If I could sum up our winter in one word, it’d be mild. This was the second winter (aside from the first year we moved to Sydney) that I rarely needed to wear a coat. I have to admit, despite my distaste for cold weather, I felt a little cheated out of wearing one of my favourite “staples” in my winter wardrobe. Safe to say, there were a few surprises in my winter most worn items for 2020. Let’s quickly run through them all, and wrap up with a couple of observations. Alternatively if you’d like to see this in video format, I shared a round up on my YouTube channel HERE.
WINTER MOST WORN ITEMS
Wearing H&M blue shirt (sold out but I love this one); Christopher Kane skirt (old but this is cute); & Other Stories cardigan; Vaneli two tone pumps; Ateliers Auguste bag*; Timeless Pearly earrings; Mejuri necklace*; Ana Luisa ring* (10% off with “mademoiselle10”); Rosefield watch
& Other Stories cardigan (size S) | Remember how I had a black cardigan in my autumn most worn? Well, it ended up being a piece I gravitated to even more during the winter. Though the style was a little different. Instead of a cotton/silk mix one I had from Uniqlo (old but this is cute) which doubled as a top, I opted to reach for an oversized wool one from & Other Stories. I wore this thirty times over the course of the winter season, or approximately once every three days. Clearly, it was a huge winner for me style-wise.
What I liked about this style was that it was so easy to throw on with jeans, and a great option to layer over thinner knits if I was feeling especially cold. I also really liked the length. Where it falls is just below my hip – something I found very flattering. It’s 100% wool, and while it has a textured element to it, I have never found it itchy against my skin. One thing to note? It does pill up so requires ongoing maintenance. I usually give mine a once over with a wool/cashmere comb every three wears or so.
Wearing Everlane alpaca sweater* (similar style); Zara jeans (old but similar here); Vaneli two tone pumps(alternate option here); The Curated bag* (I also like this one)
Everlane alpaca sweater* (size S) | I thought I’d mention another knit, because well… winter. The second most worn knit in my wardrobe was this alpaca one from Everlane. I have it in a couple colours, but my favourite of the two is definitely the “almond” shade. I did a review of this sweater a few years back which you can read HERE. I have to say, comparatively I find the almond shade super soft and snuggly – doesn’t give me a single itch. Whereas the charcoal, despite being washed and worn many times, will still tickle me on occasion. My favourite details are the blouson sleeves, and the double layered collar. A style you can’t go wrong with, and one I’ve been toying with adding more shades of to my already well-stocked knitwear stash.
Wearing Grana mens stripe top (old but this is a cute t-shirt version); Madewell skinny jeans* (also here); Workshop utility jacket (old but this looks the same); Vaneli two tone pumps; Cuyana leather tote; Witchery belt
Madewell skinny jeans* (size 25) | I won’t dwell on these jeans too much, as they also made a feature in my autumn most worn. Other than to say, my gosh Madewell denim is good. It’s thicker, and not as “soft” as some of the other jeans I own, but it’s so comfortable, I’m quite happy with the rise (could go higher, TBH), and the cropped inseam is the perfect length on me. Keen to try out some of their other styles, that’s for sure.
Wearing Grana stripe top (old but cute s/s option here); Zara skinny jeans (old but I like these); Workshop utility jacket (old but this is a great similar option); Everlane 40 hour flats*; Linjer cross body bag*
Workshop utility jacket (old but similar here) | Now this is where the first “surprise” piece kicks in. Instead of a coat making its way into my most worn, I found myself reaching for this utility jacket if I ever felt a little cold. I bought this a little over three years ago following a trip back home. And I have to say, it’s one of those classic wardrobe “essentials” I’m so glad I invested in. The khaki colour is muted, and neutral. Hence it goes with everything. It’s a cotton canvas exterior, so is durable, but isn’t too heavyweight. It has a thin cotton lining. Given I wore a lot of black, white and grey over winter, this was a nice way to add in a bit of extra colour.
Nisolo slides (size US9.5) | Perhaps the most surprising item that I wore the most were these slide sandals from Nisolo. When I was looking at the data, I was anticipating that maybe my Vaneli two-tone pumps, or a pair of sneakers might pop up as the most worn. But nope, it was a pair of sandals. Sandals! I wasn’t kidding when I said our winter was mild. Granted, I found myself wearing these mostly around the house. Kind of like a slipper. But as the end of winter was in sight, I also began wearing them out of the house, too. Safe to say these are a shoe I’ll be reaching for a lot as the weather continues to warm up.
I get asked a lot of questions how I managed to get my hands on a pair of Nisolo shoes. The trick is pretty simple; mail forwarding. The service I use (since I was 18!) is Shipito. I’ve upgraded to a premium account so that I can consolidate multiple parcels, but I think if it’s a route you’re curious to go down, you may want to shop around and find the best service for your needs.
A quick wrap up on the shoes; they’re definitely designed for narrow feet. I went up a half size to a US9.5, and I’m glad I did. It gave me a little more wiggle room both across the foot, and length-wise. After wearing them so much, the leather strap has given, and I don’t find that these rub in an uncomfortable way. The nubuck leather is surprisingly robust, and has managed to resist getting any markings, despite the fact that I’ve not been precious with them at all.
Lola Rae top (sold out but this is the original Khaite version); Zara jeans (old but similar here and also here); Witchery belt; Vaneli two tone pumps (also here); Celine trio; Timeless Pearly earrings; Muru Jewellery necklace
Celine trio bag | Finally, my most worn bag was my Celine trio in the light grey goat leather. It’s funny how a shift in lifestyle needs can totally change the way that you look at a bag (as can getting it for a steal like I did). I’ve always thought that the trio was stunning, but I’ve developed a newfound appreciation for it in recent months. I love that I can divide up my handbag essentials into each of the three pouches for easy access. I’m often trying to juggle things around so being able to whip into one of the pouches with one hand is a godsend. And getting it pre-loved has meant I’m not worried about being precious with it, and am happy to bear the cost of repairs if any are needed.
PORTRAIT metro sunglasses* (use code “JAMIE” at checkout to donate 5% of your purchase to MSF) | To wrap up, I also wanted to hone in on two accessories I wore a lot. The first were my metro sunglasses from PORTRAIT Eyewear in the “murano” print. I love the shape, it’s fairly classic, and the smokey grey tortoiseshell adds some visual interest from an accessories perspective.
Vrai & Oro studs | And there’s really only one piece of jewellery that I’ve consistently worn for the past three months. Not even my wedding rings have gotten a look in due to the painful eczema I currently have all over my hands. A pair of simple gold diamond studs from Vrai & Oro. These are super dainty and can be worn in the shower, so I don’t have to think about taking them off. I keep them in to ensure my piercings don’t close over!
SEASONAL OBSERVATIONS
This time around, I thought I’d wrap things up with a few seasonal observations about my winter style. The major point of note for me, was that I did a 30X30 Capsule Wardrobe mid-way through. This was 30 days, and 30 items (clothing and shoes). It was fascinating to me to see that all four clothing items that ranked as my most worn were also ones I’d selected to include as part of my capsule. The interesting part being that I consciously chose to wear those items both before and after my capsule concluded. I’d have thought that after 30 days of cycling through the same items, I’d be perhaps mildly fatigued. You know, ready to explore the rest of my wardrobe instead of returning to the very pieces I’d been limited to for a month.
For me, this signals that they were wise wardrobe additions. A reflection of my personal style – at present – and my lifestyle. I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. Especially as we finally replaced the built-ins in our bedroom. My closet has undergone quite the evolution over the years. I’ve gone from working in a corporate office and going out for drinks weekly, to working in a casual office and staying at home. To working from home – for myself – and then becoming a mum (and juggling building a new business). My requirements have changed. And while I sometimes miss the “old” me, six months postpartum I’m finally starting to feel like I’m finding myself, and the rhythm of my personal style once again. It’s just looks a little different.
There’s not much to report on about my colour palette. Unsurprisingly, it was as neutral as they come. Towards the tail end of the season, I did start to consciously think about how I could add colour in a meaningful way, and have begun to explore how soft/muted sage hues, and rich forest greens work within my existing closet. I’ve been loving these new tones against my complexion, and have found them surprisingly easy to incorporate into my outfits.
So there you have it. My winter most worn for 2020. Would love to know what you’ve been wearing the most! x
