A 12 Piece Transitional Casual Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe

That might sound harsh but stores are not bringing in much if any new summer stock and are starting their end-of-season sales to clear out what is currently on hand, all while the transitional pieces are starting to trickle in.

This is how the fashion industry works. It doesn’t run alongside the current season, it runs ahead giving you time to slowly prepare for it.

Which is actually a good thing because it allows you to take the time to think about what you really need and want.

Instead of feeling rushed to get stuff for the season you are already in.

So, if I am being honest, if you are still thinking about buying specific pieces for summer chances are you are not going to need them.

I wouldn’t bother unless it’s something like a swimsuit or summer hat if you don’t have one. Or if it is a piece that will transition to the other seasons so you will get lots of use out of it.

Instead, put that money towards fall and winter when in my opinion the best pieces come out.

Don’t worry though, I am not forgetting about summer completely. I plan on making a summer outfits post soon to help give you some ideas if you are feeling like you are in a summer outfit rut.

Now that I have covered that, let’s get on with the post.

This transitional capsule wardrobe is casual, cool, relaxed, and minimal, in what I like to refer to as models off-duty style.

It is to get you through that mid season where you are in between summer and fall, but can still have hot summer days that change to cooler nights.

Plus, with a few small changes this can also become a complete fall capsule wardrobe as well.

The goal is to create a laid-back, stylish, yet put together looks that are a collection of basics, and wardrobe staples, which are both minimalist yet have personality to showcase your style.

The model off-duty looks have become a staple in the fashion world, embodying a blend of comfort, edge, and minimalism.

There are so many times when we are choosing what to wear, the difference between a great outfit and an okay one is the details or finishing touches.

It is like a cake without frosting, it doesn’t have the same effect as a cake with frosting regardless of how good the cake is.

The model off duty look or model street style can be achieved by remembering a few simple tips.

Keep it simple. This includes hair and makeup. At this point, many of us don’t want to invest loads of time into getting ready so keeping everything streamlined and simple is an effective way to achieve this.

Play with proportion and style. I talked about this last week. Oversized pieces are a wardrobe staple for me. If you don’t know where to begin with this I suggest starting with an oversized men’s shirt or an oversized blazer.

Style tip: When shopping for men’s oversized button-ups I recommend searching out non-iron versions. You can wash and wear without steaming, and it doesn’t get crumpled as the day wears on.

I found one in a thrift store with the tags still on. It’s my favourite white button up which you can see here. Uniqlo has some in a few colours as well.

I also want to mention that playing with proportions doesn’t necessarily mean slim on top, wide on bottom, or big on top, and slim on bottom.

It is okay to wear big on top and bottom, and then wear a slim shoe and a sleek bag. It will work.

Next, add some trendy or distinct details. Something like red lipstick, a trendy sneaker, colourful socks, or a fun handbag are some of the easiest ways to elevate any outfit.

This capsule is like a hybrid of modern and iconic 90s model off duty looks

Because we can’t do any model off duty style without looking to the Big Six:

Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Claudia Schiffer who dominated the industry and blurred the line between celebrity and supermodel.

Since that was pre social media when we had to rely on the paparazzi to capture the images of their day-to-day outfits which we later found in magazines and ripped out for inspiration.

When trying to achieve this style we start with basics.

Back to Basics: By sticking to a great collection of basics we can craft some genuinely effortless model-off-duty looks. Go back to my not so basic basics post to see some suggestions for basics with some visual interest.

These classic pieces will take you through each season and year.

Monochrome Looks or Coordinating Sets: When you don’t know what to wear try dressing in a monochromatic outfit or two-piece set that will give a similar feel.

It is one of the easiest ways to elevate a look.

Choose any colour from neutral to bold for a bigger impact. Like the navy blazer and navy maxi skirt, or the brown trousers, and brown sweater.

Use Outwear as a Focus: Depending on the time of year, the choice of outerwear will vary. During this transitional time we will look for lightweight jackets like utility style which is very on trend right now, blazers, and longer cut styles like trenches.

Often the off-duty model look is often achieved by taking a basic outfit formula and throwing on a cool statement jacket.

Through the decades this has often been achieved with some form of leather jacket, but a leather jacket is often too hot for this transitional period.

So I am going to talk about how to get a similar effect without it a little further down.

Suiting: Never underestimate the power of suits. If modern fashion has taught us anything, it is suits are no longer just for the office; they’ve moved into street style and really opened up our options.

They’re also prime choices for in-between seasons.

Double Denim: The Canadian Tuxedo. Denim on denim has been around for ages and it is one of those looks that can be extremely stylish or just plain bad.

Nowadays though we are seeing more and more variations to play with which makes extremely stylish easier to achieve.

Choose similar washes, explore different silhouettes, and add pops of colour to showcase why this generally casual look has been a go-to since the ’60s.

Little Black Dress (LBD):
The quintessential LBD will always be iconic. It can come in any variation and will be a wardrobe staple forever. Simple, versatile, and so easy to wear. I prefer a midi to maxi length in a simple design.

Touches of Leather: Leather is the fan favourite and often the hero piece in a model’s off-duty wardrobe, but the in-between season makes it hard to embrace this.

So we need to seek out ways to get that same feel without wearing heavy leather pieces. This is where we will use something edgy.

A leather jacket brings that bit of edgy badassery to a wardrobe and in order to recreate this feel we need to find elements that will give off that vibe.

I opted for some leather bags, one large tote with fringe, and one animal print with leather zippered pockets. These have leather jacket elements and will add an edginess to the look.

I also have the black leather ballet flats with ties and a tattoo print style sweater that also communicate that edginess.

This wardrobe is very reflective of my personal wardrobe and I also chose to include several pieces that I own like the asymmetrical shirt except mine is in white.

The Moxy jeans which I have worn the shit out of this summer.

I’m really getting my cost-per-wear down on those.

They are my favourite jeans at the moment because they are lightweight denim in a nice and slouchy fit and they are currently 20% off with the code SUMMER20.

And the last piece is something that I actually ordered this week, and it is the t-shirt with the Kim Gordon face drawing.

It is from an organization that Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill) has where part of the proceeds go to helping girls in Togo, West Africa with growth and education.

I saw a photo of Adam Horovitz wearing it and I was sold. Ad-Rock approved and for a cause. Sign me up.

Is model off-duty reserved for actual models? Absolutely not.

The beauty of the model off-duty style is its simplicity and versatility. It’s about looking stylish without appearing like you tried too hard. Because who has the time and the energy to try hard?

I am now offering digital styling guides, and personal styling services. If you are looking for some styling help that is inexpensive and easy, check out my digital styling guides. If you want some one-on-one help shopping, building and editing your wardrobe, or packing for a trip, I can also assist. Check out all the styling services that I offer here.

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