capsule wardrobe

4 ways to style a minimal black dress -- late summer to early fall by Candice Tay

Oh hey, it’s been a while since I’ve written a long form blog post. I’m slowly making my way back here and sharing some fun styled photos of a cute dress I received recently from slow fashion brand, Tradlands. They are an ethical, sustainable brand that I’ve had the pleasure of working with since the very early beginnings of my time as a creator on the internet. Today, I’m sharing 3 very easy ways to style the Birdie Dress for late summer days to early fall because I’m tired of summer weather and am so ready for fall fashion. I am itching to pull out my cozy sweaters again.

I have tried many Tradlands dresses in the past, like the coveted Nico Dress and the super fun Nell Dress and I can attest that their dresses are so comfortable, easy, and low maintenance. The Birdie Dress is no different. I love the easy-to-care for crinkle cotton material that can be machined washed and does not need to be ironed, because I’m at a stage in life where if I have clothing that needs to be ironed, I will most likely not be wearing it often. It’s also reversible and like all the other Tradlands dresses, it has pockets!

*This post is not sponsored but does feature gifted product and affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, when you shop some of the links, I earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for your support of this blog!


Look 1

Here is look one — styled simply, as is, with the ties in the front. I threw on a beige baseball cap and matching beige socks (like a little sandwich) and then I did the socks and crocs thing. It’s comfortable, perfect for a summer day and easy enough to chase my kids around in.

Shop Look 1:

Black Birdie Dress (Size XS), All-Terrain Crocs Sandal, Le Bon Shop Ribbed Socks, Beige Baseball Cap (similar linked)

Look 2

When the weather starts to cool down, all you need is a good cardigan. That added layer just pulls together an outfit so easily. Another wonderful staple from Tradlands, is this beige cardigan that I’ve had for so many years. I love a ribbed, cotton cardigan that has just the right about of warmth for those early fall days. I kept the crocs for ease and I’ve really been liking that chunkier footwear style lately.

Shop Look 2:

Black Birdie Dress (Size XS), Cream Shelter Cardigan (Size S), All-Terrain Crocs Sandal

Look 3

I feel like early fall is the best time to wear knitted vests because it’s not too cold yet and just warm enough to have bare arms. I opted for this cozy knitted vest from Christy Dawn with the most beautiful button details and intricate knit pattern. To keep things casual with the footwear — crocs again. There’s a trend here.

Shop Look 3:

Black Birdie Dress (Size XS), Christy Dawn Dagny Vest (use code “CDCANDICE_TAY15” to save), All-Terrain Crocs Sandal

Look 4

I’m actually really excited to sport this look when it’s cold enough. I love the casual, laidback vibe but still really delicate and feminine with the dress and layered cropped blouse on top from Harly Jae. I love the different waffle texture it adds to the outfit even though it’s also a black piece. I went with the same beige ribbed socks and comfy New Balance 530s.

Thanks for reading my first post in a long time. I hope it offers some ideas for the next time you’re styling a black dress or maybe it’s getting you excited for fall?

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!