You’ll probably notice that I do have a rather large section of seasonals thrown into the mix this time around, and I have to admit I don’t remember last time this happened. The reason for this is actually quite simply the fact, that I find summer styling tough to nail. I often run out of ideas for outfits and I get bored pretty quickly, when the weather is hot. Last year I even noted in my capsule wardrobe planner, that it would be great to consider having more items to choose from in my summer wardrobe next year (which is now). Another thing is that my all-year basics are perfect for that Scandinavian, cool and ever-changing weather – which is the kind of weather we have most days here in Denmark. But when summer finally decides to turn up (which we can all agree that it certainly did last year), my possibilities and creativity lacks. So in my opinion it actually makes a lot of sense, to include a larger section of seasonals when we’re talking summer. And then of course there will be items from my all-year basic wardrobe I won’t end up really using over the summer, which can then get a well-deserved break. I still don’t see a reason to pack those items away though because, well, you just never know with Danish summer.
…
Vejret er stadig ikke helt med os (som sƦdvanligt), men kalenderen siger sommer og det samme gĆør min garderobe. Jeg plejer gerne at vƦre lidt tidligt ude, for jeg kan godt lide tanken om, at I kan hente inspiration her hos mig fĆør I evt. selv gĆ„r igang med jeres egen sommer capsule. SĆ„ er der god tid til, at planlƦgge og overveje. Men som udgangspunkt anbefaler jeg altid, at man indretter sin garderobe sĆ„ den fĆølger den vejrmƦssige udfording, sĆ„ man fĆ„r maksimalt glƦde ud af den. Som nƦvnt i del 1 af denne sommer capsule serie, sĆ„ gĆ„r jeg all-in pĆ„ “edgy chic” denne gang, og jeg synes virkelig jeg har ramt lige prƦcis dette super godt!
Den opmƦrksomme lƦser vil mĆ„ske undre sig over mƦngden af sƦson-baserede items denne gang, og jeg mĆ„ da ogsĆ„ indrĆømme at det er lƦnge siden denne del har fyldt sĆ„ meget pĆ„ mit tĆøj stativ. Grunden til dette er ganske enkelt, at jeg synes sommer styling er svƦrt. Jeg synes ofte jeg lĆøber hurtigere tĆør for idĆ©er og kommer til at kede mig, nĆ„r det er meget varmt udenfor. Sidste Ć„r noterede jeg endda i min lille capsule planner, at det var vƦrd at overveje muligheden for lidt flere kombinationer og items nƦste Ć„r (hvilket jo sĆ„ er nu). En anden ting er, at min helĆ„rs garderobe er helt perfekt til Skandinavisk, omskifteligt og kĆøligt vejr – hvilket det som bekendt er rigtig meget af tiden her i lille Danmark. Men nĆ„r sommeren virkelig banker pĆ„ (som den i dĆ©n grad gjorde sidste Ć„r), sĆ„ slipper mine muligheder og kreativitet hurtigt op. SĆ„ i min optik giver det faktisk ganske god mening, at have en lidt stĆørre samling sƦson items med, nĆ„r vi taler sommer. Og sĆ„ er der selvfĆølgelig lidt flere items fra min basisgarderobe, som jeg ikke fĆ„r brugt sommeren over der kan fĆ„ sig en velfortjent pause. Men som jeg alligevel ikke ser nogen grund til at pakke helt vƦk, fordi well, I vĆ©d hvordan den danske sommer kan vƦre.
Shopping my own wardrobe: old faves
As I’ve also tried to highlight in the video below, most of the items I’ve included in my summer capsule are items from storage. And lots of these items are actually up to 4-7 years old! The printed silk blouse (white with little printed rudders) is one that I bought while I had my very first job as a designassistent, during a sample sale the company hosted. It’s been a while since I’ve worn it, but this year it just spoke to me and I needed to be reunited with it. You’ve probably already seen the dresses a lot the past couple years if you’ve been around for some time, and even though being rather old news I still love them all to bits. They are perfect in each their own way, and they are easy to style up with a biker jacket and a pair of boots too. The linen shirts (the black short sleeved one and the blue long sleeved) are from last year, and they are great for summer because linen is nice and airy against your skin when it’s hot outside. I had the beige biker jacket in my spring capsule was well, and I’ve decided to keep it in my wardrobe through summer too instead of packing it away. Again, I’m so inspired by this more edgy type of summer styling this year, so a couple great biker jackets are a must, right? The very same thing goes for my leopard flats which I’ve had for years too, and then I’ve also pulled out my lace up sandals; another good, old fave. I think they are perfect for the edgy vibes both with the laces and the eyelet details. I think that is as rock’n’roll as it gets for a pair of sandals, haha!
I’ve also been working my sewing machine quite a bit this time around, and I’ve giving new life to a couple items I already had in storage and also a few I’ve found in thrift stores. The dark blue denim shorts used to be a pair of jeans I had in storage, and the skirt used to be a pair of vintage jeans as well. You can learn how I do the ladder right HERE. DIY’s like these is something I’ve always enjoyed doing. I love getting crafty, it makes me calm and it helps me collect my thoughts for a little while. Something you can be in desperate need of, when you’re self-employed š Besides, it’s a great sustainable way to get yourself a “new” piece of clothing. If you know how to sew, that is.
…
Som jeg ogsĆ„ har forsĆøgt at fremhƦve i videoen nedenfor, sĆ„ er stĆørstedelen af de items jeg har i min sommer capsule taget frem fra gemmerne. Og mange af disse items er faktisk helt op mod 4-7 Ć„r gamle! Den fine silke bluse (hvid med mĆørkeblĆ„ prikker i form af smĆ„ ror) er Ć©n som jeg kĆøbte til et prĆøvesalg, dengang jeg fik mit allerfĆørste job som designassistent. Det er lƦnge siden jeg har haft den fundet frem, men i Ć„r havde jeg sĆ„dan en trang til, at blive genforenet med den. Kjolerne har nogle af jer nok set fĆør de sidste par Ć„r, og det er virkelig 3 gode, gamle favoritter som jeg stadig elsker. De kan lidt forskelligt alle sammen, og de er ogsĆ„ nemme at pifte op med en lƦderjakke og et par stĆøvler til hvis det er dĆ©t man vil. HĆør skjorterne (den sorte kortƦrmede og den blĆ„ langƦrmede) er fra sidste Ć„r og er ogsĆ„ virkelig lƦkre om sommeren, fordi hĆør er dejlig luftigt mod huden. Og sĆ„ har jeg faktisk valgt at fĆøre den beige biker jakke fra min forĆ„rs capsule med videre ind i sommeren – igen, fordi jeg er super inspireret af denne her lidt mere rĆ„ form for sommer styling i Ć„r. Og til dĆ©t kan man jo ikke undvƦre et par gode biker jakker, vel? Dette gƦlder ogsĆ„ mine fine leopard ballerinaer som jeg har haft i flere Ć„r nu, og sĆ„ har jeg taget mine gode, gamle snĆøre sandaler frem ogsĆ„. De er ogsĆ„ flere Ć„r gamle. Jeg synes bare de passer sĆ„ fint ind i det rĆ„ univers, bĆ„de med snĆørerne og fordi de har de her nitte detaljer. Mere rock’n’roll bliver det vidst ikke for et par sandaler, haha!
Jeg har ogsĆ„ vƦret godt igang med symaskinen denne gang, og har fĆ„et opdateret bĆ„de et par fine fund fra genbrugen samt nogle items jeg havde i forvejen. De mĆørkeblĆ„ denimshorts var oprindeligt et par jeans jeg havde liggende, og nederdelen er ogsĆ„ et par vintage jeans der har fĆ„et sig en tur. Det kan du lƦre prƦcist hvordan jeg gĆør lige HER. GĆør-det-selv projekter som dette er noget jeg altid har holdt super meget af. Jeg elsker at vƦre kreativ pĆ„ denne mĆ„de, og det fĆ„r mig til at slappe af og samle tankerne for en stund. Noget der i hĆøj grad kan vƦre brug for nĆ„r man er selvstƦndig š Og sĆ„ er det jo en bƦredygtig mĆ„de, at fĆ„ et “nyt” stykke tĆøj pĆ„. Hvis man kan finde ud af det, that is.
The new additions
In a video a while back I mentioned the possibility of taking a little shopping-break. Something I seriously considered doing for some time. But then, I changed my mind; not because I have no control over myself, but because I’d still love to help sustainable brands spread their message (which will be hard if I can’t test out or link to their products myself), and also because I’d like to be part of leading the ways to alternative and sustainable ways of shopping. I’ve actually made a guide on how to shop more sustainably (even if you have a tight budget) right HERE. Some of the reactions I often get from others is either “but you buy new clothes often, how is that sustainable” or “I can’t stop shopping”. My short answer to both these reactions is secondhand, swapping services or to support sustainable brands. I still go for secondhand items first, when I want to add something new to my wardrobe. And it’s always secondhand shopping I like to mention as a great way of working around being a hardcore fashionista, who love shopping too much, and who can’t be bothered with a static, minimalistic wardrobe. I won’t be the judge of how often you “should” or “should not” add new items to your wardrobe, because we’re all different. I know what works for me (80% static basic wardrobe, 20% playful seasonals), but this isn’t for everyone. But I’d still like to help out and inspire those people who don’t share the same style as me! I relate to this need of a bit of news-value myself a lot along the way too, even though I feel best when the biggest part of my wardrobe remains classic and minimal all through the year. I still believe we use to many things in general, but I also believe that it’s possible to maintain a balance that makes sense to you through a more circular way of consuming.
As mentioned before I did a couple DIY’s recently, and the leopard shirt and matching skirt is one of the results of just that. These items were originally a vintage dress, I picked up in London recently. I think they’ve turned out so well: both each on their own but also styled together as a matching set. Leopard is a classic when it comes to edgy styling. The black linen top with buttons and the summer jeans are gifted from Everlane. In fact styling these together with my new espadrilles (found preloved on Vestiaire Collective) is Jane Birkin all the way to me. Something that looked epic back in the 70s, and still works today. Perfect example of timeless summer styling! Last but not least I’ve chosen to keep a pair of leather slides for myself, but originally I had put them for sale on my secondhand shop. I had a very similar pair in storage already, that I bought years ago. Sadly the quality of them was bad from the beginning, and even though I have used them for several years there was still so much excess colour in the leather, that they would make my feet black and impossible to clean for days after wearing them… time to say goodbye to those, I guess.
I’m so happy with how my wardrobe turned out! I don’t think I’ve ever felt this excited about a summer capsule before, and I can’t wait to start sharing lots of outfits with you over on Instagram!
…
I en video for noget tid siden nƦvnte jeg, om det mon var pĆ„ tide med en shoppe-pause. Noget jeg virkelig gik og overvejede, at kaste mig ud i lƦnge. Men sĆ„ ombestemte jeg mig; ikke fordi jeg ikke kan styre mig, men ligesĆ„ meget fordi jeg jo stadig gerne vil vƦre med til, at hjƦlpe de bƦredygtige brands med at nĆ„ ud til masserne (hvilket bliver svƦrt hvis ikke man testerĀ eller linker til deres produkter), og ogsĆ„ fordi jeg gerne vil gĆ„ forrest og vise, at der er mange mĆ„der man kan vƦre fashionista og shoppe pĆ„; og stadig vƦre en bƦredygtig forbruger (har faktisk lavet en guide til lige netop dette HER). Nogle af de reaktioner jeg oftest fĆ„r er enten “jamen du kĆøber da selv tit nyt tĆøj, hvordan er det bƦredygtigt” eller “jeg har svƦrt ved at lade vƦre med at shoppe”. Svaret til begge disse reaktioner er simpelthen genbrug, tĆøj-bytte markeder eller at stĆøtte de bƦredygtige brands. Jeg kĆøber stadig oftest secondhand nĆ„r jeg tilfĆøjer nyt til min garderobe, og det er ogsĆ„ altid secondhand jeg fremhƦver, nĆ„r folk hentyder til at de har en ret stor shoppetrang, eller bare elsker at lege mere med deres stil. Jeg skal ikke gĆøre mig til herre over hvor ofte folk skifter ud i garderoben, for vi er allesammen forskellige. Jeg vĆ©d hvad der fungerer for mig (en capsule wardrobe med 80% statisk basisgarderobe og 20% sƦson), men det er ikke alle der har det som mig. Og dem vil jeg da gerne inspirere ogsĆ„! Desuden kan jeg jo stadig godt relatere lidt til denne trang til nyhedsvƦrdi langt hen ad vejen, selvom jeg har det bedst med, at stĆørstedelen af min garderobe forbliver klassisk og minimalistisk. Jeg er ogsĆ„ stadig af den opfattelse at vi forbruger alt for mange ting generelt, men man kan lƦre at opretholde en god balance gennem et mere cirkulƦrt forbrug.
Som nƦvnt fĆør sĆ„ kastede jeg mig ud i et par gĆør-det-selv projekter for nyligt, og leopard skjorten samt den matchende nederdel ovenfor var faktisk oprindeligt en vintage kjole, som jeg fandt i London for noget tid siden. Jeg synes begge items er blevet sĆ„ fine; bĆ„de stylet hver for sig men ogsĆ„ sammen! Leopard er unƦgteligt en klassiker, nĆ„r det kommer til lidt mere rĆ„ stil. Den sorte hĆør-top med knapper og de lyse boyfriend jeans er noget, som jeg har modtaget i gave til at teste fra Everlane. Igen er hĆør super lƦkkert til sommer sƦsonen, og jeg synes simpelthen denne top er sĆ„ fin. Faktisk er toppen og bukserne sammen med mine nye (secondhand, kĆøbt pĆ„ Vestiaire Collective) espadriller ren Jane Birkin, hvis I spĆørger mig. Noget der sĆ„ lƦkkert ud i 70’erne men bestemt ogsĆ„ fungerer i dag. Et perfekt svar pĆ„ tidlĆøs sommer stil! Sidst men ikke mindst har jeg valgt at beholde de sorte lƦderslippers til mig selv, som jeg ellers havde sat til salg pĆ„ min secondhand shop. Jeg havde et par i forvejen som mindede meget om dem, som jeg kĆøbte for flere Ć„r siden. DesvƦrre har de aldrig vƦret i sƦrlig god kvalitet, og trods utallige sƦsoners brug smittede de simpelthen sĆ„ meget af pĆ„ mine fĆødder med overskudsfarve, og det var svƦrt at skrubbe af igen… tid til at vinke farvel til dem.
Ihvertfald er jeg simpelthen SĆ tilfreds med min garderobe! Faktisk tror jeg det er lƦnge siden jeg har vƦret SĆ tilfreds med en sommer garderobe, og jeg glƦder mig super meget til, at dele en masse forskellige outfits med jer ovre pĆ„ Instagram!
Dear Signe Congratulations on your Chanel bag! I felt the same way when I purchased an old but in excellent shape Coach black leather bag; it was much less expensive but a classic. It looks wonderful when I dress p or down. I just came back from a needed run to a local mall. This journey is not my usual any more as I have completely deepened my Use Less philosophy that started years ago when in college..no money, shopped in thrift places, and tried to stop making mistakes with pieces. I have had my share of failures but am totally committed to the plan now! When looking around now I am just turned off by cheaply made racks of stuff and will be looking forward to a few prudent purchases when fall begins..mainly a blazer and ankle boots.
I just want to say thank you for your capsule wardrobe posts! I can relate to your wardrobe more than any other capsule wardrobe that I’ve found online, so thank you! Also, I’ve been wanting to ask, what app do you use to make your collages? I would love to be able to see my wardrobe all in one picture like that. Thanks!
I’m so happy to hear that!! <3 Thanks Sarah! x
Hi! I love your style and system. I followed your method of making a capsule wardrobe. I printed out your charts and found my own equivalents, i feel amazing! So much lighter. And so much more fun making outfits. I spent a good two hours playing around with my clothes. Thanks so much! Can you please do a more detailed video about which kind of shoes to wear with some common outfits to make them look chic. I love in California and love to follow you!