Last day of August, last day of winter. And what a mild one it’s been at that. Most weeks, I’ve found myself at the park; whether it’s with my mother’s group, or alone, to enjoy a bit of winter sun. To say it’s been mild is an understatement.
Wearing Mott & Bow cashmere sweater*; Dr Denim skinny jeans; COS coat*; Oblique Base Loafers (giveaway for them here!!)*; Linjer bag*; Mejuri necklace*
I have to admit, as autumn progressed into winter, I was feeling a little lost in my personal style. Trying to balance practical closet essentials, with items I felt good in post-pregnancy, was a challenge. Especially as my time was no longer my own. The four-month sleep regression totally knocked me for six, and I feel like I’ve been recovering from the loss of sleep ever since.
The other point of note, is just how much we’ve been at home. I know I’m not along in feeling like this has driven a sharp change in how I view my personal style. Grappling with feeling like certain outfits are “too dressy” to wear just to the living room.
Surprisingly, for me at least, I found myself at odds with my “style uniform”. Perhaps it was the uniformity and “same-ness” of each day that had me craving something new in a part of my life that I could control. But I found myself tiring of my tried and true outfit combinations. In part, it was what inspired me to pick up the capsule wardrobe method again – along with hoping to realise how my personal style had shifted. The items I picked for my 30 day challenge were in some ways, designed to try and push me out of my cosy knit sweater and skinny jean comfort zone. When in actuality, it drove home the point that I found a sense of ease in the simplicity of what I was wearing.
I found myself clinging to certain items in my wardrobe – ones which will undoubtedly shine as my most worn of the season. Perhaps out of habit, but also because I felt they truly defined what I wanted to be wearing. And what I felt most comfortable in; something that’s become more important as I spend the majority of my day with a six-month-old baby in my arms.
Instead of trying to jazz up my outfits with jewellery, or overly fussy pieces, I focused on using accessories like shoes and bags to elevate my outfits. A skinny jean and cashmere sweater combo can transform into a simple and chic outfit just by adding a two-tone pump or a some sleek black loafers. Bags were the area where I found myself adding depth of colour, either going monochrome with black or chalky-hued options, or for rich jewel tones like a deep dark navy, or a sumptuous burgundy.
Finally, I wanted to touch on outerwear. You know, that wardrobe staple which is quintessentially tied to the winter months. I have to admit, my coats got less wear in 2020 than in any other year. I’m not sure if it’s down to a shift in seasonal weather patterns, or just indicative of how I’ve been spending my time. But, what I found was when I did reach for a coat, I wanted it to be interesting. An interesting colour (like the deep forest green one from COS I’m wearing above), or with an interesting detail to the silhouette. Perhaps again, another clue to how I’ve felt I can shift the tone of my outfit.
I’ll be sharing my most worn items of the winter season later this week, along with delving a little into how my style profile has changed (and similarly, how it’s stayed the same). I’d love to know how the new reality of spending so much time in the home has altered your perception of personal style. Have you leaned into more comfortable loungewear inspired elements? Or are you trying to remain true to your core personal style?
