Well, actually, I didn’t have those shoes last year. Or the coat. Well, this is unraveling quickly. :)
But the sweater and the leggings — yes! I was so proud when I came up with this outfit last year. Remember, that was before I had any real sense of my own style. So you could maybe say that this was the first Unfancy outfit ever.
And it still holds up. I love that.
I cannot tell you how excited I am to be moving into this next phase of maintaining my wardrobes instead of building them. More on that here if you missed it. I’m just as curious as you are to see if it really works, you know?
But with the way my winter capsule worked out, well … it’s looking good for maintenance mode. Outfits like these, that still hold up a year later, make me excited. I see that glimmer of, “It’s working!”
I know. You’re thinking, “Caroline, it’s just one year later — don’t get too excited.”
Sorry — can’t help it. Besides, it’s Christmastime. I get excited about everything.
Can you believe next week is the week before Christmas? Like Zooey Deschenel, I’ll never outgrow the thrill of Christmas day. Here’s another holiday playlist for you. This one is made up of personal favorites, so it’s less polished and more random, but if you want to hear the Christmas music that makes my heart smile, this is it.
Happy weekend!
Sweater: old from H&M (similar)
Leggings: Urban Outfitters (similar)
Coat: Mango
Bag: Marc Jacobs
Necklace: Madewell
Love the Spotify mixes!!! Keep ’em coming. : )
Caroline, your hair looks so. Dang. Good.
Your site is a bit different than mine, but your daily outfits are inspiring nonetheless! I definitely made a few purchases for my capsule this fall (my first one!) that were inspired by (or identical to) pieces you’ve showcased.
You’re so different from me, but your positivity and attention to minimalist detail has made a daily reader out of me! I look forward to your posts, and miss them on the weekends! (Although I totally get it; I don’t work weekends, either :) )
Anyway, keep up the excellent work! May your winter be filled with the Joy you spread, multiplied ten times over <3
**Style** “site” should say “style”. I don’t have the energy to run a site , lol.
This is so exciting, Caroline! It’s awesome finding your style and seeing it hold up for a year. It’s like finding your voice. You’re discovering who you are in a way and that’s so awesome! I love this look, especially with the coat. It’s hip, cool and very elegant all at the same time.
Caroline, Just a quick shout out, and thanks for all that you share here! You’re an inspiration, really. Your guidance and capsule advice is spot on. Thank you! (As a new mom my wardrobe has changed considerably over the past year. But, with help from Unfancy I was able to confidently clean out my closet and build back only pieces feel right.) Can’t wait to see the site evolve in 2015. Until then, have a wonderful holiday!
Definitely love the darker hair :)
I wish I can pull off shoulder length!
I LOVE this outfit! You are so pretty, haha!
Love that your look is all mature, classy and sexy at the same time that it looks very comfy! :-) and love your new hair cut although you were also beautiful with your natural hair colour and length.
Have a nice WE! :-)
Ok. Wasn’t sure about the hair yesterday bc I hate change & I loved you the way you were. Today? Love it! So much sexier and edgier and youier. ;-)
I love this simple yet amazing outfit. But I was checking every 2 mins for your winter wardrobe!!! Cannot wait. Interesting to see who it works with the maintaining :)
Meeeee tooooo, Stef! Every morning it’s like, IS IT TIME? It’s like waiting for Christmas!
Caroline, I missed your post about your haircut, so when you posted that this was the same holiday outfit as last year, I was thinking that this was a throwback picture and amazed at how much your hair changed since then… whoops! Haha. It’s so different! I was startled. But the more I look, the more I love it, especially the colour. Tessa said everything I’m thinking. ^ ^ ^ Yay for change! I’m just waiting til I get married next year before I chop my own hair off…
Caroline,
Just adoring the new hair…I feel like it FITS you even more than your old style! Quick question for you…
By the looks of your blog (I have been following for a while now) you seem to have truly found your own style. However, do you ever have the problem of liking other styles that arent really your style? I find that liking types of styles on others make me want to try them and it seems to cloud my mind on what my own true style is…
I hope this makes sense! Let me know if you have any pointers on how to really focus on ME style and not…”oh that looks really cute, i need that!”
Hey, Brittany! I totally understand your feelings on the liking-other-styles thing. I actually experience that here on Unfancy a lot, haha–Caroline’s laid-back Californian style (and the entrepreneur lifestyle she has that allows her to dress that way all the time) is so cute on her, but I prefer dressier things on myself. There are two thoughts I subscribe to in order to prevent myself from buying things that aren’t actually my style. One is Amy Poehler’s: “Good for her! Not for me.” It prevents snap judgments ranging from “I need that in my life!” to “Eww, who would do that?” The other comes from Lessons from Madame Chic, and it is that if you see something that you really like and immediately start thinking of the other things you need to buy to go with it, it probably isn’t your style, because it doesn’t fit into your wardrobe as is.
Of course, that’s not to say there aren’t surprising things that you didn’t expect to like but totally love and use. I never thought a cocoon sweater would work on me, preferring sleek lines, but I bought the one Caroline’s got and I adore it! Just as comfy as a sweatshirt and way more put together. I also accidentally bought her chevron necklace in gold and silver. Ha!
I am so very glad I found your blog a few weeks ago. I’ve been very inspired by this process you are going through, so thank you for allowing us to being privy to it. I also feel that clothing and style should reflect the inner “you” and that we should never apologize for thinking about our appearance no matter if you are a scientist like me or a style blogger like you. I am very interested to see your maintenance process. I am not convinced that a capsule I developed now would suit me in a year. The inner me evolves and the things I find inspiring shift about every 6 months or so. I am not sure if I have yet to settle on the what the real me is or what. But, I am so very interested to see what continues to inspire you over the next year. I love how thoughtful you are about your choices and can’t wait to see what happens next. Warm holiday wishes to you and your hubby!
Love this outfit! And I totally know the feeling you’re talking about, being proud that you came up with an outfit idea. I used to get that a lot when I was at the beginning stages of figuring out my style, and now my most common thought is “Looking pretty snazzy today, Christine!”. Both are good thoughts, I think!
Love the haircut SOOOOooOOOoo much. SO MUCH.
maybe because it looks like a better version of mine?
whatever. looks amazing. and if you miss your long waves… it grows back.
Love your website and your new haircut!!! I was wondering if your winter capsule from last year was on your blog. Looking forward to seeing what you in your wardrobe for winter.
Around Christmastime, I can’t help but want to wear reds, greens, and golds all the time! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s
I’ve been following your blog for a few weeks (months?) now and had to tell you how much of an inspiration you have been for starting my own capsule wardrobe! It’s something I kept hearing about and wanted to try, but I’m so clueless I don’t think I could have tackled it on my own. All your outfits and guides are so spot. Thanks so much for sharing!
Just found your blog and am enjoying it so much!
One question—why do the sweater and leggings look so pristine up close?
When I wear a garment like that frequently, the texture will start to show it (sweater pills, legging will have changes in texture, sags etc). This is especially so if it’s fast fashion garment and if I wear it a lot. Since your wore both of these in your last winter capsule AND they are fast fashion garments, it made me wonder.
Are you super careful with your clothes?
I actually am seeing some pilling on the sweater… And if there was one item I’d get rid of on this capsule it would be that one. It does nothing good for the lovely figure Caroline has.
I love this- comfy and chic- perfect! And that hair… the new cut is such a fun change :)
Aw, love that you shared these playlists with us! I’ll definitely be rocking out to them this morning :) And this was my one gripe with capsule wardrobes: the thought of having to buy 30 new pieces every season alarmed me. Just buying a couple of sweaters cut deep into my wallet- I couldn’t imagine getting a new wardrobe every time! So I’m excited to hear that maintaining it and not starting over is a part of the capsule idea. I’m curious to see how you’ll come up with new outfits with a limited amount of choices. When I think of a brand new combo with old pieces, I always do a little proud jog in my closet- it takes more creativity!
xo marlen
Messages on a Napkin
You look wonderful in bangs! They really fit you.
Love your outfit! It’s so comfortable and yet has a little elegance to it, wow!
I think now is the time when your capsule wardrobe project really becomes interesting. Sure it was fun building it, but it only really makes sense when the idea of updating only a few items each season works – and I’m so excited whether it will! I mean, leather leggings won’t be around forever, so there are certainly things that need to be replaced some time. The question is whether replacing just a few items each season step by step will be enough… excited to further follow your project!
The coat is gorgeous and exactly what we’ve been looking for! Your are is so cute too :)
M + K