u/UnicornOnTheJayneCob

Here’s my Spring /Summer work (but really anywhere I can’t wear a sundress or bathing suit and shorts to) capsule wardrobe! I’m in NYC and work in an elevated/creative casual environment, for context.
I included detail shots of some of my favorite pieces:

The gorgeous colors and pattern of those floral pants
The shrimp tee shirt!!! This one is hysterical to me because I am both super short and literally deathly allergic to shrimp and the irony makes me giggle.
Scarf that I am in love with that my spouse brought back for me from Milan (fancy!) it is called “dans Les bras de Selene” and not only is it basically the color foundation of the entire thing and has a woman cradling the moon on it but also, on her pants, a woman dancing around a bone fire in the woods!

other cool things I want to brag about: the black short sleeve top is actually a fine rib knit cardi top, so it can pull double duty! And both dresses are reversible, so the photo of each is showing both sides. The cream booties have this cool floral crochet pattern that is awesome but so hard to wear with skirts because they make my legs look shorter. Oh! And both the pink sweater and black pants are linen!

The white top with the orange rectangle around it is basically auditioning for that spot right now. I’ve included another item in contention as well. But I think the coral top is basically failing its try-outs. I’m not sure I love how the white top looks with the white pants - I mean, that’s a LOT of white! And I am not 100% convinced it actually goes with the floral trousers. I’m also thinking of maybe a three-quarter stand-collar wide neckline light blue top, or a dark coral/salmon linen slightly boxy boat neck sweater, or maybe another sleeveless blouse if some sort in a mauve/lilac color. Maybe a long line linen/blend vest in black or white I can use as a topper and a top? Any ideas?

note: these are all photos of my actual items that I own, but machine learning helped me remove their original backgrounds and put them on that linen color for most of them (i pulled the picture of the scarf from the product website rather than photographing my own), and to show both sides of the dresses at once. Any sizing inconsistencies or cropping is my fault because I did that part myself on my tablet, and I did the grid arrangement via Freeform. Hope that is all okay and abides by the rules of the sub!

Feedback welcome!

Ahh, a crisp white button down shirt!
The theory is: It is visually tidy and goes with everything because of the color and provides a great backdrop for accessories or other pieces! You can wear it closed on its own or open as a sort of light topper! You can tie it or tuck it or wear it hanging. You can roll up the sleeves or wear them neatly buttoned! So versatile! Perfect for everyone and everything!

Except no.
Not for me, anyway. Not for my Spring/Summer Work Capsule (but let’s be honest, it is really my Anything-I-can’t-wear-a-bathingsuit-and-shorts-or-sundress-to Capsule) Wardrobe.

This is for summer, so those long sleeves are never going to work, unless the fabric is extremely light, like linen. But in which case it will be see-through and I’ll need to wear a cami beneath it - which is not happening because of Summer. I could do something with patch pockets across the chest to give a little more modesty, but that adds volume to the area that my bust could do without, and then we also stray a little too casual for even my creative casual office, and for the rest of my wardrobe, and we get into possible visual conflicts with a scarf or necklaces.

Okay. So a substantial enough fabric that it won’t be see-through but also is relatively light so it is appropriate for the seasons. And short sleeves of some sort (I don’t love my upper arms and my capsule already has four sleeveless tops and two sleeveless dresses as part of the whole 18 piece thing as it is).

Since this is a capsule, and this shirt will be worn both tucked and untucked, it’ll have to be straight-hemmed.

And because I am petite, and this capsule includes skirts and pants, it’ll have to be short enough to hit at the top of my hips at its lowest.

There has never been a button down shirt that hasn’t gaped at my bust unless it is too big on me in other places - which either swallows me up (because I am short!) or is too baggy for the rest of my items. Solutions there could be something stretchy and nipped in at the waist, like with a peplum, in which case we run the risk of being too naughty librarian (which I love, but not sure my boss would); or a popover with maybe a partial button placket! Good. This is good!

But not one that is too boxy, because that just doesn’t work with my frame, either. Something a little slimmer cut or in a nice knit fabric so it skims without clinging unduly or bagging out. Yes!

…which leaves me with: a white polo shirt.
I am describing a white, short-sleeved polo shirt.

Which is fine, but it is notably *not* a white button down shirt.

Plus, while I like a cute polo as much as the next girl with visions of perfect preppiness, I don’t love it for my specific capsule (feminine, professional, with a little bit of an edge) with the items it currently contains. And wait a second. More significantly: it really gets away from almost ALL the reasons a white button down is recommended in the first place!

Arrrghhhh! Screw it. Forget the white button down! I just got this adorable vintage peach scoop neck short sleeve knit tee with a sequined, beaded pink-silver-and-coral appliquéd shrimp on it instead.

I mean, that’s basically the same thing, right?

Spring/summer work capsule with shrimp shirt!

Inspired by the non-essential basics post: the Agony of a White Button Down Shirt