A few months ago I decided to move my four kids and I to a different town. We needed a fresh start and I wanted to move closer to the beach and to a city that I’ve loved for many years. Part of the decision was to also downsize and pick a beautiful house that would work better for my kids and I, as a solo parent.
I’ve gained so much more than I have lost… but I had to let some things go, including two walk in closets and tons of storage. This was okay with me because for years I had been moving my family towards a more minimalist lifestyle and this has forced us to take it to the next level.
One of the things I had to do was edit my wardrobe. I held onto what I loved and let go of the extras. I chose staple timeless pieces carefully and said goodbye to anything I hadn’t worn in a while.
I love fashion and I love refreshing my wardrobe each season, so this edit will have to happen regularly. Since moving I have got some new pieces and mixed them in with what I had to create a lot of outfits to take me from summer to fall. I’ve added links to pieces that are still availably and some similar options for the ones that aren’t available. Here they are, my favourite staples while working in some current trends while making them work for me, a 38 year old mom of four.
A couple times a year I overhaul my wardrobe. I start by thinking, “what is my style this season? Who do I want to be and what is my style going to look like this spring?” Then I gather inspirational style photos and begin planning out my new looks.
Here’s the thing, I am a 5’2″ thirty-five-year-old mom of four. So A. I am not always on top of the hot new trends, and B. I’m not sure if the hot new trends would suit my body type, or my age. So, I make sure that my style reflects my personal taste (feminine, cool and slightly bohemian) and suits my lifestyle (a self-employed woman who has often has events and meetings to attend, slightly athletic and a busy mom).
Oh, did I mention I’m also on a budget? Most of these looks are very budget friendly with a timeless, worth-the-higher-price piece thrown in here and there.
Although I’m a shortie with a busload of kids, that doesn’t mean these looks wouldn’t suit everyone. Younger, older, kid-free, taller, you name it!
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I just discovered kimonos and I’m in love! Where have they been all my life? I love this look because it’s cool, fresh and comfy.
So my one of my three-year-old twin daughters and I have a thing for pjs and sweatpants. Seriously, I walk in my home after a day at an event in the city and the first thing I do is put on baggy sweats. So when I found a pair of dressy joggers that I could wear to events, I fell in love.
I recently took up running again and have been loving it. I thought I could be a long-distance runner, but soon realized I hit my limit at around 2km. But that still makes me a runner, right? Regardless of how far I run, I quickly realized that I needed a running jacket that could take me through our crazy Canadian spring weather. After looking everywhere I finally found this jacket which was perfect…plus it’s pink which is my favourite!
I bought a couple form-fitting skirts a couple years back and never ended up wearing them. I finally decided that they needed to be paired with a breezy long jacket. When I found this one I knew it was the perfect match!
I am speaking at an upcoming conference and I knew that I needed a fashionable, but “take me seriously” kind of outfit. When I saw these dressy joggers and a sleeveless blouse, I was sure that I had found my power outfit.
I have found myself moving further away from the more structured blazers and embracing flowy tops instead. This blazer is a more relaxed style which is still professional, but a little less “can I sell you life insurance?”
So, how exactly do I approach my seasonal wardrobe switchover? Watch as I gather inspiration, pull items from my wardrobe that I already have and put my new wardrobe together, all on a budget. I use this method at least twice a year, which helps me save money because I am not mindlessly shopping all year round.