I have to be honest here... it’s been hard to wrap my head around making a spring wardrobe post for a few reasons. Firstly, as you may (or may not know) I live in Canada and as such, spring can look a LOT like winter. We have these little glimpses of spring/summer only to be brought back to the weather reality: spring in Canada usually involves snow, sleet, crazy winds, down right hot weather and everything in between. Secondly, with everything that’s going on I wasn’t sure if anyone cared about what they were putting on their bodies. As a stay at home parent who often doesn‘t do anything particularly exciting, my dressing habits haven’t really changed and as such I feel that sharing my at home, kid/pet friendly dressing would be helpful. And finally, with all these kids at home (I have 4 under the age of 10), I can’t seem to find the time to figure out what clothes I should include, take photos of them, and then write about them. So here we are... I’m writing this obviously, and you are reading it so let’s get this rolling.
It has taken me a very long time to finally figure out my style. It‘s part preppy, part casual, but mostly comfortable. This means I’m almost always found in jeans but I like to mix more casual/distressed items with more polished ones. So take a hot minute right now and look at what you LOVE to wear in your current wardrobe. How would you describe these items? Are they classic, preppy, bohemian, colourful, quirky etc.? Once you have descriptor words for your style take a look through your closet and try to cull the things that don't fit you, your style or your stage of life.
So, we have narrowed down what our style is, and have taken a good hard look at your wardrobe to decide what to keep, toss and donate. Now comes the FUN part. With the clothing items you are keeping fresh in your mind take a look at what colours and fabrics you are drawn to and that will be the colour pallet of your wardrobe going forward. For me I feel best in denim, black, white and khaki green. This means that large ticket items are usually in one of these colours and anything new I'm adding to my wardrobe will compliment them. I have a few things that are red, mustard, and blue, and they still all work with my current pallet.
Next, let's take a look at what items are missing or you may not have enough of in your closet. Because I stay at home most of the items in my wardrobe are casual and can be thrown into the washer and dryer. I also have a number of items that can be dressed up (for a date or meeting), but don't seem out of place when I wear them with and around my kids during the day. I have some things I think should be in everyone's wardrobe, so let's take a look.
Shoes - Let's keep in mind that in Canada it doesn't really get reliably warm until the middle to end of June so these shoe options will last until I bust out my sandals. For me as soon as the snow melts I never put a boot back on! This summer I have a simple white sneaker, a comfortable pointed leather shoe, and a woven mule. Each of these shoes is comfy, casual and can aide in dressing my outfit up or down. Don't be afraid to wear your sneaks with a dress or jumpsuit for instant cool-girl vibes. Bonus - you will look pulled together and be hella comfortable at the same time
Sneakers Leather Shoes Black Mules (similar)
Jackets - I have my go-to denim jacket. I think this is a great topper year round. During the warmer months you can wear it as a coat and in the colder months it layers nicely under heavier coats as an almost shirt. And obviously one requires a hooded raincoat for when the wind and rain hammer down. The one I have is cotton, but with several layers of spray waterproofing becomes water-resistant enough for short walks in light rain.
Raincoat (similar)
Bags and Hats - That's right, you need a hat (well maybe a couple). I have included a sun hat in this layout for days when we are outside gardening or playing during sunny weather. This one is packable and has been my go-to for a couple years now. You may wish to include a baseball hat of some description to hide your day-two hair . I have two crossbody bags here as I am a mother and can't be messing around with holding onto a bag while chasing my kids around. The first is a simple black bag with a handle and shoulder strap. My second bag is also a crossbody, but the light bone colour and interesting shape make it feel a little special and unexpected. You may want to include a hit of colour here, as it's an easy item to change out if you aren't feeling it, but can be layered on for a little personality.
Round Bag(similar) Black Bag (similar)
Jeans/Pants - Next up is my weakness... denim. I have way too many pairs of jeans, but I'm in them everyday and have been collecting them for years so that's how I justify it. Anyway, in this capsule I have included a black skinny, dark skinny, distressed light denim and a cropped wide-leg style, as well as my light-weight joggers. I think this is a good subsection of what I feel everyone should have in their wardrobe no matter the season. Do you have a dark skinny? Is there a fashion denim such as a cropped flare or wide leg that's missing? Or perhaps you shy away from rips and distressing. Mixing the styles, colours and finishes of your denim gives you more choices about how you want to express yourself to the world. So make sure you have some light, dark and black denim in your closet along with styles that have distressing, and a variety of fits such as skinny, straight, wide leg, flare, jogger style.
Dresses/Jumpsuits - By now you must know I have a thing for one-piece dressing and think everyone should dip their toe in the jumper/dress water every now and again. I have included this lovely red button-front cotton dress, as it's casual enough to hang out with my kids, comfortable as heck, and cute enough to wear out for dinner/drinks or a party/wedding. It's all in how you wear it and what bag or shoes you choose. Add a cardigan or denim jack for when it's chilly and the whole look changes again! Finally my favourite jumpsuit of all time! The green is soft, the fabric structured, and the sleeveless style allows me to layer t-shirts and long sleeves under it, while also not getting bunched if I wear a button-up over it.
Dress (similar in green)
T-Shirts - Find a t-shirt style you like and get it in a few colours. I think black, white, grey and navy-striped are good basics that everyone should have. They can be layered under things for more coverage or warmth. You could try adding an interesting colour like sand, mustard, blush or lilac, or test out an unusual shape like a puffed sleeve, or empire waist. As t-shirts are inexpensive, and I find they need to be replaced yearly if you wear them frequently, you might as well try out new colours or styles here.
Sweaters - Real talk here... spring means cold rainy, sometimes snowy weather so don't tuck away all your sweaters just yet. Sweatshirts and light cotton sweaters are great this time of year and during those chilly summer days. This black one has been worn regularly as it looks great with casual joggers, or jeans, but feels fresh and unexpected layered over my jumpsuit or midi-length dress. A good neutral cardigan will serve you well too. This one is cropped so it doesn't seem bulky or sloppy when worn over a dress or t-shirt, open or closed and the light colour is perfect for transitioning into spring/summer. Finally I have a striped long-sleeve and sweater - I LOVE me some stripes.
Shirts - I'm ending this list with my love affair for button-ups! They may not be your jam, but hear me out. They can be worn open over pretty much anything. You can fully tuck them, french tuck or tie them around your waist. They are light-weight enough to fold up into a purse if you get hot, and they work as a great blanket at the park in a pinch. I like that they make me feel pulled together but require no more thought or care than a t-shirt. I have striped, black, chambray and green khaki ones as well as white. The white prairie shirt is my go-to for getting dressed-up for good reason. It's light weight for when I'm in social situations and the stress sweating starts, and has been worn at Christmas time as well as summer gatherings. It's even made an appearance under my favourite black overalls.
So there you have it. My spring wardrobe in an unreasonably long blog post. Here's the summary:
What's your style? Look at what you love and give your style a name.
Sort it you dude! If it doesn't fit your style, your body, or your life stage then part with it.
Narrow down your colour pallet. Keep it to a few neutrals and a few colours that mix and match well together.
Fill in the gaps. Do you need more jeans, a new pair of sneaks, a great casual dress or a new spring jacket? Make a list of the items you wish to add and decide what will give you the most bang for your buck.
Play around with your things. Try stuff on, lay it out on your bed, see what things look good with what, try out combinations you may not have thought of, and take pictures of your great ideas for when you're feeling uninspired.
Here is a little sampling of the outfits you might see me out and about in this spring.
Well folks, that's a wrap! I hope this helps you to take a good look at what you have in your closet already so you can be more purposeful in your future purchases and can begin to build a wardrobe that makes your feel good, pulled together and most importantly like YOU! Remember to tag your looks with #letsgetstylishwithrobin so we can all see your handy work!
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