used to wear with the first iteration of the blue sweater.

3: Medium-wash straight jeans, vintage fair isle pullover, tan clogs

Y’all, I can make this look ok in a photo but this sweater is too small. It rides up, it itches (didn’t used to b/c it wasn’t so tight). Not fab at all. I’m removing this to a holding zone; if I lose a few pounds anytime soon I’ll revisit.

4: Wing-shaped earrings I wore with the above outfit.

I included these earrings in the capsule because I bought them in Sweden, capsule is inspired by northern landscapes, etc. But…I think they’re kind of weird. Just the shape of them is odd. Right? I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe they are a little too Witchy Woman for my style? I think I might try to make them into a necklace. What say you all?

5-6: Black ponte leggings, tuxedo-pleat popover, gray cardi, cognac riding boots.

I can’t capture in pictures the way this outfit hangs in person but this cardi is wonderful. It’s soft as a cloud, sleek, and adds some subtle waist shaping (to my largely waist-less torso, lol) and I just find it SO flattering.

Also, this outfit is another illustration of how I’m fine with all neutrals as long as I can mix like 4 of them and have some color in my accessories.

7-8: Black skirt leggings, gray/white striped popover, long burgundy cardi, and…cognac riding boots.

Y’all I tried to wear different footwear here but I just couldn’t do it! Assignment for this next week: give some love to my other boots!

Also I think this top is a bit too long, I prefer the skirted leggings with a shorter top (otherwise the skirt part kind of gets “lost”.) Next time, I’ll swap the tops in this outfit and the first one!

Other observations/lessons:

-See that abalone ring in the first outfit? I realized that, as odd as it may sound, abalone is the perfect material for jewelry for this capsule. Swirls of pink, green, blue…it’s like wearing the Northern Lights! I am hoping to figure out how to fix the ring pictured here (one side of the shank has become detached) and also hope to source a couple more abalone pieces, maybe a pair of earrings and a pendant.

-No pictures from the weekend because I didn’t wear anything that really amounted to a deliberate “outfit.” Blah. Two possible ways to fix this:

(1) I need (more) “elevated loungewear,” i.e., something comfy enough for me to wear for a cozy weekend day spent mostly at home BUT nice enough to keep on for grocery shopping/errands, and that feels like a put-together outfit.

(2) I need jeans I am actually excited to put on. Argh. ARGH. Easier said than done, of course.