I believe in quality not quantity, and that price doesn’t equal quality. This 100% cotton dress which is less than $60, available in a dozen colors and sizes XS-5X has been such a quality purchase for me for many summers, I bought a second one in this chartreuse color this year!

This unusual color is more versatile than you’d think. It can dress up with gold jewelry and heeled sandals, and look equally at home with a baseball cap and a pair of Tevas. I’ve styled with an olive field jacket and a denim jacket, sneakers and sandals with ease.

And for this day with a hint of chill I styled it with my ivory @universalstandard Better Than Wool sweater. I tied it around my shoulders and it fell to the side and I liked the asymmetry and left it that way. I added a pair of ivory chunky sneakers I bought a couple of years ago to keep the color going.

I encourage you to play with what’s already in your closet. Tie that item off-center, mix unexpected colors together, switch up a silhouette with a belt. You may be surprised that a change in styling can give your wardrobe the lift it needs without having to purchase more. You may already have quality with the quantity in your closet.

But if you are in need to a dress like this, you can shop this dress directly at https://amzn.to/3C0FCXV or shop the entire look through my @shop.ltk app (I’m @wardrobe_oxygen) or via this link: https://liketk.it/4accN

#midsizestyle #midsizefashion #size14 #genxstyle #usinthewild

I love wearing a scarf as a belt; it breaks up the line from tucking in a shirt and is more comfortable than structured leather. But when you’re larger than a size 10 it’s hard to find scarves that work as a belt.

Often a larger scarf is made of a heavier fabric, creating too much bulk. I found this one at @bananarepublicfactory it’s their “large scarf” and it’s 43” square and a fabric that looks like silk. Folded on the diagonal it fits nicely through belt loops and has long enough tails for my 14/16 self. Banana Republic Factory has a few different scarves this size and are all on sale this weekend $35 or less (this exact one is $21). Find all of them at https://bit.ly/3qlOeFS

You can also follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK for details on this entire outfit:
https://liketk.it/4a794

In fact most of this look is on sale. The pants are @madewell, the bag is @portlandleather and both have sales this weekend. The shirt is @saintjames and several years old so a good purchase, same with the @baublebar hoops I’ve owned since PrePan. And you know I can’t resist a pair of @birkenstock sandals!

Have you found other retailers or designers that carry larger scarves for belts? I’d love to hear about them!

I’m all about real-life style and here I am in yet another look from latest capsule wardrobe, shopping at Whole Foods! 🛒

This is the same @mmlafleur blazer in my last post and in the capsule. I recreated one of the looks using a ribbed knit tank dress already in my closet and sneakers. For a bag I chose a black belt bag I’ve owned for a few years, but a crossbody with a pop of color would be a chic alternative.

This look appears “fancy” but the blazer is soft like a spring jacket, the dress is a simple ribbed knit that has been washed many times, and the bag and shoes are practical. It’s amazing how a quality blazer can elevate old closet basics!

Shop this look via the @shop.ltk app (I’m @wardrobe_oxygen on there) or visit https://liketk.it/49QaE

Take all those old dated style rules and throw them out the window. I’m short and wearing an oversized blazer. I’m curvy and pairing that blazer with wide leg pants. I’m busty and wearing horizontal stripes. And it works! 2023 is the year where we take up the space we deserve. Wear the trends that look fun even if “experts” say they’re not “flattering.” And have some fun with fashion! The chicest thing you can wear this season is confidence.

This look inspired my latest capsule: the @mmlafleur O’Hara blazer that I based the capsule on with a striped @universalstandard Tee Rex and @madewell Harlow wide leg trousers. Same style of @baublebar hoops but a bigger version, and instead of the Vera sneakers I’m wearing the @birkenstock Bend sneakers I recently reviewed. When I create my capsule wardrobes I want them to work whether you’re a size 2 or 22, and when possible I test them myself!

See more of my real-life style and capsule wardrobes as wardrobeoxygen.com

Inspired by an @mmlafleur blazer I tried on when visiting their showroom, I created this capsule wardrobe by playing with similar items already in my closet. Mixing pieces from M.M.LaFleur with extended size & budget-friendly brands like @oldnavy @target @bananarepublicfactory @universalstandard and @madewell this capsule will take you from work to weekend and beyond.

If you visit wardrobeoxygen.com you’ll find more detail on how I put this capsule together, alternatives to this blazer, and additional styling tips. I strive to create real-life style for us grown-ass women. Clothing that looks great but also makes us feel great, giving us the armor to get through life with confidence and style. Let me know what you think!

Wow! @beetlejuicebway is a must-see!

@broadwaynatdc hosted me and my daughter to experience opening night of Beetlejuice and it was phenomenal! Not exactly like the film, it is it’s own wacky, wild, and entertaining experience!

As for what I’m wearing, it’s the same @mmlafleur silk tee and pants from Sunday. I glammed them up with some bold gold earrings, a decades-old gold chain belt, and my comfy yet cool @margauxny gold heeled sandals. The bag is from Amazon and is also a couple of years old.

You can shop this look and all the content I create on the @shop.ltk app. Screenshot this image or follow me (@wardrobe_oxygen) on the app, or visit https://liketk.it/49tnM for outfit details

Washable silk FTW

I already owned this @mmlafleur top in pink and the same cut of pants in solid colors. When I saw both in this cool black and white print AND in washable silk I had to have it! Both great separate but together it created a jumpsuit effect.

For a street festival in my town I kept it colorful and comfortable pairing with my tomato red @birkenstock sandals and silicone bangle bracelets my husband gave me as a gift. The sunglasses are @lovechicos from last year and I liked the funky vibe that fit with the print. I felt cool literally and figuratively in this!

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/49jft

Summer suiting, fun and colorful edition!

When I saw this gorgeous blue color at @anntaylor I knew I had to have it in my closet. These pull-on wide leg linen pants and sleeveless sweater are so versatile and could be weekend workhorses, but paired with the perfectly matching pique blazer it makes a smart summer pantsuit.

I added some pops of color with an orange leather tote from @talbotsofficial I’ve been rocking all spring with magenta heeled sandals I’ve owned for several years. My @hermes matches perfectly so I used it in place of a belt. The large and huggie hoops are from @baublebar

For reference, I’m wearing the blazer in 16P, sweater in XLP, and the pants in XLP (could have sized down).

I’ll be sharing this look in detail and where I wore it soon on the blog. In the meantime to shop this look follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on @shop.LTK
https://liketk.it/4937F

What I wore in May 2013 & one of the top songs of that month ten years ago!

Fewer outfit photos because that month I tore my calf muscle running to catch the Metro, and also because I really got into capsule wardrobes. I was trying out Project 333 and making capsules based on reader requests. I also had a True Fashionista series on Wardrobe Oxygen where I interviewed fellow style bloggers and stylish folks I knew IRL.

When the weather gets warmer I’m always drawn to a more boho vibe and it’s seen with the maxi skirts and dresses. I still own that graphic print maxi skirt and wear it with graphic t-shirts. And that purple knit Vince Camuto dress seen in this Reel with the neon skinny belt… I literally wore that dress out and even though it was faded and stretched out I didn’t want to part with it after several years of wear!

See more of my throwbacks at #WO2TBT

Fashion
- Capsule Wardrobes
- Outfit Posts
Beauty
- Skincare
- Curly Hair
Lifestyle
- Health and Wellness
- Travel
Subscribe

Home
About
Fashion
Beauty
- Curly Hair
- Skincare
Lifestyle

Wardrobe Oxygen

Real-life style for grown-ass women

Home
About
Fashion
Beauty
- Curly Hair
- Skincare
Lifestyle

Home

Since 2005, Wardrobe Oxygen has offered real-life style advice for grown-ass women. With years of experience as an apparel visual merchandiser and personal shopper, Alison Gary provides advice on how to achieve personal style no matter your age, size, or budget.

Archives

Archives

Search Wardrobe Oxygen:

Categories

Fashion
Beauty
Lifestyle
Health & Wellness
Outfits

instagram

Follow @wardrobe_oxygen

wardrobe_oxygen

May 30

I believe in quality not quantity, and that price doesn’t equal quality. This 100% cotton dress which is less than $60, available in a dozen colors and sizes XS-5X has been such a quality purchase for me for many summers, I bought a second one in this chartreuse color this year!

This unusual color is more versatile than you’d think. It can dress up with gold jewelry and heeled sandals, and look equally at home with a baseball cap and a pair of Tevas. I’ve styled with an olive field jacket and a denim jacket, sneakers and sandals with ease.

And for this day with a hint of chill I styled it with my ivory @universalstandard Better Than Wool sweater. I tied it around my shoulders and it fell to the side and I liked the asymmetry and left it that way. I added a pair of ivory chunky sneakers I bought a couple of years ago to keep the color going.

I encourage you to play with what’s already in your closet. Tie that item off-center, mix unexpected colors together, switch up a silhouette with a belt. You may be surprised that a change in styling can give your wardrobe the lift it needs without having to purchase more. You may already have quality with the quantity in your closet.

But if you are in need to a dress like this, you can shop this dress directly at https://amzn.to/3C0FCXV or shop the entire look through my @shop.ltk app (I’m @wardrobe_oxygen) or via this link: https://liketk.it/4accN

#midsizestyle #midsizefashion #size14 #genxstyle #usinthewild

wardrobe_oxygen

May 28

I love wearing a scarf as a belt; it breaks up the line from tucking in a shirt and is more comfortable than structured leather. But when you’re larger than a size 10 it’s hard to find scarves that work as a belt.

Often a larger scarf is made of a heavier fabric, creating too much bulk. I found this one at @bananarepublicfactory it’s their “large scarf” and it’s 43” square and a fabric that looks like silk. Folded on the diagonal it fits nicely through belt loops and has long enough tails for my 14/16 self. Banana Republic Factory has a few different scarves this size and are all on sale this weekend $35 or less (this exact one is $21). Find all of them at https://bit.ly/3qlOeFS

You can also follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK for details on this entire outfit:
https://liketk.it/4a794

In fact most of this look is on sale. The pants are @madewell, the bag is @portlandleather and both have sales this weekend. The shirt is @saintjames and several years old so a good purchase, same with the @baublebar hoops I’ve owned since PrePan. And you know I can’t resist a pair of @birkenstock sandals!

Have you found other retailers or designers that carry larger scarves for belts? I’d love to hear about them!

wardrobe_oxygen

May 23

I’m all about real-life style and here I am in yet another look from latest capsule wardrobe, shopping at Whole Foods! 🛒

This is the same @mmlafleur blazer in my last post and in the capsule. I recreated one of the looks using a ribbed knit tank dress already in my closet and sneakers. For a bag I chose a black belt bag I’ve owned for a few years, but a crossbody with a pop of color would be a chic alternative.

This look appears “fancy” but the blazer is soft like a spring jacket, the dress is a simple ribbed knit that has been washed many times, and the bag and shoes are practical. It’s amazing how a quality blazer can elevate old closet basics!

Shop this look via the @shop.ltk app (I’m @wardrobe_oxygen on there) or visit https://liketk.it/49QaE

wardrobe_oxygen

May 19

Take all those old dated style rules and throw them out the window. I’m short and wearing an oversized blazer. I’m curvy and pairing that blazer with wide leg pants. I’m busty and wearing horizontal stripes. And it works! 2023 is the year where we take up the space we deserve. Wear the trends that look fun even if “experts” say they’re not “flattering.” And have some fun with fashion! The chicest thing you can wear this season is confidence.

This look inspired my latest capsule: the @mmlafleur O’Hara blazer that I based the capsule on with a striped @universalstandard Tee Rex and @madewell Harlow wide leg trousers. Same style of @baublebar hoops but a bigger version, and instead of the Vera sneakers I’m wearing the @birkenstock Bend sneakers I recently reviewed. When I create my capsule wardrobes I want them to work whether you’re a size 2 or 22, and when possible I test them myself!

See more of my real-life style and capsule wardrobes as wardrobeoxygen.com

wardrobe_oxygen

May 17

Wow! @beetlejuicebway is a must-see!

@broadwaynatdc hosted me and my daughter to experience opening night of Beetlejuice and it was phenomenal! Not exactly like the film, it is it’s own wacky, wild, and entertaining experience!

As for what I’m wearing, it’s the same @mmlafleur silk tee and pants from Sunday. I glammed them up with some bold gold earrings, a decades-old gold chain belt, and my comfy yet cool @margauxny gold heeled sandals. The bag is from Amazon and is also a couple of years old.

You can shop this look and all the content I create on the @shop.ltk app. Screenshot this image or follow me (@wardrobe_oxygen) on the app, or visit https://liketk.it/49tnM for outfit details

wardrobe_oxygen

May 15

Washable silk FTW

I already owned this @mmlafleur top in pink and the same cut of pants in solid colors. When I saw both in this cool black and white print AND in washable silk I had to have it! Both great separate but together it created a jumpsuit effect.

For a street festival in my town I kept it colorful and comfortable pairing with my tomato red @birkenstock sandals and silicone bangle bracelets my husband gave me as a gift. The sunglasses are @lovechicos from last year and I liked the funky vibe that fit with the print. I felt cool literally and figuratively in this!

Follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!
https://liketk.it/49jft

wardrobe_oxygen

May 13

Summer suiting, fun and colorful edition!

When I saw this gorgeous blue color at @anntaylor I knew I had to have it in my closet. These pull-on wide leg linen pants and sleeveless sweater are so versatile and could be weekend workhorses, but paired with the perfectly matching pique blazer it makes a smart summer pantsuit.

I added some pops of color with an orange leather tote from @talbotsofficial I’ve been rocking all spring with magenta heeled sandals I’ve owned for several years. My @hermes matches perfectly so I used it in place of a belt. The large and huggie hoops are from @baublebar

For reference, I’m wearing the blazer in 16P, sweater in XLP, and the pants in XLP (could have sized down).

I’ll be sharing this look in detail and where I wore it soon on the blog. In the meantime to shop this look follow my shop @wardrobe_oxygen on @shop.LTK
https://liketk.it/4937F

wardrobe_oxygen

Apr 25

If you get a chance to see @aladdin at @broadwaynatdc take it! It’s here through the 30th and it’s spectacular! 🧞‍♂️

I took my daughter as my date and we both had a blast. She captured the last photo on the drive home; love living so close to DC and all that it has to offer.

As for what we’re wearing, my jumpsuit is from @natori my earrings are @simonmillerusa and my shoes are years old. My daughter is wearing a @farmrio dress she rented from @nuuly with @drmartensofficial and I loaned her my @telfarglobal bag

wardrobe_oxygen

Apr 22

The Ashpes Sisters 👯‍♀️

Photo taken from this past weekend at our friends’ baby shower. My sister chatting up a new friend, me abandoning my shoes and finding reading material everywhere, showing up unplanned in bold complementing prints. As we do! 💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️

@debbiefaye78’s dress is Target from a previous season; my jumpsuit is from @natori and my abandoned heels are @vincecamuto from several years ago.

wardrobe_oxygen

Apr 17

If spring didn’t bring pollen with its arrival I’d be it’s #1 fan 🌼

These are the @universalstandard drawstring Jean trousers in XS. I wanted a slouchy beachy vibe so I cut off the legs just above the hem and cuffed them twice. These are as comfy as my winter sweats but a lightweight cotton blend perfect for spring and early summer.

The top is from @merseaco and is made from terrycloth. I’ve always been told yellow is not one of my colors but it makes me happy so I wear it anyway. Life is hard, wear clothes that give you joy. ☀️

Info

About
Contact
Advertise

join the community

On the Blog

Capsule Wardrobes
Curly Hair
Plus Size Fashion

Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
Disclosure

Copyright © 2023 Wardrobe Oxygen · Theme by 17th Avenue

powered by chloédigital