Cropped trousers and summer shoes

I don't know what I was thinking wearing cropped trousers and summer shoes yesterday.  It was sooooooo cold.  Even my 4 year old was complaining that I needed to put a warmer coat on her. Spring cleaning my wardrobe seems a bit premature now as I have to be pulling out woolly jumpers and coats from my winter suitcase.

Three weeks ago the weather was fab but the last few weeks especially the weekends have been extremely cold for spring. The weather fluctuates throughout the day so you really have to layer up so that you could layer down when it gets warmer all in the same day. It reminds me of travelling to the warm caribbean in winter.  I leave home in my winter clothes but dress sensibly enough so that I can strip off layers as I go along.  When I get to the airport the winter coat is the first to go and is packed away in the suitcase before checking in providing there is room.  Since I tend to be cold on airplanes, I keep on my sweater or cardigan and long sleeve jersey which I strip off on the plane just before landing in preparation for stepping into the warm caribbean sunshine.  Under all of these I am wearing a vest.  Perfect for the blast of warm sunshine I am about to encounter.

But I'm not going to give up of the summer wardrobe just yet.  I'm going to keep layering up with v neck print cardigans like this Orla Kiely cardigan which is just the right colour for spring summer.

One basic tee and jeans - four looks

How can you get three looks from one basic tee and jeans? The answer lies in your jackets and accessories such as shoes, belts, jewellery. When Gok Wan talks about the 24 piece capsule wardrobe, it sounds incredible to operate with such a limited wardrobe and still find different looks. The first thing that comes to mind is "Gosh I'd have to wear the same clothes everyday". The idea is that the pieces in your capsule wardrobe should be interchangeable with each other. Sounds like some sort of fashion currency but it does actually work especially when you have quality pieces that flatter your body shape. Less is definely more when it comes to your capsule wardrobe.

Lets take your basic tee and jeans.  This is a basic mustard coloured long sleeve tee shirt and a pair of denims which can be worn on its own or teamed with three different jackets to create different looks.  For the more dressy look go for the long brown corduroy coat.  I just love the inner lining of this coat which really accents well with the yellow tee.  High heeled shoes is perfect for this look. The yellow jacket is an absolute show stopper.  This short or cropped jacket in yellow with it's extravagant sleeves can really add "flair" to your outfit.  The most casual of all the looks is the denim jacket which depending on the occasion can be worn with flat summer shoes or sandals and turned up jeans hem.  Again the trim of this denim jacket sets off nicely against the yellow tee.  

So 5 pieces, 4 looks and you still have 19 pieces to mix and match from your capsule wardrobe.  Does not sound so impossible after all.  Imagine creating even more looks with this basic tee and denim by accessorizing with belts, unusual jewellery, head scarfs and shoes?