I have plenty of clothes. I mean, not a like a half-a-Kardashain’s worth of clothing or anything, but I bet I have about an Osmond’s grandkids worth of clothing and shoot, who needs more than that? So this fall I decided that instead of shopping for new stuff (OK, except for 2 new tops!) I’d shop my closet. What I mean is that I have a lot of stuff that I don’t wear often, but I’d LIKE to wear more. Most of the time I default to wearing jeans + T + cardigan combo, mixing it up with shoes and accessories to keep that look fresh. And honestly I still love that combo, BUT I have enough clothes, I just need to take the time and figure out how to put them together in ways that are comfortable for me. And when I say comfortable, I mean how it feels from a sensory standpoint (like if my jeans don’t have a healthy dose of lycra in them, then they better fit my body LIKE A GLOVE because ain’t got time for pants that squeeze in all the wrong places) and how they make me feel feel.
I know I’ve got a good outfit on when I don’t think about how I look. I feel comfortable, confident and fully-myself so I don’t think about myself at all and instead I can focus on slaying all day. But when I have an outfit that doesn’t fit well, or just doesn’t feel like me I’m pulling at it a lot, trying to get it in that one right spot that makes it all look OK, and I feel awkward and I have that feeling you get when you’re not sure if you’ve got something in your teeth because is everyone looking at me weird?
I finally spent some time going through my closet, putting some outfits together focusing on pieces that I want to wear more. I’m really glad I took the time to do this and I hope to do it again soon as I pulled some great outfits together many of which I’ve already worn (one of which I’m wearing right now). I’m going for lots of layers, coziness and bringing the 70’s silhouette back into my wardrobe, YAS! I focus on a few of the same pieces used in different ways–bell bottom jeans, chunky cream sweater, overall denim jumper, rust colored button down. Here’s what I came up with.
I’m all about layering a ribbed turtleneck and here I do it two different ways. One is under my favorite beautifully textured sweater by Jamie and the Jones, and in the photo at the top, a summer shift dress (that I actually made. DIY here.) I think both of these outfits have me feeling that 70’s girl vibe and I am here for it! Really I think a ribbed turtleneck layered under a short sleeve gives it that vintage 70’s feel, and with the addition of my favorite vintage Frye boots I’m good to go. What I love about that look too is that it has that perfect Fall cozy factor, but also the skirt with bare legs helps me feel a little cooler so I don’t overheat. (Easy to do in Fall weather that starts out cooler and warms up as the day goes on.) The turtleneck and sweater paired with bell bottoms below (they’re back! Not boot cut, legit bells.) + my clogs also giving me life! These are two of my favorite lewks from the whole closet shopping event.
Keeping the bells, clogs and the same sweater going, this time I just swapped out an extra-long white button up for a little tunic-y vibe. It works.
Next, just like I did with the tunic, I wanted to use my denim overall jumper and see how I could work that to make it work for Fall.
I took this jumper and added a chunky sweater, booties and boom. Dishes are done man. I want to try this with more sweaters because I really dig this look and think I could go even chunkier. (and cozier!!!)
Then I switched out the sweater underneath the overalls, and put on a button-up (one of the new shirts–I love it) paired with a favorite cardigan. Still love. Cozy and cute.
Finally, taking the same button-up again, I’ve paired it with my favorite denim culottes and then a Teddy bomber from last season that I love, but again didn’t wear too much. Pretty simple stuff, but again I love it. (Especially with my black glasses that I don’t wear that much since I love contacts, but this outfit makes me want to wear them more.) I dig this jacket with this outfit as a great throw-on if it’s chilly, take-off if it’s warm piece. Again, Fall temperatures always going up and down in the same day make easy layers a necessity for me. Alright, that’s it! I honestly can’t wait to do this again and see what I come up with. What about you–would you ever shop your closet? Do you have clothes you keep around but don’t quite know how to wear them? What if you took some time to try out outfits and new combinations just to see what would work? I only spent about an hour doing this, so I really want to do it again and dig a little deeper with interesting combinations–sweaters under dresses, dresses over jeans.. the sky’s the limit!
These looks are SO GOOD! Slay is right. I don’t know if I have enough good pieces to really shop my closet. My kids are 2, 4, 6, and 8 y.o. so not only do I not have the time/desire to ever go shopping (can’t the well-fitting, awesome clothes just magically show up in my closet?! lol I’ll even pay for them – just don’t want to do the shopping part!), but my body has been in flux for so. many. years. that clothes from before I had kids not only don’t fit the same now, but they’re totally out of style (low-rise jeans, I’m looking at you). Also, there’s snow on the ground here, so I need to figure out looks-like-fall but warm-enough-for-winter outfits (. Cause I’m not ready for a true winter wardrobe yet (plus it will still get way colder here…). But you are inspiring me to make the effort!