A COS Try-On Capsule

my approach to buying less and wearing more

Hello Readers,

I know it’s been a hell of a week for many of us. As I write this newsletter, I keep telling myself what I’ve told myself all week - “one foot in front of the other” - and that’s what I am going to keep doing.

I’ve never found myself in a role where I have an “audience” of sorts. I guess it’s not that different than IRL world where we interact with strangers and neighbors and friends. Words and action always matter, but it just feels a bit more…public (?) now that I have an online business and this newsletter.

I shared the below in my IG stories this week. It didn’t feel right to go about business as usual (nor did I have the mental or emotional capacity) but I also know many of us are looking for small moments of respite.

I also spent the latter half of the week working with clients. It always fills my cup to connect with women and provide a moment of self-care but the sessions I had helped me more than ever! I also received the kindest note from one of those clients:

All that to say, I hope you all are doing what you can to regulate your nervous system, find the little moments of joy or self-care, make impact in any small way you can, and take care of yourself and others.

I had plans for a different topic today but honestly struggled to complete it as my mind has been so pre-occupied but I wanted to get a fun free newsletter out so I’m pulling one up that I planned to release later this month while I’m out traveling. I hope you enjoy!

COS TRY-ON CAPSULE TIME!

This content was first shared on my Instagram awhile back but I wanted to share it in this newsletter as I know a lot of readers aren’t on the IG platform.

Here’s the reel for anyone interested! (sorry for the audio in advance!)

The idea for this came about as I always see shopping “hauls” content on IG.

I’m not into the trendy shopping hauls as they tend to promote overconsumption and in most cases fast fashion, but the thing that really bothers me is that the creators/influencers don’t ever share context! Like how they plan to actually wear the items.

I guess most people just want to see cute things that they can then immediately buy but I think that’s one of the reasons why we impulse buy!

Are they just going to wear it for a week and move onto the next round of purchases? Or do they even like the item to keep it? Or do they just keep it and then sell or donate it with the tags on next month? Do they even know how to wear it more than 1-2 ways?

I’ll admit I do my own version of shopping hauls throughout the season. I tend to prefer shopping online vs IRL as you have access to a lot more availability than in the stores. I generally will fill up my cart with all the things that interest me, knowing a lot of it may not work. I shop this way as I can do it all in one round and avoid multiple purchases and returns. I also use this as a way to review items I think are great, or not so great, so I can share with my clients as I help recommend new purchases for them. (Any shopping after that point from a brand/site is done a bit more one-off as I tend to be looking for specific pieces).

I try everything on and create different outfits to make sure I will actually get use out of the items - that I love the fit and the fabric and the way I feel in it so any new purchases don’t become a one hit wonder. This can be much harder to do when you are in a fluorescent-lit tiny dressing room with a time limit on your shopping day.

I had three goals for this content:

1. To provide context. Share how I approach purchases. How I style. And what I think about when making purchasing decisions.

2. I wanted to show how you can do so much with less. Hopefully it can help you make smarter purchasing decisions. You don’t need to buy a ton of stuff to find a lot of good practical wearable outfits for the season. You just need the right pieces that make sense for your wardrobe and your lifestyle. Which can take time and a bit of trial and error. My best tip is to actually take the time to play with your purchases before taking the tags off!

3. I wanted to share links in a different way. To share about purchases in a more thoughtful way. We are flooded with so many links (again, without much context from the person providing it) but I also recognize that people are looking for links. They want shopping to be easier. They don’t want to spend the time or energy trying to find what they need from all the endless options out there. If I love the items and can share how I would style them, they could hopefully be a good option if you are looking for something similar because you have a starting point on how to wear them.

Let’s get into what I tried on!

**Note I call it a capsule as I’m creating outfits using a small set of items. This capsule included 7 pieces of clothing, 2 shoes, and 2 accessories.

These were the purchases I tried and kept // I loved this cardigan the moment I saw it. The photos online don’t do it justice. I love brushed cashmere as it offers textural interest and this type of non-neutral neutral (a color that isn’t neutral but acts like a neutral) is very hard to find. I’ve worn it so many times already this season. The turned up jeans from COS are a favorite of mine (I have a pair of cream ones from the Spring). It’s just a great design detail and I had been looking for a faded black denim which I prefer over a true black in the Fall. The trousers are another great non-neutral neutral and a unique color compared to my black trousers I own. Unfortunately the first two are sold out but the trousers are still in stock.

My core pieces from my closet: Leset Margo Tee, AYR Deep End Oxford, Pistola Lexie Jean, Wardrobe NYC Blazer, Vintage Belt (similar), Dehanche Belt, A.Emery Sandal (similar), Zara Heels. These are the pieces I always wear. If I can’t get new purchases to work with these in multiple ways, it’s usually a return! I also intentionally chose pieces that most people have in their closets to show you don’t need trendy pieces to create these looks. Note I chose a leather sandal and strappy heel but you could easily do a flat, sneaker or a boot for the Fall. I’d stick with a lower profile sneaker and a low vamp flat for better balance!

THE LOOKS!

20 in all…I could have kept going but styling, changing, and videographing all by myself is tiring!

The styling breakdown -

1. A tee is only a tee if you let it be!

I wear white tees plenty on their own but it also acts as a canvas for different styling. Look 1 + 2 with texture added over the shoulders, or a pop of color at the waist. Look 3 + 4 adds dimension and interest when layered under cardigans or sweaters.

2. Cardigans as Tops

I’ve shared this before but don’t just wear your cardigan as a cardigan! Clothes become more fun when you wear them in different ways. Let the humble cardigan be your favorite long sleeve of the season. I like to wear mine partially open so it doesn’t read so stuffy, or layer a tee underneath. If you plan to layer under blazers or coats, try to stick to one that isn’t a drop shoulder or dolman. You want one with a straighter fit so it can fit easily and comfortably under the sleeves!

3. A button down as a jacket or layer

I love a button down as an open lightweight jacket of sorts. It adds just the right amount of intentional styling to a basic tee + jeans. Up the styling with a sweater over the shoulders. Or let the button down peek out between two layers. A styling tool I use year round.

4. Dress down your work clothes with just a swap of the shoe

The first look is more workwear focused with the outfit + heels. The last two can be worn to work if you look at the individual pieces (blazer, cardigan, button down, trouser) but the detail is in the styling that allows it to be worn off-hours. The undone look of the open buttons but also just wearing a sandal. It relaxes the overall look. So next time you are trying to figure out how to wear your trouser on a casual weekend, just try switching the shoe :)

5. Alternately, dress up your casual everyday looks with a “dressier” shoe

The first look is something I’d wear casually. Yes, there is a blazer but I’m pairing with more casual pieces like the sandal and jeans and tee which relaxes the look. For the 2nd and 3rd look, the looks are very casual for me but if I was going out for drinks or dinner and wanted to feel more dressed up, I’d just swap into heels. A slight heel or pointed shoe of some kind does that for me. I don’t need to change my entire outfit to feel “dressy” depending on the situation. Find what helps do that for you — a swipe of lipstick, a sparkly earring, a great fitting jean.

6. A tie around the waist instead of a belt

Does anyone remember the 90s when all you did was tie things around your waist? Well, that never left me. I love to tie shirts or cardigans and sometimes even jackets around my waist as a detail rather than a belt. It can help add texture, color, interest. In some cases, it also helps me camouflage bits and bobs I may want to cover!

7. Modernize your blazer

Wear it on it’s own if you can (this will depend on the blazer). I love a deep V so I create this with a blazer worn as a top. If it’s too low for you, just add a cami or maybe a lace bralette. I also like belting a blazer to create an hourglass shape just to switch it up sometimes!

The Returns -

Because they can’t all be winners!

Actually, this trouser was very much a winner. I love the modern shape and detailing. So cool! The fit was great too. I just own a few black trousers so couldn’t justify another pair (yet!). However, if you are a size 2 or 14, they are gorgeous in this brown shade. This color came out after I got these Black ones :(

Another great option, just not for me. This is one of those “love to buy but never wear” pieces for me. I love a v-neck cardigan but have discovered I prefer lighter weight ones vs really chunky ones. The quality is great on this one (100% cashmere in a chunkier gauge) and is one that I recommended to a few clients who were looking for cozy WFH cardigans that they could also layer over a tee and jeans on the weekends. Sold out in this color but available in Navy.

This boiled wool v-neck vest - I have been looking for a slouchy v-neck to layer with but was hoping this was a lower V. It was also really long - I quite liked it tucked in, or styled over a slip dress, but otherwise felt very limiting.

This oversized silky twill shirt looked great online. I loved the loose fit, the slight sheen, the drape, and the color as I had been looking for a navy button down to wear with black and faded blue jeans. But it failed my wrinkle test.

Wrinkle test for anyone that doesn’t know!

Let me know if this was helpful or if you have any questions!

I plan to do a couple more of these capsules this season — mainly with more well-known brands that work for a range of price points and preferences but I’ll also plan to do capsules with lesser known brands in the future if people continue to enjoy the series!

Thank you for reading and I’ll see you next week ❤️

xx,

Angie