Some of my friends miiiiiiight say that I shop too much……

So in effort to avoid buying too many clothes this month, I had the intention of instead focusing more on capsule-based wardrobe options and on several staples that everyone should have in their wardrobe! I selected three items that work great for summer and multiple occasions for the next series of pictures. Around those three items, I used several items multiple times to then build outfit options that are casual, work-appropriate, dressy, and just cute overall! Sometimes it’s just fascinating to see what you can build off some of the simplest pieces. Here are the staple pieces that I built the outfits around.

So there are two of the same shirt, one is white and the other is a soft-washed denim. The third item I wanted to play around with is the plaid blazer. Unfortunately, the one I used is no longer available on H&M (DANGIT!), but I have linked very similar options, and I’m sure H&M will bring an extremely similar blazer back very soon. These pieces make excellent staples for your wardrobe, so hopefully this post helps you gain some outfit inspiration!

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The first series of outfits revolves around this white Universal Thread Camp Shirt. I saw this shirt in the denim first, but quickly realized that the white would be even more versatile for my wardrobe. This shirt is lightweight, but not sheer, making it great for hot summer days, or perfect for layering! It’s a total steal coming in at $18, and it also looks great untucked, tucked, or knotted! I styled it with my new favorite pair of boyfriend jeans from Old Navy (which should also be an outfit staple in your wardrobe), showing options for both cute sneakers or sandals depending on your occasion or situation. I also dressed up the camp shirt, styling it with a great ankle pant and the same plaid blazer featured in the next series of photographs. The bottom images show the shirt knotted, looking adorable with a fun summer skirt (I have linked other adorable skirts that are new for summer!) and a great pair of olive shorts. Obviously you could simply wear this shirt with denim shorts, but I love playing with colorful options. Featured in many of these pictures too are a great set of earrings I recently picked up at Target. They’re a super cute set of tassel earrings, with a tortoise acetate pair also!

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For the next set of looks, I wanted to showcase how fun and also timeless a plaid blazer can be for your wardrobe. Above, it is showcased with my favorite pair of boyfriend jeans, some black mules, and the tortoise earrings I mentioned. Very chic, yet casual or dressy depending on your locale. I also styled it for the office or for date night, using a black pencil skirt and a LBD. By simply changing the shoe of the outfit, you can dictate the level of dressiness you’re trying to achieve for the outfit. And nothing, I MEAN NOTHING, can negate a great pair of pumps. The other great thing about this blazer, is that it can be really all-season appropriate. If worn with a longer pant or different blouse, it can easily transition into fall/winter, and would also look GREAT with a jumpsuit!

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The last outfit series uses the same Camp Shirt from above, but in a light denim color. This shirt is very soft, and does run true to size! It’s also a great staple for your wardrobe since it can easily be worn alone or easily layered with a kimono (as pictured) or with a cardigan or jacket. I also want to note, that you should NOT be scared to wear denim on denim (Canadian Tuxedo for the win!). If this idea makes you nervous or uneasy, just make sure that the denim in your jean is vastly different than your shirt, like I show above.
I included my favorite twill shorts from Old Navy (in a 5 inch inseam….because chub rub is a real thing), and I have loved the beaded sandals in that photo since I purchased them last summer! Target made them again this year, so clearly lots of other women did too! I also show how cute it can look if you layer a denim shirt, or any button-up shirt, over a dress. It can help add modesty if you don’t want to bare your shoulders, add definition to your waist where you choose to tie it, and really add dimension to a relatively easy outfit! You’ll also notice that I reference my Unisa brown platform sandals in some way, shape, or form in many of these pictures. That’s because I literally LOVE these sandals, and they make an excellent addition to your wardrobe for their versatility and comfort!

If these are items you already have in your closet, then GREAT! Hopefully this post gave you some fresh ideas on how to style them. And if not, then they are excellent pieces to add for all of the reasons I’ve explained above.
I’ll try to incorporate more of these posts with other wardrobe staples, since it’s always fun to get fresh ideas and a new spin on the clothes you may already own!

With May coming to a close, don’t forget our giveaway will end this month! I’ll be giving away a makeup case that I now use while traveling, and it’s awesome! It may also have some goodies inside 😉 so don’t forget to “like” our posts on Instagram! One last thing, is if you’re interested in any of the items that I’ve linked in the post, please try to shop through the links I’ve provided! I greatly appreciate your support!

xoxo, Chelsea