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Things change after having kids: your sleep patterns, your daily activities, the shows you watch and the music you listen to, and for me…my style! Before I had my girls, I worked in retail for a few years. I was constantly bringing home cute new pieces and had a well-established wardrobe. Now, things don’t fit how they used to, and not all of the items I wore before work with my new lifestyle. I knew my closet needed some work but felt a little overwhelmed trying to do it on my own. That’s when it hit me – I work for Carolyn, the queen of all things classic style.
Now that it’s getting warmer, I needed to invest in some clothes for summer. I gave her a budget and told her to try to create a summer capsule wardrobe for me. I have no idea what she picked out, but I know there’s a mix of higher-end, investment pieces, and more budget-friendly options.
Watching the packages arrive at my door one by one felt like Christmas! My husband wasn’t nearly as excited though. 😉 Now that all of the packages have arrived, it’s time to open them up and see what Carolyn picked out!
Madewell
The first thing I pulled out was this Lightspun top and shorts set. I already know I’m going to LOVE them. They are beyond soft, and the button detailing on the back of the top is adorable. I’m 5’9” and the shorts hit at a great spot!
I pulled out two different dresses. The first one I took out is the same lightweight, breathable material as the previous set, just a different color. When I held it up, I immediately thought of how perfect this would be to wear on a day-date wine tasting. Not only will it be great throughout the summer, but I think it will be a year-long staple. It’s versatile enough that you can wear it casually with sandals or sneakers, and can easily be dressed up with espadrille wedges!
The second is a black and white polka dot dress with beautiful detailing. After trying this one on I realized it’s pretty see-through, but I have a nude slip that I can wear, so it’s not a huge deal. I’m obsessed with it and can’t wait to wear it!
The last thing from Madewell is this pair of jeans that I’ve been wanting for over a year. I love the material, I love the cut, I love the high waist…the only thing I don’t like is that I have to exchange the size! 😉 I haven’t ordered jeans in years and guessed what size I needed. I was wrong! Going down one size should make them fit like a glove.
Everlane
The next package is from Everlane. There are only two items in here – both items I’ve been eyeing!
These jeans are amazing, but just like the Madewell pair, they are slightly too big. I’m going to exchange these ones too and hope they fit better.
I was on the hunt for a versatile pair of sandals and these are absolutely perfect. Whether I’m wearing jeans and a tee or a cute summer dress, I’ll definitely get a lot of use out of these!
H&M
This is definitely the biggest package, and, the one that might have a couple “miss” items.
I’ll start with tops. First up is this linen blend blouse. I want to preface this by saying it is so. stinking. cute! But, it is cropped and I have a really long torso, so it might be a tad too short. Aside from that, I love it!
Next up we have this v-neck cotton blouse. It’s not something I would have picked up for myself, but that’s part of the fun of this! This blouse looks so sophisticated and I definitely see myself adding this into my rotation.
The last top from H&M is a button-down linen blend shirt. I think this will be a great addition as a lightweight layering piece! I’m envisioning wearing this with jeans, a white bodysuit, black sandals, and gold jewelry. So chic!
Moving on, there was one dress and one jumpsuit. The dress is right up my alley – balloon sleeves and all. It’s so cute! It’s long sleeve, but the fabric is so lightweight I’ll definitely be able to wear it in this humid Midwestern heat. It is unlined though, so I’ll have to wear a slip underneath to make sure you can’t see through it.
The next item is a black and beige striped jumpsuit. It’s waaaay out of my comfort zone, but it somehow works? The fit of it is really flattering and I feel good in it! I’m going to keep it around and wear it on a date night or something. I don’t know that I’ll wear it frequently, but I think it’ll be a good occasion piece.
There was only one bottom in this order – a pair of high waisted linen blend shorts. I feel like these are really flattering and I can tell they’re going to be really comfortable. Love them!
Target
The last and final package is from none other than my favorite place on Earth. Target! This box happened to be exclusively sandals, and a good variety of casual and dressy. Funny enough, I recently bought myself some of these sandals in different colors!
We’ll start with the ones I’m keeping. These comfy slides aren’t necessarily the most attractive shoes on the planet, but they are wonderful for wearing around the house/running a quick errand. I already have them in black and am really excited about this beige pair!
Another pair I already own (just in nude) are these braided sandals. They’re super comfortable and offer a more elevated look than a simple leather sandal.
Next up is a pair that I’m undecided on. These quilted sandals have me torn. I think I love them but I can’t decide. 😛 I think these would be best paired with a more athleisure style, which I do wear quite a bit, so maybe these are exactly what I need to help elevate my outfits.
The last item Carolyn picked out is a pair of strappy sandals. They look cute online but unfortunately aren’t great in person. But, out of everything she picked out, this is the only thing I don’t like, so I think this is a great success!
My Final Thoughts
I think Carolyn did an EXCELLENT job of putting together a mix of chic summer items to add to my wardrobe. These are all comfortable enough for me to wear in my day-to-day life but still offer a well put-together look. I’m so excited to put outfits together using these new pieces and see how they fit into what I already own.
It’s not an entire summer capsule wardrobe, but I’m well on my way! If you’re in the process of building yours as well, be sure to check out A Capsule Wardrobe for Summer – that’s where I’m headed! 🙂
