I finished up the week with two very relaxed outfits (and another item swap – more on that soon). For Thursday, I focused the core of my outfit around wanting to wear sneakers. I was meeting up with a mum’s group for the first time at Sydney Park, and wanted to feel comfortable as we did a large loop of the grounds. No surprises here, but one thing I gravitate towards when I’m not 100% sure on what to wear is stripes.
Wearing Uniqlo mens stripe top (old but this is cute); Zara skinny jeans (old but these are similar); Vince coatigan (old but this is a great alternative); Golden Goose sneakers; Polene number one nano bag*
Keeping things simple, I tucked my breton stripe top into my faded black skinny jeans. If I’d had the time, I probably would have chosen to accessorise with a belt, and layer a few necklaces too.
I find that this kind of outfit – particularly when worn with sneakers – always looks best with a third piece. Some item of “outerwear” which serves to be functional (ie. keep you warm), but also to complete the look. I ended up going for this waffle-style knit coatigan from Vince. It’s not an item I’ve really talked about much, but it was a pre-loved purchase. What drew me to it was the relaxed fold over lapel detail at the front, and the faux leather piping. Oh, and the waffled effect to the knit, of course! Unlike some of my other pre-loved finds, this one was definitely a little more worn. There’s the odd pull here and there; nothing which bothers me much for a throw on piece, and if I was so inclined, I could easily remedy it.
The Polene bag adds a bit of richness to the outfit. I never thought I’d find myself so drawn to the burgundy hue, but it pairs perfectly with dark neutrals.
If this capsule wardrobe re-experience has taught me anything, it’s how much I rely on simple outfits. They’re my bread and butter, so seeking out small ways to keep them interesting is really important for me. Friday involved yet another item swap. I’ve mentioned before how mild our winters are, and I’d noticed that I hadn’t actually needed to reach for my Mute by JL coat yet.
Wearing Everlane t-shirt (underneath); Sheep Inc medium sweater*; Theory leather trousers (old but similar here & I love this straight leg style); Workshop utility jacket (old but this is a dead ringer); Charlotte Olympia kitty flats; Cuyana leather tote
I’m not sure if it’s down to the fact that when I do head out, I’m usually briskly walking up and down hills to get my step count in, or perhaps we’ve had an even milder winter than usual. Whatever the reason, after passing that halfway mark, I felt pretty secure in my decision to swap it out for something else. It helps that as of this point, I’ve still got three remaining unworn items in my capsule should I need (or want) to make any other changes.
So keeping in mind that I wanted to add both a basic piece, and texture, I decided to switch in a recent pre-loved purchase; a pair of bone-coloured skinny leather trousers from Theory. It fed into that very neutral colour palette I chose, while also being a classic silhouette I wear often.
On Fridays, comfort is king, so I went for my merino wool Sheep Inc sweater* loosely tucked in. I feel like I keep saying this, but for a bit of fun, I went with my kitty flats. I did try out a few different shoe options before baby and I headed out the door, and I kept coming back to this feline style. Eight years on, and they’re still an absolute winner with me. It was a little chilly so I wore my utility jacket over top for a bit of warmth.
