Clothes shopping can be an overwhelming experience. When curating a small wardrobe, here’s how to know what to keep and what to leave on the rack.
Overcome These 3 Common Clothes Shopping Mistakes
When you have a small wardrobe, having a variety of clothes is key! These small wardrobe shopping tips will help you stay focused.
I’m not going to lie. Some of them take a lot of willpower to implement. But not only will the save money in the long run… you’ll always have something to wear.
3 Rules for Buying Clothes
Shopping. Shouldn’t there be rules for buying clothes?
Because here’s the thing about shopping for clothes, it can really go up or down. Am I happy with the weight I’m at? Then shopping is a knockout-good time. Don’t know what I’m looking for? Well, then we get into the gray territory.
When I don’t know what I want, I tend to buy anything. I’ll fall for all the latest trends, regardless if I’m really in love with them or if they even fit in my current wardrobe. Then, a week later, I’ll have major shopping regret when I find that not only does the garment not really fit me but it doesn’t go with anything else in my closet.
So, how can you tell if you should actually buy the clothes you like?
Summer Outfit Ideas for Moms
You are melting from the heat. Don’t worry! These summer outfit ideas will help keep you cool and are practical around kids. They also work perfectly with a small wardrobe. I’m melting from this heat that we have here in AZ. 110 plus humidity makes me want to stay in my swimsuit all day, but I have kids to pick up and errands to run so that’s not an option. If you are a regular reader, you know that I am a huge fan of Stitch Fix – the monthly subscription box that delivers clothes specifically selected for me to my front door. I’ve been I’ve been receiving these boxes for a year and a half now! In this fix, I specifically requested clothes that would wear well while I chase around my two-year-old but also be appropriate for the business events I’m now attending as a blogger. In this post you’ll see what I got and also get a lot of great recommendations for summer attire that is comfortable, casual chic and looks awesome. In this post, you’ll see what I got and also get a lot of great recommendations for summer attire that is comfortable, casual chic and looks awesome. The best fabrics for heat are: cotton – It’s a natural fiber so it allows air to circulate and move freely around your body. Also wicks away moisture. Won’t make you sweat in dry heat or humidity. chambray – it’s cotton!! Just with a higher thread count. rayon – thinner than cotton but it won’t wick away moisture. Best for dry heat. linen – Made for the heat! One drawback is that it wrinkles easily. However, no need to iron. Simply spritz yourself with water and let the wrinkles fall out. blends- Either cotton, polyester, spandex, linen or nylon combined with another material. Think your favorite gym outfit or the yoga capris I’m wearing most days this summer 🙂 In a nutshell, you have three versatile outfit choices for summer: Dresses Light Blouses with Denim Skirts Dresses for Summer Outfits Dresses work perfectly for summer. Not only are they breezy, but they are a complete outfit! Simply slip one on and you’re dressed! I loved the shirt dress trend that was popular… oh, 20 years ago. However, then, I never looked good in any of them. This Olive & Oak Peyton Dress made of rayon was light, airy and looked fantastic on! The hem was also unique as it dipped down a little farther in the back than the front. I was a big fan of the color too as it just made my skin look so delightfully peachy. The hem was also unique as it dipped down a little farther in the back than the front. I was a big fan of the color too as it just made my skin look so delightfully peachy. I loved the spaghetti straps and cutout around the collar of this Pixley Tammi Floral Dress. I could easily dress this up […]
What Stitch Fix Teaches me about Style
The way I dress myself has vastly changed in the past year. Not only was I transitioning out of maternity clothes, but I started receiving Stitch Fix boxes last February. Stitch Fix has completely changed my thoughts about style. Mainly, how to put outfits together only choosing and purchasing pieces that I love Ready for this month’s Stitch Fix? Let’s begin! First my closet: Have you done Stitch Fix yet? Before I get into my latest fix, let’s take a field trip. These are all of my tops and dresses. Notice that I have it color coordinated starting with reds on the left and progressing through the rainbow with whites, blacks and grays at the end. There is just one item out of sequence that bugs me when you look at this picture. Trust me, I just ran to my closet to change it. Do you see it? Am I OCD? No way. Ask my husband, I am not technically a tidy person. But, I’ve learned that when I choose outfits its easier for me to find the top I am searching for if I organize my closet this way. So much of putting together an outfit is about finding colors that complement one another. I find this organization makes my life easier. And then shoes: I have a few more shoes than this… but I am currently contemplating donating the ones not pictured. Too much stuff overwhelms me so I try to keep it simple. When I buy shoes I want then to fulfill a specific purpose and coordinate with as many outfits as possible. Putting an outfit together used to be a very stressful event for me. I would pick out a shirt and some pants, but they wouldn’t look quite right together. Or my outfit would look too plain and I wouldn’t have the slightest inkling on how to make it right. Thankfully, Stitch Fix includes style cards with each piece of clothing they send. So here we go: Brixon Ivy Lex Textured Floral Knit Fit and Flare Dress I loved the full skirt of this dress along with the texture. The picture on the right has very simple styling so I went with it. No accessories on this one for me. I felt that the pattern would overwhelm any necklace I owned. Plus, I kind of knew I wasn’t going to keep it because I bought a dress very similar to it in the last Stitch Fix. But, it was very enjoyable to curtsey in. Staccato Coballi Drape Front Cardigan Immediately I saw that the dress in the look on the right was fairly similar to the Brixon Ivy dress. The main difference was that the Brixon Ivy had a lot more white in it than the dress on the style card, so I knew it wouldn’t provide as much contrast. Cute look anyway, but I wasn’t in love with either item. So, back to Stitch Fix they went. Margaret M Emer Printed Cropped Straight Leg Pant I […]
Stitch Fix 11
The doorbell rang. The dog started to bark. My kids were both having an afternoon snack at the kitchen table. I peeked out the window and onto my front step. Tucked in between the flower pot and doorframe was a cardboard package with a teal emblem. Stitch Fix time! I’ve mentioned in my previous posts how I no longer go clothes shopping. Stitch Fix now knows exactly what I like since I have used the service for just about a year now. My clothing choices are shipped to me. I get to try them on in my own home, mixing and matching pieces with clothing that I already own. Then, I send back anything that I don’t like. This time, I was searching for a new top (or two) to add to my wardrobe. Something bright and colorful to add a little vibrance. Here’s what I got: 41Hawthorn Teresa Colorblocked Sleeveless Blouse I love this blue! And the orange as well! The top was very flattering. The fabric was a little heavier than I expected, but that was a benefit. Overall, I decided not to keep this one. I have a lot of sleeveless blouses and I find I’m not choosing to wear them often. So, I sent it back. Lovapella Dellen Chiffon Striped Thermal I loved the contrast between the two fabrics in this shirt – a thermal on the top and a black chiffon trim on the bottom. I didn’t like the fit of this though. The picture above is after I pulled it down over my chest. Every time I bent over, the fabric would ride up on me and everything would accumulate under my armpits. I sent this back. 19 Cooper Blanchette Tie-Neck Peasant Blouse Ohh.. the color. This emerald just made me feel so fancy and pretty. At first, I thought I would hate this peasant top. But once I put it on, it won me over. It’s so bright and spectacular! I have no color like it my wardrobe, so I kept it! Honey Punch Gillian Striped Open Cardigan This fabric was super cozy. It had that yarn-knit, homemade feel. However, the arms were a little odd. Do you see that seam halfway up my forearm? It’s where a typical shoulder seam would be. When I extended my arms to side, I got a little bat wing pose. The fit made me feel clumsy so I sent it back. 41Hawthorn Jace Dot Print Fit & Flare Dress I definitely appreciate every body part I have. That said, there are certain areas I like to accentuate and some I prefer to minimize. My hips are one of those areas I like to downplay. This dress makes them very prominent. I love the texture though and the colorful is a beautiful blue. However, my hips don’t lie and I sent the dress back. I only kept one piece of clothing from this Stitch Fix box which I consider a minor victory – both for my minimalist goals and […]
Stitch Fix #9
This Stitch Fix post is a little late because… I sent a box back! Gasp! It’s true. When I opened my Stitch Fix box in mid-November, I was underwhelmed. The clothes were too similar to clothing I received from Stitch Fix before including one dress that was identical to the one I bought before, just in a different color. It didn’t excite me. I didn’t love it. So, I emailed customer service and shared my concerns. They graciously agreed to comp my styling fee ($20) and offered to send me out a new box immediately. I agreed. The clothes I received in my new box were unique and fun. They even prompted a little dance party. Let’s begin: Kut From The Kloth Deanna Colored Skinny JeanBrown jeans.. I love them. So different from the usual denim that populates my closet. This look screams fall, and even though its winter, I loved these colors on me. Kut from the Kloth is fast becoming one of my favorite brands as I now own many of their clothes. I kept the pants ($78) Tart Rikki Gathered Waist Printed DressThis was a hard decision. Overall, very flattering.The pattern was vibrant. I loved the keyhole near the top. The issue here was price ($128). I couldn’t justify spending that much on it. It’s definitely not a dress I could wear every day or chase after my son while wearing. Perhaps if I was teaching right now, it would have made an excellent work dress paired with a blazer. However, it doesn’t fit in my life right at present, so I sent it back. Brixon Ivy Fallon Mixed Print Sleeveless Blouse Kut From The Kloth Masie Faux Leather Panel Pencil Skirt I felt very confident in this outfit. The top had an interesting and unique print.I loved that the skirt had a faux leather panel while the rest of it was made of cloth. This made the skirt very moveable and not at all constraining. I believe it was the inspiration for my dance party.I didn’t keep any of it. Again, while fun, I have absolutely no place to wear it. This would be another great work outfit paired with a light sweater. But since I’m not working,I decided that it would be out of place in my day-to-day wear. Someday, maybe 🙂 Octavia Mondo Colorblock Cross Stitch Infinity Scarf My son joined my dance party for this scarf. I loved this scarf! It was soft and warm. I also loved the mixture of blue and brown in the colorblocking. But, I had to say no. I own a scarf in brown that is chunky like this one. I felt they were too similar to each other. So, I sent it back. Overall, my Stitch Fix box was a ton of fun. It’s good that I only kept one item, because I would honestly bankrupt myself in clothing if I bought the whole box every time. If Stitch Fix looks like something you would like […]
Stitch Fix #7
This box marks my seventh month of Stitch Fix. I still love receiving my box at my door every month and putting together these monthly fashion shows! I’ve noticed a few changes in my clothing habits since I started getting these boxes.I no longer get cheap clothing. What I mean is that I don’t haphazardly buy clothes anymore. Every clothing purchase I make is now thought out and planner. I don’t haphazardly buy clothes anymore. If I see clothing I like in a store, I think about what I own that I can style it with. Everything is more planned. I have fewer clothes that I wear more often. With Stitch Fix, these pieces are pulled especially for me. The items I choose to keep – I love! This means, I want to wear them over and over. My wardrobe is much easier. I no longer make excuses for my style. I have more confidence at events because I know I look good. It’s an awesome feeling! If you are new to Stitch Fix, allow me a short explanation. Stitch Fix is a monthly (or more or less) subscription box containing five pieces of clothing or accessories picked especially for you by a personal stylist depending on your preferences. You try on all the pieces in your own home and send back the stuff you don’t like. For more Stitch Fix, please check out my previous posts here. This month, I requested an outfit to wear to this weekend’s Blended Blogging Conference here in Phoenix. Here is what I got in my box this month: Kut from the Kloth Tatiana Graphic Print Button Front Blouse Level 99 Giovanni Straight Leg Jean I styled this combination two ways. Above, you see that I cuffed the jeans and wore the shirt loose with minimal jewelry. This is a great look for my typical day-to-day as a mom.Then I can easily dress it up by unrolling the jeans, putting on a pair of heels and including the Pixley Page Chain Necklace that was also included in this fix. All three of these items were keepers. I loved how I felt in all of it. I’m wearing this outfit for the first Friday night of the conference. Andrew Marc Brodee Envelope Collar Sheath Dress. I felt fabulous in this dress! It was fitted, but not at all tight. I also loved the collar.So unique and different, yet classic at the same time. I kept it, yet I have no idea where to wear it. Date night, perhaps? Sanctuary Shaylene Graphic Print Back Cut-Out Blouse The print jumped out at me right away when I put this blouse on. It is so different from everything I own. I also love the cutout in the back. And, since Stitch Fix basically knows my entire wardrobe by now, my stylist suggested I pair it with my black-and-white striped blazer.Not a combination I would have ever tried before, and yet it works wonderfully. I kept this shirt as […]
Stitch Fix #6 & Link-up
My newest Stitch Fix post can be found here. It’s is safe to say that I am hooked on Stitch Fix. If you are new to my Stitch Fix posts, please check out the first five here. I love seeing the box at my door every month and the surprises that await me when I open it. This month was the first that I requested specific items that I saw on other blogger’s Stitch Fix posts. My stylist found both of my requests, but sent them in slightly different colors that suited me better than the originals. Let’s get started! I loved the color of this shirt! In fact, I owned another shirt in the exact same shade. Owned being past tense because the cut never suited me. This was suddenly made clear to me when I tried on this shirt and realized just how flattering it was. The back has a large scoop so it makes this shirt different than most. There is also a built-in bra. Not enough support for me though, so I still plan on wearing a bra with this. Kept It! It’s hard to tell from the picture, but this shirt is extremely sheer. I wore a white camisole underneath. It had a very interesting criss-cross back, but not interesting enough for me to keep it. I just felt like this shirt was ok. I’m also not a fan of color blocked arm straps. I sent it back. Again, just OK. Perhaps it is me being pickier, but I now have a very strong sense of what I am looking for in clothing. In this dress I felt that the pattern was so bold and dark that the dress becomes the center of attention, but you don’t notice the person wearing it. I sent it back. One of my favorite pieces. I’ve noticed this specific cardigan pop up a lot lately in Stitch Fix posts such as in this one from Maria at Kinder-Craze and this one from Jennifer at Elementary School Garden. Jennifer describes it as wearing a cloud of love, which I have to agree. I just felt artsy in it. It’s like no other sweater I own and the color is super flattering. Since it is so different from everything else I have, I asked our Facebook community about it. Based on their advice, I kept it. Sometimes you have clothes that you put on and they just make you feel pretty. This top is exactly like that. I saw it in Elementary School Garden’s Stitch Fix post and I requested it for this one. At first, I was disappointed that it wasn’t the same dark blue color, but that disappointment quickly disappeared when I tried it on. I love the embroidered detail around the neckline. I love the racer back and I love the hemline. This one was also a keeper. Think this looks fun? You can try Stitch Fix, too! Please click on my referral link if you decide […]
Stitch Fix Review #5
Do you hate shopping for clothes as much as I do? It’s so hard finding something you like with all the choices available! We’re digging through racks, hoping that an item will look good on us and then taking pile after pile to the dressing room. Add taking our kids with us and it’s enough to make us want to curl up into a little ball and rock ourselves back to our happy place. Clothes shopping is so hard! Which is why I don’t do it. No, I don’t walk around naked, but I have stopped shopping in the mall or even Target! I use Stitch Fix instead. Getting a Stitch Fix is always like opening a beautiful and exciting present! What is Stitch Fix? Stitch Fix is your own personal stylist! You fill out a quick quiz, stuff a Pinterest board with your favorite styles and YOUR OWN STYLIST (!!!) sends you five items that she thinks you will love. You try everything on in your own bedroom, assessing in your own mirror and mixing and matching with the items you already own. You keep what you like and send back what you don’t. Sending it back is easy!! Included in every Stitch Fix box is a pre-paid return envelope. You check out on the Stitch Fix site, give feedback and request new items. Easy, right? Want to see what I got?