Blue Manolo Blahnik Hangisi flats c/o Clotheshorse Anonymous
A little over a year ago, I wrote 20 Wardrobe Must-Haves, but today, I wanted to do something fun by giving you a smaller, more condensed list. Think of it as an capsule investment wardrobe if you will.
I’ve been really honing in on my shopping style within this last year. Because I have financial goals as well as wardrobe goals, I’ve been changing the way I shop and am careful in terms of selecting what pieces I buy. That and following bloggers who are buying everything just because it’s “adorable”, “cute” or on sale has helped with my goals. Seriously, it’s great sales resistance method for me!
Here’s what I think should be in a capsule wardrobe!
Blazer
It doesn’t matter if it’s black or white (felt a little MJ for a second there), a sleek blazer can be a topper on a dress at a gala when it gets cold. You’d stay warm and look chic. And obviously, it can be worn to the office or on weekends with a plain tee and jeans. My pick? Balmain. Always and forever. One day, I will own a black double-breasted Balmain blazer. And when I do, I know the investment will be worth it because it’ll be my go-to “finisher” for my looks!
Classic Trench Coat
One of the greatest things you can add to your investment wardrobe is a classic topper for those cool Fall evenings or rainy Spring days. A trench coat that covers your butt and hits you just above the knee is the perfect light coat to own in my opinion. My brand preference? You guessed it. Burberry. And the style I would pick? The Kensington Mid-Length Trench Coat in the color Stone.
Silk Shirt
An ivory silk blouse looks good with trousers, skirts, jeans or layered under a jumpsuit or sleeveless dress. Dressed up or down, you will always look on point. Personally, I don’t believe in spending hundreds of dollars for a top so my pick would be this silk blouse for under $160. I look for quality and then just wait for a sale and pounce!
Silk Cami
A great yet basic top to layer with. Wear this silk cami backwards and throw a blazer over it for the office and for drinks with the girls, turn it back around. Blazer optional. Seriously.
Versatile dress
Obviously an LBD is the best choice. However, if you’re into color, choose a shade you can wear to the office, wedding or parties. For me, I recently nabbed this black bell sleeve dress on sale for $99 with an additional 30% off (sale is still happening!) and have no doubt I’ll be wearing it a ton to work, weddings and black tie events too.
Medium wash Jeans
To me, medium wash jeans are the best in terms of looking put together without a “too casual” vibe. I asked my followers their favorite denim brand and the verdict? AG. So, I’m pinning this pair of high-waisted medium wash skinny jeans and this pair of ankle jeans to remind me to try them on first for fit comparisons to other brands I love. My wallet will be sad and happy at the same time when I invest in a pair or two!
Dark or black Jeans
I love, love, love black or dark wash jeans! To me, you can elevate your look and still feel comfortable for certain occasions. I wear my black jeans to work with a long tunic blouse and no one knows, ha! Shhh! In this case, I’d still check out the AG brand.
Pumps
A pair of basic pumps without a super high heel that you can wear to the office and to dinner afterwards is a win in my book. I tend to go for black leather or suede for a sleek look. The classy classic of all pumps? Manolo Blahnik. Since my current pair I bought from Dillard’s years ago is wearing down, my picks would be the BB pumps in grey with a 3″ heel or these BB pumps in black leather.
Dressy Flats
I’m a flats girl through and through so if I’m going to wear them to the office, I’d like to have a party on my feet! I’d also have an excuse to wear them to weddings or showers too. In my case, these blue Manolo Blahnik Hangisi flats took the cake because you never turn down this kind of icing!
Stylish Yet Functional Crossbody
To me, it’s SO important to be able to shop and travel hands-free. My pick for an investment crossbody bag that is stylish and can fit a lot of things is the Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis. Hands down. I mean, I did talk about it for traveling last year. You can wrap a small silk scarf around the handle to dress it up a bit or without a scarf for a relaxed vibe. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wished I had a bigger crossbody when I’m on the road or shopping!
Tote
What can double as a carry-on and a sleek work bag than a tote? For me, I’m personally eyeing the Dior collection. The Diorever Bag in Black Leather is perfect for work/work travel as it can definitely fit a laptop and other essentials or a cute little Mini Diorever Bag that can double as a crossbody bag if you’re not a tote kind of gal.
Stud earrings
I don’t know about you, but if I leave the house without earrings, I feel so naked! Classic stud earrings are the perfect pair to own if you don’t like a lot of jewelry or have time to pick out your accessories in the morning. Obviously, the price is dependent on the size stone and quality metal you want. Personally, I believe you don’t need big-sized earrings, just enough for that glimmer.
To me, it’s important to take my time and make sure what I’m adding to my investment wardrobe is what I truly want. So, what I’ll do is create a secret boards on Pinterest and then pin what I’m eyeing. I give myself about a year minimum to see if I still want it. Then if I don’t, I delete my pin and move on. This has been a great method for me to not buy everything in sight just because it’s “cute” or other bloggers are wearing it.
I’m all about classic style versus trends. Not that trends are bad, but I’d rather invest in my personal “everyday” style first. So on days or weekends when I plan to shop is when I’ll review my boards to give myself a refresher on what’s on my wishlist. So when I’m out and about and end up in a boutique or consignment shop, I know what treasure I’ll be hunting for, but for a much, much smaller price!
If you still want high-quality pieces for your investment wardrobe, but don’t want to drop the cash, check out consignment shops in your area!
SHOP THE POST
Seriously. I’m not kidding. I found these beautiful blue Manolo Blahnik Hangisi flats for under $300 at Clotheshorse Anonymous! Can you take a guess as to how much these babies retail for? I’m telling you, you never know what you will find!
Sorry for the lack of posts this week! I’ve been busy gearing up for a seminar I’m a part of this weekend. I’ll be back to posting regularly next week and oh, stay tuned for a fun follow up on this post! Happy Friday!
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Clotheshorse Anonymous for partnering with me on this post!
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