Monday, August 31, 2015

Teacher Foundation Wardrobe: Day 10

Here we are at the end of August and the end of an era. And by era I of course mean the Teacher Foundation Wardrobe. I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have! Throughout this process, I learned the value of basics and how a little creativity can save a lot of trouble searching for what to wear. This capsule demonstrates an essential clothing principle: if it's remixable, it's a staple. Who would have thought that a sequinned shirt could count as a versatile piece of clothing? I certainly didn't. But once I was able to see it away from my stuffed closet, next to only a few other pieces, I realized that it goes with a lot! The same is true of my wine colored pants. Although they're a color (not just black, white, or gray), they count as a neutral because they look good with just about any color.

This mini capsule experiment was so much fun that I'll probably repeat the process in spring with brighter colors. If you'd like to try your hand at making a foundation wardrobe I would love to hear how it goes. If you need more inspiration before trying it for yourself, then make sure you continue to follow Kate in the Classroom since she lives the capsule life 24/7!

Here's a look at Kate's entire Teacher Foundation Wardrobe. So pretty!

Friday, August 28, 2015

Teacher Foundation Wardrobe: Day 9

Every now and then, a remixed look comes together and it makes you wonder how on earth you had never put those items together before! I'm so glad I decided to put this sequinned top in my capsule because up until now, I always thought it was more of a weekend with jeans type of look. Now I'm seeing that sequins can actually look quite professional when paired with classically serious pieces. It's hard to pick a hero here. Is it the necklace? The shoes maybe? I feel like if you were to take away any part of this outfit, it wouldn't have the same effect.

People, it's time for a happy dance. Today is Friday which means we all survived the first week of school! I've had coworkers conversationally ask, "any plans for the weekend?" and I'm just thinking, "yeah, I'm going to sleep." It makes me grin to think about not having an alarm wake me up tomorrow. I could sleep until 8 or 9 and not have that weird moment of wondering why an annoying sound is interrupting my dreams before remembering summer is over. But if I'm being honest, I do have other things to accomplish other than sleeping. I'd like to get outside! It's weird, but being inside all day again really makes me miss mornings. It's August, so unless you get outside early or late, there's no point in facing the 100 degree weather in between. Florida people, testify. So although sleep sounds good, waking up for a morning walk would be nice too. No matter what I end up doing, I want to relax with Dan. We've both been going a hundred miles an hour all week, so I can't wait to slow down and enjoy time with him. I know he's looking forward to it too.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Teacher Foundation Wardrobe: Day 8

I'm happy to report that school has been great so far! I've met most of my students (a few still haven't shown up) and they are sweet, smart individuals. The seventh grade teachers who had these kids last year told me I'd love them, so I'm thrilled to find out they are right. That being said, I had forgotten how tired teacher-tired is. I get home and it's all I can do to keep from falling face down on the bed and taking a nap straight through until morning. This makes scheduling outfits even more important for me! I used to be able to just throw together an outfit each day and be fine, but now that I wake up, do chores while I actually wake up, and then have about thirty minutes to get out the door, I need to know ahead of time what I'll be wearing. I've enjoyed this capsule so much, I plan on scheduling my entire week of outfits each weekend. Although paper and pencil would work just as well, I'll be using my Stylebook app to plan and schedule each look.

The look I'm wearing today is my classic black pencil skirt, a loft tank with fun side trim, and a Hollister scarf I've had forever. It's been over a hundred degrees lately so instead of layering with a jacket or sweater, I decided to add a scarf. It brings a little texture and contrast to the look without making me sweat. That's what I call a win win.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Teacher Foundation Wardrobe: Day 6 (and 7)

Around seven o'clock last night, I realized I had forgotten to do something fairly important: a blog post! I was so exhausted from day 1 of classes and so anxious for day 2 that I completely forgot to plan a post. So hopefully you don't mind me rolling out two outfits in one day!

The top outfit is a fun take on a couple classic pieces. There is nothing more essential than a black pencil skirt and a chambray shirt. To make the look more unique, I like to tie my shirt in a front knot and add a statement necklace. With those two little changes, this look goes from completely straight-laced, to something with personality. Basics made not so basic.

Look number two speaks for itself. A simple shirt and colored pants made an outfit with an easy front tuck. I truly believe that all it takes is a front tuck here or a knotted shirt there to add personal style to really foundational pieces.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Teacher Foundation Wardrobe: Day 5

It's the first day of school! I'm so excited I could hardly sleep last night. Excited, nervous, anxious, whatever you want to call it. I'm also excited that this look with the sequinned top means that all 10 pieces of my capsule have been used. This look came together on a whim when I decided that polka dots and sequinned stripes should definitely go together. The finished look is fun but totally teacher appropriate. Good luck to all the other teachers out there experiencing day 1. We should swap crazy stories tomorrow.

Friday, August 21, 2015

Teacher Foundation Wardrobe: Day 4

Yesterday was 6th grade open house at our school, and let me just say, I have some adorable kiddos this year! Now I know what you're thinking, "um don't you teach 8th grade?" and the answer is yes! But I also teach one elective for gifted children that includes all three middle school grades. Although I'm not sure I could handle all 6th grade all the time, I do love their energy and cuteness for one class.

This week has been dragging by and ending too quickly all at once. I can hardly believe I see students on Monday! Even though this is my fourth "first day" it doesn't feel any less stressful. I feel like I can barely keep up with my list of things to do at work, and so naturally my list at home is suffering. The floors need to be swept, there are always dishes in the sink even though I wash them first thing every morning, and I don't remember the last time our bed was made. Am I the only working wife out there who feels like a failure when these things go undone? I'd like to say I was past that point, but I'm really not. I know that once I'm back into a schedule, things will get better, but for right now I'm just a tired, stressed out person who is trying desperately not to ruin all the cutting back on caffeine progress I made over the summer. And that's why this capsule is so important. Can you even imagine if I didn't have these staple pieces waiting to be easy outfits? I'd be doomed! And yes, those are the same pants two days in a row. Don't judge me.

This outfit is the perfect Friday look. It's so simple, so easy, and very comfortable. I love heels, but I definitely grabbed a pair of flats to change into when my feet start hurting halfway through the day. Whenever I wear black on black, I imagine I'm channeling Audrey Hepburn, even though I don't have the honor of looking anything like her. It's all in the self-perception, right?

Shop my Look: Pants / Loft Top Last Season / Loft sweater past season / Shoes

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Teacher Foundation Wardrobe: Day 3

It's only day three and I've already worn 8 of my 10 capsule pieces! Day one was the black pencil skirt and diamond top. Day two was burgundy cropped pants, chambray shirt, and polka dot sweater, and now here are my black cropped pants, grey tank top, and black blazer. That means that starting tomorrow, you'll get to see some remixing happening! I can sense your excitement through the screen, and I appreciate it.

These pants are the Sloan Fit ankle pants from Banana Republic. I bought them on sale at least two years ago and they're as sturdy and dark as ever. I love pants that don't show wear! The top is from Loft and is crazy on sale right now. You may want to go get one if you enjoy clothes that are both comfortable and cute. Who doesn't, right? So far I'm really happy with my selections for my capsule. These ankle pants are a tried and true staple, as is the blazer. These pieces are so versatile, they are closet staples I could not live without.

I hope this series is inspiring you to think about your closet staples. Want more inspiration? Hop on over to Kate in the Classroom and see how her capsule is unfolding!

Shop my Look: Pants (Banana Republic) / Top (Loft) / Blazer (TJ Maxx seasons ago)

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Teacher Foundation Wardrobe: Day 2

I can't believe it's already Wednesday and I see students in five days. Crazy! Today is our first day to just work in our classrooms. What else have we been doing you ask? Trainings, rotations of more trainings, and team building games. That's right. Apparently knowing how to cross a gymnasium on square tiles of carpet while not sharing a tile with more than one person or passing my own team will make me a better teacher than having time to create lesson plans and set up my classroom. On the bright side, schedules are finally out and it looks like I will have two English 1 Honors classes, two regular language arts, one advanced language arts, and the 6-8 gifted elective class. The curriculum for gifted is new this year, but since I taught the other classes last year, I'm not too worried about having four preps.

I have school on the brain, but let me switch it off for a second to talk about this outfit. Out of all the outfits I put together for this teacher capsule, this one is probably one of my favorites! I love the look of layering a sweater over a chambray shirt, but it's never worked for me before. For that reason, I decided to go with my thinnest chambray and an open sweater. I feel like I can breathe in these layers! These pants are a few seasons old, but Loft has a pant that is almost the same color again this year, so I'll link to that below. It's hard to pick the MVP (most valuable piece) in this outfit, so I'll have to call a tie between the top and pants. Whether you're a teacher, a stay-at-home-mom, or a doctor, a good pair of cropped pants and a chambray shirt are essential. Stick around to see how I repeat these pieces in my Teacher Foundation Wardrobe!

Shop my Look: Pants (Loft) / Top (Loft) / Sweater (Loft Previous Season)

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Teacher Foundation Wardrobe: Day 1

Hey guys! If you missed the introduction to my teacher foundation wardrobe yesterday, you should go back and read it. Everyone else, come with me to outfit number one!
For this look, I decided to dress down a black pencil skirt by adding cognac accents and a casual button down. The staple here is really the skirt because of its versatility. I honestly don't know how my teacher wardrobe survived before I had this skirt. It wasn't expensive, probably close to $15 on sale at Target, but it adds classiness to a closet instantly. When I was selecting my items for my teacher staples for this series, I knew I had to include a pencil skirt because if I were to advise any new teacher on what to buy for work, this would be it. And when it comes to pencil skirts, fit is everything! Not too tight, definitely not too short, and you're good to go any given day.

I'd also like to share Kate's first look from Kate in the Classroom. Go check her blog for the details!



Shop my Look: Skirt (Target) / Top (Loft last season) / Similar Shoes

Monday, August 17, 2015

Teacher Foundation Wardrobe

One of the best parts of blogging is the people I get to meet. With very few exceptions, fellow style bloggers are a friendly bunch who like to share ideas and collaborate. One connection I've made is with Kate from Kate in the Classroom. Kate is an aspiring teacher who substitute teaches in a diverse school district while completing her education degree. Kate in the Classroom is about Kate’s teacher style- what works in the classroom, and some general thoughts on fashion and life. Kate documents her real, every day style in an effort to contribute to the on-going personal style conversation and provide another example of a young, professional wardrobe. One thing I love about her blog is that Kate uses the capsule wardrobe model to help her select the right pieces for her lifestyle. Since I'm fascinated by the capsule wardrobe movement, but too scared to commit to it, I love to read about Kate's journey and learn from her experiences.

A few weeks ago, Kate contacted me to see if I'd want to collaborate on something "teacher related." Of course I said yes and we began brainstorming. In no time at all, we landed on a concept that we both loved. We decided to create a mini capsule for teachers, 10 outfits from 10 pieces, to demonstrate how a little creativity can go a long way. Follow us for the next two weeks as we show you how ten carefully chosen staple pieces can create a selection of easy, go-to outfits. I love a one hit wonder outfit as much as the next girl, but it's important to acknowledge that having a solid wardrobe foundation is far more useful than trendy pieces that don't work more than one way. If you're interested in joining the challenge, this post will give you a good place to start as I explain how I chose my ten pieces. And when you're done here, go straight to Kate in the Classroom to hear her side of things!



When planning ten outfits (five for a work week), I knew right away I would want five different tops so I wouldn't have to wear them more than once per week. But before I picked tops, I needed to start with a color palette. Using my Stylebook app, I searched through my available work pants and skirts, and chose my black pants, black pencil skirt, and wine colored pants as my bottoms. Then I looked for colors that would go well and selected black, white, gray, and burgundy. I like how simple the colors are because it makes the possibilities endless! I then selected five versatile tops, a sweater, and a blazer that can all be mixed and matched. Kate and I decided that we would not include shoes or accessories in the capsule since we wanted to focus on foundational clothing items. Once I had my ten pieces, I began by creating two new outfits per top on Stylebook. I quickly discovered that I can actually make way more than 10 different outfits with the pieces! This whole capsule thing is actually much more diverse than I would have guessed.

The next two weeks of posts will look a little different from my usual blog photos. Instead of going outside, I decided to take all photos on the same neutral background to help create focus on the clothing. I will also be opting out of purses since I want this to speak to teachers (teachers carry laptop bags and rolling crates of books, for those who don't know).

It turns out that great blogger minds really do think alike, because when I saw Kate's capsule for the first time I had to chuckle. They're pretty similar for coming out of two different closets! See for yourself:



I hope you're as excited for this as I am. Come back tomorrow morning for this capsule's first look. Be sure to comment below if you're planning on joining us on this capsule challenge. It's going to be a good time!

Friday, August 14, 2015

Keep it Simple

Now that I'm back in the Monday-Friday workforce, it's time to celebrate every weekend and cheer for every Friday. I'm surprisingly exhausted from sitting in trainings for the past few days, so it's nice to have simple options for clothes, like my favorite Loft jeans and this adorable top. It's so comfortable and easy, so I'm excited by how smoothly it will transition into work-wear by pairing it with some dress pants. In the interest of simplifying my life this fall, I got my hair cut! I've been toying with the idea of getting a lob for awhile, and with all the pictures of perfectly messy, wavy lobs on Pinterest, I decided to go for it. My natural hair is wavy with random curls, so not needing to straighten my hair every day will be so much easier as the school year begins. Now that I'm not fighting nature anymore, it turns out I need a little help! I'm on the hunt for some new hair products to help control and shape this new style. Here's what I've used so far:

Curl Defining Cream by Living Proof - This one is currently my favorite because it smells so good. The product has medium control when scrunched into damp hair. It does a pretty good job of taming frizz, but doesn't really boost my curls. I will probably combine it with a mousse and be happy.

Miss Jessie's Pillow-Soft Curls - I bought this product because I know people who use it, but it's simply not for me. This product offers no control as it only seems to soften curls, not shape them. It's probably really good for people with more consistent curls who want extra conditioning.

Redken Curvaceous Ringlet Perfecting Lotion - This product could work wonders and I still couldn't stick with it because of the strong smell. It's also a tiny bit too sticky, similar to a gel. I believe this product would be best for someone with very thick hair looking for a little something to weigh it down. That's not me.

Let me know what you think and if you have any advice on styling my new lob. And most important of all, HAPPY WEEKEND!

Shop my Look: Top (Loft) / Denim (Loft) / Heels (Maripe) / Bag (Michael Kors)

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Taking Flight

Even though it's a million degrees outside, being back in school makes me feel like it should be fall. Luckily, school training sites tend to be kept at frigid temperatures to keep people from dozing off, so my desire to wear layers hasn't caused me a heat stroke yet. Besides, it's almost worth it to be able to wear new clothes, right? This flight jacket is a style I've been wanting in my closet for some time, and since I'm finally starting to sell clothes on Poshmark (@shopccr) I figured it was okay to treat myself. There's something so effortless about a boxy jacket that I feel it can go over anything. And because mixing feminine and masculine styles is so adorable, I'll be wearing this over a lace dress next.

I know it has been awhile since I told you guys about my Stylebook App experience, and I think it's time for an update! I'm proud to say that I finally have all of my clothes logged in my app. I found Stylebook useful before, but it turns out I had no idea! Having every item from my real closet in my virtual closet has helped me start to mixing more items I own. I find this especially easy if I pick an item, say a blouse, and then create five new outfits with that piece. The outfit you see above was actually matched up on Stylebook before I put it together in person. To do what Stylebook does without using the app creates a mess as you take clothes in and out of your closet, so it's easy to get frustrated and give up. With Stylebook, I can make outfits without getting out of bed in the morning, or when I'm at a very long red light...or at school trainings (don't tell on me!). I've even started putting outfits I've worn on a calender to track how often I use certain items. In short, Stylebook is a must-have for me. Yes, it does take awhile to get all your clothes uploaded, but it's actually pretty painless if you follow their tips (such as using a contrasting background). If you use Stylebook, I'd love to hear your opinions on it. And if you have any questions, ask away.

Shop the Look: Jacket (Loft) / Pants (Loft) / Top (Loft) / Shoes (Target) /