Never mind what I've been wearing lately to stay cozy + cute in the post-Christmas season - it doesn't get much cuter than raccoon pom-pom hats and polar bear boots. Here's what Hendrik's winter time style is looking like these days!
We scored a great deal on the Patagonia jacket last year, which he wore a little big then so that we could get two (well, one-and-a-half) seasons out of it. I love that it's reversible for different looks and fuzz factor. And so far we highly recommend the Bogs boots - major bonus that he is able to put them on himself! Along with the coat actually, which he does in a hilarious over-the-head flip move that he learned at daycare - because of course you'd want to teach a trick to a dozen 3-year-olds before having to get them out the door...
Wrapping up January's mini wardrobe posts with a mini mini wardrobe - a selection of just a few of the items that I took on my work trip a few weeks ago, and the five outfits I mixed and matched out of them for everything I needed: travel, meetings, dinner, second day of meetings, and travel home.
So I didn't actually pack the items in my backpack - since I also had to bring things like laptop, workout clothes, and toiletries - but as far as just the clothing for the trip, I totally could have. As usual, picking a color palette (navy, white, and camel, in this case) helped maximize options with minimal items, and I also saved lots of space by wearing the same boots with everything (and was super comfortable walking through the airport).
Today I'm actually away on work trip #2 of the month, but no boots needed this time... because it's totally flats weather in New Orleans. Woo!
I don't show workwear looks very often, given my work-from-home situation, but with two work trips scheduled in January I included a pencil skirt as one of the go-to items in my mini wardrobe for the month. Here are two ways I plan to wear it for those meetings - one a warmer version for an east coast trip, and the other a version for meeting in a warmer weather place (New Orleans!) next week.
There are a lot of great things about jersey pencil skirts like this. First, it's totally a professional silhouette, but the materials means it's not overly business-y to earn a place in my wardrobe that generally doesn't need workwear (it's also a great skirt for church this way; pairs very nicely with a denim jacket as well). Second, the pattern makes it surprisingly versatile - lots of colors to choose from when deciding which top to wear, plus accenting different ones can make it appropriate for different seasons (like picking out the burnt orangey color in the fall, or the light pink in the spring). And third, the stretchy waistband means you can kind of play with the length a bit depending on shoe choice - when wearing it with ankle boots/tights, I roll the top over a little to make it more of a mini skirt, and with flats I leave it regular length for a different silhouette.
Oh, and you can't deny how comfy a jersey skirt is! Mine is from LuLaRoe, one of those at-home party sales dealies, but I've found a few others that look great too:
And here's a reminder of the whole January mini wardrobe situation that I'm mixing & matching here. I'm finding so many outfits to make out of this that I may just keep it on for February... Emphasizing these pieces as my go-tos, and then cycling in a few other things from my broader wardrobe, has me feeling put-together for all activities lately, which is great.
Continuing with my two wardrobe themes of the month - versatile items and pops of cheery pink - here we have an item I've been wearing a ton lately, styled for for both work and weekend: a fair isle sweater.
Fair isle is such a classic winter pattern, and I love how this one fits so well with my neutral wardrobe but provides some cheery color for dreary days (not to mention some warmth for snowy ones, as I clearly need now!).
Using only items from my January mini wardrobe, I first dressed it up for work (or church, in this case) with a blouse and navy ankle pants. Sophisticated and warm is hard to come by, but I think this works! Then for the weekend, a vest amps up the cozy factor, and jeans and sneakers are perfect for running around town.
Here are some other great fair isle options - and all on sale now!
As promised, here is my mini wardrobe lineup for January, which I used the handy dandy Capsules by Cladwell tool to help me assemble. The process helped me realize two emphases for what I want/need to wear this month: first, versatility (crucial given the mix of work-from-home and work travel I have this month), and second, neutral but cheerful (given my love of mixing & matching neutrals but my need for a bit of happy color on dreary winter days).
As I mentioned yesterday, this mini capsule isn't meant to be restrictive, but it does feel helpful to narrow my wardrobe down a bit when I'm standing there trying to get dressed or pack for one of the two work trips I'm taking this month. Given that I don't have to dress professionally for work on most days, I don't have a very business casual-oriented wardrobe any more, so it's also helpful to consider what in my closet can swing both ways - work and weekend.
For starters, this cheery pop of pink was perfect for a breakfast date with Peter but works just as well with those ankle pants and necklace for the upcoming work meetings and with the pretty pencil skirt for church.
What are you wearing this month? (Anybody need a winter coat as big as mine? I'm thrilled with this purchase so far!)
