I’m sure you’ve seen the capsule wardrobes with the “staples,” such as the Breton-striped top, a timeless pair of blue jeans, and a white oxford shirt.

Perhaps you have tried it and liked the Parisian look or feeling like a minimalist.

But maybe it didn’t suit your personal style.

And very few people, if any, called attention to bold prints, florals, paisleys, ginghams, and every other non-solid piece that you appreciate and enjoy wearing.

Maybe you’re like me and you’ve learned that wearing prints can be a strategy. What do I mean?

To sum it up, I’m a mother of four young children and I primarily cook from scratch. So life gets messy. And I need to be able to hide stains and still look presentable, chic, and put-together during my 16+ hour days (either for my own sanity or because I have to do so for the workplace).

But quite honestly, prints make me happy. I love the life that shines through my clothing. As cliche as it sounds, it can be fun to have your personal style reflect your personal taste, speaking for you without your needing to say a single word.

Interestingly enough, I love the juxtaposition between my clothing and my personality. I like to wear happier prints that might appear “loud” to some, which balances my more subdued, introverted nature.

Some of you are reading this, thinking, “FINALLY! SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN READING MY MIND AND HEART FOR A LONG TIME!” And I’m here for you! I might have hit some (or all) of the buzzwords: cottagecore, modest outfits… I’m one “Ma Ingalls chic” keyword phrase away from becoming your best friend.

But perhaps some of you are wondering how to create a capsule wardrobe WITH prints without looking like a crazy person. Maybe you are worried that insecurities will take over and you will feel like you look like a clown.

I can understand that.

Which is why I have a few tips to help you navigate your headspace and harness your wardrobe:

1. Start with the tried-and-true “rule of three.” In most fashion and design (and art, quite frankly), the “rule of three” denotes harmony. What is the “rule of three?” To simplify it, stick to three colors (no more than four). For example, maybe you want to wear a red and white striped top. Your outfit will look intentional and put-together if you wear a red and white floral skirt. In fact, it almost appears like one cohesive piece that was sewn together by a designer and sold in a store! But let’s say you don’t have red and white shoes (no problem… how many of us actually do?) And you have the perfect cognac boots that accent your calves in the best way. I would search for a cognac purse to go with it (or in the same butterscotch/tan family). I would not pick a navy purse. Or a black one. Not this time, at least.
2. Avoid “matchy-matchy” with prints. For the most part, I will avoid pairing two different florals together (a floral top with a floral bottom). I will only do this if the two different clothing pieces have some sort of “common ground. Think about a venn diagram:
   
   For instance, let’s say I have a floral blouse that consists of the three colors on the left sidfe of the venn diagram. Let’s say I have a skirt with the four colors on the right side of the venn diagram. Even though the blue and the pink may throw me off, the common denominator is the mustard color, so it can still go together. I will illustrate more of this in the images below, so stay with me.
3. Microprints work more harmoniously than macroprints. I love all prints, but I don’t wear all prints. I have found that on most body types, smaller prints are more flattering and look less “loud.”
   What do I mean?
   I am more likely to wear this:
   
   And not this:
   
   It’s not to say that the blue print is not very beautiful. In fact, I love blue and white! But the print will look much more dramatic when draped on a person versus the smaller, daintier flower.
4. Remember that when nothing matches, everything matches. It took me many, many, many outfit changes to learn what “pattern partners” I liked and which ones I didn’t. It took me many, many, many years to make “braver” decisions with my outfits that didn’t fit the standard mold.
5. Any insecurity you may have could stem from the cut and fit, not the print. I found that I was much more confident and easy-going in my outfits when items were looser in areas that I preferred and contoured my body shape in areas that flattered me, whether or not I loved the print. In other words, you can wear blue jeans and a white t-shirt 365 days a year to feel like you are not drawing as much attention to yourself, but if your shirt is too tight and your jeans hug you in ways that are uncomfortable, you will not feel as confident and happy as you would in a less-constricting, albeit bold printed dress. Give it a try and you’ll see what I mean!

Of course, this is just a jumping-off point and I am not here to judge anyone for their outfit choices, comfort level, or ideas about personal style. It is, after all, your personal style. But I am here to encourage you to HAVE FUN. Enjoy your closet. Stop saving those fun pieces for the Kentucky Derby or the Mother’s Day Tea. Enjoy today.

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What’s in my Autumn Capsule Wardrobe

10 pieces:

• 4 dresses
• 2 midi skirts
• 3 blouses
• 1 navy blue cardigan

How many outfits was I able to put together?

30+ OUTFITS!

Admittedly, I did not photograph all of them because I have four children between the ages of 18 months old and 9 years old, and it was supper time.

But I have no doubt that you will catch on to my formulas very quickly!

One more tip for purchasing items that are thrifted, patterned, or would pair well with any capsule wardrobe:

• Try to source lighter-weight pieces. I prefer natural fibers, like cotton and linen, since they “stack” on top of each other more nicely. But I also have lots of “vintage pieces” (or should I say “retro?”) from the 60s, 70s, and 80s that are 100% polyester and I still love them and wear them until they have holes.

A few more important and fun details about these pieces (again, they are all thrifted):

• 2 dresses and 1 skirt are from the brand Universal Thread (Target), which I know received some heat about being too “prairie chic,” which I happened to like. I’m not a “show your midriff” kind of gal.
• 1 blouse is from Madewell
• 1 skirt is from H&M
• 1 dress is from LulaRoe
• the other blouses and the cardigan are not necessarily recognizable, current brands

Also, I would pair any of these (especially the Lularoe dress that only goes to my knees) with tights and boots as it gets colder.

I know that my style is not for everyone, and that’s okay. I know there are women out there who would feel more comfortable and more feminine in pieces like this, and I am here to cheer you on and give you some ideas to mix and match!

If you’re a mom who is looking to feel less frumpy and break up with your black leggings, it is JUST AS EASY to put these outfits on as it is to put on an old stained t-shirt. But you will feel 100 times better.

And yes, I can still do 2938023923809328 chores in these outfits. Thank the Lord for my washing machine.