Tom loves Mondays
Morning Spikers!
I am not slacking off, I am working hard today getting together posts and videos for this week. Kitty breaks up at 12noon on Tuesday so I’m going to have to work really quite fast today and tonight to get it all done. It’s been surprisingly time-consuming to do this properly. Really, really super fun, I have enjoyed all this massively, but takes a while.
SO! See you tomorrow for DRESSES….
xxxx
Thank you from the bottom of my weary bolognaise-stained heart xxx
I have some bolognaise stains older than my kids
Arghh I can’t wait! Have put off buying dresses forever so so looking forward to this!!!!
it’s REVOLUTIONARY
You are raising my expectations!!! Have spent hours ‘researching’ on the internet. Can’t never find anything I like! Holiday capsule wardrobe…quick I need this like yesterday 😀
🙂
Hi, Esther. Love your blog – thanks for the all the tips! I bought a khaki shirt/jacket thing and have worn it non stop. Also the white and grey t-shirts. Obvious to have in your wardrobe but I never got round to buying before. The girlfriend trousers in GAP however, made me look like a construction worker. I’ll persevere with other brands.
Looking forward to dresses!
Domi! Gap doesn’t suit everyone AT ALL. Please persevere though – being comfortable is just so important. Once you’ve found the right pair you will never look back x
Really appreciate it Esther, you’re style guides are so useful. Thanks so much. x
Oh Annette it’s my pleasure x
Esther, I am one of those lurking weirdos who’ve read your blog from the start but never commented. This capsule wardrobe series has been BRILLIANT, in fact the only way it could be improved is by somehow incorporating a section on clothes to wear while potty-training a 3yo demon child who WILL. NOT. BE. TRAINED.
Any of these clothes ought to be fine as all washable. Potty training is the pits. One of mine crapped its pants for FIVE MONTHS 🙁
Oh Esther what will we do over the holidays?! Have really enjoyed this guide and your normal posts of course. I must admit to having recognised you at the science museum a few weeks back (as you walked away otherwise I would have said something – I was still in the “where do I know you from” thought phase of scrolling through school and nursery people while semi apologising for my son jumping up next to yours on the body heat camera monitor bench!). Anyway I thought you looked perfect for that kind of day out – you would probably say it was nothing special but I was feeling fairly frumpy that day and thought you looked slim and stylish in an understated way. Thanks again for cheering us up with your work.
Caroline! Sharp eyes! Ah yes that was boyfriend jeans and a weird shirt thing from H&M that other people like but I think is weird. That heat camera was great but I think Sam was a bit small to appreciate some of the other stuff. See you there again over the summer anyway!
Me again, this time two weeks post birth and absolutely at a loss for what to wear!!! Especially in the summer when it’s so hot. Could you do a how to dress your sad, swollen postpartum body with easy access to boobs post? Or would that be too depressing for words? Otherwise I fear I may just look like a middle aged PE teacher (I’m 28) forever. Xxx
Mills it’s a dark time, I won’t lie. Tomorrow I will feature a dress that I think will partly do the trick. Otherwise the go-to outfit for me after kids was always a massive oversized shirt and leggings until further notice.
Thanks for the tip! I have also decided just to stop looking in the mirror (and therefore worrying about it) at least for the next 4 weeks. Can’t wait for dresses! Xx
yes fuck yes. just try not to think about it at all for a bit, otherwise you will go really mad x
P.S. Could you do holiday wear too?
yes! holiday capsule is COMING X
Thanks Esther,
I bought 2 grey t-shirts over the weekend. Still trying to find the right white ones. Who knew finding a white t-shirt would be so tricky!
Looking forward to dresses.
Jane finding the perfect white T shirt is definitely tricky but 100% worth it. When you find it, buy 6.
I think you should have a subscription option. I’d subscribe.
In fact, I think you OUGHT to offer a “subscribe” or contribute option as an example to your daughter. Women do too much shit for free and then don’t want to ask for money in case people think they’re grasping or unattractive or unladylike. A man running this awesome blog would have a header which said something which told his readers how much he loved them, loved providing content for free and how he had no installing a paywall BUT he had a lot of paw patrol toys to pay for and (he’s the clever bit) the blog could ONLY stay free if people PAID for it. And then you put a button (or ask Giles to put a button if you don’t know how) giving an option to subscribe/ make one off donation. And you COULD have a members area (which could just say: “SUCKERS NO EXTRA CONTENT” or could contain random extra stuff sometimes). I think it’s a good plan because it is only reasonable that you earn something from your blog!
This x 100000000 on all of this Elena. For the tech side, I’ve had a lot of success using Upwork – but you do get what you pay for with it. Also, maybe something like Patreon, where you get an ongoing sponsorship/subscription from your readers. Love your work Esther X
In fact, and I’m working myself up on the work toilets RIGHT NOW, I think you MUST MONETISE your content. We’ll still think you’re our pal and you can afford to PAY GILES TO GET THE KIDS UP IN THE MORNING.
Do it. Do it NOW.
Elena that had literally NEVER occurred to me. I think I need a tech person. A tech guy. A blog guy… that made me laugh about Giles showing me to put a “subscribe” button on. He barely knows how to answer his phone
Ah, the perils of an older man… My husband’s instinctive understanding of all forms of technology is one of his many appealing qualities. Now, whilst I could not organise the requisite technology, I do not believe it is complicated. In a year or so, kitty could probably manage it.
Seriously, I listened to a whole podcast about how the podcast pay gap is much bigger than the regular work pay gap and I bet blogging is the same. Women are ashamed to ask for money, so don’t get paid.
Do it.
okay
Good. I’m glad we’ve sorted this out.
Have just thought of a cool members only thing- you could send a photo (to show body shape etc.) and you could advise on some clothes. And the awesome thing is they would then BUY the clothes through your online shop.
I should totally get free entrance to the members area. EXCEPT I AM HAPPY TO PAY
I am working on it! I am taking advice on building a website from some dude I met off Twitter wtf. with login area, SHOP (I will sell “The Spike” t-shirts.. perfect t-shirts obviously. With “Absolutely terrific” written on the back. Will have to Crowdfund for the money to pay for it. But this is AWESOME! I feel ALIVE!
I just sent you an email to esther.walker@gmail.com – is that right?
Esther you are a stunning genius – I have only (so far) bought 2 capsule items (black camisole and khaki shirt) and they are already saving my bacon for a spontaneous comedy/theatre invite such as I would usually have nothing to wear for – worn together with (existing) mad anthro maxi skirt and gold jewellery. Thank you!!!
Oh YEAH!!!!!! I’m excited by that combo. I like it AIR PUNCH!!!!!
just to reiterate a shirt/mad skirt combo is extremely advanced J Crew styling and only really solid capsule items enable this. I am so excited that this is taking on a life of its own WE ARE AWESOME
LOVE LOVE LOVE this capsule wardrobe feature. I think it will actually change my life! I’ve so far bought:
Nike trainers – but from SCHUH, as they’re reduced to£45, soz
4 T-Shirts from Hush – JL had the white in stock, grey is on pre-order
H&M shirt – LOVE
3 sweaters from Uniqlo – XL too big for me so re-ordered the L – fingers crossed
This shirt as I couldn’t wait for the Keeper to come back in – https://www.jackwills.com/breighton-boyfriend-shirt-100012090009.html it’s perfect except they sent it with a security tag still attached, och!
This breton top – https://www.jackwills.com/buckminster-classic-breton-top-100012304002.html#q=breton&start=1 – perfect 🙂
The Oasis chinos
The Jack Wills joggers – not right for me though. But I found these at Hush – https://www.hush-uk.com/basics/bottoms_2/harems_joggers/straight_leg_joggers_indigo_marl.htm So they are on their way….
Can’t believe I have ALL the jackets, winner!
I’m still mulling over the following – boyfriend jeans (saggy bum worries), culottes (cankle worries) and the clogs (general worries). I think I’ll need to get off the sofa and try a few on before I decide.
My husband has noticed all the deliveries so I filled him in this evening and he wants to know if you’ll do one for men!
Thank you for doing this Esther, you are brilliant. Kxxxx
Karina! Yes I am doing one for men in the Autumn. I’m so pleased it’s all working out for you! Over the summer I will do a lot of blog posts about different ways of putting together your capsule stuff! xxxx
I’m with Elena. And I want a T-shirt!