Capsule Wardrobe 101: One Cardigan Three Ways
For the past year I have been working on downsizing my wardrobe. I've been living the capsule wardrobe life and talking about it here and there. One of the biggest hesitations I hear from readers is that they're afraid they won't have options if they start a capsule wardrobe, and I'm here to tell you that's simply not true. Besides more room in your closet and less money spent on unflattering clothes, the beauty of a capsule wardrobe is that you always have options. I'm happy to say that I never stare in my closet and have the dreaded "I have nothing to wear" conversation with myself. I always have options, and lots of them. I've set my capsule wardrobe up that way because I think versatility is key when limiting the number of garments in your rotation. If I cannot wear a piece with at least three other pieces in my wardrobe, I toss it. Today I'll be showing you how I wear a cardigan three different ways. I mentioned before that my fall capsule wardrobe could be nicknamed "Attack of the Cardigans". I have 5 cardigans in my capsule this fall. Three of those are the same cardigan in different colors (the one I'm showing in this post, actually). You may think that owning 3 of the same cardigan is a little bit over-kill, but actually those three cardigans help me stretch my wardrobe and make up very different outfits. I'll show you with this Capsule Wardrobe 101 Lesson.
Capsule Wardrobe 101 Hacks
One Cardigan - Three Ways
For a lot of the country, layers are super important during the fall. I know especially for me in Texas, I need to be able to shed and add layers as the temperature changes throughout the day. A typical fall morning here is 50 to 60 degrees, but it can heat up to 90 in the afternoon. I won't be caught with a bulky sweater until late December (maybe) because the weather is just too unpredictable to risk it. As I mentioned in my More Killer Capsule Wardrobe Hacks post, I think a chambray shirt is appropriate in every season. It can be dressed up or dressed down. You can wear it on it's own, over a bathing suit, or even layered.For the first look, I chose to bust out the trust chambray button up, and naturally add a cardigan. 
This is a go-to look for me during the fall. When I want to look put together, I make sure my accessories are on-point, but I also want to be comfortable. The cardigan over the chambray top helps me stay warm when it's cool, but when it's warm, I can shed the cardigan and roll up my pants to show off my awesome Rockstud flats.I throw my hair up in a high pony, slap some lipstick on and I am out the door... looking good! I like to wear this look with my flannel button up and the black cardigan in this style, too. I throw on some thick leggings and my favorite boots. It's the perfect fall ensemble. 
If you follow me on Instagram, you saw that I've been wearing more casual dresses lately. I was afraid to wear dresses causally for so long, but it finally clicked and I love wearing dresses on a daily basis.
When Jana opened Bouvardian, I fell in love with this polka dot dress. I knew I had to have it (plus, I love supporting blogger owned businesses). I've experimented with tons of ways to style this dress and it's so versatile which makes it a perfect capsule wardrobe addition. By far my favorite way to style it right now is to throw a cardigan over it, and slip into my converse. 
Adding the simple cardigan and the converse really just make the dress appear super casual, which is perfect for my lifestyle. Every outfit I show you on this blog is something I truly wear. I'm not a "fashion blogger", but I really enjoy sharing my personal style, especially since I've really been finding my jam there. 
During my time as a blogger (the past 2 years!) I've really tested the waters with different styles, and with each new venture, I've taken something away. I'm sure my personal style will evolve even more, but I'm having a great time figuring it out as I discover different styles. One of the styles I've really discovered lately is the statement top. I admire women who can wear a loud print. I found this adorable hot air balloon top on Modcloth and I took a gamble that I'd like it. The shirt itself is sleeveless, so I'm pairing it with a cardigan for fall. Like the chambray top, though, I think there's a certain versatility in a top like this and I cannot wait to wear it year 'round. 
The jeans and the slouchy nature of the cardi really help tone down the "business-casual" vibe that I think the shirt could give off. I've worn it tucked into a nice skirt with a belt and it did the job swimmingly. But for me, my style usually revolves around practicality, so I'm glad I can dress it down and play up its cheerfulness with a vibrant cardigan and jeans. 
And these are just a few ways I've incorporated cardigans into my style and capsule wardrobe. Cardigans are truly worth their weight in gold. I don't think there's a more versatile piece around.
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Are you a fan of cardigans? How did you discover your personal style?