Summer Capsule: One Month In!

Happy day, dear reader!

Whew! I can’t believe it’s a week into July already! Summer is running away from me far too soon. And I thought summer would go more slowly once I wasn’t teaching… Ha! It’s been about a month living with my summer capsule, and so far, so good. I have been quite happy with how it has been working for me, both for work and play. The balance seems just about right. If you missed my earlier summer capsule posts, here are my pre-planning thoughts (I was really done with spring’s capsule.), how I solved the inspiration disconnect, and how the execution finally played out.

In June we went to the beach for almost a week. It was lovely, and a breeze to pack for from my capsule. Here’s what I ended up packing…

I didn’t need both the jean jacket and the cardigan, but I never know, and with A/C temps at Arctic in restaurants and shops, I like to have a layer to pop on when needed. I threw in the jeans at the last minute. There was room, and something told me to take them; I’m glad I did! We were lucky to be staying in a place with a washer and dryer, so I could throw clothes in each night with the day’s swimwear, and everything stayed fresh. I’m a happy girl when I don’t bring home two or three loads of dirty laundry!

A new adventure for my capsule (that was not figured into the planning) is the #100outfits100days challenge. The goal is to wear 100 different outfits 100 days (in a row?). Some participants (with much larger wardrobes than I) are not rewearing items; with my capsule, that’s not happening, but I certainly should be able to create 100 different outfits by varying combinations and accessories! If tracking my progress sounds like fun, you can find my daily posts on my Facebook page. Come on over and “Like” Closet Play Image, and algorithm willing, you should see each day’s outfit pop up in your feed! The biggest benefit to the #100outfits100days challenge is that between Instagram, and FB, I should have a record to see what items from this capsule are getting the most wear. That should help me make better choices for the future, and spend more wisely. (Always a goal for me!)

So far summer has been incredibly casual, with relaxed client appointments, and only two grown-up-dress work events. I am good with summer being less formal in our ghastly Georgia heat and humidity. Structured and fitted looks are just too hot and constricting…

Upcoming events include a wedding later this month; I am honored to have been asked to read! I’m not sure what I will wear. It depends on what fits! (Sound familiar?) I have a small capsule of special occasion wear that I will likely dip into for the upcoming nuptials. I did buy a lovely blush colored dress that is hanging in my closet, tags still attached, because it was too small. It was unflatteringly snug (Yes, even with shapewear!). The store was sold out in the next size, in store and on-line, so I thought “What the heck!” (I do NOT advocate buying things that do not fit, but hey, I, too, am human, and I really, really, REALLY like the dress. So tags on it is, and we’ll see if I drop a few pounds before the big day. I expect it will be returned. Just keeping it real, here.

Goals Update

One of my summer inspirations was to let my Denim Diva out to play more frequently, and that certainly seems to be happening! Between my denim jacket, chambray shirt, recently fixed (Thank you, Miss Eubie!) denim dress, and denim shorts, I have worn denim more than half the days of the challenge so far. If I throw in my white denim jeans, that number jumps even higher. I am all over the denim on denim trend this summer! If that feels like too much “jean’ for you, here are some tips to make denim on denim more wearer-friendly…

I’m still not (f)rocking my dresses as often as I’d like (a 2018 Style Resolution), but that may just be the extra casual turn this summer has taken. My dresses are certainly not “dressy” by any standard, and it may be time for a week-of-dresses challenge just to get me on my way. Or a 1-Dress-7-Ways-7-Days.  I do these kind of little “challenges” periodically to shake up habits and try out new ideas, and (most of all) because I am a learning junkie, and challenges like this are a great learning experience. (And they minimize the number of decisions to be made in a day!)

My pearl-pile crush has already moved on to the statement earring phase (cooler in the heat). Statement Earrings can be an acquired taste, and mine might not even register on your earring radar! But, I know me; I go through accessories binges… I’m fickle, and that’s okay. One week I may wear a neckerchief every day, another week I may be crushing on a particular necklace and wear it every day, so the pearl pile is likely to have another run. Wearing something different every day is neither necessary, nor desirable. If that’s heresy for a style blogger, buy me a cute charm with “heretic” on it and I’ll wear it with my pearl pile!

How about you? How’s your summer (or winter if you are in the opposite hemisphere) wardrobe working for you? Any holes, or surplus you have discovered? How does a week of dresses challenge sound to you? Or 1-Dress-7-Ways-7-Days? Which might you like to see? I think I’ll leave the choice up to you… Let me know your choice in the comments below!

Stylishly yours,

And a heartfelt thank you to Nancy at Nancy’s Fashion Style and Shelbee at Shelbee on the Edge for the Link-Ups! Also, many thanks to Catherine at Not Dressed as Lamb for hosting her weekend Link-Up!