5 Spring Wardrobe Essentials

When I think of spring, I am always hit with a wave of nostalgia. That initial burst of warmer weather, after months of cold and snow, it's what dreams are made of. Just the smell of spring on the breeze (a mix of grass, mud and flowers) is a euphoric experience for me. Spring also marks the beginning of a new wardrobe, whether it be the stuff you put away when the leaves started to fall or new items you can't wait to introduce to your closet, it is an exciting time.

In the spring, I usually like to incorporate lighter clothing (both the fabric's weight and color) pastels, bright colors and bold patterns eclipse my usually neutral-dominated closet. Since the beginning of 2017, I opted to go with a seasonal capsule wardrobe, containing 30-50 items. This allows me to focus on items that are seasonally appropriate, everything goes together and I am able to minimize my daily decisions.

This spring I plan to incorporate color and pattern for my top half but I will stick to mostly black, white, grey and light blue when it comes to my bottom-half. This will allow me to easily coordinate bottoms with tops in my capsule. In the past I would've written this post based on this season's must-have trends; that is, after all, what most of us look forward to at the start of the season. But since there are plenty of bloggers who write about this, I decided to take a different approach. Here are the items that, in my opinion, are important staples for any spring wardrobe (capsule or otherwise):

Favorite t-shirt:
There's nothing wrong with being a 'basic beech",  a simple outfit can make a big impact. Having clothing that you want to wear over and over is a good thing, whereas buying things that don't go with what you already own means you won't wear it; essentially a waste of money. T-shirts are crucial pieces, you can wear them year-round and they come in every color you can think of.  My favorite t-shirt for spring is the Synergy Tissue Knit Boyfriend Tee in washed denim.

Photo Credit: Synergy  Clothing

Patterned scarf: This s a great transitional piece that can be worn year-round. As the temperatures start to creep up, you will want to shed the bulky coat in favor of thinner layers. A scarf in a bright color or pattern is a great accessory to add to an outfit when the mornings and evening are still a bit chilly and can be removed and stowed in your bag when it warms up. I prefer patterned scarves like this Denim Passion by Passion Lilie which is 100% vegan, hand-block stamped with plant-based dyes, fair-trade made in India. It ties together an otherwise basic outfit together and can help incorporate coordinating colors.

 Photo Credit: Good Cloth

White denim: White is a color that to me screams spring and summer. It is bright, goes with everything and looks great with sun-kissed skin. You can wear white in fall/winter but the warmer months is where white really shines. Having white jeans or a white denim jacket (or both) is a definite staple for any spring capsule. The only downside of white is that it's white, and if you're a slob like me, you'll need to make sure you always have some OxiClean on-hand. Check out these beautiful white jeans by Levis from Arc Apparel (a Canadian online retailer):

Photo Credit: Arc Apparel.ca

Slip-on shoe: This may seem boring; but my shoe of choice is usually flats (even the name isn't exciting). But after 6 months of wearing the same pair of winter boots, these flats seem to me like a roller coaster ride of risk and reward. I am not a huge heels lover and since I am average height (5'7") I don't feel the need to be taller so flats are my go-to shoe for spring. Even if you do like wearing heels at the office, try wearing flats for the commute and then switching to heels at your desk, your feet will thank you! These flats by OKA B are ethically produced in the USA, they are washable (dishwasher or washing machine), one-piece durable design, recyclable, ergonomic and come in a bunch of colors, love these!

Photo Credit: Good Cloth

Lightweight cardigan: This item has similar benefits to the scarf. Did you ever notice how overly air conditioned some places can be in the summer? Yep, me too. That's why I pretty much always have a cardigan on-hand, that way when I go somewhere cold I don't have to suffer. A light-weight cardigan, like this organic cotton one by Synergy Clothing is a great layering piece for spring because it will go easily under a blazer or trench. A soft, thin cardigan like this Tissue Knit Wave by Synergy Clothing  is a piece that can stay in your wardrobe throughout the year.

Photo Credit: Synergyclothing.com

There are so many other items that can be named for spring but for me these are the foundation of a coordinated wardrobe. I hope you enjoyed this article and please share below! Happy Spring shopping everyone!

Note: This post was not sponsored and I did not receive any compensation for featuring these brands. 

Related articles:

• 5 Tips for Curating a Spring Capsule Wardrobe
• 5 Reasons to Shop the Second-Hand Market
• My Project 333 Challenge

Erin

Project 333: Week 3 OOTD

 This week has shown me why this is a "challenge". I am starting to get a bit bored of the same items all the time but luckily I picked my favorite items for this Project 333 Challenge. Trying to think of new ways to wear the same 33 items for three months will be difficult but I know that I can figure it out! Doing this challenge is great from a minimalism and sustainability perspective (two things that I consider important to me) but when you rely on clothing to express yourself everyday and want to share that on Instagram and a blog I think it helps to have more than just 33 items.

The typical duration of this challenge is 3 months, however, since spring is on the horizon, I will likely be swapping out my current capsule wardrobe for a spring/summer version sometime in April.
Since my body shape and size has changed a bit over the last four years (having had two children) I will need to purchase some new pieces; shorts, cropped jeans, a dress and a skirt. I have a few brands in mind that I have been researching and I will be posting about them in an upcoming article!

One of the things I have learned since undertaking this project is that I DO have favorites. There are not many items of clothing that I miss from my "full" closet, maybe a few things from my "summer" wardrobe but that's it! The things I chose for this challenge are the pieces which fit me best, which are comfortable, which make me feel confident, and which go well with the other items in my closet. The idea of having a seasonal or semi-annual "capsule wardrobe" makes so much sense. I would say my top 40 items (not including shoes and accessories imo) is all one individual really needs.

The difficult part for me, would be not adding heaps of new items every time at every wardrobe swap-out. This is likely due to the heavy marketing that happens in the spring and fall; we see all the new seasonal patterns, the trends, the must-have items and we want an entirely new wardrobe. We see a beautiful, famous, fashion blogger or Instagram style-influencer and we want to copy the look but we don't have the right items so we need to go buy them. I love to shop and it's been a bit hard to adopt a minimalist approach to shopping.

Spring is taking a looooong time to reach Ottawa compared with the rest of the Northern hemisphere so I'm still forced to gear-up in my parka, boots, hat and gloves every time I venture outside. I'm lusting after spring in a bad way so please send some warm vibes over my way! Hope everyone has a great week and please send me your feedback on my outfits and let me know what are your must-haves for spring!

Erin

7 Easy Ways to Curb Your Shopping Habit

Shopping can be like medicine, "retail therapy" some people call it, but is it really good for you? Yes and no. There is nothing like the high you get from a day out at the shops, getting a latte with some girlfriends and giving your credit card some exercise. Then there's the lows, next day regrets of spending too much and asking yourself, "did I really need that shirt in three different colors?".

Like it or not, many of us are addicted to shopping, spending money and consuming. These are not bad things in moderation but it can be difficult to reverse this habit, especially if you have been shopping this way for many years. This makes it a challenge but by no means impossible, here are 7 EASY ways that you can curb your shopping:

1. Target Impulse Buys: Don't start out too restrictive such as putting a complete ban on shopping. Instead focus on cutting out those unplanned, "because it was on sale" purchases. In doing so you are training yourself to start shopping smarter. Less money spent on things you don't need or really want means more money for items that matter, that you treasure and that you will want to keep for decades.

2. Have a Reason to Stop: It could be that you have a ton of debt, that your closet is already overflowing, that you are concerned about the impact that the clothing industry has on the environment or perhaps you want to save for a trip. Whatever the reason may be, having a purpose for shopping less will help get you through when a craving strikes, and they will strike.

3. Find a New Hangout: Shopping can be a very social activity, particularly for women; we gather, we gossip and we shop. So find a new get-together spot; at the yoga studio, at the park for a run, or you can even host a spa night. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as it gets you out of the habit of shopping in a herd.

4. Unsubscribe: It's really hard to shop less when your inbox is constantly bombarded with emails telling you about all the latest products or upcoming sales. Believe it or not, if you see enough of these types of ads you will eventually be enticed into an unplanned purchase. Try unsubscribing to as many as possible, only keeping your absolute favorites. Or better yet, unsubscribe to them all and see if you miss them, you may realize you don't.

5. Avoid Online: Shopping online is easy, this also makes it a trap for those of us with, shall we say, less self-control. As lovely as it can be to sit on your couch on a Friday night with a glass of wine and fill up a virtual shopping cart, these types of shopping sprees are mostly impulse. Since you are not physically in the store, you are not able to use your senses to ensure items are right for you before purchasing and this will usually result in less satisfaction once the items are received.

6. Rediscover your Wardrobe: You may feel bored by every item in your closet, this is likely a result of too many impulse buys. Items that you thought you liked, thought you would wear, or bought because they were a "good deal". Try coming up with new outfit combinations using your existing wardrobe and accessories, this will allow you to get more wear out of the items you already own and hopefully help you to define your style so that you can avoid impulse buys in the future. Narrowing your wardrobe to a smaller "capsule" wardrobe can help you to decide which items pair well and can make it easier to hone into your own unique look.

7. Be Confident: When you are confident it doesn't matter what you are wearing, the clothes you wear do not define who you are as a person. There are so many different styles out there, following trends can be fun from time to time but having a distinct personal style that works with your dimensions will look natural and make you feel comfortable. When you feel comfortable, you will feel confident and that is what others will notice.

I hope this guide is useful to those of you who, like myself, have been trying to cut down on my shopping but have a hard time finding the motivation. These are the things that I have discovered which help to give me more control over my urges to spend and slowly but surely it is getting easier to be happy without shopping. Please don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter (right sidebar) for updates on my new series coming for #SustainableSpring17!

Erin

Shop Smart: Tips To Keep You Out Of Debt

Here's The Dilema

Well, I've said it before, and I'll say it again; I love to shop. Many of us do but I'm starting to learn that just because you CAN shop, doesn't mean you SHOULD shop, and that just because you HAVE a credit card, doesn't mean you MUST use it EVERY TIME you see something you want. (I know, that's a lot of CAPS but I really wanted to get my point across!)

I think the main problem we all face (shopaholics) is that we want to be happy and we associate happiness with having new things, when we see the things that other people have, well dammit, we want to have them too (typical coveting mindset). As much as I love social media platforms, they are evil for anyone trying to stop spending money (trust me, I know. Check out my "No-Spend Challenge" article.) particularly Instagram and YouTube because the fashion and beauty bloggers (love you girls!) have the amazing ability to make you want all the products that they buy and are reviewing. This is not a bad thing because they help us get more information before we make the commitment to purchase, however, those of us with impulse spending problems usually just want to hop online and buy it all (thanks a lot Amazon!).

So What's A Girl/Guy To Do?

I am certainly not suggesting that everyone should stop spending money on the things they want, cut up their credit cards and sell all their earthly possessions, no no that would be waaaay too extreme. I am only here to give some tips on how to get the things you want without the woes of credit card debt.

1. Shop like a Parisian: I have read several articles that mention some of the savviest shoppers hail from the city of love. They tend to stay away from the trendy, cheap fast-fashion and instead opt to save up (yes, just like our ancestors used to do before Visa, Mastercard and AMEX were a staple in our wallets) for high quality pieces (think: Balmain leather jacket, Chanel handbag, Louboutin Heels) that will be worn again and again and will stand the test of time in terms of their quality (see my post on "luxury fashion"). This may be difficult for those of us in North America because we like quantity over quality oftentimes and we usually prefer instant gratification its delayed counterpart.

2. Create A Pinterest Board: Each new season (or semi-annually) make a board dedicated to the looks that you want to adopt and the make a list of the items you already have and those that you need to purchase. Decide which items should be inexpensive (trendy items such as accessories should be from this category as they will only be "in" for a few seasons and then it will be something else so don't waste a lot of money here). The "classic: pieces like denim, jackets, t-shirts, sweaters and footwear (unless it's a "shoe-trend") should be of higher quality so you can get lot's of wear out of them, they won't fall apart on you, you will be comfortable in them and they are usually under warranty against defects.

3. Borrow From Peter To Pay Paul: I think that's how the saying goes, but in this case I mean sell some of the stuff you already own but don't wear in order to pay for new things that you will wear. There's no sense in hanging on to old clothing, shoes and accessories that just aren't your style anymore, so why not post them on a site like Kijiji, Craig's List, Ebay or Varage Sale and get at least some of your money back and you don't have to feel so guilty about your new purchases.

4. Buy Used: Some people may now be shuddering at the thought of buying something used but hear me out first! There are many ways to save a bit of cash on the things you buy and one of them is buying used. There are so many websites out now that are dedicated to selling gently used, high quality items such as handbags, shoes, jackets, sunglasses, you name it really. (Obviously I wouldn't recommend buying undergarments secondhand but you get the idea) These items are by no means "cheap" however they are the "top shelf" brands you crave, at a reduced price. The only caveat to this being that the items may be from "last season" but if you are ok with being slightly "behind the times", you can have a really nice wardrobe for a fraction of the cost of new.

If you simply cannot fathom the thought of buying your wardrobe used or not having the latest new arrivals on Net-A-Porter, then maybe consider buying other necessary items used such as furniture, home decor items, appliances and vehicles; this will leave you more money for that expensive, current wardrobe you crave!

5. Plan Ahead And Treat Yourself: Have you ever noticed that a lot of fashion articles and brand websites tout each new arrival as a "Must-Have Item"? Most of us (the ones with self-control issues) almost always believe this and buy into the hype (I'm a victim) but is it really a must-have? No, of course it's not, but even the mere suggestion that it is, is sometimes enough to send us into a buying frenzy,. So try as best you can to abstain from these impulse buys and instead plan your next fashion moves carefully, you'll be glad that you did! I do think that it is important to treat yourself to the things that you really, truly desire, and if you've been good and saved up for that Chanel bag, treasure it and give yourself a big pat on the back, you've definitely earned it!

To Sum It Up

Spending habits are tough to change, hell I've been trying to save and control my spending since I was about 18 and now at 32 I finally feel like I'm starting to get a hold on it. (at least I tell myself that I am). If there's one take away I want people to get from this article it is this; no amount of stuff will make you happy (at least not for long) but that doesn't mean you don't still need some stuff. On the other hand, no amount of stuff is worth being in debt for and sooner or later, you will need to start saving for your golden years so why not start sooner rather than later and make them a little bit more sunny? (think California, Florida, Arizona, or maybe if I'm lucky Whitehaven Beach, Australia!)

Sincerely

Erin