This week for my weekly capsule wardrobe (see last week's YouTube video) I decided to pick burgundy, grey, navy and pink. It's a colour combination I love (I also made a video about this colour mix)

Similar items where original are no longer available - Burgundy cashmere roll neck // Grey cardigan // Blue sweater // Pink sweater // Burgundy top // Blue print shirt // Print blouse // Jeans // Leggings // Blue trousers // Blue boots // Burgundy boots // Navy loafers // Scarf //

All the pieces in this mini capsule are old and some haven't been worn for a while. The print tie neck blouse for example is one I tend to dress up. So I enjoyed teaming it with some knitwear for a more relaxed look. Although most of the time I am at home wearing slippers(!) I have included footwear as one subscriber said she would like to see what I would wear with the outfits.

Thanks to one of my YouTube subscribers, this week I have created a Weekly Capsule Wardrobe. I will be trying to do this regularly and will be posting the results her in the hope it will inspire you to create some new combinations in your own wardrobe.

Here is a video all about this week's outfits. 

Items mentioned where available or similar alternatives - ***note, contains affiliate links***

Brown EF trousers only small sizes here  and here  // Green EF trousers only small sizes here  // Similar cape/sleeveless cardigan // Alternative brown top // Alternative budget green trousers //  Alternative green top //  Alternative longline green top // Alternative neutral trousers  // Alternative neutral sweaters  or here //

This season, because of the Pandemic, there are hardly any new pieces in my Autumn Capsule. The few I have bought, have expanded on the more earthy, autumnal colours I love. 

The Capsule Pieces

Accessories

Pieces where still available or similar: (** Contains affiliate links)

Black jacket // Yellow jacket, here in red  // Green cashmere cardigan  // Other cardigans - similar - similar  //  Coatigan // Cashmere jumper  // Other similar jumpers // Similar green shirt  // Tan print shirt  // Similar tie neck blouse  // Masai dress print in a blouse // Alternative yellow top  // Burgundy top, same style alt colours  // Similar black top  // Similar green/gold top  // Similar green trousers  // Tan trousers  // Burgundy jeans // Similar faux leather leggings  // Similar Eileen fisher neutral trousers  // Black EF trousers  // Similar tan loafers  // Trainers  // Tan boots  // Black loafers  // Black knee boots  // Stuart Weitzman boots  // Similar brown boots  // Animal print b...

 This week we heard that soon we will be able to go on holiday, Yay!

However, I know many of us probably won't be confident flying off to the sunshine and may want to stay more local. With that in mind I have put together a Staycation Capsule Wardrobe. You can watch the accompanying video above, where I show pieces from my own wardrobe. There is plenty there for two weeks and I also show you how to pack it all into one piece of hand luggage.

Below, as many of those pieces are no longer available, I have created a new one.

The Pieces 

** CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS** Red cardigan // Dress // White cardigan // Breton top // Sparkly knit // Navy top // Silk camisole // Blue top // Print blouse // Red stripe top // Navy jersey trousers // Printed trousers // Linen trousers // Red trousers // Blue scarf // Red scarf // Earrings // Necklace // Blue sunglasses // Tortoiseshell sunglasses // Red bag // Red shoes // Espadrilles // Cream bag // Sandals // Red hearts suitcase //

The Outfit ...

I recently had an email from a lovely Stylish@50 member wanting help in finding clothes in what the fashion industry call “plus size”. I hate this name because actually the fashion industry thinks anyone over a size 12 is plus size! As we all know, the average British woman is a size 14-16, we are getting taller and are feet are getting larger.

Unfortunately “plus size” often means frumpy, large floral prints and synthetic fabrics. There is some light at the end of the tunnel though with some fantastic brands who understand that just because the label in your dress says size 18, you don’t want to dress like your Grandmother!

My reader confessed that she had completely lost confidence in her wardrobe and avoided the mirror, so emergency action needs taking. Whilst I am in no way qualified as a counsellor, I have dressed hundreds of women and know what a hard time we give ourselves, often quick to point out what we perceive as flaws rather than the bits we like.

So here are my top t...

There are some pieces that are staples in my Summer capsule wardrobe. But that doesn't mean they are basics. Now that I have reached a certain age these pieces are ones that have been carefully determined to bring me the minimum cost per wear, but the maximum pleasure. I might take a nod to the seasonal trends, but what I really want to wear are pieces that make me feel good and the best quality for the investment.

My Summer staples won't be the same as yours - it all depends on your personal style - but below are mine and where I like to shop to give you some inspiration for determining yours.

AD ** This post contains affiliate links **

Gold dress // Print dress // Cardigan // White top // Orange blouse // Ivory trousers // Chocolate linen trousers // Sand stripe trousers // Silk print top // Red linen top // Gold blouse // Sandals // Shoes // Earrings // Basket bag // Gold bag //

A "dressy" dress for day or evening. This gold one fits with everything about my personal style, in...

The key to looking effortlessly stylish in your fifties and beyond, starts with understanding what works for you now. You may have had a good understanding of your colouring, body shape and personal style, but that can all suddenly change. For most of us that's around the 50 mark, but for some it can be earlier or later, depending on when the menopause starts. Suddenly the grey is starting to spread, your waist is disappearing and what you once loved, you no longer do.

The colours that once worked so well on us might look too harsh or too dark. The waisted dresses and skinny jeans are uncomfortable, anything to frilly or "girlie" just looks wrong and thanks to your internal furness everything just makes you hot!

It's not surprising we start to feel lost, invisible and our confidence dips. So what is the solution? Glad you asked because I have spent years working on it!

There are 4 key steps in my solution:

1) Take stock of where you are now. This includes a declutter of everythin...

If you have ever stood in front of your wardrobe wondering what on earth you can wear, then you are in need of a capsule wardrobe! Imagine instead, how it would feel to get up in the morning and know you have the right outfit to wear whatever your plans are (and of course we are slowly becoming able to start making plans). But that’s not the only reason a capsule wardrobe can be “life changing” here are 5 more...

A little while ago I posted an outfit containing these turquoise linen trousers and they were really popular with lots of you buying them. I thought I would create a mini casual capsule wardrobe with some additional ways to wear them.

The Pieces

**AD Contains Affiliate Links** Jacket // Rouge top // Teal top // Cardigan // Print linen top // Rouge jeans // White top // Linen trousers // Rouge necklace // Turquoise necklace // Basket // Rouge shoes // Espadrilles //

The Outfits

If you want to treat yourself to another colour, they also come in yellow, white and navy.

If you want to discover how to create your own capsule wardrobe, find out how with The Capsule wardrobe Blueprint.

With the few days of warm weather and a glimmer of hope that lockdown might be easing soon, I'm thinking about what investments to add to my wardrobe to wear now and later. Pieces that can go from casual to smart, with the change of a shoe or jacket.

One thing the lockdown has taught me, which of course I did already know, is that I need much less in my wardrobe. Having gone through a Spring Clean and then a second culling, I am left with pieces I love and want to wear. And it's the pieces I have really thought about (typically because of the investment) that have stayed put. 

As you know, I do plan my wardrobe carefully, but like everyone there are some spontaneous items that creep in. These are usually lower cost and often not such good quality, because I didn't have to think too hard about the price. With more of a focus on sustainability, these disposable pieces don't make me feel good. When I work out their cost per wear they end up being more costly than my investment pieces be...