Summer Sandal Selection

I've been enjoying stalking sandals online for the past week or so, in hopes that I find a great option to carry me into summer. I found way more than I could possibly actually buy, but I felt like I could share the rest of my finds. I had such a fun time finding all options... why can't you all join my closet? I went for mostly what I consider mid-level investment picks this time (between $40-$100ish) because hey- shoes are important. They protect your feet and totally change the look of your outfit and whole vibe. I'm going for casual here- even my heel choices can be paired with cut offs. I love going casual for summer. Nothing fussy except maybe lacing up these killer gladiators!

Dolce Vita gladiator sandals J Crew gladiator sandals Asos gladiator sandals

Loft tasseled sandals Rachel Zoe ankle strap sandals Steve Madden platform sandals

Ninewest nude wedges Ninewest strappy wedges J Crew heeled sandals

Gentle Souls sandals Banana Republic sandals J Crew heeled tasseled sandals

These are my favorite styles- gladiators, ankle strap, and a low wedge heel. I really don't wear heels, but if I ever need something casual cool and not painful, these would be my selections. 

Happy sandal hunting friends!

Visions of Summer

With summer weather coming fast, and the spring slipping away before I know it, I figured I'd get on with the summer inspiration! I can't seem to find too many images that convey how I want to look and feel, but here are a few ideas.

I love summer because I can change up my silhouette a little bit- I almost always go for a slim bottom and a loose top, but shorts totally change up the game. I never get too far away from my comfort zone, I'm all about black, white, and graphic prints. 

I've been examining my summer gear from last year and found a few holes which I filled while thrifting. I found a pair of charcoal gray silk shorts, and a black cropped tank. I'm not sure what else I might want! My summers are easy going and full of free time where I can dress however I want. I have a class in July, so I have to look somewhat respectable for a few hours a day, but basically I can bum around in tanks and distressed shorts and no one bats an eye. Its for this reason that I find it hard to commit to buying summer staples- I don't need to look professional daily and looking professional is one of my top style motivations. But I decided that this summer I'm going to find some things that I can wear into the fall and spring next year. I stopped into Loft to check out their summer items, and I surprised myself with some of the things I was into. I find summer style kind of frustrating- I don't like the traditional summer looks, they're usually so bohemian with the bright colors and the crochet and the big floppy hats... Its just really not my style. I'm way more minimalist and clean cut. But I found myself searching for something a little different than what I usually go for. Here are my favorites:

Loft lace tank

I love this tank with high waisted jeans, relaxed shorts, or a cute skirt. I like the graphic quality of the lace, it keeps it from being too cutesy. 

Loft jogger skirt

I picked up this skirt on a whim- I thought the thick tie around the waist was a cool detail. I also enjoy the curved hem on either side. Its just generally a cool skirt. I could couple it with a black or white tank, or a simple button up with flats for work. Such a great piece! I hope I can snag it in a sale sometime in the next few weeks. 

I also think I'm going to replace my silk button up with this one from Loft. They've rehashed their classic utility blouse and its amazing. I have two of their utility blouses (here and here) and they're great- flowy and relaxed and breathable (they still have them available here). I like them as special shirts rather than traditional wear-all-the-time basics. But I tried on their new one and I loved the changes they made. It has a more pointed collar and the material is no longer polyester, its rayon. Rayon is a lovely material- it has a little more hold than polyester, meaning the shirt is more structured and less flowy. I thrifted a similar shirt a few years ago- but I all but ruined it from ironing it too hot. Buyer be warned! I'm going to be a lot more careful with this shirt than I was with my other shirt! The silk camp shirt from Ann Taylor is great, but its a little too shiny for me (see it in action here). Plus its silk, so I have to dry clean it rather than be afraid of ruining it. So Loft utility blouse for the win!

Along with these pieces, I'll probably search for some nicer sandals to replace my jank old Target ones you'll likely see me wearing in a few weeks when I bring out my summer capsule. If I can get a good deal, I'd like something like this or this or this... or these if the shopping gods are really smiling on me!

Look for an update on summer purchases and capsule in the next few weeks!

The problem with capsules...

The problem with capsule wardrobes is not an actually issue about capsules. The capsule so far is great! The problem I discovered has to do with how the capsules are split up.

As I usually do in the midst of winter, I was daydreaming about the beautiful (read: ungodly hot and unreasonably bright) summer months ahead. I imagined me frolicking in the Texas sun, lathering sunscreen on my pasty arms and legs and inconveniently forgetting that corner of my forehead that always seems to be more freckled than the rest...

As I reminisced about lovely days in shorts and sandals, I began to wonder when these long, hot days will begin. Last year it was super hot (read: anything over 85°) starting in mid-May and lasting until the last breath of October (see diagram below). I've always preferred hot to cold, so it's a good thing I ended up in Texas. But as I began to think about the implications of this persistent heat and general unpredictability on the contents of my future capsules, I got a little nervous. How am I supposed to predict Texas' bizarre weather choices? Or really any states',  I know Texas doesn't have a monopoly on wacky weather.

If I follow the schedule prescribed by my capsule wardrobe guru Caroline at Unfancy, then my summer wardrobe will be worn from July to the end of September. While this might reflect the weather generally in Texas, it poses a huge problem for a teacher. Everyone knows that as soon as summer vacation opens its welcoming arms, teachers shed their cardigans, slacks, and flats for a real person wardrobe of cut off shorts and tank tops. Many a former student has been startled by this transformation as they stumble upon their teacher a week after school gets out and they've gone from buttoned up matron to sunburnt beach bum. Or at least a sunburnt teacher in shorts. So I was sad that it seemed that I would have to keep my slacks in my capsule year round. Don't ask me why slacks depress me, thats pretty much self-explanatory. I just don't want my capsules to have items that I will only wear for half of the three months. I only get 37 items (give or take) for the whole season, so I want them to be wearable.

Naturally, in order to orient my understanding of how the seasons work, I made a diagram.

I hope this makes clear how confused I was. Capsules say the seasons are one way, society tells us they're another, and Texas is just Texas. You'll note I had to make a new season for Texas, what I called Autumnal Summer, because the calendar says fall and the temperature says "Don't make me laugh!"

I decided, after examining my diagram and comparing it to the schedule I follow for the academic school year, that it makes the most sense for me to follow the traditional description of the seasons, as follows:
Winter: December, January, February
Spring: March, April, May
Summer: June, July, August
Fall: September, October, November

There are two implications of changing my own capsule wardrobe schedule:

• I'll be off of the schedule of the rest of the capsule wearers, but I also get to change out my clothes earlier!
• I change out my spring capsule for summer when it makes sense to, and will have only two weeks of overlap with summer and the fall semester beginning. But I will still suffer through 2 months of a fall closet that in no way resembles the fall clothes of the rest of the country. But we get like three months of what other people call fall and we call winter, so I'm good on boots and sweaters regardless. 

Clearly I think way too much about the weather, but ever since I found this quote, I've begun to really consider the temperature when making my clothing decisions. 

Food for thought! Look for my posts on my spring capsule inspiration and purchases in the next few days!