The Black Blazer

Vintage blazer, ASOS t-shirt, Hyde leather pants, Alexander Wang heels, Katherine Dunmill bag, ASOS hat, Misuzi Necklace, Maniamania ring

While it is said that we wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time, I make a conscious effort to use as much of mine as I can. This helps not only with needing to do the washing less than once every 10 days (except for smalls etc) but to ensure I actually use what I buy. I have talked about my capsule wardrobe again and again, but it occurred to me that about 80% of the time, I share clothes on this blog that I do only wear 20% of the time. Like cocktail dresses... Really I don't get around in these everyday, so in an effort to share more of the regular personal style happenings, I have a few outfits to share, that are more everyday. On top of this I have picked one key piece to link three outfits together, which could be described as the epitome of the capsule-must-have-piece in your closet. Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen famously began their label on the search for the perfect version, they are obtainable anywhere, and go with virtually anything... 

Can you guess? I am wearing one above... 

The white tee. You got it. 

Pictured here I am also in my favourite black blazer, which for anyone who has ever lived or worked with me can verify, I wear about five days out of seven each week. Bought at a garage sale put on by fashion people back in 2009 (for $10), this linen blazer (originally sold at a Katies store according to the label) is the right amount of oversize, non tailored and comfortable. It does not have huge shoulder pads, and rolls at the sleeve perfectly. If ever in doubt, I will throw this blazer over any outfit and call it done. In the case of what on earth to wear with a pair of soft white leather track pants (something I NEVER expected to own), I tried many jackets, but this one got the job done. The softness of the leather is so beautiful. Cut so thin, they border on looking like pyjamas, so a somewhat structured blazer keeps it looking outdoor worthy. My advice is to hit op-shops with a black blazer in mind, and make sure to look through the racks carefully to find one of good quality. Otherwise, you can pick one up most places, I have added a list of some I have found for you below. 

So there you have it, one item I wear 20% of the time (tricky white leather track pants), one I wear 80% of the time (black blazer) and one I could wear everyday for a year. I really could do that- 'the white t-shirt project'. 

Some black blazers to recommend: 

Luxe: J-Crew, Theory, Country Road

Less: ASOS, ASOS, Witchery

Shots by Mario Recchia

xx Jenelle

Building A Capsule Wardrobe: Dresses

I will confess something, at one point a few years ago I had accumulated more than 100 dresses. They took up one entire wardrobe, and I wore little else. These were for day, night, dressy or casual occasions, work, or just simply amazing vintage finds I had to hold on to. 

This life of excess did not bring me any closer to being ready on time to go out- or solve the issue of finding the right thing to wear. I needed more shoes, bags, hats, jackets etc to go with them. It became a nightmare. I had different prints, patterns, colour, shapes, styles, fabrics… you name it. 

At one point something had to crack, and they had to go. 

Sometimes now I realize that at times, I dress like a boy. I don't even mean to, but I look down and, there it is- long shorts, an over-sized t-shirt and sneakers. 

I do however love to wear dresses. This is where I find my feminine balance. Dresses can if chosen correctly, save you time and make you feel confident.
When writing about the must have dresses in a capsule collection, I realize it all comes down to personal body shape. For that reason I have made two lists and collages, one for my body shape (see above) and one as a general for other body shapes (see below).

I have a small waist, and try to emphasize this. I have a small bust and tend to try and direct more attention toward my legs, rather than chest. In an ideal world, I would have a 20cm longer torso, and my bust would be a little bigger to create the 'perfect' proportions. I would also have better eyesight and not have scoliosis. Rather than focus on what I do not have, I dress with my shape in mind, and can at times create the illusion of a well proportioned shape. I like dresses to come in at the waist, and generally flare out a little, like a skater skirt (but not too hugely a la Dior's The New Look, that's too dressy for me). A non clinging pencil skirt I am down with (without showing awkward under ware lines)- it has to sit right. I also prefer to share my lower legs rather than upper, so for the most part most hem lines finish slightly above or below the knee. If I do wear a shorter mini length dress, I try to balance this out with a longer sleeve length. I don't mind showing off shoulders, but tend to vary sleeve lengths to balance out a hem length- it is all about sharing the right amount of skin. 

In my capsule collection I house a number of beautiful occasional dresses- mostly of silk, or beautiful french lace, which I spent far too much on, but try to make the most of. I think here is where the cost per use thing is completely imbalanced, as unfortunately I do not wear these many times each per year. I find it too easy to scope out beautiful occasional dresses. Really though, you only need ONE killer cocktail dress and one LBD! Finding good everyday dresses is a little bit harder, but staple shirt dresses are flexible for multiple occasions and t-shirt dresses are relaxed and comfortable. I try to avoid synthetic fabrics- like nylon and polyester, but will admit that some of my favorite Lover dresses are made from Poly (please switch back to a better fabric!). This means I can not wear them in hot weather, as those fabrics do not absorb water- meaning your body can not breathe and sweat gathers underneath the fabric. Just look at the care label before you commit to buy and bare this in mind.

My breakdown of the 'Must Have Dresses For Any Woman' (My body shape-- collage above): 

- 1x White Cotton Day Dress (embroidery or some detail make a nice touch)

- 1x Grey Marle T-shirt Dress (roomy, comfortable and perfect all summer)

- 1x Black Lace Dress (Handy to have ready to go for any special occasion)

- 1x Cotton Shirt Dress (tailored at the waist is nice to add shape, stick to a neutral colour)

- 1x Chambray Everyday Dress 

- 1x Cocktail Dress (make sure you invest in a well fitted, comfortable dress in your best colour)

- 1x Striped T-shirt Dress (a classic sporty or slightly nautical look for everyday wear)
1x Beautiful Skater Dress (can be styled up or down for dressy or casual looks)

My breakdown of the 'Must Have Dresses For Any Woman':
In the second collage (above), I found dresses I think are good staples for women of curvier body shapes:

A v-neck on a slightly bustier woman can be really flattering, particularly when paired with an elasticated or tied waist. The floral print and snake print dresses below both also use a print to keep the eye moving rather than settling on a block colour. Choose patterns which draw the eye across the body, rather than in premium curved areas where the eye may rest for the wrong reasons. The wrap dress, when worn with the right shaping underware, will smooth out the silhouette, again hiding bumpier areas, same goes for a body-con dress like this red one. The red body con dress below works for a lot of women who aren't afraid to show off curves.

 A maxi dress on a woman taller than me (in my opinion I do not wear many of these as I am so short that they swamp me a little) looks amazing, worn with sandals or a slight heel. Again I chose a v-neck here to demonstrate how to show off curves and an elasticated waist to draw that in comfortably.
For a woman with killer legs, the black mini dress with long sleeves is perfect for showing off her assets, without overdoing the skin sharing on top- balance. ;)
 The curved strapless dress style, paired with a draped hemline can look amazing on a curvier woman (my hat goes off to you if you can hold this up without your bust falling out- it's a fine line!). Finally a patterned tunic dress is bohemian, suits all body shapes, can be thrown over swimwear in summer or tights in the cooler months. Love it. 

Have any 'finding the perfect dresses tips'? Please share them below!

If you have missed any of the 'Building A Capsule Wardrobe' series, check out the previous posts here. 

I will be bringing you more of this sort of post in coming weeks, so stay tuned.

xx Jenelle

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Building A Capsule Wardrobe: Skirts

You may look at my series of Building A Capsule Wardobe and think that the list in each category is quite long. You are correct in thinking that you could make do with less, indeed you can. I have been listing what I think to be the minimum basics to give you everything, but in each category you could pick a few items to get you started, and build from there. I haven't listed a bunch of links or suggestions of specific items to buy, because I have tried to choose items that you can find anywhere or at anytime. For example, I have a pleated skirt in an oxblood red by Lover which you have seen on the blog a couple of times, but I also have a grey vintage pleated skirt that I was given by my Nana. The point is, that these items are meant to be mostly classics, things that you will keep wearing until they fall apart.
Some handy rules I have when it comes to skirts… it is all about getting the proportions right for your own shape. 

I always wear a heel with any skirt that falls below the knee, otherwise I look frumpy and small, like the skirt is wearing me, not the other way around. I am really not able to pair a ballet flat and pencil skirt together and pull it off. Tread with caution if you are planning to do this, I have seen very few women who actually can. Pencil skirts are so flattering, I love the silhouette, as they follow the curve of the female form. I have added a lot to this list, because they are so damn good, and can be dressed up or down, either with a t-shirt and casual jacket like a leather or denim jacket, a knit jumper (the front tucked in) or dressed up with a blouse and blazer. I love to mix up wearing skirts to work, casually or to a dressy event, it feels very feminine, or rock and roll depending on what you choose. Dresses may be easier to throw on and run out the door, but a good skirt is so elegant and fun.  

This is my list of 'Must Have Skirts For Any Woman':

- 1x Midi length pleated skirt in grey, black, cream, oxblood, navy or tan (wear with a t-shirt or blouse and pair with a heel- the length works best with a little height) 

- 1x Light grey pencil skirt, (team with t-shirt, blouse or cami and blazer and pumps)

- 1x Cream or White split pencil skirt (team with a black tee, leather jacket, shoulder bag and peeptoe ankle boots and seriously nail it man!)

- 1x Lace skirt in a knee length or longer (team with a cami, blouse or t-shirt and strappy heels)

- 1x Pastel coloured pencil skirt (this neoprene one is a fave, I love neoprene!) 

- 1x Grey A-line skirt in a mini length (perfect for work, transeasonal)

- 1x White or Cream mini skirt (pictured here is a flippy skirt, just for fun, I like the fluting.)
- 1x Black leather mini or pencil skirt (choose the right thing for you, and dare to wear it anytime!)

If you have missed any of the 'Building A Capsule Wardrobe' series, check out the previous posts here. 

I will be bringing you more of this sort of post in coming weeks, so stay tuned. What skirts do you rely on?

Happy Capsule creating! 

xx Jenelle

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The Perfect Little Black Dress

Georgia dress via The LBD, ASOS heels, Chanel Brooch, 4th and Bleeker for Billabong Clutch, Ray-Bans, Vintage Jag Denim Jacket

In my last post I talked all about the perfect little black dress, adding one to your capsule wardrobe and all about the new online boutique The LBD. I can not recommend this brand enough and its unique site. The concept and execution is just right, and I can see it being a really reliable one stop shop for women of all shapes, sizes and ages.

There are so many ways that you can personalise and style a little black dress. Add a belt, jacket, heels, sandals, converse, jewellery and more… anyway you like. Since this Georgia dress arrived from The LBD I have worn it non-stop. Featuring a cap sleeve, a rounded neckline, classic waistline with a flat bind waist detail and A-line skirt, it is comfortable and flexible to style. The cut is perfect for all body shapes. For me I would maybe take up the hem a little, as it comes up a little long on me but then again I am not super tall. I love the blind hems and minimal seams which reduce bulk, it is super flattering.

 Here the dress goes from dressy to casual with the addition of my beloved vintage denim jacket gifted from my Mothers wardrobe. A classic denim jacket is such an easy throw over and compliments a black dress without making it seem too formal. Pinned to the dress is my Chanel brooch, a present to myself for turning 30 last year. Saving up for a Chanel bag is still on the bucket list, but for now, this little gem is a welcome treat and a nice touch to a black dress. 

 I love to wear a really bold lip like this, it creates such confidence, and when getting the hue right, can create that 'pop' of the eye colour. From Gwen Stefani to Miranda Kerr, a great red lip always draws the eye.

xx Jenelle

Shots by Mario Recchia

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Building A Capsule Wardrobe: The Little Black Dress

"When a little black dress is right, there is nothing to wear in it's place." -Edith Piaf

During the 1920s Chanel created a little black dress which popularized black dresses for women. After her lover Boy Capel died in 1919, Chanel wore and made black dresses inspired by the women in mourning she had seen in the French villages as a child. In 1929 Vogue printed an image of one of Chanel's black dresses in their article on Parisian Fashion. Implying the popularity and instant long term appeal of the 'LBD', Vogue dubbed the dress 'the Chanel Ford', linking it with the popularity of Henry Ford's Model-T motor cars. 

Ford was known to have said "any customer can have a car painted in any colour that he wants so long as it is black". 

Practical, flattering and sophisticated, the little black dress could carry women from the afternoon through the popular cocktail hours. Made from crepe de chine, the 'Chanel Ford' dress featured a slashed neckline, a bodice that bloused slightly at the front and sides, a tight bolero at the back and diagonal pin-tucks across the front. It was simple, elegant and very in keeping with the modern way of life. Over time the dress grew to become a staple in the wardrobe, as women heeded Chanel's advice. 

"One is never over nor under dressed in a little black dress."

In 1961 the world went a little mad for the wardrobe of Holly Golightly, elegantly portrayed by Audrey Hepburn, dressed in Givenchy for Breakfast At Tiffany's. Personally this one is my favorite. Adopted each generation in a different way, the little black dress is synonymous as the essential item in a women's wardrobe. Today it can take you across any occasion, it can be styled simply or paired with accessories. I love that a black dress offers a reliable outfit in my wardrobe that I can turn to knowing I will have something to wear, no matter the occasion. Somehow, even wearing the same one again and again, (something a little taboo of a printed or coloured dress) is not an issue. Should you choose to wear a little black dress again and again, it is simple attributed that you have 'style', are 'classic' and elegant. 



Cue The LBD. New to Australia, The LBD is a manufacturer and online retail boutique with a unique concept certain to revolutionize how women source and select their perfect LBD. Finding the perfect LBD until now, could prove to be a challenge. Fit, price, availability and seasonal collection changes all conspire together to make it a challenge to find the right one for each woman. Over the past 12 months, the design team at The LBD have been crafting the capsule collection, built around classic, timeless designs to create a versatile foundation wardrobe. Each LBD is available in styles to enhance the individual customer's assets. These days the average Australian adult female is an average size 14, but the LBD designed to suit body shapes rather than label sizes. Adapting necklines, sleeve and skirt styles and hemlines, there is a whole range of silhouettes to choose from, each dress is made of trans seasonal high quality fabric for year round wear. The site also features a unique Dress My Shape Guide complete with a shape guide and calculator. Each dress has been sized against its counterpart, meaning the sizes remain the same no matter which style of dress you choose. I personally find the unstandardized clothing sizing system in Australia to be extremely frustrating. I am a size 8, no a 6, no a 10... or all three, depending on a garment or brand. Not with The LBD! I calculated my size, and it fit perfectly.   

I will share my outfit post in the dress I chose in the coming days, (below is one of my styling boards I have made up featuring it) but in the mean time, I thought I would share a link to The LBD so you can check it out. I can not stress enough how useful a little black dress is in building your capsule wardrobe! 

If you have missed any of the 'Building A Capsule Wardrobe' series, check out the previous posts here. 

I will be bringing you more of this sort of post in coming weeks, so stay tuned, and please share any comments or ask any questions below. 

Happy Capsule creating! 

xx Jenelle

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Building A Capsule Wardrobe: Pants and Shorts

Let's get it straight, pants, are the greatest freedom. Pioneering for women to wear pants was one of the greatest things women like Gabrielle Chanel ever did. Now, I love dresses, skirts and feeling feminine, but I like to do this with a touch of manliness. The juxtaposition between male/ female is the perfect spot to reside in for me. Comfort, is a major factor for me when it comes to getting dressed, women who kill themselves to fit into something uncomfortable for days on end make me frustrated. A lot of primping and product application can be fun, but everyday it is just tiring. I am not a fan of lots of hairspray, product, etc. I do love to dress up and feel beautiful, but I do not like to sacrifice my sanity and comfort to achieve this. In the world of fashion, I often feel perplexed watching what I dub as 'overdressed' women. Posing in platform neon heels, a bikini and bangles for photos is confusing. Wearing heels on grass, is confusing. If you are going to an event like the races, or a picnic, please do not wear heels! I feel at odds with myself the second I step on to unsturdy ground in a heel- even if this is for a moment. I find flatform shoes confusing, they are just so unattractive! The list goes on, but at the end of the day, to each their own.

I wear jeans, a lot. For a while, when I had gone through a super girly phase, jeans really bothered me. I hated seeing them on everybody- all looking the same. The thing is though, it is comfortable, often warmer, and you CAN personalize your style even if you are simply 'in jeans'. These days they are also widely worn in dressier circumstances, with a good pump heel, or ankle boot they can elongate the legs and look amazing. Find a good brand and stick to it. For me I love Rag and Bone, J-Brand (they are worth the $$ because the fit it is incredible), Sass and Bide, Dr.Denim and One Teaspoon. 

I do prefer to wear trousers or jeans as an everyday thing- rather than when going out for dinner, to a show or the like. For occasional wear I will switch back to a skirt or dress. Don't underestimate how valuable a well tailored black trouser can be, they will come in handy, are great for the office or official business and work in summer or winter. I ensure I have a matching black blazer, just in case I want to suit up.

For years I thought shorts were for men in summer, for Mickey Mouse and for children. I didn't see that they had much of a place in a womens wardrobe. It took me a while to see how I could feel like they were appropriate and found a place in my own day-to-day. Now I wear them all summer, and consider them to be a staple- again, in my day-to day, I leave shorter shorts out of the office and prefer not to wear them out to an event or dinner. They certainly can be worn in dressier ways- when tailored correctly, I feel they can look rather nice. The trick is to get the proportions right. A short short with an exposing cami top feels to me like I am showing too much skin. A cami top and longer shorts, is a little better, but best suited to culottes. Shorter shorts I feel team up best with a shirt or tee which has full or 3/4 length sleeves. When it comes to buying denim shorts I tend to go up one or two sizes, so they are looser around the thigh area. It is more flattering that way, and gives you plenty of room to move. I don't mind the torn hems, as long as the overall short covers your butt (ensure you bend down when you try them on- just to check you actually can without exposing cheek!) and I tend to stay away from embellishment, at least when building the essential capsule wardrobe.

Here is the breakdown of my 'Must Have Pants and Shorts For Any Woman':
- 1x Dark Denim jeans (skinny, fitted or flared- to suit your own body shape best)
- 1x Blue, Khaki, Bone, White or Oxblood coloured jean (again to suit your own body shape)
- 1x Torn 'Boyfriend' jean (I love the One Teaspoon Awesome Baggies, buy in a size or two larger)
- 1x Black linen long shorts- around knee length, slightly wide in the leg
- 1x Black tailored dress trousers for occasional wear and office wear
- 1x Black jeans (again, in a cut to suit your body shape)
- 1x Light Grey suit-shorts, can be short or longer, wear with an elegant flat or kitten heel for a dressier look
- 1x light washed denim or black denim cut off shorts (long enough to house your butt and worn tastefully!)
- 1x White leather shorts (or black- you would wear both, but start with one)
- 1x Black Leather Shorts (I wear mine too much!)
- 1x Culottes (not pictured) midi length, wear with cropped tops or blouses

If you have missed any of the 'Building A Capsule Wardrobe' series, check out the previous posts here. 

I will be bringing you more of this sort of post in coming weeks, so stay tuned, and please share any comments or ask any questions below. 

Happy Capsule creating! 

xx Jenelle

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Building A Capsule Wardrobe: Shirts, Tops and Jumpers

Having a wardrobe of shirts, in neutral colours is utterly essential. We know this, we are taught that wearing shirts is important and professional from an early age. My telling you this is not groundbreaking news. If you are anything like me though, you have a love / hate relationship with shirts. I hated wearing stiff, voluminous, uncomfortable shirts as a school uniform. Worse still, mine had an elongated, odd shaped collar, and random wide unflattering pleats running down the front, a few centimeters either side of the buttons. I think this was to hide the fact that some teenage girls had grown breasts, and it was a conservative Christian College, after all. While that was never my issue, I did find that my Mum (love her) had chosen to purchase all of my uniform items in sizes far too big at the beginning, thinking I would grow into them. I never did go from a size 6 to a 14. But of course, I had to dress as though I did, meaning my shirts gathered in excess fabric at the back, under the arms, and came down to my mid thighs. At least they were almost entirely cotton, with only a touch of polyester. Any more poly and I think I would have tried to catch Chronic Fatigue. Needless to say, I avoided wearing shirts, and took even longer still to commit to purchasing them after I graduated. 

Also I HATE ironing. 

Now though, I am aware of the incredible shirt options afforded by decent and even luxe fabrics. From the cotton and silk options to the surprisingly comfortable rayon / viscose, lyocell, hemp and other manufactured fabrics. I avoid nylon and polyester fabrics wherever possible, which are simply gross. They do not absorb water, so they cannot absorb your sweat, trapping it in underneath the fabric. Why would you want to wear that? Or worse still, sleep on sheets made of that?! 

I know that cotton manufacturing uses a lot of harmful petrochemicals, in fact the World Heath Organization attributes 20,000 deaths annually due to pesticide poisoning in developing countries. Some frightening numbers, no? Here in Perth all I hear about is the threat of sharks killing us as we swim! Having said that though, achieving organic certification is not an easy task either. I think for my own piece of mind, further investigating is due, as I have not often solely sought out eco-friendly brands for clothes before. Baring this and the safe manufacturing of clothes in mind is quite a lot more to consider, and another article altogether. For now, I have shirts from a few brands I feel comfortable in and can recommend for those merits. 

As for the other wardrobe essentials when it comes down to tops- it is pretty simple. I love plain cotton t-shirts, I pair them with skirts, shorts and pants. Add in slogan or printed t-shirts after you have these plain essentials covered. Cami tops are a great staple for summer, and under blazers at work. I find them more flattering than wider strapped singlet tops. Either will you through controlled climates in the workplace, as well as a super hot summer day. The biggest thing with a cami top is to ensure the right strapless bra is worn underneath- invest in a good one, and don't skip the fitting! :) Read all about that here. 

Finally I have included jumpers into this category. I wear a lot of jumpers. They are often the thing I am drawn to the most in any designers collection, and I have too many. Of course, owning a few staples for the capsule wardrobe is all you need, you will use them more than you expect and when the temperature drops unexpectedly, getting cozy in one is wonderful. A cable knit with the front tucked into a leather pencil skirt? So elegant.

Broken down, here is the list of 'Must Have Shirts, Tops and Jumpers for Any Woman':

- 1x Fitted pale blue shirt, in a chambray, light denim or cotton

- 1x Silk Khaki shirt, Equipment silk shirts are the most beautiful, pricey, but so beautiful. 

- 1x Black cotton, viscose or silk fitted shirt, sleeveless is also okay

- 1x oversize white shirt- (a fitted one is for me optional, they are too much like my school uniform so I avoid!) I recently picked up a great First Base oversize white shirt from Peachy, which I love.

- 1x Grey marle t-shirt (I have about 6, I wear them with everything)

- 1x Breton top or striped t-shirt with 3/4 or long sleeves, Parisian, Chanel, perfect.

- 1x Black cami top, preferably able to tuck in, but cropped is okay too.

- 1x White t-shirt, fitted or loose. I wear either, all the time

- 1x Black wool jumper, or cotton sweater. I have one of each, but either are useful

- 1x Cashmere grey jumper- soft, thin but warm and so beautiful. This one is the splurge worth doing

- 1x Light grey fleece zip hoodie, for a casual sporty look. I love mine.

-1 Cream knitted cable weave jumper, for winter, this is like taking a quilt with you for the day. 

- 1x Check print shirt (in a blue pattern), go with everything, and give that touch of edge to a feminine outfit

- 1x A white collared blue fitted shirt, for a really crisp mannish look. 

- 1x Cap sleeve jumper- on its own or for layering. Pair with boyfriend jeans for a casual get up.

- 1x white cami top with some detail in black to mix things up at work or with a pencil skirt for cocktails

If you have missed any of the 'Building A Capsule Wardrobe' series, check out the previous posts here. 

I will be bringing you more of this sort of post in coming weeks, so stay tuned, and please share any comments or ask any questions below. 

Happy Capsule creating! 

xx Jenelle

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Building A Capsule Wardrobe: Shoes

Something I have learned in the past few years is how important it is to build yourself a capsule wardrobe. By this I mean, a wardrobe of clothes with which you can create a multitude of outfits to suit various occasions, moods and seasons. Predominantly constructed of good quality basics, these items are mostly neutral, to which you can add a personal touch of print, colour and cut as you go. These may come across as a little on the simple, or even more 'boring' side, but I am thinking of versatility, value for money, quality, comfort and style. 

I made up a few boards which has helped me to shape my capsule wardrobe, and found that sticking within these limits helped me to avoid spending money on random items which, when I looked back on months later I had either grown sick of seeing too much on others or just didn't like. Within the capsule wardrobe I prioritise pieces which avoid 'trend' and retain 'staple'.

I had so many Audrey Hepburn books growing up, and the classic pieces I saw her wear, have informed my love of elegant style. I think I bear her in mind more often than I realise. 

The boards pictured make up my 'Must Have Shoes For Any Woman'

 I think there are essential shoes which should make up your wardrobe, to carry you through any outfit. I made up a couple of boards with the shoes I own, or as similar to mine as I could find at the time. 

I tend to stick within black, white, cream, tan, nude and khaki. If I go with a print, it tends to be an animal print, but in natural colours, or some kind of black and white combination. I have also owned bright shoes in orange, red, blue, silver or gold, but these I consider a part of the add-on, occasional shoe. At the end of the day, any of the items in these boards can be styled with an occasional piece, which adds a little extra something to the look. I also think you can have multiple variations of these shoes, but as a general rule, if you have the list below, you can get through any 'what shoes do I wear?' debacle with happy feet. 

Broken down the list looks like this: 

- 1x Black leather pointed pump heels, (can be patent, suede or a mix)

- 1 x Nude / tan leather pointed pump heels (the nude will make your legs look longer, which is nice)

- 1x White leather heels, I prefer these to be either a pointed pump or thick strapped heeled sandals

- 1x Hidden wedge sneaker in chalk, or in black (Isabel Marant though, all the way!)

- 1x Black studded, buckled ankle boots (these Chloe ones get worn every week)

- 1x Black heeled ankle boots (cool with dresses, skirts, or skinny jeans)

- 1x Black strappy open toed heels (nude is also okay)

- 1x Animal print pointed pumps (make sure they are leather, but can have a faux pony hair finish)

- 1x Converse sneakers in white, black or khaki (or Keds, Vans etc)

- 1x Black patent oxfords (they have more arch support than ballet flats, sorry Audrey)

- 1x Black, white, tan, silver or gold thick strapped sandals (I DO NOT ENDORSE THONGS/ FLIP FLOPS) 

I will be bringing you more of this sort of post in coming weeks, so stay tuned, and please share any comments or ask any questions below. 

Happy Capsule creating! 

xx Jenelle

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Capsule Wardrobe Vol 2.0

Continuing on in my Capsule Wardrobe series... last time I talked Casual, Work and Cocktails, read it here.

EVERY DAY
Jeans and a t-shirt, simple, comfortable and accessible.
Anyone can wear this, and should feel free to.
I probably wear these boots too much but I love them. I twisted my ankle the other week, and have only attempted heels once since, these semi heel boots have been saving me. They are loose, a good heel height and great quality.
Truth be told, my love of rock music, is something I tend to want to share with the world. I never know who any pop stars are, it takes a long time for me to work out who the big artists are (more than a year before I worked out who Lady gaga was- not kidding). Rock though- I am all about that.

Chloe Susanna Boots, Zara Tee (similar here), Cap, Levis Jeans, Ray Bans

MEETINGS
I have worn a variation of this to work, then to fashion events, and meetings. It is a good outfit when you have to go from one thing to another without time to change.
I love a pencil skirt, and pairing it with grey marle and an interesting hem line? Love. I like that I can throw this together with a white or black shirt, blazer, or a block colour for something different. I know grey is a bit of a nothing colour, (as talked about here) but it goes well with everything, so any piece of clothing in grey is good in my books.
Neoprene is not for everyone, but personally, I can't get enough.
For some reason I do like to wear pink, (despite what Karl says), it makes a nice change.
 This Vivienne Westwood bag I have had for YEARS, it fits a lot in, the plaid somehow manages to work with a lot of outfits- I particularly enjoy when it clashes with the rest of the look (to an extent- I won't pair it with yellow). I talked about these heels last time- prepare to see the same items a few times, capsule wardrobe and all. 

Vivienne Westwood Bag, Josh Goot Skirt, Josh Goot Neoprene Singlet, Alexander Wang Heels,

WINTER

So it does get cold here, and this teal coat has been my favourite winter coat for years. I spotted this one in Madison magazine then hunted it down from Sportsgirl of all places, back in 2008. Teal is a beautiful colour, in small doses. I am a sucker for military inspired coats, this one fits like a glove and keeps me warm.
These Italian wool leggings are warm, feel beautiful, and tick a few sporty boxes.
Pairing them with an oversized shirt, or this lace top makes it feel less like I am wearing leggings as pants. :)

Sportsgirl Coat, Flannel Lace Top, Alexander Wang Leggings, Ballet flats, Mimco Quilted Wallet, and Oroton Notebook.

xx Nell

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Capsule Wardrobe Vol 1.0

As you know I move states a couple of times each year- and later this year the plan is to relocate overseas. So I thought I would share a series about what I am packing. In one suitcase I had to limit my choices, and ensure things could mix and match. I love to make the most out of good pieces- layering during season changes, but mostly choosing good quality essentials in the first place. Another thing I try to do is put together looks that can go from casual to dressy by the change of a shoe, jacket or addition of eyeliner.

CASUAL
This look is actually a bit 'model off duty' now that I look at it, the elements are all there...
Black Leather skinny leg pants, sneakers (with built in height), graphic grey marle tee, shirt, cream knit beanie, sunglasses, and simple earrings.
 Substitue the leather for black jeans and this is exactly a comfort outfit to wear on a plane.
This is the sort of thing I wear the most- skinny leg pants/ jeans, a loose tee, and comfortable (but stylish!) shoes. To add layers- an open cotton shirt, beanie or cap, sunglasses and if it's cold- a blazer.
I always pack a LOT of loose cotton tees, mainly in white, grey marle, khaki and black. Some times they have a fun graphic- which is usually very carefully chosen to reflect 'what I want to say' and mostly have some ironic or happy tone, or occasionally are striped.

Black leather pants are a tricky one- obviously they are more expensive, but you really have to think of it as a cost per use thing. I thrash my jeans- a black pair become charcoal quickly, so I tend to buy a new pair each year- the 'old ones' become painting pants. But I make sure to have good, comfortable skinny jeans, each time I pack. Yes you can get them anywhere, but I am not into 'cheap and nasty versions', they loose shape, colour and stretch too quickly.
The brands I tend to prefer are J Brand, Rag & Bone, Paige Denim and Sass & Bide. I almost always have to hem them as they come long, but never regret making that effort.
Chambray, white, khaki, the odd check cotton shirts are such easy ways to layer.
I love hats- a knit beanie in cream or black is good for Autumn/ Winter.
I only pack one or two pairs of sunglasses, purely to mix it up, as I wear them a lot.
  Men always tell me that they like women in jeans and a t-shirt, it's a bonus that they are so comfortable, and you can find a shape to suit you, on any budget.
Stud earrings- are simple, but can be elegant.
These are House of Harlow via The Ethos, I like that they are leather.

Isabel Marant Bobby Suede/ leather sneakers, Lover Leather pants, Sussan Shirt (similar here), Zoe Karssen Tee, Flannel Knit Beanie, Alexander Wang Zipper Sunglasses, Kora Organics Citrus Mist, iPod and House of Harlow Earrings.

WORK
A white linen wrap skirt, bandana print singlet, linen oversized black blazer and heels.
I feel like this is a little cheeky- take off the blazer, swap the heels for leather sandals and you are coffee to beach ready, and that is how I like it. Of course, if I had the reason- I would happily rock a navy or grey Vivienne Westwood suit to the office (like this one- drool), but not all the time. Instead, I like to keep it simple, relaxed and ensure my pieces stretch as far as they can. I have this skirt in black as well, and teamed with a tee, shirt, singlet or jumper- to me it becomes 'work wear' the minute I throw on a blazer.
For the people I am currently working with, I am sure they are over seeing this vintage oversized blazer. I wear it sooooooo much, but, when packing, I looked at the options: One fitted black blazer, and this one, or just one. The oversized version won purely because it is a little more relaxed- and I can throw it over a t-shirt dress, trousers or a skirt. The blocky shape suits my style. 

A pair of black pointed heels. Enough said.
I packed one watch- again, in black, and to reflect my rock influenced- taste and one ring, which has a bunch of interesting characters in the band pattern. 

ASOS Wrap Skirt, Ksubi Singlet, Vintage Blazer (similar here), Alexander Wang Jocelyn Heels, Marc Jacobs Guitar Watch, Karen Walker Ring, Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (for lunch time reading).

COCKTAILS
Silk printed singlet dress, heeled sandals, a quilted clutch, bright lipstick and one nail polish in an almost neutral colour.
Josh Goot is obviously my fav, this unfitted dress is perfect for any season- it can be worn with black tights, a leather jacket, denim jacket, coat or unfitted blazer to be more cold weather friendly- even layered with a tee, it works.
Pumps, sandals, sandled heels, ankle boots... they all work. I think jewellery is not needed here, a black wide brimmed hat or black cotton scarf is all the frosting this needs.
I am not always into a lot of print- but when done well, well, why not?

Josh Goot Dress, ASOS Clutch, ASOS Heels, Chanel Nail Varnish and MAC Lipstick

xx Nell

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