You readers have spoken, you LOVE it when I do wardrobe capsule posts. The good news is, I also LOVE doing them. I don't know if it is from years of practice or just how I think, but my brain thrives in this area. It's just naturally easy and I quite enjoy the task. Given the fact that last week I focused on a work capsule, this week I decided to do a minimalist mom wardrobe capsule for all you moms out there who don't need a lot but who also have multifaceted lives that call for a variety of looks. However, even if you aren't a mom, this casual capsule can still be helpful.
Let's take a better look at the entire minimalist mom wardrobe capsule, consisting of nine clothing pieces, several pairs of shoes and just a few accessories, along with explanations of why I chose these pieces, followed by twelve different looks I created.
Minimalist Mom Wardrobe Capsule
Where are the skirts and dresses?
The first thing I want to point out is that this capsule is devoid of dresses and skirts. Had this been a spring/summer capsule this might have been different. However, with the operative word being minimal, my goal was to only choose items with the utmost versatility. Dresses and skirts can be great for super casual days in the summer but I don't consider them as versatile in the fall and winter. Pants, leggings and jeans, however, do have greater ability to be dressed up or down during colder months. However, this is not to say this has to be law. If you are someone who prefers dresses and skirts for your super casual mom days, please don't let me stop you. This is an example of a capsule, not the only way to build one.
Keep it basic
Next, I stuck with the basics. If you look at the capsule, there is only one patterned shirt. I consciously chose this to ensure greater mix-and-match ability for this mom wardrobe capsule. If you want to keep things tight and interchangeable, avoiding too many novelty tops is the way to go. And it should be noted that I started first with that plaid shirt from Madewell. and built my color story from there. When placing a novelty item in a capsule, start with that piece first and build around it.
Vary your shoes
The key to a mom wardrobe capsule is to vary your shoes. When I work with full-time moms, I understand the last thing they want to do is change their entire outfit after a morning at the playground and then a meeting later in the afternoon at their child's school. The key for them is to be able to keep the base the same and then vary the accessories they wear with it. With just a shoe change and maybe the addition of some jewelry a mom take their very casual outfit and make it look more pulled together. I'll show you how some shoe and jewelry changes can upgrade a look in the outfits below.
You don't need a lot of jewelry, but have some
Your lifestyle, if your job is as a stay at home mom or if you also work, will determine how much jewelry you need. Of course, it's also personal preference too. There is certainly no rule saying that a stay-at-home mom shouldn't have a lot of jewelry. But if you are more simplistic or prefer not to be bothered with it, have at least a few pieces on hand that you can use to spruce up your looks. What may seem like a pain will actually save you a lot of time because you'll be able to grab those jewelry pieces to upgrade your looks without an entire outfit change.
Okay, are you ready to take a look at some outfits? Here are some minimal mom wardrobe capsule looks to help you further take advantage of this wardrobe idea.
Outfit #1
Outfit #2
Outfit #3
Outfit #4
In this outfit, I took the same leggings I used in the first look and dressed them up using this tunic sweater from Boden, cognac boots from Sam Edelman and navy earrings from Trina Turk. Remember, when it comes to creating a versatile mom wardrobe capsule, it's not just about the ease of swapping out shoes and accessories to change up an outfit, but how you can take one piece and wear it with completely different clothing items to make it look different.
Outfit #5
Outfit #6
Here I am taking the plaid shirt and just dressing it up slightly. No, this is not a dressy outfit, but it is one that takes super casual up a slight notch and offers more variety with less. In this case, both the shirt and the jeans come from the same manufacturer, more likely guaranteeing the burgundy shades in the jeans and the shirt will work together. The booties are a step up from slip on sneakers and I simply used the stud earrings to keep it casual.
Outfit #7
Outfit #8
Outfit #9
Outfit #10
Outfit #11
Outfit #12
I hope this mom wardrobe capsule helps you create your own casual capsule in your life. Even if you don't have kids in tow, you can use these tips to get more with less.
