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WIWs: More Capsule Outfits & An Apartment Update

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I have been getting dressed from my 37-ish pieces wardrobe for a week or so, and I love it. It feels plentiful and I like my options every day. I have two pieces at the tailor's, a pair of black trousers and a jumpsuit. It will be exiting to have them to choose between, too, when I pick them up in a couple of days.

I'm keeping things very real these days, with house slippers (birkies), phone snaps and all. Consider yourself warned What I'd really like you to help me determine is the essentials/statements.

#1-2: Shirt layered under knitwear
Worn Sunday (#1) and today (#2). This sweater is quite cropped, and I like how the tails of the shirts are pretty long. The colors in the plaid shirt tie the sweater and jeans together. The sleeves of the sweater are only 3/4, so I've tried to tuck in the denim shirt. What do you think? Does it work? In #2 I've paired the slouchy top with a tailored navy trouser. I like the roomier fit of today's outfit best, I think. Which one do you like best?

Sweater: Dark plum angora (essential), shirt, black watch (statement), jeans, Levi's (essential), oxfords: Clarks (statement)

Same sweater. Denim shirt: J Crew (statement), navy trousers (essential), birkies (highly essential).

#3: The first outing of the patterned wrap dress I've showed earlier. This is what I wore Monday. Somehow this dress has stayed in my closet until now. I wonder why? Maybe it is a bit too formal for my casual days, which I've had many of lately. Worn with booties, dark tights and black bomber. Cognac messenger bag and light blue scarf.

Dress: statement. Leather bomber: statement. black booties: statement. Bag: cognac messenger, also statement. Scarf: light blue cashmere. essential.

#4-5: Our apartment is getting ready for us now. We still lack the kitchen and will be living on take away the first three weeks or so, but the rest is as good as ready. Here's the new study/guestroom. We've had custom built shelves, bed (which will act as a daybed when it's not used by my college daughter or guests) and a desk. This is where I'll work when I work from home. The result is very much what we wanted, and I can't wait to fill up those shelves with books to add some color!

Thanks for reading, all and any comments are most welcome!

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20 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

Alassë

Veteran

Your shelving/bed unit looks lovely, ready for possibilities and elegantly minimal.

Quietgirl

Veteran

I really like #1. I love the structure and polish those cool shoes give to your ensemble. Other views are good too. Great study!

Anonymous

I love the new dress, especially with that scarf. Your apartment is coming along nicely! I can't wait to see it with all of your lovely things moved in.

Anonymous

I have a minor preference for the shirt sleeves tucked away higher as in #2 for the sweater over shirt look, it's a proportion thing for me. The colours are lovely. In #2 I like the bluey greys and black accents.

Nice study/guest room!

Carole

Veteran

Excellent layering, Ingunn! I like both versions, but agree with Diane that the sleeves rolled up in 2 is really flattering. What a versatile area and such a great idea for a daybed that will be ready for your daughter and guests! Can't wait to see more pictures of your new apartment.

jenanded

Veteran

What a great office space!
The dress looks lovely... very feminine and soft. It looks great but I always think of you with a more 'modern' look which is also feminine but sharp, rather than soft if that garble makes sense.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, ladies! I'm excited to move in and start decorating now. Tired of emptying the old house!

I agree with you that the tucked away sleeves look best, and the cognac oxfords are good color-wise, I think.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Jenanded, I think you are very astute. I think my style has somewhat moved away from that type of dress (wrap dress) right now, and I feel that it doesn't project the image I'm envisioning. Thank you for clarifying this for me! Wow. How did I not realize this before?

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Great looks Ingunn. I prefer the sleeves pushed up/scrunched/rolled, whatever they are in the second version. I have realized I don't like the bottoms of sleeves to line up with the bottom of the garment.

And that room! To die for! I hope you'll share it once it's "populated".

jackiec

Veteran

I adore the colour of that sweater - it is gorgeous! Can't get past that.

Oh but I'm also loving all of that wonderful built in shelving. Amazing. That will be so useful and will look lovely filled & stacked with books & things

shemarie

Gorgeous sweater and great color on you, Ingunn. So glad others could put a finger on why number two edges out number one...what a simple but significant impact the sleeves have. You look very casual-chic! I'm glad to hear your 37-ish piece wardrobe is working so well for you. Love how it's letting your creativity shine through. And that work space...gorgeous...sigh. Hope to see it once it's decorated and moved-into!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's all gorgeous! I'm so excited by your new shelves and day bed. I had a daybed built in my study also. It's fantastic. To tell the truth, I sit there more often than I sit at my actual desk, which is probably an ergonomically stupid idea, but is very cozy. And it's great to have that extra space when guests come.

I love the outfits. Like Diane, i have a slight preference for the sleeves rolled up in #2. I also think the dress/ scarf outfit is lovely on you, even if you feel you have moved away a bit from the style.

I was interested in your statement/ essentials breakdown. Maybe this explains why I don't personally feel I have enough statements in my wardrobe. Most of what you felt was a statement item, I would have labelled an "essential" or perhaps a "regular." Hmmm. This is very interesting to ponder. Do I need my statements to be "louder" for me to recognize them as such? Hmmmm.....

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

You look terrific. The dress is great. And your apartment is just as fab!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

These are great outfits, Ingunn. I really like the interest added by the plaid shirt in the first outfit. I'm also drawn to the cognac oxfords, though, so perhaps the second outfit pales a little to me, just because it's with the Birkie slippers instead of your outdoor shoes.
I like the dress a lot and am intrigued by the discussion of how it may be a little outside your current style. I wonder if it's the print as much as the style of the dress. I think you may lean toward neater prints--symmetrical, crisp-looking ones. This one may be a little diffuse or irregular for your current tastes. You're wearing it beautifully, nevertheless.
The categories are so fluid, depending on the person, aren't they? I might categorize the plum sweater as statement, because of the cropped, boxy style. And I could see the bomber as being potentially an essential. Now, your shearling coat--that's a statement in my book!

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, all! I am pleased to decipher why the sleeves look best rolled - Elisabeth, you are so right. The line created when they align with the bottom of the garment isn't pleasing to the eye.

Suz, how fun to hear that you've had a similar daybed. I suspect I'm going to use it quite a lot, except when my other two daughters are competing over it, too, hah ha!

Essentials vs statemens is difficult. I think I understand the concept well enough, but I find it hard to pinpoint what's what in reality. To me, the leather bomber is a statement because I could manage quite well without it, but on the other hand it fills a place for a more casual jacket in my wardrobe, like the stone moto and the denim jacket does, too. And I definitely need those, so perhaps the bomber is an essential after all? I definitely agree with you, Sharan, that the shearling coat is a statement piece. And the plum sweater could of course be a statement, too, for the reasons you mention. I thought of it as a knitted sweater, which are essentials in my wardrobe, but this one, which has details that are not in the classic category, is probably more of a statement.

Suz, you mention the need for statements to be "louder". There can of course be some truth in that. To me, a statement piece has either details, color or shape that makes it stand out, plus it's not essential for my wardrobe to function. If I apply what you've mentioned, most of my pieces are essentials and basics, and I have very, very few statements, just like you. This could very well be the case.

unfrumped

Veteran

Such fun outfits. Love the oxfords, roll the sleeves( though I get conflicted in colder weather) = cheeky Ingunn look.
In #3 the dress isn't as visible due to outerwear. Agree with others, maybe it doesn't have the top Ingunn- energy, but that can be more photo thing than IRL-? If it's otherwise a great useful dress, you might play with more lively accessories for it.

Lynne

Veteran

Minimalism all round :). Your outfits look great, especially that lovely print dress. I love the flowy scarf with it, and the structure of the jacket. I suspect the cropped jumper might be a statement, but I'll leave that up to the others.

I followed the link on your previous post and really enjoyed the blog.....the thing that appealed to me the most was chance to play with a set number of items and really work out how to use them. I downloaded her capsule worksheet and went through it, just for the sake of the exersise, and identified a Spring/Summer capsule based on black, white/cream, denim, mint and pink/coral from my wardrobe......I came up with 38 items! Which felt very weird ?!?!

I'm looking forward to following the rest of your outfits.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yes, Ingunn, I suspect that you also have a high proportion of essentials and regulars to statements in your closet. In my case (and possibly yours) this is a result of three factors that I can identify:

Both of us have a fairly modern classic style which means we tend to prefer simpler and more streamlined items. Which typically come across as regulars or essentials.
Both of us live in climates were a lot of essentials are...well....essential!! And statements tend to be footwear, outerwear, and the occasional sweater (perhaps like this plum one due to its cut).
Both of us have been in a wardrobe building phase, and practicality combined with a love of luxury have seen us upgrade our essentials as the first part of our closet improvement. So, we have aimed first for "nicer" essentials -- along with a few statements and some regulars.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

So astute, Suz. I think my initial understanding of essentials wasn't exact enough, and you've helped me clarify this. Thank you! Yes, my wardrobe has followed more or less the same path as yours, which must be a good thing if you ask me! If that means that I'm heading in your direction, I'm very pleased.

Lynne, how fun to read about your capsule experience. 38 pieces are actually not as few as it may seem, and give a lot of possibilities. I'm looking forward to see some WIWs from you, too!

Unfrumped, you are right about the drew not being very photogenic. The pattern is a lot crisper url, and I definitely think it has a place in my wardrobe this season. To me, it's a typical work dress, and maybe not the most fun dress I have. Which is quite ok, of course.

Lisa

Veteran

I like both layered top looks, although I would cuff the sleeves in #1 so that you see some skin since the knit sleeves are a tad on the long side.