Summer has gotten away from me where this capsule wardrobe is concerned, so with no time to spare, here are the items we have added for July and August in a single combined post!
Here is an overview of our warm weather garments at the end of June. This is a pretty good selection, but we definitely have room for some clothes that are best suited to the hottest weather.
Lots of great accessories, of course...though I suspect those scarves will not be worn much until things cool off a bit in late September.
In July, Janice focused on adding a "dressy-ish outfit that resembles either a suit or includes a skirt" for the social activities that have started to pick up again. In August, she started preparing the capsules for fall weather with items like cashmere sweaters, warm pants, and boots. But I really thought this wardrobe could use more lightweight clothing to get through the summer months, so that's where I put my attention.
Outfit #1 is an outfit for a very hot day: a print tank, skimmers (just below the knee shorts), and striped sneakers for some subtle print mixing (and because I don't wear sandals) accessorized with earrings and seed bead bracelets...no necklace or scarf to be seen. But it would also be very easy to throw a topper layer over this outfit for a cooler day.
Blue palm tank - Lands End - 2X - $8.98 - 5/2020
Navy knit skimmers - Lands End - 2X - $24.46 - 5/2018
Clear crystal floral earrings - ?
DIY navy seed bead bracelet set - made by me - summer 2021
Blue/white striped sneakers - Rocket Dog - since the beginning of time
Outfit #2 is a bit dressier with the flowy blouse and ankle pants with a lightweight cardigan as a topper option (though the outfit would work fine without it). I added some mixed metal jewelry, a DIY paper bracelet, and ballet flats in a neutral chambray fabric.
Navy smocked sleeveless blouse - Loft - XXL - $26.70 - 9/2017
Light dusky pink ankle pants - thrifted, Talbots - 20W - $5.24 - 10/2018
White 3/4 sleeve cardigan - CJ Banks - 2X - $11.71 - 7/2020
Gold/silver tree earrings - Target - ?
Gold/silver palm pendant - CJ Banks - $5.39 - 2/2021
DIY navy/white starry sky paper bicone bead bracelet - made by me - winter 2022
Chambray flats - Payless - $16.99 - 6/2015
For Outfit #3, we start with a very casual, basic combination of white tank and denim capris. The white cardigan and chambray flats make a second appearance, keeping the color scheme to a simple cool white and blue combination. This is the kind of outfit that can be accessorized with virtually any color. I went with red in the floral necklace and DIY seed bead bracelet set.
White scoop neck tank - EVRI/Kohls - 2X - $5.99 - 5/2020
Denim capris - Gloria Vanderbilt/Kohls - 20W - $29.99 - 5/2018
Same as above: White 3/4 sleeve cardigan - CJ Banks - 2X - $11.71 - 7/2020
Red floral necklace - Kohls - free with Kohls Cash - 7/2018
DIY red seed bead bracelet set - made by me - summer 2020
Same as above: Chambray flats - Payless - $16.99 - 6/2015
Outfit #4 also starts with a simple outfit formula - a summer version of colorful T-shirt and jeans. The white open weave vest, which picks up the white in the striped sneakers we saw above, adds that third piece interest while not causing overheating. The DIY hoop earrings with the fish charms are a nice lightweight statement accessory.
Dull watermelon pink knot top - Croft & Barrow/Kohls - 2X - $10.71 - 12/2019
Same as above: Denim capris - Gloria Vanderbilt/Kohls - 20W - $29.99 - 5/2018
White open weave cardigan vest - Croft & Barrow/Kohls - XL - $11.04 - 11/2015
Navy seed bead/silver fish hoop earrings - made by me - winter 2022
Same as above: Blue/white striped sneakers - Rocket Dog - since the beginning of time
For today's garment focus, I am sharing three OOTD featuring this blue palm tank. While this is a terrific summer piece, it also works extremely well in the spring to summer and summer to fall transition seasons because the lack of sleeves makes it very easy to layer a cardigan over it. This is a great solution for wearing a cardigan that has mysteriously tight sleeves even when the rest of it fits well (I'm looking at you, Target).
First up is a WFH outfit from last July in which I wore the tank with a "casual suit" of navy short-sleeved cardigan and dark wash denim skirt. (If the tank seems short here, it's a rare instance of my fully tucking in my top!) The solid soft blue lightweight scarf worn draped adds a vertical element to the outfit. Striped ballet flats make for a summery print mix with the palm print...visually distanced print mixes between tops and shoes are so easy to do, and as Jodie recently pointed out when her mom used this trick, it's a great way to dip one's toes (ahem) into print mixing.
Here's a close-up of my DIY seed bead bracelet stack in various shades of blue. I love that sweet bunny charm. (These are actually different from the navy bracelets added to the capsule above, but I coincidentally used the same bunny and key charms for the navy as I did these dark blue ones.)
This is a spring OOTD using an outfit formula that could easily be worn in fall as well: print tank + neutral pants + accent cardigan. For fall, I might substitute a dark blue or navy cardigan for the sky blue...or switch the cardigan out for a blue denim shirt or jacket. I wore some fun knit flats with stripes in many shades of blue for the top + shoe print mix again.
This is another variation on the same spring/fall outfit formula only with a scarf instead of a long beaded necklace. This one uses a monochromatic color scheme that nevertheless has a lot of interest due to the variety of blue shades that are included...light aqua, cobalt, dark indigo denim, and medium blue.
Given the amount of white and blue in the additions today, I chose a blue-eyed white rabbit as our new mascot. Say hello to Bella the Netherland Dwarf! Blue-eyed white rabbits are the result of two recessive alleles in the Vienna gene that override all other genes for color and markings in the rabbit, resulting in this white and blue beauty.
Bella fits easily into our rabbit menagerie with her white coloring and tiny (1-2.5 pound) size. Notice that Rea in the center, a red-eyed white rabbit, looks very similar to Bella except for the eye color, but the genes responsible are totally different! In Bella, it's the recessive Vienna genes that cause the white fur (and blue eyes). But in Rea, it's the recessive C genes that cause true albinism, resulting in no pigment anywhere. This means white fur and red/pink eyes for Rea.
Do you ever print mix your top and shoes? Do you wear a tank underneath a cardigan?
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Fabulous outfits all around, Sally! I am so fond of blue, and you’ve got some lovely shades in these outfits. Totally loving those denim flats. And yes, I do print mix my shoes and tops.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Your tank is lovely and I like the thought you put into building up your capsule wardrobe for the seasons.
The printed tank and striped flats outfit is cute, I only have one pair of printed shoes but I really don't wear them often enough!
Thank you for joining the Weekday Wear link up. Hope you are having a good weekend :)
https://awayfromtheblue.blogspot.com.au
I am planning a capsule wardrobe post in the fall but need time to photograph the outfits. It's a fun challenge to see how many outfits I can create from a limited number of pieces.
www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Wow! You have quite an extensive wardrobe! I like how you combine your clothing pieces, jewelry, and shoes into attractive and varied outfits. And the bracelet stacks are truly your signature, trademark features.
Thank you for participating in Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 31.
Carol
www.scribblingboomer.com
So many cute outfit ideas and I just love your beaded bracelet stack! That bunny charm is adorable.