The thirty days are almost up, and just like the winter edition of this challenge, I’ve again pushed myself to wear a different outfit every day. There’s a few reasons why I decided to set this “silent” expectation up for myself. It’s gives me an additional sense of purpose with this challenge. The items I chose were comprised of ones I really wanted to wear, items that would be versatile or “practical”, and items that I wasn’t reaching for and had a desire to see that change. So for me it was a way to have a renewed excitement for these pieces – whether they were favourites, or ones that I’d simply forgotten about.
Secondly, while I’m not afraid to repeat my outfits, I also find that this is a great way to prove my point around carefully curated what you do buy or add to your wardrobe. Less is more, and you’d be surprised how many outfits you can come up with when you put a cap on your wardrobe size.
The third reason? It gives me perspective. And in a way, it’s grounding. The combination of having a limited wardrobe for those thirty days, while also trying to think creatively around how to style them is a reminder to cherish those items that I already have in my closet. While I’ve come to peace with the fact that I’ll never have a minimalist wardrobe, the items I usually am most excited about each season are old favourites from the year(s) prior.
day twenty-one
Wearing Free People off shoulder top; Arket denim shorts; Jane Debster slides; Linjer crossbody bag (10% with “mademoiselle10”); Missoma interstellar necklace & bracelet
This is the point where I really started to get back into a groove with my outfits. When I think about my spring/summer style, this is it. Cute tops (not tees), with good fitting denim, and nice sandals. There’s not a lot to it, but sometimes simple is best.
day twenty-two
Wearing Witchery wrap top; Everlane cheeky straight jeans; Jane Debster slides; Linjer crossbody bag & Lise hoops; Missoma marina necklace
Can you sense a theme? Another outfit I felt really good in, and there’s a common thread; monochrome black and white. It hits home for me that when it comes right down to it, I like basic pieces which are executed well, and then paired in a very fuss free way. I don’t think I naturally would have thought to pair this top with slim fitting straight leg jeans, but I thought it was a really pretty combo. We had that kinda in-between weather where it was cool enough for a trench, but warm enough for sandals, so I went for it. Instead of matching my shoes and bag, I chose to draw on the black colour of the top and pick a bag accordingly. Love love love. An outfit I definitely want to repeat.
day twenty-three
Wearing Arket cotton dress; Birkenstock sandals; Everlane alpaca cardigan; Everlane studio bag; Filippo Loreti signet ring
One thing I loved about my style last summer – despite the challenge of dressing a bump – were all the beautiful dresses I wore. As I started to get into this capsule, I was quickly reminded of that, and had this strong desire to include a dress. I love this one from Arket because it’s so simple. It’s a basic pinafore cut, with mid-sized straps and a slit up the side. Being made from cotton poplin, it’s really comfortable to wear on warmer days. It pulls quite dark in photographs, and I definitely drew on that darker palette when accessorising. Besides, who says that navy and black don’t go together?
day twenty-four
Wearing Madewell stripe tee (not visible); Uniqlo cashmere sweater; Isabel Marant skirt; Everlane 40 hour flats; Linjer crossbody bag (10% off with code “mademoiselle10”); Mejuri bracelets
I definitely felt a little inspired to explore those navy elements of my spring capsule on day 24. And again, I chose to pair navy elements with black accessories – simple and sleek. After wearing just a handful of shoes, and almost reaching the end of the 30 day period, I decided to plug up another spot on my 30-item list with another pair of shoes. This time, pointed toe flats. That sharper silhouette was something I felt was missing, and I was glad for the change in style. Another outfit I would happily repeat and felt cute in.
day twenty-five
Wearing & Other Stories sweater; Madewell skinny jeans; Everlane 40 hour flats; Linjer crossbody bag (10% off with code “mademoiselle10”)
I think I’ve probably worn this oversized sweater from & Other Stories with all the “bottoms” in my capsule. It’s truly shone as one of the hero pieces, and I’ve had to stop myself from reaching for it daily. Funny how the items you end up loving can sometimes be so unexpected. I loved the juxtaposition with this outfit; you have the sloppy nature of the sweater, balanced out by the elegant silhouette of the shoes and structured choice of bag. Definitely a styling decision that I’m finding myself inherently drawn to a lot more these days.
