I'm traveling to Maine for a summer vacation later this month. Curious what items you would recommend for a small, chic travel capsule. No particular body type or anything, but I would describe my style as minimal and maybe a little edgy. I wear mostly black and white even in the summer. Thanks!!
Hi Brittany, love this! A summer Maine trip calls for pieces that transition from hot days to cool evenings with ease. Considering your minimal, edgy style, I would build a travel capsule around the following:
Lightweight black wide-leg trousers in cotton/linen blend or similar
Tailored shorts, relaxed fit
Relaxed button-up in cotton or linen
Sleek tanks, one black one white (bonus points if the necklines are different too)
Oversized collegiate sweatshirt or hoodie for cool nights
Simple black dress, any length (cotton, linen, or silk depending on your preferences)
Jacket for layering, simple with a minimal collar (could be leather, denim, cotton twill)
Minimal thong sandals, flat or heeled
Your favorite simple sneaker (I love my Vans Old Skool)
Some minimal or edgy accessories, like a studded belt or a colorful beaded earring
Can we talk suede? I love it but it has always felt like a Fall/Winter texture. I assume it is ok to style suede in the Spring/Summer as it feels like we live in a time where anything goes, but what are your tips to balance the look and keep it from feeling too heavy or off season especially if it is a darker suede? I have always tucked away things like suede ankle boots during the warm seasons thinking they were only for colder seasons, similar to the idea of putting away my linen until warmer seasons. But I love wearing all of these textures so much that I wonder how to mix them in different seasons without feeling completely off. I am curious to your thoughts in general, but am also thinking specifically about styling my dark brown suede ankle boots in summer or if they are best left tucked away for a bit longer.
Hi Katy, I love this question! The great news is we’re living in a time where seasonless dressing is totally chic.
Suede is traditionally seen as a Fall/Winter texture (and sure, some haters might judge), but it’s absolutely fair game in warmer months, especially when it's used in accessories or when paired with lighter fabrics.
For your dark brown suede ankle boots, try contrasting them with light, airy fabrics like a cotton dress, a gauzy blouse with structured shorts, or even a linen vest and relaxed trouser combo. Keeping the rest of the outfit light in both color and texture helps the boots feel intentional. I think this combination works so well for your feminine x rugged style!
And you can totally reverse this too. A dark suede jacket with a light linen mini dress and strappy sandals? Perfect contrast.
Hey Alyssa, I bought these white Levi jeans 501 90s cropped (hits me around my ankles). My style words are relaxed, sporty, and thoughtful, but whenever I wear these jeans it feels off unless I wear an oversized tshirt similar to the off white color. I think it’s because these jeans accentuate my curves more so than the blue version of these Levi’s which are more straight on me. Appreciate any thoughts you have on this!
Hi Ally, great question! This is exactly the kind of nuance that we want to pay attention to. Let's unpack it a bit:
Color: White tends to draw the eye. By pairing your white denim with a white top, you are allowing the eye to land on the entire outfit as a whole. When paired with a different colored top, the eye lands more directly on the bright white denim, so it makes sense that you’d feel they highlight your curves more than the blue.
Fit: Even small variations in cut can make a big difference in the fit. Even more so if the fabric quality is slightly different between washes (which happens a lot, especially when comparing blue denim to a black or white version).
Style: A cropped straight-leg silhouette is a great choice for the Soft Natural body type, so no issue there as long as you like them! Since your style words include relaxed and sporty, it sounds like you are instinctively balancing the classic (possibly preppy, maybe even feminine) vibe of the white denim with a relaxed, oversized tee to take it down a notch.
You could also try swapping the oversized tee for a fitted white tank layered under an oversized white button-up. It’s a variation on the look that’s already working for you, but adds a bit more structure and intention while keeping the relaxed vibe. If it feels like too much white, try adding an accessory that reflects your sporty or thoughtful style words.
Hi Alyssa!! I just subscribed recently because I absolutely love your style and I’ve been feeling so frustrated with my own wardrobe. Now that I’m in my 30s, I’m ready to start a more intentional journey toward discovering my personal style and creating a wardrobe I truly love. Could you point me to any previous posts that could help me get started?
Hi Eddie! I'm so glad you're here, and I totally get that feeling. Definitely start at the beginning of the free course. It walks you through 12 foundational styling principles, step by step. You can find the first lesson here: https://thestylelab.substack.com/p/the-style-lab-lesson-1
I'm traveling to Maine for a summer vacation later this month. Curious what items you would recommend for a small, chic travel capsule. No particular body type or anything, but I would describe my style as minimal and maybe a little edgy. I wear mostly black and white even in the summer. Thanks!!
Hi Brittany, love this! A summer Maine trip calls for pieces that transition from hot days to cool evenings with ease. Considering your minimal, edgy style, I would build a travel capsule around the following:
Lightweight black wide-leg trousers in cotton/linen blend or similar
Tailored shorts, relaxed fit
Relaxed button-up in cotton or linen
Sleek tanks, one black one white (bonus points if the necklines are different too)
Oversized collegiate sweatshirt or hoodie for cool nights
Simple black dress, any length (cotton, linen, or silk depending on your preferences)
Jacket for layering, simple with a minimal collar (could be leather, denim, cotton twill)
Minimal thong sandals, flat or heeled
Your favorite simple sneaker (I love my Vans Old Skool)
Some minimal or edgy accessories, like a studded belt or a colorful beaded earring
This is PERFECT. Thank you!!
Can we talk suede? I love it but it has always felt like a Fall/Winter texture. I assume it is ok to style suede in the Spring/Summer as it feels like we live in a time where anything goes, but what are your tips to balance the look and keep it from feeling too heavy or off season especially if it is a darker suede? I have always tucked away things like suede ankle boots during the warm seasons thinking they were only for colder seasons, similar to the idea of putting away my linen until warmer seasons. But I love wearing all of these textures so much that I wonder how to mix them in different seasons without feeling completely off. I am curious to your thoughts in general, but am also thinking specifically about styling my dark brown suede ankle boots in summer or if they are best left tucked away for a bit longer.
Hi Katy, I love this question! The great news is we’re living in a time where seasonless dressing is totally chic.
Suede is traditionally seen as a Fall/Winter texture (and sure, some haters might judge), but it’s absolutely fair game in warmer months, especially when it's used in accessories or when paired with lighter fabrics.
For your dark brown suede ankle boots, try contrasting them with light, airy fabrics like a cotton dress, a gauzy blouse with structured shorts, or even a linen vest and relaxed trouser combo. Keeping the rest of the outfit light in both color and texture helps the boots feel intentional. I think this combination works so well for your feminine x rugged style!
And you can totally reverse this too. A dark suede jacket with a light linen mini dress and strappy sandals? Perfect contrast.
Hey Alyssa, I bought these white Levi jeans 501 90s cropped (hits me around my ankles). My style words are relaxed, sporty, and thoughtful, but whenever I wear these jeans it feels off unless I wear an oversized tshirt similar to the off white color. I think it’s because these jeans accentuate my curves more so than the blue version of these Levi’s which are more straight on me. Appreciate any thoughts you have on this!
Hi Ally, great question! This is exactly the kind of nuance that we want to pay attention to. Let's unpack it a bit:
Color: White tends to draw the eye. By pairing your white denim with a white top, you are allowing the eye to land on the entire outfit as a whole. When paired with a different colored top, the eye lands more directly on the bright white denim, so it makes sense that you’d feel they highlight your curves more than the blue.
Fit: Even small variations in cut can make a big difference in the fit. Even more so if the fabric quality is slightly different between washes (which happens a lot, especially when comparing blue denim to a black or white version).
Style: A cropped straight-leg silhouette is a great choice for the Soft Natural body type, so no issue there as long as you like them! Since your style words include relaxed and sporty, it sounds like you are instinctively balancing the classic (possibly preppy, maybe even feminine) vibe of the white denim with a relaxed, oversized tee to take it down a notch.
You could also try swapping the oversized tee for a fitted white tank layered under an oversized white button-up. It’s a variation on the look that’s already working for you, but adds a bit more structure and intention while keeping the relaxed vibe. If it feels like too much white, try adding an accessory that reflects your sporty or thoughtful style words.
I am a soft natural if you would like to take that into account :)
Hi Alyssa!! I just subscribed recently because I absolutely love your style and I’ve been feeling so frustrated with my own wardrobe. Now that I’m in my 30s, I’m ready to start a more intentional journey toward discovering my personal style and creating a wardrobe I truly love. Could you point me to any previous posts that could help me get started?
Hi Eddie! I'm so glad you're here, and I totally get that feeling. Definitely start at the beginning of the free course. It walks you through 12 foundational styling principles, step by step. You can find the first lesson here: https://thestylelab.substack.com/p/the-style-lab-lesson-1
Perfect, thanks!