Now that Spring has fully arrived here in the UK, I thought it was high time that I wrote a warm weather update to my capsule wardrobing series.  In case you’re new to the blog, and haven’t yet read the original posts on capsule wardrobing, they are here, here and here.  And in case you’ve never heard of the phrase “capsule wardrobe” before, let me explain, in the briefest of briefs, what I think it means…

The UK wardrobe is in dire straits.  The ubiquitous “buy and wear only once” mentality that so many people are plagued with continues in its quest to stuff our wardrobes full of cheap, badly made clothes that we neither care for nor, more importantly, actually wear.  Masses of shoppers pound the high street every Saturday afternoon, feverishly searching for the latest ‘must have’ items, all the while completely forgetting the piles and piles of under worn clothes they already have at home.  Bad for the people who make the clothes (often in the most grotesque of conditions), bad for the environment, and bad for the shoppers themselves too (seriously, who has the cash for that sort of thing?!).

Enter a solution, in the form of the capsule wardrobe.  Low on quantity, high in quality and versatility, the capsule wardrobe isn’t bursting at the seams with clothes such as those I’ve described above.  The capsule wardrobe is of modest size, but everything in it is well-made, ethically sourced and incredibly versatile.  It might have fewer clothes than a wardrobe stuffed with Primark’s finest, but what it does have are the right clothes.  The clothes that fit, the clothes that last, and the clothes that go with almost anything.  Having a capsule wardrobe won’t win you prizes for quantity, but it will push you streets ahead in terms of quality, versatility and style.  Which in my opinion is a better place to be than the friend who has five hundred things in her wardrobe but is forever complaining that she has nothing to wear.

But enough from my soapbox.  Let’s talk about the weather.

Spring is a fantastic season for experimenting with our clothes.  No longer bound by the need to wear six layers to stave off the cold, it’s time to have fun with what we wear again, and to relish the fact that it’s often entirely possible to step out of the house with little more than a cardigan for a cover up.  I don’t know about anyone else, but I sometimes feel uninspired to wear a fantastic outfit in Winter – if you have to hide it away under a coat to stop yourself turning blue, then why not take it easy, wear something simple and cosy and spend the rest of your time fuelling up on porridge and tea?

Not so with Spring, however.  There’s something about a warm, sunny day that compels me to want to wear something beautiful and go outside to show it to the world.  Dressing up for the day lifts my spirits tenfold, and if I know I don’t have to bury my body away under myriad scarves, hats and coats, I’m much more inclined to be a little more experimental.

Spring-ifying your capsule

The simple way to shift a capsule wardrobe in the direction of Spring is to harness the dual powers of layers and accessories.  An idea that I took rather a long time to get to grips with.  I used to have so many clothes that I couldn’t actually fit them all in my wardrobe at once.  I had to divide them up by season and rotate the entire thing once a year.  Not something I was particularly proud of.  These days, after a long period of selling, donating and selling again, everything I have fits in the one modest cupboard.  And with the exception of items that are obviously related to one season, such as heavy jumpers and sheepskin-lined boots, everything is worn throughout the year, adapted to the changing seasons either by adding or subtracting layers and changing my accessories.  Helped along by a few Summery staples, it’s goodbye to wardrobe rotations and a beaming hello to fuss-free dressing.  My essential Spring/Summer capsule wardrobe pieces (and everyone’s will be different) are as follows:

• A lightweight, non-black trench coat.  Mine is an amber shade from H&M and is one of the best jackets I’ve ever bought.  I can throw it on over anything and it instantly looks at home.  Low maintenance, high wearability, and the perfect defence against those impromptu April showers.
• One beautiful, feel good, God-I-CANNOT-stop-wearing-this dress.  Last year’s was the purple and yellow square neck floral I’m wearing in my picture.  I wore this everywhere last Summer: to weddings, to uni, to the beach – I even wore it on a roller coaster in Las Vegas!  The best part of the story is that I bought it in a charity shop for £8.  One of my all time favourite capsule wardrobe pieces.
• Sandals that go with everything.  My chosen colour is tan.  I bought mine in Clarks last year (I cannot rave enough about Clarks shoes – one pair of those at £45 really is worth all the £2 flip flops the high street can throw at you).
• A large, brightly coloured scarf.  My favourite is from H&M.  It’s square, which means I can tie it into a top or even a mini dress, as well as wearing it around my neck and over my hair.  When travelling last year, it morphed into a shoulder bag, a pillow and a beach cover-up.  Multi-functionality at its very best.
• One bikini/swimming costume that fits and that makes you feel great.  I once went on holiday for a week with a different bikini for every day.  And I ended up wearing only two of them.  Why?  Because those were the only ones I really liked and felt comfortable in.  The other five were a complete waste of money (and seriously, who needs seven bikinis anyway?).
• Sunglasses.  Finding the right pair of sunglasses is a daunting task, and not one that I’m particularly fond of.  I prefer classic styles to the bluebottle trend that seems to be forever in vogue, and don’t get me started on the John Lennon, “look at me I’m so creative but soooo pained”-type.  No one will ever suit John Lennon glasses apart from the man himself.  Leave them for Strawberry Fields and opt for something simple.

Basics

Basics are the most crucial part of the capsule wardrobe, whatever the season.  Underwear that fits and that makes you feel good.  Basic tops and vests that keep their shape throughout the day (again, H&M’s are the best affordable option I’ve found).  Tights and leggings that are ladder-free and big enough to avoid the horror of the sagging crotch area (it’s happened to us all at some point!) and a handbag that carries all of your junk but still looks the part.  If your basics are in good shape, the rest of your Spring/Summer dressing will be a walk in the park.  Leaving you with plenty of time to actually walk in the park, or do something equally as enjoyable.

Shopping

All this renewed joie de vivre that comes with the arrival of Spring can have unwanted side effects.  When the clocks leap forward I always have to fight the temptation to rush out and buy armfuls of dreamy, candy coloured chiffon blouses and deliciously long, floaty floral skirts.  Unsurprisingly, there are plenty of reasons why that wouldn’t be a good idea.  For one thing, heady spontaneity often leads to regretted purchases later down the line.  We all know what it’s like to buy on impulse, and I bet most of us know what it’s like to wish we hadn’t done so later on.  The second reason is that while Spring may well have arrived, it isn’t actually particularly warm out there yet.  So while you might get away with shedding a layer or two, all out Summer dressing when it’s not even April yet could well lead to a belated case of the frostbite.

Don’t give up on your wardrobe as the weather gets better, or denounce it as plain, or too black, or too boring.  Chances are that there are more things in there suitable for Spring than you know, and it might just be that all you need to do is shed the long-sleeved top you normally wear under that dress, or wear your jeans with ballet pumps as opposed to those clunky Winter boots.  Have fun with the weather, and your wardrobe.  Because really, that’s what it’s all about, innit?

What’s in your Spring capsule wardrobe?

Image above from Flickr – TheLittleRooster.

I meant to sit down and write this post about how much I love Spring last week, but then the weather went and did a funny thing – it reversed its ass all the way back to Winter and decided to sit tight.  The sky covered over, the rain and sleet (and snow, would you believe) screeched down in thick torrents and I had to resort to ramping up the heating and donning thick jumpers and socks just for house-bound loafing around.  No surprise then that any inclination I had previously felt towards writing about daffodils, baby lambs and Spring-inspired wardrobes was swiftly reduced to zero.  Instead, I huddled under blankets with soup and E4 re-runs, eating Tunnock’s tea cakes by the box and waiting for the whole lamentable episode to be over.

Which it was this weekend.  The sun has been shining, the temperature hiking and Spring really looks to have finally arrived in Edinburgh.  It really pleased my heart to note that even 7pm didn’t constitute complete darkness last night: there were still birds to be heard dutifully tweeting their pretty song in the trees and lovely twilight cloud formations to look at.  Add to that a generous smattering of semi-intoxicated but extremely jovial rugby fans (well done Scotland!) and the atmosphere in the city centre was verging on carnival-like.  Amazing.

I fail to think of an occasion when the arrival of Spring hasn’t significantly bolstered my appetite for life.  It’s as if my spirit has been in hibernation over the Winter, waiting for the day when it’s acceptable to step out of the house wearing less than four layers of clothing.  As soon as Spring appears at the door my energy levels soar and I’m ten times more likely to make the most of my days and nights (seasonally affected much?).  It’s true.  I feel inspired to get up earlier during Spring, to enjoy a cup of tea and some quiet contemplation while the sun rises.  I feel compelled to spend more time outdoors, sitting on park benches with take-away cups of coffee and good books or climbing hills and taking photographs of anything remotely Spring-like.  Daffodils, baby animals, cherry blossom…

Spring even makes me excited about exercise.  Cycling for cycling’s sake, as opposed to mere transportation; swimming lengths and lengths, walking for miles.  Even a run along the canal doesn’t seem like such a thought when the daylight meanders its way into the evening and the streets are abuzz with people making the most of it.  And increased exercise usually results in my eating better as well.  I want to fill my fridge with luscious green leaves, juicy tomatoes and sun-ripened fruits, to eat more salads, drink chilled mint teas and squeeze lemon juice over almost everything I cook.  I want to ban those stodgy, carbohydrate-fuelled snacks and feast instead on carrot sticks and red peppers, crunchy and juicy and all sorts of other good things.

In short, Spring for me equates to a renewed sense of joie de vivre.  The snake-like shedding of Winter’s cracked and dusty veneer, and the exposure of everything new underneath that’s just about ready to blossom.  Happiness in the form of a season.  Perfect.

What are your thoughts on Spring?  Does it inspire you too?

Image above from Flickr – jijis.

One of my favourite ways to daydream the working day away is to think about what I might have for dinner (we all do it, right?).  Aside from making me feel exceptionally hungry, such musings usually centre round the idea of using up whatever ingredients I already have at home.

Today’s primary left-over is…the classic British spud.

I bought a rather chunky bag of white potatoes last week for soup, but ended up using only a couple (for some dreamy leek and potato…mmm).  I’ve been casually wondering what to do with the remaining spuds which have been sitting somewhat morosely in the bottom of the fridge ever since.  They’ve had me slightly perplexed – I’m on a spring and summer flavours-style binge at the moment and am using tonnes of spring onions, cherry tomatoes and lemon juice – the season just seems all wrong for stodgy bangers and mash, or stodgy haggis and mash (the stodgy leek and potato soup was a temporary ‘I want some comfort food’ blip).  What I needed was some reassurance that potatoes can be cool, light and summery, and that they don’t always have to come laden with butter or smothered in mayonnaise.

So in a bid to broaden my horizons I randomly typed ‘potato recipes’ into Google earlier on and this *amazing* website – Love Potatoes – was one of the first things to pop up.  There are some delicious-looking recipes (summer chicken, orange and potato salad anyone?) as well as a whole bunch of useful information including details of the various types of potato, which varieties work best in which recipes and lots of interesting facts about just how darned good for you the little beauties are.  The design of the site is really cool as well – quirky, fun and wholly dedicated to our best-loved national carb.  I couldn’t have asked for more!  Newly-inspired and bursting with culinary energy, tonight I’m going to try a fried potato salad with prawns, spring onions and soy sauce.  Results tomorrow!

Image above from Flickr – cuorhome.

In reading the lovely Holly’s blog this morning, I came across this – ThxThxThx – and have spent ages giggling at it already.  It’s the blogging creation of Leah, and simply consists of a bunch of thank-you notes she writes to signify her gratitude for all manner of things, however trivial or bizarre they might be.  Please do have a look – it will make you smile, I can almost guarantee it.  I absolutely love it, and have already been inspired to compile my own one-off list of things for which I myself am thankful.  I chose 21 because 20 is a bit too round a number.  And seeing as I have temporarily pinched her idea, it’s only right that Leah herself should come first.  So without further ado…

1. Dear Leah:

Thanks for your blog about thankfulness.  I will be a regular reader from this day on.  Thanks also to Holly for your Friday I’m in Love post which led me to it.

2. Dear sun:

Thanks for shining all weekend, and for allowing me to wear flip flops for the first time this year.  Thanks from my feet also.

3. Dear library:

Thanks for letting me take your books away for three whole weeks for free, and consequently for broadening my horizons.  I appreciate this very much.

4. Dear Ian McEwan:

Thanks for introducing me to the word ‘soporific’.  This is my new favourite word.  May I just say, I don’t find your writing in any way soporific.

5. Dear half-dead plant on my desk:

Thanks for being a constant reminder that I am not ready to have children.  Only when I can successfully rear a plant will I need to start worrying about that.

6. Dear bananas:

Thanks for being my favourite fruit.  Always.

7. Dear hair:

Thanks for being low-maintenance, and for not demanding that I wash you every single day.  You give me time to do other things, which I appreciate very much.

8. Dear angry woman in Tesco:

Thanks for reminding me of the kind of person I never want to become.  I don’t know if you are that person all the time, but you certainly looked like it last night when you were arguing with an innocent cashier over the price of a loaf of bread.  You suck, but thanks.

9. Dear body:

Thanks for being healthy and for not causing me any trouble thus far.  I’ll try my best to look after you.

10. Dear Flickr:

Thanks for holding so many beautiful pictures, and for allowing me to use them to bring my blog to life.  As they say, a picture speaks a thousand words.  Don’t you know it.

11. Dear Edinburgh:

Thanks for being my city, my home and my favourite place to be.  Yours aye, a Scottish lassie.

12. Dear April:

Thanks for bringing me some much-needed nice weather, and also for your name.  April.  I like it.

13. Dear Spotify:

Thanks for letting me listen to all of my favourite music for free, and for allowing me to discover new bands.  You’re the best.

14. Dear left hand:

Thanks for being my writing hand, and for putting me in the minority.  I could take those right-handers and you know it.  Fact.

15. Dear Monday mornings:

Thanks for reminding me what a tedious grind office life can be, and for encouraging me to continue writing in the hope that one day I can quit.  Cheers for that.

16. Dear Italy:

Thanks for being the home of pizza, pasta and a beautiful language which I hope to learn one day.  Thanks also for letting me visit last year.  I’ll be back.  Ti amo.

17. Dear Mum:

Thanks for being my most avid reader – even if no one else is watching this grow, I know you are.  That’s nice.

18. Dear Coleman’s:

Thanks for your English mustard.  It makes my nose hurt a lot if I eat too much, but I love it anyway.

19. Dear blogland friends:

Thanks for being a continued inspiration, and for providing me with so much interesting and insightful reading material.  You are wonderful.

20. Dear Sunday Times:

Thanks for being the best thing about Sundays.  Especially your supplements.  They kick supplementary ass.

21. Dear Facebook:

Thanks for reminding me not to be narcissistic, because that’s not cool.  Keep it real yo’.

There we are.  21 things for which I am thankful.  Let me tell you, it feels great writing this stuff down and I am now in an insanely chipper mood – Leah, I want to meet you!

Image above from the fantastical Flickr: David Blackwell.

I’ve got a free weekend here in Edinburgh, something I’ve not had for several weeks now, and I am planning on getting piles of things done that I’ve been meaning to finish off for ages.

I always find myself better fulfilling commitments if I’ve written them down somewhere.  Also if I’ve told people about them.  So here we go…

I am done with Winter.  100% over it.  By the time April arrives next Thursday it will definitely be Spring and the clocks even go forward this Sunday – who’d have thought it?!  This means, I have decided, that it’s officially time to be wearing my summer clothes.  If it’s cold I’ll just have to layer it up and deal.  So there.  With this in mind, I think it’s high time that the coats, hats and boots of yestermonth were stored away, the spring clothes came out of hibernation and a fully fledged wardrobe rotation (remember I wrote about this here?) got underway.  I have therefore earmarked part of the weekend to work on this.  It’s perfect timing really – I am thusfar planless, aimless and the weather is crap.  No better time to be forging ahead with home/life improvement projects!

As well as shifting things around I’ve got a deluge of mending and clothing alterations to do.  I desperately need to take a few hours out, sit down and plough my way through these – an incredibly tedious task I find but much less tedious than planning to wear a particular item only to discover that it has a button missing or a strap loose and is unwearable.  If being thrifty means making the best of what we already have then I’m failing pretty miserably on the garment front at the moment.  So this weekend is also going to be all about getting things ‘mended’.

And finally, something else I’ve been meaning to do of late is to take a long, hard, steely-eyed and ruthless look at my shoe collection.  I was recently rather shocked to realise I have around 30 pairs of shoes.  This might not sound like many in comparison to someone who lives like Carrie Bradshaw (“I’ve spent $40,000 on shoes and I have no place to live?!?”) but I’m not really a ‘shoe person’, if there is such a thing, and what’s more – I never, no, not hardly ever, NEVER wear at least a third of them.  All I seem to do with many of my shoes is pack them up to move flat, moan while I heave them up and down flights of stairs and then unpack them at the other end and curse myself for not putting them to the charity shop sooner.  As part of my bid to downshift my life, I think these unworn shoes must go.  They are looking increasingly reproachful these days and I know *for certain* that someone else could actually put them to good use were I to donate them so that, my dear blogging friends, is what I am going to do.

And so we have three concrete goals: wardrobe rotating, sewing/mending/darning (groans heavily) and shoe-shedding.  I could go on but I don’t want to get all over-ambitious and end up being disappointed when I can’t cross everything off.  I would like to have some time left over for eating, walking and reading the papers!  No, three tasks is, I think, enough for the moment.

PS – I learned a completely fantastic new word today (you’re never too old to expand your vocabulary).  ‘Pedagogic‘ is my mot du jour, meaning ‘educational’.  Coming to a post near you soon!

Image above from Flickr – Le Petit Poulailler.