Capsule Wardrobe Outfit - Summer's Final Florals

With Labor Day Weekend gone, and the unofficial start to fall in full swing, I am eagerly awaiting the cooler weather. 

The promise of chunky knits, crisp morning walks and cozy nights by the fire have left me feeling re-invigorated and excited for what the next few months will bring.

Unfortunately, Charleston hasn't gotten the memo and we still have temps well into the 80's. 

To tide me over until late September and help keep my summer capsule fresh, I am reworking the core pieces with some of my favorite transitional accessories.

Specifically, I have loved wearing a neutral base of core pieces with lightweight layers and richly hued accessories - like my go-to clutch and tortoise shell necklace.

Recently for a semi-cool afternoon, I turned to my favorite white tee and white denim shorts for the perfect base to make my accessories pop, and allow my floral blazer to shine one last time before it goes into hibernation. 

This Zara blazer is undeniably gorgeous. The bold floral print, modern silohette and subdued pink shades are the perfect compliment to a neutral base - which you know is my favorite.  

All-in-all, I loved this look for the late summer weather and will likely re-work it again in the coming weeks. As September grows older thought, I will pair this same tee and shorts with either a light green blazer, or a great sweater and silk scarf in fall hues. That way, I can still remove the blazer or sweater if the temps get warmer in the afternoon, but will still have hints at fall before the season finally begins.

So, as you find yourself growing tired of your summer wardrobe just keep in mind this simple outfit formula for transitional success.

Neutral Top & Botton + Transitional Accessories & Layers (scarves, blazers, bold necklaces, tights)

=

Transitional Outfit Bliss  

What's your favorite way to refresh your wardrobe at the season's end? Do you have any accessories that instantly transform your look for the better? I'd love to know in the comments below!

Also, I have outlined the exact pieces I used to create this look and put together a quick OOTD video of this look that you can view below or on my YouTube channel. 

Outfit Details

Capsule Pieces: Everlane U-Neck Cotton Tee, Levi's 501 Shorts

Accessories: J. Crew Tortoise Shell Necklace

Shoes: Stubbs & Wootton 

Purse: Louis Vuitton Clutch

 

Until next time, 

Audrey

Fall Fashion Haul- 6 Items To Complete My Capsule Wardrobe

In case I haven't said it enough, I'll say it once more - fall is my absolute favorite season! From apple picking to hot cider, cozy sweaters to changing leaves, there isn't a single thing I don't love about this glorious season.

In preparation for my favorite time of the year, I have been planning my corresponding capsule wardrobe and carefully buying a few additions. I have been slowly accumulating these pieces over the last few weeks and months, but have patiently waited to share them until a socially accepted time - also known as the Tuesday after Labor Day.  

Item 1: The Loafer Mule

To kick off this "Fall Haul," I purchased a great pair of TopShop "Kola" Loafer Mules that I shared on Instagram a while back. As you know, I tend to favor classic shoes that are less likely to go out of fashion but recently I was craving something trendier.

To help quench my desire for some cooler footwear I set out in search of a great happy medium - a combo of a classic and a trend in the form of the loafer mule. After countless research and trying out a few not-so-great options I settled on these beauties from TopShop - unfortunately they're no longer available, but these are similar if you're interested.

Items 2&3: Two Blanket Scarves

The next items I purchased to stretch my fall capsule were some great blanket scarves from Zara. I picked up both of these in the recent Zara sale and have to say that they have far exceeded my expectations. While you know that I love Zara, I find that some of their pieces can be a little steep considering their construction and composition, but that is not the case with these.

Both are beautifully made and will look lovely over all of my neutrals this fall. Unfortunately these scarves are no longer available on Zara's site, but I recommend popping into a store if you can and checking out what they have for fall. I personally love this one and this one.

Item 4: A Great Pair Of Jeans

The fourth piece I added to my closet was a great pair of jeans from Madewell. While I tend to favor dark wash denim, I wanted something a little more overtly casual for the cooler weather. During my search I popped into Madewell on King Street and instantly fell in love with the 9" High-Rise Crop Jeans in the Bayview wash.

These jeans are not only really cute, but they fit incredibly well and hit me at the perfect spot on my ankles without needing to be hemmed - I'd say that's a win, win, win! 

Items 5&6: Two Cozy Sweaters

The final two pieces I picked up were the Everlane Cashmere Crew and the L.L. Bean Signature Fisherman Sweater. All-in-all, I am extremely pleased with both sweaters and am literally counting down the days until it's cool enough here to wear them.

The Everlane sweater is a wonderful piece for the price and I think the quality definitely lives up to that of the other Everlane pieces I have and love. The cashmere is super soft and it's the perfect medium weight - not too warm and not too cool making it perfect for layering. 

The L.L. Bean Fisherman Sweater is an old favorite that I needed to replace after my last one was accidentally shrunken in the wash. Like everything else I have ever purchased from L.L. Bean, this sweater is phenomenal and will look so great under blazers and over plaid tops this fall.

To accompany this post I have also filmed a little haul video that you can view below or on YouTube. Before I sign off, I'd love to know what pieces you've purchased for fall. Or better yet, what things do you have your eye on and what's your favorite part of fall? 

Until next time,

Audrey

Today Is Our First Wedding Anniversary!

It seems so hard to believe that today marks our first anniversary! This past year has been full of love, change and growth and I can't even put into words how excited I am for what year two will hold. In honor of today, I thought I would take a moment to share my five favorite things from our first year of marriage. 

We Discovered Rome & The Amalfi Coast Together

It only seems right to start this list off with our amazing honeymoon in Rome and The Amalfi Coast. Neither of us had been to Italy before our trip and to say we were excited would be an understatement!

We were so eager to say bonjourno to Italy that the day after our wedding we loaded up our car, headed back to NY from Maine and boarded a plane hours later. About six hours later we landed in Rome and checked into the loveliest Air BnB we'd ever seen. 

If I had to pick my favorite parts of the trip, they would be our AirBnB in Rome, discovering cacio e pepe for the first time, our meal at La Tagliata in Positano, and our wine tour of Le Vigne di Raito in Vietri Sul Mare. 

The picture perfect street right outside of our Air BnB.

Our apartment windows were dressed in the loveliest curtains and overlooked a perfectly Roman courtyard. 

A gorgeous bunch of organic grapes grown at Le Vigne di Raito.

   The breathtaking view from atop the vineyard.

A few of the dishes we were served at La Tagliata. Each item on the menu consists of only ingredients grown on the premises in the restaurant's organic garden that crawls along the costal mountain side. 

We Said Goodbye To New York

After nearly 6 years in the city, Jason and I found ourselves falling out of love with the city we both adored. After moving to the city following our college graduation, we both hit the ground running and quickly learned why they call it the city that never sleeps.

A few job changes, countless amazing meals, museum visits and walks in the park later we found ourselves growing tired of the long subway rides, inflated rent and lack of fresh air. As our wedding date grew closer we knew we wanted to purchase our first home, but found both the inventory and subsequent property taxes of homes surrounding New York to be out of our comfort zone.

So, in December of last year we made a stop in Charleston during the holidays and absolutely fell in love. Almost immediately upon walking the historic streets for the first time we found ourselves scouring Redfin for available homes in the area, and perusing for local jobs.... which brings me to my third favorite thing.

We Said Hello To Charleston

Six months after returning from Charleston we packed up a U-Haul and headed south. Needless to say, we absolutely love the Palmetto State and couldn't be happier with our decision. This city is everything we hoped it would be and the improvement in our quality of life is undeniable. The only thing we regret is not making the move sooner. 

We Got A Puppy

My fourth favorite thing from our first year of marriage has to be getting our new puppy Maddie (short for Madeline). 

Maddie came to us after my sister rescued her from the streets but couldn't take her in because she's still a student. We've had her for about two months now and we are completely in love!

Not only is she a total cuddle bug, but she is absolutely adorable and has the sweetest little face I've ever seen. As if that wasn't enough, she and one of our cats Jeffrey are completely smitten and watching them cuddle and play may cause my heart to literally melt one day. 

We're Buying A House  

Or at least trying to buy a house. Since moving to Charleston in May Jason and I have been eagerly house hunting for our first home. Unfortunately, so has everyone else and it seems like every day the houses become more depleted while the demand grows.

Never-the-less, we are getting closer than ever to finally finding our first home and can't wait to take this exciting step together! I'll be sure to share updates as we have them and look forward to sharing loads of new decorating and renovation content as a result. 

All-in-all, our first year of marriage has been more than I could have asked for. I consider myself to be extremely lucky, and can't wait to see what the future holds for our little family. 

Until next time,

xx Audrey

How To Plan Your Perfect Capsule + How I'm Planning Mine

September is finally here and that means fall is only 21 days away!! Even though the temperatures are still into the 80's here in Charleston, I'm in full-on fall mode. So much so, that as I type this I'm drinking my first pumpkin spice latte of the season. I guess you could say, I'm in love, I'm in love and I don't care who knows it. 

Anyway, in preparation for the upcoming season change, and some exciting travel Jason and I have planned I have been busy sorting out the pieces I want to include in my 2016 fall capsule wardrobe.

To help you plan yours and get on board with all things autumn, I will be sharing the inspiration behind this season's capsule as well as some tips that I hope will help you as you plan yours. Plus, in the next week or two I will be filming my fall capsule wardrobe for YouTube and I can't wait to share it with you! 

The Color Palette

 

Before selecting the pieces I want to include in each capsule I nail down a color palette that inspires me for the season. 

This fall is no exception and I have found myself dreaming of deep navy, rich rust and luxurious ivory.

To play off of these three colors I am choosing accent pieces like blazers and boots in moss green and soft brown. 

The Pin-spiration Behind My Capsule 

Once I have my color palette selected I head to the mother of all inspiration - Pinterest! Once there I carefully curate a series of looks that convey the outfits I hope to wear, the various pieces required to recreate them, and the mood I want those outfits to convey.

This year in particular I have been addicted to pinning for fall and have saved tons of new inspiration daily. You can follow along here if you love all things pumpkin and cozy as much as I do.  

My Top Tips For Planning A Well-Rounded, Versatile Capsule 

Now that I've shared the direction my fall capsule is headed I want to share the tips that I rely on when planning each of my capsules. 

Choose Your Color Palette

As I mentioned above, the first step I take each season is choosing my color palette.

This step is pretty self explanatory and just includes me looking through my closet at the pieces I have and want to include (what is the main color theme?), as well as researching the pantone colors for the season. After doing both of these things I like to consider the colors that work best with my skin tone, hair color and lifestyle. 

Scour Pinterest, Your Fave Blogs and Real Life

Once you have your color palette selected, scour Pinterest, your favorite blogs and magazines and even the individuals you see every day for inspiration. Take note of the images and outfits that catch your eye and why.

Do you love the simplicity of a plan white shirt, dark denim and bold accessories? Or, do you love how someone has tied their scarf a little differently or even layered their pieces in an unexpected way? By breaking down these points you will not only begin to understand your own style better, but you'll also start to see the pieces you have in a new way.

Who knows, you may even find a million different images for how to wear and style a white shirt that inspire you so much that you opt out of including any other button down. The most important thing about this step is to have fun and remember that you can always add or remove pieces from your capsule if they end up not working out.

Just remember that the objective of capsule dressing is to eliminate stress, not cause more because you feel panicked to commit for fear of being stuck.  

Consider Your Location, Weather and Lifestyle

My final tip is to honestly consider your location, the seasonal weather for your location and your personal lifestyle. As I'm sure you've heard a thousand times, each person's lifestyle is different and your capsule should suit your actual life - otherwise you may end up never wearing half of the items in your closet.

For example, if you live in the southeast, work from home and prefer casual nights in to fancy soirees, then your fall capsule will likely include more flats and casual tops than blazers and chunky knits.

Alternatively, if you live in a major city with cool temps, you work in a very corporate office and have a packed social calendar, your fall capsule may include loads of gorgeous cashmere and sleek boots. The most important part of this step is to be honest with yourself and have fun so that you can come as close as possible to your perfect capsule.

 

Until next time,

Audrey