Washable Stretch Silk Blouse - $59.90 here
90% Mulberry Silk Double Georgette / 10% Spandex
19mm fabric weight
$10 off your first purchase friend link

Premium Washable Silk Blouse - $59.90 here
100% Crepe de Chine Silk 
$10 off your first purchase friend link

101 Elms White Oxford - $167 on sale for $99.99 here
​100% Cotton Oxford
$25 off your first purchase friend link

The Comfy Dress Shirt $134
Lenzing Modal & Spandex
Not a button-up or collared top, but encircled is one of my faves and this is their current answer to a "dress shirt" so I thought I'd share. 
US/Global_here Canadians_here

Linen Lille Collar Shirt $84.44 on etsy
Medium weight (200g) linen
Measurements can be customized!

Linen Collar Shirt Marle $87 on Etsy 
Medium weight (200g) linen
Measurements can be customized!

Washable Silk Relaxed Shirt  - $110 here
​100% silk

Clean Silk Relaxed Shirt - $98 here
​100% silk

The Silky Cotton Relaxed Shirt - $56 here
100% Cotton

The Double-Gauze Relaxed Shirt- $58 here
​100% Cotton

The Linen Relaxed Shirt  - $58 here
​100% Linen

I'm wondering what my preferred fabric and style are. Remember, I'm new to the button up / button down world!

• The Tradlands button-up shirts are really highly recommended and well-loved. My concern is they may be a stiffer fit than I'm looking for?
• The Quince silk button-up shirts are very reminiscent in style to my Everlane silk (review here) which I like a lot! I wonder if it would be better to get the 100% silk or the stretch silk? Also, I would like to research the difference between Crepe de Chine Silk and Mulberry Silk Double Georgette .
• The Comfy Dress Shirt from encircled, I know I would love. Look. At. That. DRAPE! It would be fantastic with a lot of my skirts (not to mention pants), but I don't think it would truly fill my dress shirt/ button up gap. I want something with a collar to layer under certain tops and dresses like my All Day Work Dress!
• Not Perfect Linen has been on my radar for a while. They have a real loyal customer base and you can even send custom measurements which is awesome. I wonder, though, if linen is going to have the right drape and look for my primary use with dress clothes or will it come off too casual?
• Everlane has at least 5 potential options and again it's going to come down to fabric (silk, cotton, linen) and fit.
• Also, I'm wondering how I feel about pockets? Part of my says go for it, but another part is wondering if I won't like how they look and if they will create weird lumps when layering. So I'm leaning toward no pockets at this point.

Nothing yet! Still in the researching and saving $$ phase, but drop a comment as to your favorites!

​Fast Fashion Royal Blue Turtleneck

• acquired: c. 2016
• wears: >25
• material: poly blend :(
• better option: this funnel neck blouse in royal blue

​wore 2 times in January

Fast Fashion Royal Blue Snap Button Cardigan

• acquired: ​c. 2016
• wears: >30
• material: 49% cotton 51% acrylic
• better option: this multi-way cardigan in royal blue

Everlane Relaxed Silk Shirt in Real Blue

• acquired: 2019
• wears: >15
• ​material: 100% silk
• free shipping & returns here

Wore 2 times in January

Fast Fashion Chartreuse Snap Button Cardigan

• acquired: 2017
• wears: >15
• material: poly/rayon/spandex :(
• better option: linen layering piece, hand made, customizable measurements in greenish mustard

Wore 1 time in January

Fast Fashion Forest Green Snap Button Cardigan

• acquired: 2017
• wears: >15
• material: poly/rayon/spandex :(
• better option: handmade linen blazer in evergreen

Wore 3 times in January

Everlane Mustard Yellow Cashmere Crew Sweater

• acquired: 2019
• wears: >15
• material: body 100% cashmere (trimmings cashmere/nylon/elastane)
• ​free shipping & returns here

​wore 2 times in January

Sea Life Circle Skirt w/ Pockets - Made To Measure on Etsy

• acquired: 2018
• wears: >20
• material: unknown
• see available fabrics in small shops like this one

​wore 2 times in January

Fast Fashion Talbots Tweed Pencil Skirt

• acquired: 2013
• wears: >40
• material: poly rayon

Wore 4 times in January

Fast Fashion Banana Republic Taupe Skirt

• acquired: 2014 hand-me-down
• wears: >15
• material: cotton/lyocell/spandex poly lining

Wore 5 times in January

Encircled Dressy Sweatskirt in Navy
Initial Review Here

• acquired: 2019
• wears: >25
• material: MicroModal

learn about encircled's fabrics

Wore 5 times in January

Fast Fashion Long Abstract Animal Print Pencil Skirt

• acquired: 2011
• wears: >40
• material: cotton/poly/spandex

Wore 2 times in January

Current Jeans worn here, Better option here

Dressy Sweatpants Black, XS - here
​(or here if you're Canadian)

Encircled Flipside Legging, no longer available but great option here (or here if you're Canadian)

Intention: The intention of the Closet Audit Capsule Wardrobe series is to assess the color, fit, style, and fabric of each garment.
Action: At the end of the month I will remove items I consistently don’t reach for, find unflattering, uncomfortable or in need of constant adjustment while wearing.

Additionally: This capsule also gives me the opportunity to try clothes from a recently received hand-me-down bag to give them an honest evaluation as to whether they are worthy of my in-progress closet curation.

Spreadsheet or StyleBook App: I'm also using this as an opportunity to start outfit tracking again whether in my Style Book app or a spreadsheet, to assess which clothing, footwear and other accessories I'm reaching for most and what the CPW is working out to be. Just a nerdy-fun thing .:)

These Birkenstocks - the finish makes it surprisingly versatile and elevates a casual outfit a bit. They are also super comfy especially because of the wide and spacious footbed. (Note: Wearing these in January bc I’m home all day)

The Rothy’s Marigold points are a perfect match with my mustard sweater! See rothys FAQs here and get $20 off rothys here

Emerald Handmade Vintage Style Leather Booties from etsy

Spenco Orthotic Arch Support Loafer - these are a little loose on me so they rub at the heel on my right foot (problem area for me) if I wear them a lot without thick socks, but they are great for wearing at home! All Spenco shoes have  wonderful, supportive footbeds and I highly recommend them - just get the right size ;) 

Soft Cotton Crew - reg $50  on sale $35 atm

Jude Pullover Sweater Birch
$25 off your first purchase friend link

Mockneck Sweater Natural
$25 off your first purchase friend link

Modern Fischer Cotton Sweater 
$25 off your first purchase friend link

Mongolian Cashmere Turtleneck  
$10 off your first purchase friend link

The Everlane Soft cotton Crew Sweater looks to have a pretty timeless style and is 100% cotton. One blogger said this was one of her favorite more fitted sweaters and she really recommended it over some other ones she had picked up. So we’ll see. It was on sale for $35 (reg $50) so I decided to give it a try when I ordered the 40 Hour Flat in Cream. (Review here - coming soon) Once the sweater comes in and I have a chance to wear it on a number of occasions I will add that review. 
 
Check for current Everlane discounts here and don’t forget to get the highest Everlane Cashback rate here. 

After placing my order, I’m wondering if I will actually like having this cotton crew sweater or if I will wish I had gotten something like a  turtleneck/mockneck  and then a more flowy sweater (like the Jude pullover) that could be tucked resulting in beautiful drape... I’m all about that drape these days. I don’t want to look shapeless in a tremendously oversized piece, but I also now appreciate that everything doesn’t need to be fitted to be flattering, whether you are thick or thin. A lesson I learned over the last decade. 

Still, It’s hard to get a light colored, fitted mockneck that’s is opaque, so that could be a challenge and interesting ISO (in search of) in it’s own right.