Over the past two years I’ve been on a journey to drastically simplify my closet. The real catalyst for this journey was a space limitation that occurred when my sweetie and I moved in together. We went from living separately in large downtown apartments in Austin to living together in a small studio with a closet built for one. Since the move, I can easily say that my wardrobe is about 1/5^th the size that it was 3 years ago in Austin. But the simplification really has been a benefit, because it’s forced me to examine and define the way that I want to look and ensure that each piece that I buy will be a workhorse that supports that aesthetic.

One of the ways I’ve been rebuilding my wardrobe around fewer, better things is to look for diverse pieces to layer over basics. I look for vests, tube tops, corsets, and tanks that can be layered in non-standard ways. Here, I’ve taken a leather tank top that I scored on super sale from (Kate Spade) Saturday and layered over a minidress. You could achieve a similar look by layering any structured top (like a brocade or leather tank, crop top, or corset) over a bodycon dress. Lately, I’ve been wearing this tank over long-sleeved tunic tees and shirt dresses. I think this pairing over an American Apparel turtleneck dress is a great pairing for date nights. For a work appropriate look, I just wear the same thing over cropped trousers.

OUTFIT DETAILS - American Apparel Dress; Kate Spade Saturday Leather Tank; Everlane Clutch; Calvin Klein Boots; J Crew Necklace & Cuff; NARS Roman Holiday Lipstick