capsule wardrobe

Black Friday 2021 by Candice Tay

Pause. Read This First.

It’s here, the season of sales, giveaways, and more sales. It’s exciting but it can also be very overwhelming and easy to get sucked into all the deals. My goal here is always first to encourage you to style before shopping. So before you dive into the sales, take a peek at what you already own. Make a list of things you have been wanting or need, and while you shop, don’t get veer off your list! Black Friday and Cyber Monday often get a bad rep for being a time of overconsumption, which it definitely can be, but it’s also a great opportunity to support small businesses and invest in some good quality items at a lower price point.

So this year, I’ve listed the BFCM sales from a few of my favourite small businesses and brands. I’ve chosen the brands based on the products or pieces I use/wear the most. I’ve included products from a variety of categories ranging from ethical fashion, mama and baby essentials, to a few home goodies!

Tradlands — 11/25 - 11/28 (code bf30 for 30% off sitewide)

Tradlands has many options when it comes to timeless closet pieces. Tradlands is also a very size-inclusive brand, with sizing up to 5X. They are passionate about sustainability and also have a great pre-loved section on their site that allows you to sell and or shop pre-loved pieces.

Everlane — 11/25 - 11/29 (no code needed)

I find that Everlane is an excellent place to start for more affordable minimalist pieces. I like that their styles are very classic and simple, which make for great core closet pieces. Many of my closet staples that I wear frequently are from Everlane and have held up really well over time.

Kotn — 11/26 - 11/30 (code ‘candice10’ for 10% off), Canadian brand

Kotn always does something different on Black Friday and I’m here for it. For the 5th year in a row, 100% of proceeds from orders (up to $250, 000) will go to their initiative of funding the building of schools to encourage literacy and give back to the community in rural Egypt. Click here to learn more.

Sundays Furniture, 11/13 - 11/29 up to 20% off (discounts applied at checkout), Canadian brand

If you follow me over on Insta, you may have seen my recent collaboration with Sundays where they helped me out with completing the breakfast nook of my dreams! I love the simplistic designs and the quality of Sundays Furniture pieces. When we moved into our home, one of our first furniture purchases were the Take The Edge Off Counter Stools!

My Faves: Form Bench, Tuck In Dining Chair & Movie Night Sectional (if we had space for this haha)

dear frances — 25% off sitewide (bf25 auto-applied code)

My favourite boots are from Dear Frances and they are definitely investment pieces. If you’ve had your eye on a pair of shoes from Dear Frances, now is a great time to grab a pair at 25% off!

Solly Baby — 20% off from 11/23 - 11/28 (no code needed)

Solly Baby is a definite favourite of mine when it comes to baby essentials. The pieces are not just cute to look at but are super functional. All the materials used are the absolute softest which are so great on baby's skin. In addition to their sales this year, on Giving Tuesday, Solly Baby will be partnering with The Superhero Project to provide wraps to families in the NICU. For every wrap purchased, one will be donated to a NICU family. What an awesome initiative

Storq - 20% off 11/26 - 11/29 (no code needed)

I love this small, woman-owned business so much. Storq pieces have been lifesavers for me during pregnancy and postpartum. They made me feel comfortable while my body was changing and growing and now during my breastfeeding journey, their nursing staples have been such a game-changer.

Fable — from 10% - 20% off 11/22 - 11/29 (no code needed), Canadian brand

I adore this ethically and sustainably crafted dinnerware from Fable, a Canadian-based brand from Vancouver. They have the most beautiful, handcrafted dishes and cutlery, perfect for all those holiday dinners coming up! They really elevate dinner parties and simple home-cooked meals enjoyed with loved ones. They also recently released a super sleek set of durable glassware pieces!

Shop in Canada. Shop in the US.

the mugs

flatware set

glassware set

Harly Jae, 20% off in-stock items (discounts applied at checkout), Canadian brand

Harly Jae, an amazing slow fashion brand designed by Laila. I had the privilege of meeting her and visiting the Harly Jae studio during a trip to Vancouver a few years ago. Harly Jae’s pieces are vintage-inspired with a modern touch and are intentionally crafted to stand the test of time. I have a pair of wide-leg trousers from Harly Jae that are of superb quality and I really love that the brand is completely designed and MADE in Canada as well.

My Faves: House Blouse, Pierott Pants & Reversible Coat

Vetta Capsule — up to 50% off

I’ve been a fan of Vetta Capsule since the start of my exploration of sustainability and slow fashion. They were also one of the first brands that I ever worked with so this small brand is very dear to my heart. If you’re looking for versatile, ethically-made closet heroes, look no further. Vetta Capsule’s pieces are creatively designed to be worn multiple ways and are sure to become wardrobe staples.

These are just a few of the brands and sales that I wanted to highlight this season and I’ve also listed some of my favourites from each brand. These are tried and true pieces that I personally own and a few are just ones that I love! I hope it helps you shop smart and intentionally during this time as I know it can be overwhelming. As always, thank you so much for supporting my content and shopping through some of my affiliate links. As a part-time digital creator, it really helps keep my blog and social platforms running and I’m so appreciative of you guys for sticking around with me!

P.S. Some sales have not started yet so I will be back to update those details once everything is live!


This post is not sponsored but may contain some gifted items and affiliate links. If you decide to shop through the links above, I may make a small commission that helps support this blog and other social platforms. I only share products and brands I love and support. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for supporting Candice Tay!

How I'm Doing Postpartum Dressing by Candice Tay

Hello friends! It’s been a little while, but today I’m back to discuss my postpartum dressing journey. Before we get going I have a few thoughts to highlight. Please, please do not be discouraged by this post if you are not back to your pre-pregnancy size. I am not either! This post was written to encourage and show you how you can adapt your wardrobe to fit your changing body. Secondly, take your time with your body and be kind to yourself (a reminder to myself too). The newborn phase is a rollercoaster on all fronts so remember, grace, grace, grace. These are also just ideas and tips that I’ve discovered personally and thought I’d share, but every person is different and every body is unique and special so take what works for you and forget about the rest! Alright, let’s get into this!

 

Beige Sweater by asket
Wool plaid trousers by aritzia

1 - Elastic Waist Trousers

Even before pregnancy I’ve been about elastic waist anything because who doesn’t love pieces that are stylish AND comfortable? Why not have the best of both worlds. I’ve always been a huge fan of trousers as well because I like the more elevated look andthe elasticated waist adds to the comfort piece. I recently purchased these wool trousers off of Poshmark for the colder months ahead and have already been getting a ton of wear out of them. They are originally from Aritzia and are amazing quality. If you’re wanting the sweatpants feel while looking a bit more polished, I highly recommend styling up a pair of elastic waist trousers.

2 - Oversized EVERYTHING

Next, size up or wear oversized tops. I’ve always loved oversized pieces but I’m finding that I gravitate towards oversized pieces even more so now. It’s perfect for nursing and again, comfort, because comfort. is. key! For example, the beige sweater pictured on the right, is two sizes larger than my regular fit in order to achieve the oversized look and the black turtleneck in the outfit below was designed to be oversized. Oversized tops are a great piece to have in your postpartum wardrobe for style and practicality.


Side note: I realize that these outfits are very fall and winter focused, but you can definitely take these tips and apply it to your spring and summer wardrobe as well. Instead of an oversized chunky knit, stock up on those oversized tees. Those were my best friend in the early weeks after my son was born. For the elastic waist trousers, there are a ton of linen, tencel, and cotton trousers out there! Those are perfect materials for the warmer seasons.


Beige Sweater by asket
Wool plaid trousers by aritzia

Oversized Sweater by vetta
Wool plaid trousers by aritzia

3 - Denim Lovers: Opt for mid-rise

For the time being, I’ve had to forego the high waisted denim and pants because although some of them fit, they are a little too snug for my liking. Instead, I’ve been sporting a pair of mid rise denim these days. I’m a huge denim lover, so getting back into a pair of jeans was definitely a highlight for me. The mid rise of these straight leg jeans gives me that same denim look while providing a bit more comfort around my mid section.

4 - Cardigans and Button Ups (Plus a Bonus Tip!)

Since I’m needing to nurse my baby every three hours or so, I need things that open up easy in the front. That’s where the cardigans and button ups come in handy. The bonus tip here is to layer with nursing tanks. Not only under cardigans and button ups specifically, but under everything! I wear these tanks under everything because not only do they add warmth, but you don’t need to wear an additional bra and the snaps at the front allow for easy access when you need to nurse. Instead of wearing a t-shirt, for example, underneath a cardigan, I would wear a nursing tank or a nursing tee if you prefer, and when it comes time to feed, you can easily snap off the front and feed! My favourite nursing tanks are by Storq.

chunky knit cardigan by bare knitwear
mid rise jeans by asket


chunky cardigan by tradlands (candicemtay15)
nursing tank by storq (Candicemtay15)
mid rise denim by asket


5 - Loungewear Chic

Some days (or all days) you’ll probably just want to live in pjs or loungewear. GO FOR IT! For me, I found it helped me emotionally and mentally to get ready for the day (when I could). Even just changing out of my pjs into loungewear helped me feel a bit more alive and awake, even when most days I was, and still am running on very little sleep. It helped me get me out of the grogginess of the night and be recharged to tackle the day. When it comes to loungewear, pick some loungewear pieces that you love! Although I’m not one to follow trends much, loungewear post-pandemic is now trendy, so there are tons of great options out there. The pants pictured here are by Simple Folk, made of the softest organic cotton and cut in a beautiful wide leg silhouette with a comfortable high waist. With loungewear, a lot of my lounge pants are high waisted but they are elasticated and super comfy to wear around the home.

If you’re on the hunt for some loungewear, a few of my favourites come from TKEES (CANDICE10) and Mate The Label.

chunky knit by tradlands (candicemtay15)
WIDE LEG PANTS BY SIMPLE FOLK


VINTAGE OVERSIZED DENIM SHIRT
WIDE LEG PANTS BY SIMPLE FOLK

chunky knit by tradlands (candicemtay15)
WIDE LEG PANTS BY SIMPLE FOLK

Thanks for joining me today and I hope you enjoyed reading about my postpartum styling journey. It took me a while to find things that I loved again and to feel like “me” in my outfits, but I’m happy with the place I’m currently at.

Let me know your thoughts on postpartum dressing, I’d love to hear from you!


This post is not sponsored but may contain some gifted items and affiliate links. If you decide to shop through the links above, I may make a small commission that helps support this blog and other social platforms. I only share products and brands I love and support. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for supporting Candice Tay!

Simple Maternity Capsule Wardrobe by Candice Tay

It’s been a while since I’ve been on the blog! Thank you for sticking around.

I’m currently just over 30 weeks pregnant and I wanted to share how my simple maternity capsule wardrobe has been holding up for the past month. I curated this capsule back at the beginning of May. If you haven't watched that video yet, I would love for you to check it out on my YouTube channel. I’ll leave a link below!

This capsule is full of oversized dresses, comfortable jumpsuits, and billowy tops, almost all of which previously existed in my wardrobe. I’ve been really impressed with how versatile this capsule has been in adapting and changing with my growing body. I have grown out of some pieces at this point in my pregnancy, but the majority of this capsule is still going strong. I love all the fun colours and oversized silhouettes of a lot of the pieces.

A few thoughts

what I’m doing with pieces I’ve grown out of

For the pieces that don’t fit at the moment, I’ve passed them onto family and friends to wear for this season and once I can fit into them again, I can enjoy them! I love that the pieces are still getting worn even when it’s not worn by me.

maternity-specific pieces

Investing in a pair of maternity pants has been super key for me this season because although I had a lot of dresses and jumpsuits that fit, I really miss my high-waisted denim and black trousers. Those were key staples that I lived in before pregnancy. Simply having a pair of black joggers has allowed me to feel a lot more like myself even though my body has been going through a lot of changes.

versatility

I’m honestly really impressed with how versatile this small capsule has been so far. I even completed a #5x5ByFriends capsule wardrobe challenge with five of the pieces. It just takes a bit of creativity to get the most out of pieces that you already own, which is what I love the most about capsule wardrobes and shopping from your own closet. Because wearing what you have is always the most sustainable option!

a few of my favourite maternity looks

Jumpsuit by Tradlands Cream Cardigan by Tradlands Sneakers by Veja

Jumpsuit by Tradlands
Cream Cardigan by Tradlands
Sneakers by Veja

Black Dress by ABLE - CANDICE20 for 20% off Wrap Top by Vetta Flats by Everlane

Black Dress by ABLE - CANDICE20 for 20% off
Wrap Top by Vetta
Flats by Everlane

Black Jumpsuit by Boob Design

Black Jumpsuit by Boob Design

Black Linen Top by Power of my People Black Joggers by Storq

Black Linen Top by Power of my People
Black Joggers by Storq

Navy Jumpsuit by Curator SF Grey Tank by FRANC

Navy Jumpsuit by Curator SF
Grey Tank by FRANC

Striped blue top by Laude the Label Black Joggers by Storq Sandals by ABLE - CANDICE20 for 20% off

Striped blue top by Laude the Label
Black Joggers by Storq
Sandals by ABLE - CANDICE20 for 20% off

I hope you’ve enjoyed this mini recap of my maternity capsule, I’ll be in these pieces for about two more months! After that, we’ll see what happens!


This post is not sponsored but may contain some gifted items and affiliate links. If you decide to shop through the links above, I may make a small commission that helps support this blog and other social platforms. I only share products and brands I love and support. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for supporting Candice Tay!