Spring 2020 capsule wardrobe

Spring menswear blazer capsule wardrobe

spring 2020 capsule wardrobe menswear blazer

Spring menswear blazer capsule wardrobe from left: pastel menswear blazer (under $50) / turquoise 3/4 sleeve tee / light wash cropped skinny jeans / black 3/4 sleeve tee / golden hoop earrings / blue and silver earrings / white and silver earrings / black belt / blue and white scarf / medium wash classic cut jeans /

Spring is almost here! This means it is time to put together a spring capsule wardrobe. The weather here in the Bay Area is already switching from winter to spring, therefore, I have already transitioned my closet from cold weather clothing, to warm weather outfits. My spring 2020 capsule wardrobe touches on three trends. I have also included a ultra-casual capsule wardrobe which is easy to wear for running errands, and daily activities; while staying on trend. You know I love to stay on trend!

One of the big trends this spring 2020 season is the menswear blazer. This was a huge trend in the mid-1990s, and it is back. While menswear blazers have been popular during the past two fall seasons, the spring 2020 version is very specific when it comes to color. Spring 2020 menswear blazers need to be pastel. Look for your favorite pastel color and have fun with it! This is a trend where you can save money by looking for an inexpensive blazer, and then invest in items you can wear year-round such as jeans, or a belt. This pastel pink blazer is very affordable, and also comfortable. It is fun to pair with neutrals, or if you really want to amp up the trend, pair it with other pastels or shades of blue. Love it!

Shop my spring menswear blazer capsule wardrobe online:

You can also pair your spring blazer with a scarf for cooler days, or make a more relaxed look. To dress up this look, add large hoop earrings and heeled boots or pumps. It’s a fun capsule!

Spring kimono capsule wardrobe

spring 2020 capsule wardrobe kimono

Spring kimono capsule wardrobe from left: reversible long kimono / turquoise 3/4 sleeve tee / black cardigan sweater / black 3/4 sleeve tee / blue and silver earrings / golden hoop earrings / multi-color bracelet (hot spring trend!) / white and silver earrings / red and gold earrings / light wash cropped skinny jeans / black belt / red boat neck 3/4 sleeve tee with buttons / medium wash classic cut jeans /

I love anything which enhances an outfit. Nothing is easier for elevating a basic tee and jeans than a kimono. I love investing in one nice kimono I can wear throughout a season and beyond. This kimono is a little bit more expensive than what I would normally buy, but it is reversible! This means I have two kimono’s in one! Love that!

As you read this spring capsule wardrobe post, you’ll notice the same jeans and tee’s repeated throughout. This is a great way to save money. By repeating the sames jeans and tee’s, you can create entirely new looks with one “hero” piece such as the blazer pictured above, or this reversible kimono. When everything mixes and matches, your wardrobe is cohesive and paired down. This saves closet space, as well as money. After all, aren’t we all saving for the next IT handbag? It’s not just me, right?

This kimono is great because not only is it reversible, it can be dressed up or down. It can cover a swimsuit, shorts or a pair of jeans. This time of year, I will wear it mostly over jeans. It can be worn with flat sandals for an effortless and casual look. It can also be paired with heels or spring boots for a more formal look. If it’s worn over black jeans and a black tee, it can be paired with pumps for an evening look. This reversible kimono is super versatile! Love!

Shop my kimono spring capsule wardrobe online:

While both sides of the kimono are floral, the black and white floral pattern is seasonless. This means I can wear this kimono throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons. It isn’t really thick enough for our Bay Area winter weather, but if you live somewhere warm, like Florida, it would work in the winter too! This is a versatile and seasonless capsule!

Casual spring capsule wardrobe

casual spring capsule wardrobe

Casual spring capsule wardrobe from top left: blue puff sleeve top (Pantone color of the year!) / turquoise 3/4 sleeve tee / black v-neck cardigan sweater / black puff sleeve top with ruffle collar (also seen here) / black 3/4 sleeve tee / golden hoop earrings / blue and silver earrings / white and silver earrings / red and gold earrings / light wash cropped skinny jeans / black belt / red long puff sleeve sweatshirt / red boat neck 3/4 sleeve tee with buttons / medium wash classic cut jeans /

OK, we don’t all leave the house dressed like a fashion plate every day of the year. This is why we all need a casual capsule wardrobe for the spring 2020 season. As you can see, the same jeans and tee’s are in this capsule wardrobe. I added a cardigan sweater, which is very on-trend for spring, as well as three tops which offer trendy puff sleeves for a more structured casual look; when a tee is just too simple.

The long sleeve puff sweatshirt has a formal look to it, yet the fabric and comfort is that of a sweatshirt. It looks on trend and offers warmth when the fog is in, or it’s a cool spring day. The short sleeve tops and tee’s are great for general, everyday spring wear. The cardigan is great for wearing over your shoulders in case the fog rolls in, or temperatures drop in the evening. The IT way to wear your cardigan this season is draped or tied over the shoulders. Think 1950s style, sans poodle skirt 😉

Shop my casual spring capsule wardrobe online:

Basic jeans and tee can be enhanced with the cardigan, and fun, trendy jewelry. Multi-colored jewelry, especially bracelets, are very hot this spring season. This bracelet can be worn with any color palette and it will instantly elevate event the most basic jeans and tee look. Love that!

Dressy spring capsule wardrobe

dressy spring capsule wardrobe

Dressy spring capsule wardrobe from left: red floral print skirt / black puff sleeve top with ruffle collar / golden hoop earrings / silver and white earrings / red long puff sleeve sweatshirt / black v-neck cardigan sweater /

I always need a skirt in my seasonal capsule wardrobe. This red floral skirt hits mid-calf and offers a spring vibe. It can be paired with a red top, black top, or white top. I have chosen red and black as my two tops to alternate with this skirt. Since the cardigan is having a moment, it is part of this dressy spring capsule wardrobe too. Again, it should be worn over the shoulders.

Shop my dressy spring capsule wardrobe online:

That’s it! Four “hero pieces,” two pairs of jeans, a few tee’s and tops along with four pairs of earrings and a bracelet. Voila! My spring 2020 capsule wardrobe is here, and it can all be mixed and matched.

You can save money this season by using jeans, in lighter washes, from last year. Look for cropped, classic, and skinny cuts. You can also pull out tee’s from your closet which reflect the spring 2020 color palette. Think oceanic hues, shades of red, orange, yellow and pink. Look for vivid colors, as well as pastels. When it comes to jewelry, you may already own classic pieces you can pull forward for spring. To update your wardrobe, look for a pastel menswear blazer, a kimono, a cardigan sweater, and a floral skirt. Instant spring!

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned for my spring handbag capsule, and my spring shoe capsule, later this week!

XOXO

Cathy

Inspired by my daughters with adidas

international womens day adidas supports women

wearing: black sweatshirt / black and gold stripe pants / white sneakers (hot IT item for spring!) / mint green tee / black and white pants  (on both my daughters) / black and white sneakers (on both my daughters) / zip-up sweatshirt / mini backpack /

My daughters are a huge inspiration for me. They are growing up in a time where women have more rights, and more respect, than I saw growing up in the 80’s and 90’s.

When I was growing up, there was a glass ceiling. While the glass ceiling might still be there, it is a lot thinner, and easier to break now, then it was back in the day. My daughters see a limitless future. They feel like they can be anything they want to be when they grow up. They don’t see any career as “just for men,” or any level in a company as “men only.” My daughters know they can grow up and run a company, start their own company, and carve a path in this world that can change lives; they see no glass ceiling or limits.

I remember thinking men ran companies, and business was something men majored in at school when I was their age. As a female, I was encouraged to get a liberal arts degree, or go into teaching. When I mentioned I was interested in majoring in chemistry, I was told that only men majored in chemistry. As a woman, I should major in history, English, the arts, or education. This is one reason why I chose English as my major in college. It was one of the few options my surrounding environment told me was acceptable. I was actually in shock when I got to college and all my new friends were business majors. Wasn’t that what men majored in? How could so many women be allowed to major in business? It was not an option for me.

adidas it sneakers spring 2020

We are a product of our environment. My environment was traditional. Women eventually got married, quit their job, and raised children. Ambitious dreams were for men, not women. I envied the girls I was friends with. They were encouraged to major in business, and forge their own path.

A few years after college, I realized how much I enjoyed working in a business environment, and I wanted to advance in my career. I decided to go back to school and earn my MBA. I was told it was a waste of time and money, since someday I would be home with the kids. While my friends supported me, my family did not. I worked full time while earning my MBA part time. I went to evening classes, and was lucky enough to attend a University with some classes on Saturdays. It took me 3.5 years, but I did it! I also paid for it all by myself; without any family help. This was a huge accomplishment for me.

I used my degree to eventually advance my career, and then start my own company. Owning a small business is something I didn’t think a woman could do when I was growing up. My daughters were already alive when I started it. They were my inspiration to forge my own path. I wanted them to know they would be anything, or do anything, they wanted to in life. They encourage me constantly, and believe a woman can do anything she sets her mind to. They don’t see the glass ceiling I saw growing up. The world is their oyster, and they plan to conquer it.

My oldest daughter wants to be a filmmaker; specifically in animation. She wants to create amazing animated films for families to enjoy together. She has researched which colleges to go to, and which companies to work for. She even believes she can someday start her own animation studio and produce films herself. She has big dreams, and doesn’t see any limits.

My younger daughter would like to be a famous restaurateur someday. She wants to own Michelin Star restaurants and bakeries. She too has researched where to go to college, and which type of degrees would help her achieve her dream. She also plans to have her own Food Network show someday, and become a household name like Guy Fieri. She sees no limits.

adidas supports women international womens day

I love that my daughters enjoy wearing adidas, and I also love that fact that it’s the “IT” brand at their schools. adidas does so much to support women, and help close the gender gap. They support programs, and help inspire women on a day-to-day basis. They really celebrate women who inspire, empower, and break barriers for women. I am so proud to see them wear adidas pieces since the brand does so much to help make the world a better place. It also happens to be my favorite go-to brand for athleisure days. Love!

It’s inspiring to see such big and creative dreams come out of my daughters. I had no idea how vast and creative the world could be. I love how they have found incredible dreams, and have set goals on how to achieve those dreams. Their ambition inspires and drive me to be a better mom, a better businesswoman, and a better all-around woman. While there is still work to do in order to achieve a gender equal world, we have made great strides over the past few decades. I look forward to seeing the world my future grand-daughters grow up in; and see how my daughters inspire them.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

*sponsored by adidas. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

mini backpack trend

Chloe Aby Lock handbag review

chloe aby lock it bags 2020

Pictured: Chloe Aby Lock handbag in lizard-embossed, multi-metallic leather / crystal pie dish /

How fabulous is the new Chloe Aby Lock handbag! As you know, I am a huge Chloe handbag fan. I love 95% of the bags that Chloe sends down the runway. When I spotted the Chloe Aby Lock, I knew I needed one in my life.

The Chloe Aby Lock handbag is a little bit different from other bags Chloe is showing right now. Instead of classic and neutral hues mixed in with seasonal colors, the Chloe Aby Lock is being shown in splashy fabrications, seasonal designs, and downright fun colors. Since metallics are huge for spring 2020, and 2020 in general, I decided to purchase the lizard-embossed, multi-metallic leather option. I am so glad I did, it’s beautiful in person!

Small bags are huge for 2020; so a small, metallic bag hits two of the spring 2020 handbag trends this year. You know I love to double-dip 😉 While this may look like an evening bag, and it does make a fabulous evening bag, it is on-trend enough where it can be paired with casual looks during the day. I look forward to pairing it with printed pants, jeans, and shorts as the weather warms up.

Convertible bags are a great investment. The Chloe Aby Lock can be worn as a shoulder bag with the golden chain out, or it can be worn as a small satchel with the chain tucked in. The chain is thin enough where it doesn’t take up much space when tucked in. As you can see below, my iPhone, wallet, lipstick, and keys can fit inside the bag with some room on top in case I tuck the chain. Of course, the chain would be tucked underneath my purse essentials, not on top, but you get the picture.

Inside the Chloe Aby Lock

what fits in chloe aby lock inside chloe aby lockchloe aby lock size

Pictured: Chloe Aby Lock / Wallet (sold out, this one works) / iPhone (case found here) / Chanel spring lipstick /

This bag is on the smaller side, so instead of my larger, daily wallet, I switch to my small wallet which I like to use for small bags and travel. My glasses do not fit inside the bag, so I have to plan ahead if I need my sunglasses. Otherwise, it is quite roomy for a small bag. Many of the bags designers are showing for spring 2020 are really small. The Chloe Aby Lock is small, yet big enough to fit basics such as a small wallet, keys, lipstick, and phone. If anything, it will make you pair things down!

The interior has one slim pocket which is a good size for a few credit cards, and a drivers license. You can also place folded bills inside. This may help if you want to free up space by not carrying a wallet. It also has sturdy fabric lining, which is great for protecting the leather.

Outside the bag, there is a strong and slim chain. The chain is ideal for wearing the Chloe Aby Lock as a shoulder bag. It doesn’t slide off; which is always nice since some chains tend to slide off the shoulder. It is not long enough to wear cross body. If you are looking for a cross body bag, this isn’t it.

You can also wear the chain tucked in. Worn as a small satchel, the Chloe Aby Lock takes on a dressier vibe. This is how I wear it for more formal occasions. I like the shoulder chain strap for daytime looks. Of course, when you’re out and want to free up your hands, the shoulder strap comes in handy.

Hidden exterior mirror underneath the Chloe Aby Lock handbag

hidden mirror chloe aby lock

OK, check this out! There is a mirror, with an indented lock design, underneath the bag! It’s such a nice and discrete way to have a mirror for checking your teeth at dinner! haha The edges of the bag are roughly 1/4 of an inch from the mirror. This allows the body of the bag to protect the mirror, as well as act like feet for the bag. Fun right?

There is also a lock hanging on a small chain on the side of the bag. This lock is for decoration only, it has no use. It’s cute and fun nonetheless.

Shop the Chloe Aby Lock handbag online:

What do you think of the Chloe Aby Lock handbag? I am in love with this bag, and feel like it’s a great investment. After the small bag trend is over, this handbag can still be worn as a dressy bag. It has a classic vibe to it. Love that!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

chloe aby lock honest review not sponsored