Monday, May 14, 2012

Capsule wardrobe: spring/summer

The updated capsule wardrobe for spring/summer does not come with many surprises, most pieces are staples which make a perfect canvas year after year, although some generic items have been renewed over time (jeans, t-shirts, blazers etc).

I usually don't include 'one-off' pieces in these sheets, but I fell in love with the coral jeans (collage #1), and know I will wear them a lot this year. The tunic tops are included because of the many requests I received on how to combine printed wardrobe pieces with scarves.

As always, the sheets are just an estimate of the clothes I think I will be reaching for most over summer, which of course is not so easy to predict before it has even started. The mood might slightly change over the next few months, or new items might be discovered.. I have therefor kept the total number of pieces to eighteen, allowing me to add/exchange a few as we go along.

Hope you'll enjoy the upcoming accessorised variations, and wishing everyone a great summer ahead xx



 



Collage #1:
row 1: white jeans (Hilfiger), navy blazer (Esprit), blue jeans (Hilfiger)
row 2: cotton tunic blouse (Comptoir des Cotonniers), coral jeans (Gérard Darel), tunic (as before)

Collage #2:
row 1: shirt (The Kooples), top (Lauren by Ralph Lauren), white shirt (Anne Fontaine)
row 2:  dress (un, deux, trois), trousers (The Kooples), cardie (Esprit)

Collage #3:
row 1:  Blazer (Prada), cardie (Banana Republic), dress (Tara Jarmon)
row 2:  T-shirt (agnes b.), trousers (The Kooples), top (Marks&Spencer)

31 comments:

  1. Oh goodie! Since I have found your site I look forward to these so much. You do such wonders with wardrobe staples; you have such a talent in combining shapes & lengths, and accessorizing so artfully. I truly look forward to your future postings :)
    Gigi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Gigi, thank you for the lovely comment and for sharing the fun. Hope you will enjoy the upcoming twists of the capsule caleidoscope!

      Delete
  2. Our styles might (occasionally and after a lot of training on my part) be similar, but as I see it now, your organization skills will always exceed mine by far! Still cant't hurt to at least try and make another effort; therefore now on my way to the closet to sort through my stuff. ;-) Cheers to summer; here's a virtual bellini for you, dearest MT - xox, Macs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chin-chin, dear Macs! Bellini cheers to closet organisation, and to a long and wonderful summer ahead! x

      Delete
  3. Echoing Gigi's sentiment, I'm pulling up a chair and will be on the front row to see what permutations you'll create!

    What I really admire is that these are time-honoured staples we actually see you in over time, not eighteen new items bought to make the wardrobe 'construct'. I also like that you have purchased the eighteen from a variety of sources - top end designers alongside department store items.

    The only problem is the angst when one of the tried and trusted staples wear out - I'm currently trying to replace some fitted t shirts in black, white and navy with something similar. You wouldn't believe how hard is to find the right fit as well as durability!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You appreciation of the 'time-honored staples' is such a nice compliment, many thanks! All of the above are much loved..they work extremly well and have never let me down. Like you, I dread the day when they give up. Sometimes, when I find a great new addition, I buy a couple more, as a reserve. The durability of course only shows over time, and often has no correlation to the brand or price tag... the Marks&Spencers top is more than ten years old, and has been machine washed over and over.. it still looks like new!

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. Merci. C'est toujours un plaisir, chère Lara :)

      Delete
  5. Bravo !Tres jolie garde robe Que vous pouvez accessoiriser avec pleins d accessoires de differentes couleurs .
    Vivement que nous puissions sortir nos vetements d été car la temperature et peu clemente en se moment dommage!
    J aime enormement la capsule noire.
    Bien amicalement.
    MYRIAM

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. La capsule noir est mon préféré aussi, il est toujours chic. J'espère que le soleil va sortir pour le jour férié demain! Amitiès, MT

      Delete
  6. I love reading your site! I have recently embraced the capsule wardrobe philosophy after so many years of having a stuffed closet and yet feeling that I had nothing to wear. It has transformed the way I dress and it is so much easier not. Wish I had know of this concept long ago. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many thanks for the lovely comment. So wonderful to hear the capsule approach works and has been great experience. Hope you'll continue to enjoy the blog :)

      Delete
  7. I look so much forward to seeing the capsule wardrobe into action, dearest MaiTai! Like Gigi Colibri says you "do such wonders" with it :-)
    I have learned so much with you, and these posts are some of my favourites. Merci beaucoup <3 M x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awh, many thanks my dearest! I love the capsule series too, it is such a good representative of how I feel about fashion. Have a wonderful rest of the week x

      Delete
  8. I love the way the coral jeans stand out , they call to me loudly ! I'm a great fan of the coloured jeans out this year with one proviso : they must be coral or raspberry in colour . I'm convinced they can look chic and fun at the same time, especially in your magic hands !
    And thankyou for sharing your sources : it's so very difficult to find these staples [ My personal favourite is Uniglo ..]
    Now I'm longing to see you scarfing it up !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope you'll also enjoy the upcoming looks and pairings :) Many thanks also for sharing your tip, I'm off to google Uniglo...!

      PS. I'd love to have a raspberry pair of jeans too!

      Delete
  9. I'm looking forward to seeing Ms. Sanguine Picotin with the khaki pants, white shirt and those fabulous new coral-and-pink loafers! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great suggestion Pam, thank you! Our dear Trudye suggested a virtual cut out doll game a couple of years ago, looks as if we are almost there!

      Delete
    2. Oh, how much fun that would be if we could drag-and-drop your wardrobe pieces onto a "paperdoll" MaiTai! Ha! I'd never get any work done!

      Delete
    3. Ah, my dear friends, les poupées en papier sont arrivés! An app for your iPhone which lets you enter your individual wardrobe items. Then you may put these pieces together into 'looks'. If I knew how to do it I would put a photo here. The app is called Stylebook.

      Delete
    4. Awh, the joys of the virtual world! Wish I could implement the app here.. Thank you for sharing, dear Gigi.

      Delete
  10. Loving those coral jeans, MT - great summer color and will work with so many of your lovely scarves!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am in love with them too! They might give my beloved jeans and black pants a run for their money!

      Delete
  11. I too love those coral jeans! I can see them going with so many of your lovely scarves. I'm looking forward to seeing how you style the printed tunics too.

    I've been trying to think of a capsule wardrobe for each season and it does help to find a 'uniform' of sorts to work with.

    Now, I just need the weather to improve!!

    Hope you're having a lovely week,

    Melusine x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah the weather! Very volatile here too. Went to Paris on Tuesday and had to revert back to winter capsule pieces.. it's been really cold and rainy. Hope the sun will be back with us soon again!

      Delete
  12. Add me to the growing list of coral jeans fans, they are fantastic. I'm loving all the coloured jeans around at the moment and will definitely be shopping for a pair soon. Your new capsules pieces shout out spring/summer, will be looking forward to the pattern and scarf posts... Ax

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome to the coral club, my dear A! This color should work well in autumn too, and would be lovely with browns, greys and black. Pattern and scarf post to follow soon! x

      Delete
  13. My dearest MaiTai,
    Once again you've given us the perfect concise wardrobe blueprint! You are truly the most wonderful and generous teacher - so very much looking forward to your masterful creations. The cheerful coral jean is just so dear, and also loved your reply to dear pussywillow - I too buy extras when I find "the one" as they are virtually impossible to replace. Wishing you a most wonderful summer, my dear MaiTai. Sending you much love with big big hugs always xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your lovely words are so dear to me, thank you my sweet friend <3 And so nice to know we share yet another habit, warm hugs to you. Have a most wonderful summer too, and a very happy weekend ahead xox

      Delete
  14. I love your Capsule wardrobe Posts! Life can be so easy if you have a couple of basics in your closet. It's nice that you added the Labels.
    Have a lovely evening!
    http://greenpinkorange.blogspot.de/

    ReplyDelete