Back to Wool is in session!

Get ready for BACK TO WOOL SEASON! I’m excited to share this new series, starting today on my Insta Page… Back to Wool: embracing natural fibers for year-round fashion. I would love to have you join me whether you are already completely devoted to natural fibers, still have a mostly synthetic wardrobe, or are just beginning to explore clothing in wool, linen, silk, and cotton. This series will be all about taking advantage of the pieces we have to create a comfortable and versatile year-round wardrobe with endless styling potential. Get ready to explore the back of your closet, re-imagine how you get dressed each morning, and think about your biggest wardrobe frustrations and how to leave them behind. My posts will include daily outfit inspo, helpful tips & tricks, and favorite styling ideas to help you work your own pieces to your advantage. Be sure to follow my page so you won’t miss out and use the #backtowool hashtag if you want to join in posts on the daily topics. I’d also love to see you comment and add any ideas or thoughts that you think would be a great fit for this September series!

Woohoo! Day 1 is here! BACK TO WOOL is in session and our first assignment is going to be about taking stock of your closet. (If you feel like you are missing something, head to my Insta to follow along!) Now, you didn’t necessarily sign up for a major closet over-haul here so we are going to do a little mini closet update instead. This doesn’t have to be an all day process, it doesn’t have to mean trying on clothes for hours, and it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. What we are doing instead is a quick top 10, bottom 10. Quickly go through your closet and create a list of your top 10 wardrobe items and then find 10 items you that don’t get worn for any number of reasons. Now put your top 10 pieces at the front of your closet and either donate or pack away those bottom 10 items. How simple was that? Want a more intense version of the closet cleanout? Scroll Down for my Closet Reset Method!

My Top 10/Bottom 10
Top 10: My closet is a bit of a revolving door of pieces as I get the chance to style gifted items from lots of brands, which is great. So my top 10 change pretty often but these 10 items always get a lot of love for me:
1. A versatile wool blend black tank dress: For me, it’s usually going to be wool& Sierra. That’s a dress I can wear most of the year, for most occasions, and it’s so ridiculous versatile it’s actually wild.
Affiliate Link for wool& Sierra
2. Comfy, durable black leggings. My choice is wool& summit currently, because I can wear them for pretty much any outfit and they have held up for many seasons of wear.
Affiliate link for wool& Summit
3. Jean Jacket or button up denim shirt. I have a major weakness for this clothing category and seem to continue to buy them over and over. My current choice is the Quince Denim Distressed Button Up Shirt. In the summer a denim vest is a great piece to have as well.
Affiliate link for Quince Denim Distressed Button Up Shirt.
4. A flowy kimono/cape: I am lucky to have a lovely collection of items from Julahas so it’s really hard to pick just one but I would probably choose one of the wool or linen Kimonos. They really help create the silhouette I love!
Link to all Julahas Kimonos
5. A pair of jeans: Honestly, I debated over including these at all because I don’t wear them very often but I do like to keep a pair of nice-fitting denim just in case I feel in the mood. My current favorite jeans are Risen brand.
Affiliate link for Risen
6. Black pants or joggers: This one is hard to choose because I like to have a couple different pants items in my wardrobe but if I was forced, I would go with the Unbound Merino Travel Pants. They are insanely comfortable, look great, and are the perfect work or travel piece. Spoiler alert: I love the travel shorts also!
Affiliate link for Unbound Merino Travel Pants
7. Black Tank: I would probably choose the Ribbed Tank Top from Unbound Merino for this category. It’s been my go-to all summer and I know it will make a great layering piece for fall.
Affiliate link for Unbound Merino Ribbed Tank Top
(My Quince Washable Silk Cami would be a very close second: and here is my affiliate link. )
8. Long Sleeve Wool Dress: This is another hard one to narrow down because I really like both wool& Willow and wool& Rowena. Right now I’m going to choose wool& Willow because I love the fit of this dress!
Affiliate link for wool& Willow
9. V-neck tee in a favorite color. I’d probably choose the wool& Morgan tee for this category and I love the Emerald color.
Affiliate link for wool& Morgan
10. Cardigan or pullover sweater. My favorite sweater is definitely going to be one of my Oliver Charles sweaters, so that’s what I would have to go with. Which style might depend on the time of year but for now I’ll go with the Oliver Charles Summer Crewneck:
Affiliate link for Oliver Charles Summer Crewneck
(use code WoolObsessed10 for 10% off)

Bottom 10: I got rid of more than 10 items for this challenge, but here are the main things that I said goodbye to: A few pairs of jeans I have outgrown, a sundress that never fit right, a cotton cardigan that I love in theory but never wear, and several synthetic blouses that never get any love. For me the theme was I have sized up and there was no point in keeping too-small items any longer.

Here’s my Closet-Reset Method:
So each season (sometimes 2 times a year cold/warm v. 4, to be honest) I do a version of the following:

1) Pull out all the clothes. I know this is quite a huge pain in the neck, but this is one of Marie Kondo’s principles that I do subscribe to. Getting them all out really gives you a clean perspective and it is easier to reverse clean by putting in what you WANT v. taking out what you DON’T. For me, I know I’ve been naughty and deserve to be miserable when facing the excess.

It’s part of the self-training to learn to do better next time. Or self-punishment. Whatever.

2) Prepare three containers: I do a trash bag for donations, a container for out of season, and container for purgatory. You might want a 4th container for items that are sell-able but I usually don’t bother.

3) As quickly as you can, grab the stuff you KNOW is outgrown, worn out, or an obvious orphan without hope of a future. You probably know what these are already. Put them in DONATE.

4) Next grab out of season items and put them in the storage box. You should already have made a pretty big dent in the clothes at this point. I have started putting out of season clothes away and it really helps me see what is available to wear in my closet.

5) OPTIONAL: IF YOU HAVE TIME: start matching up outfits, trying them on and taking mirror selfies of yourself. I know this may be out of your comfort zone. I know it can take some extra time. But, I have found that seeing myself in the outfits is SUPER useful as far as deciding what is really working and what is not. A mirror selfie does not lie. Plus then you will have the outfits to look back on when you feel like you don’t have something to wear. Be sure to include shoes, jewelry and even outerwear if desired with your outfit. Take note of items that are real workhorses and go with multiple things. Those are the items you want to take special care of, and replace when needed. Those should be the backbone of your closet. I think you will be surprised what you have when you look at it like this!

6) Grab your clothes and hang back up in order of LOVE. Hang your very favorites back first, the things you know you will continue to wear again and again. When you get to items that are questionable, stop and try to find a good combo to make them into a star outfit. If it’s not going to work, consider what new purchase might transform this “maybe” into a “definitely” for you. Would that purchase be worth it? This is a time to add a few items to a shopping wish list.

7) My fav way of organizing my closet is by color from left to right going long to short. It’s a bit hard to picture but it’s the most visually appealing for me. I do separate tops and bottoms also in the same way.

Back to Wool Day 2! Today we are going to have a little mini-workshop about choosing your style descriptors. As a writer, this is SO much fun for me and absolutely unlocks a new level of wardrobe understanding in a way that nothing else really can! (I think I first learned about style descriptors on the YouLookFab.com website/forum which is an incredible wealth of fashion knowledge and expertise! If you want to deep dive into dressing for your body type, color theory, and capsule wardrobe with a mathematically savvy group of true fashion icons, that’s where you should go!) Choosing your style descriptors will help you get dressed in the morning, help you shop thoughtfully, and ultimately help you understand why an outfit does or doesn’t work for you. Today’s assignment is to choose three fashion descriptors that fit your vibe…so how you WANT to feel in your outfits is a great way to frame this. Here are some examples: classic, sporty, timeless, youthful, structured, casual, minimalist, preppy, basic, elegant, polished, boho, vintage, and sophisticated. You might immediately know exactly the style words that apply to you, or you might need to do a bit of brainstorming first. Hint: Chat GPT is a great place to get suggested descriptors with their definitions!
My three style descriptors are flowy, feminine, and fun. When I put together an outfit with all three of these aspects, I love what I am wearing so much! If I miss all three, chances are I will feel weird and off all day. This can really help you tweak an outfit to make it more “you”. For example, if I get dressed for work in black pants and a blazer, that’s not going to hit the mark for me. So I ask myself, how can I add one or more of my style buzz words to this outfit. So for flowy, I could add a flowy scarf or vest to the outfit. For feminine I could add a bow in my hair (these are TOTALLY in now), or for fun I might add a chunky charm necklace or a bright handbag. Again, this is just to help you feel more YOU in your clothing!

Follow this series on INSTAGRAM by clicking here!

Back to Wool Day 3 is here! Let’s talk outfit formulas for #backtowool Day 3! Outfit formulas are such a great way to simplify getting dressed and further define your signature style per those style descriptors we chose yesterday. So today’s challenge is to think about 2 or 3 outfit combinations that you can repeat and restyle throughout the year. To take it a step farther….if those formulas are based on your top 10 pieces from day 1…well then your wardrobe will really start to take off! My favorite formula is swing dress+topper+shoes. In cooler months, that means a swing dress+kimono+leggings+boots. My summer version of the same is a swing dress+long necklace+sandals. Honestly, I could probably wear this style outfit for the rest of my life and be totally happy. Just mixing up colors and accessories will give you lots of different looks. Want more ideas for outfit formulas? Here are just a few ideas that ChatGPT and I worked on together 😉

Casual Vibes

Top: Oversized T-shirt or tank top
Bottom: Jeans or leggings
Footwear: Sneakers or sandals
Accessories: Long necklace, crossbody bag, and sunglasses

Running Errands

Top: Button-down shirt or blouse
Bottom: Joggers or bootcut jeans
Footwear: Ballet flats or low-heeled sandals
Accessories: Statement earrings and a structured handbag

3. Work-Ready

Top: Fitted blazer over a blouse or shirt
Bottom: Pencil skirt or dress pants
Footwear: Classic pumps or ankle boots
Accessories: Watch, belt, and a large tote

4. Weekend Vibes

Top: Plaid button-up or oversized cardigan over a tank
Bottom: Leggings or distressed jeans
Footwear: Ankle boots or slip-on sneakers
Accessories: Knit hat and a large tote or backpack

5. Date Night

Top: Dressy blouse or off-the-shoulder top
Bottom: High-waisted skirt or tailored trousers
Footwear: Heeled sandals or chic ankle boots
Accessories: Clutch purse and statement jewelry

6. Boho Flair

Top: Flowing blouse or kimono
Bottom: Wide-leg pants or a maxi skirt
Footwear: Sandals or ankle boots
Accessories: Layered necklaces, floppy hat, and a fringe bag

7. Sporty Spice

Top: Athleisure tank or sweatshirt
Bottom: Joggers or leggings
Footwear: Running shoes or clogs
Accessories: Sports watch, gym bag, and a baseball cap

8. Date Night

Dress: Little black dress or a wrap dress
Footwear: Classic pumps or strappy heels
Accessories: Simple clutch and pearl or gold jewelry

9. Loving Layers

Top: Turtleneck or long-sleeve shirt
Layer: Denim jacket or trench coat
Bottom: Skirt or slim-fit pants
Footwear: Chelsea boots or knee-high boots
Accessories: Scarf and a crossbody bag

10. Seasonal Trends

Spring: Floral dress with sandals and a light cardigan
Summer: Tank dress with espadrilles and a straw bag
Fall: Sweater dress with knee-high boots and a wide belt
Winter: Wool coat over a sweater, with leggings and knee-high boots

Outfit 1 Details:
wool& Sierra (I’m wearing size Medium Long):
Jean Vest (mine is thrifted but here is a similar one)
Birkenstock Wedges
Kendra Scott Necklace

Back to Wool Day 5 is here! On day 1 we talked about our “Top 10” and today I’m styling one of my top 10 items 5 different ways! For me wool& Sierra is the perfect year-round dress that so easily transitions from casual to dressy and from one season to the next, it’s really such a unicorn! Remember, wool also has almost magical temperature-regulating, odor-resistant, wrinkle-fighting, anti-microbial properties that make it a great fit for anyone like me who is super busy, fills many different roles, and hates laundry! The Sierra is also super soft and squishy and completely glides over your problem areas which is a relief to me in this stage of perimenopausal weight gain. Even if you don’t have this dress, you can utilize these formulas for easy outfit building year-round using your little black dress of choice. #naturalfibers #backtoschool #capsulewardrobe #woolobsessed #silk #cotton #linen #wool #unboundmerino #simplymerino #wooland #olivercharles #julahasfashion #quince #thrift #September #project333 #closetchallenge #minimalism #slowfashion #ootd #getdressedwithme