It’s that time of quarantine again where I get so bored that I turn my attention to actually productive things (like mopping my entire apartment or organizing my kitchen drawers).

This week’s victim was my wardrobe.

My relationship with clothes has been an interesting journey. In 2019, I completely stopped shopping in an effort to not only build myself financially but tackle the gap sized hole in my heart that I was trying to fill with material objects. That year was an absolute breakthrough for me and taught me just how much I relied on clothes to impress others, and not because I genuinely liked them. It’s an interesting story actually, and will probably share it sometime on here if anyone’s interested.

Anyway, I initially thought that not shopping would’ve completely made me lose my interest in fashion, but instead, it taught me how to really appreciate what I had, and make something out of seemingly “nothing”. And there, is where I truly found my style.

Though it’s developing and growing every day, I have found that consistently, I am into minimal pieces in timeless silhouettes – delicate V-necks, neutral tones, warm ivories, and good denim. Now that it’s 2020 and a new year, I’ve been really excited to purchase a couple of pieces. But I didn’t want to do so without getting rid of a few items I had outgrown stylistically.  

I thought it would be fun to take you guys along the journey with me! Unfortunately, with the pandemic, none of the stores are open, but I have been looking online to grab some new quality pieces. So far, H&M has been my store of choice just because I have a lot of their clothes already and know how their sizes work. 

I also am impressed with H&M ‘s quality of clothes – if you actually take the time you can find some really great long-lasting pieces!

That being said – I’m so excited to dig in! I’ll first take you through how I cleaned out my closet, and what stuff I’m getting rid of and why. And then I’ll give you a sneak peek on what I ordered! 

Of course, if you have any questions please leave me a comment below! I plan to do a try on haul/video later with all of my new pieces. 

BTW, this isn’t sponsored – I bought all of these clothes with my own cash shmoneys. I just really like H&M haha… #H&Msponsormepls.

**This post contains affiliate links, which means I may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links.

Get Productive With Me: How to Style H&M’s Spring Collection

Cleaning Out My Closet

It’s such a breath of fresh air when you finally allow the pieces that you’ve been holding go. As Marie Kondo would put it, “if it’s not serving you, let it go.”

Except, I’m not exactly sure if that’s what she said since I haven’t actually watched any of her videos… but I’ve probably seen enough Pinterest references to get close enough.

Either way, cleaning out my closet was a lot easier than I thought it be. The last time I had truly cleaned it out was a year ago, and I was sitting on the floor of my closet bawling my eyes out because I had such an attachment of what things “could be” instead of what they actually were. But a lot happens in a year, and I am at a healthier state of mind (physically and spiritually), so it was really simple for me to see if it aligned with my style or not. 

I also think because I had in mind that I’m getting new stuff, I wanted to make sure that I’m not just hoarding clothes for the sake of it.

I ended up donating about 35 items in total. The majority of this stuff is from when I was in college, which doesn’t seem so far away but it actually has been about 2 years. Like a lot of you can probably relate, my style back then was “Whatever was cute and cheap from the Forever 21 sales rack”. So, I still have a lot of pieces that are super low in quality, or crop tops that just don’t suit me anymore.

I feel like I’m shedding new skin and committing to becoming a more mature and stylish version of myself. I love her. She’s cute and fun and though simple, genuinely loves what she’s wearing. We stan.

Wardrobe Overhaul

Okay, now that my closet has been cleaned out, now comes the fun part! Shopping for a new wardrobe! I worked out a budget and know exactly how much I’m going to spend, which helps me stay organized and also my eyes peeled for deals.

Like I described in my April Mood Board, I feel my style is shifting to minimalism and a comfy chic. 

Spring Wardrobe Inspo

Thankfully, H&M is currently having two campaigns that play perfectly to my aesthetics. 1) Comfy & Casual Basics, and Linen Casualwear. My heart is melting and there are so many cute options. But after weeks of carefully curating my perfect H&M shopping cart and scouring YouTube for recent H&M hauls, I finally checked out and my clothes are on the way!

I thought it would be fun to show you my top 10 pieces that are coming in!

The order has currently been processing for 3 weeks now, and hasn’t officially shipped – so I hope they will still be able to fulfill the order. Either way, keep reading to see my favorite pieces that I’m super excited about! I’ll be sharing why I love it and how I plan to wear it (in case you have something similar and don’t know how to style it). I also will include the link and the size I got it, so you can grab it as well! 

Let’s get shopping!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Thanks! :-)

The Linen Blazer

WHY I LOVE IT:

I have been absolutely living for the boyfriend blazer look. Somehow, it has perfected the vibe of both slouchy and fitted and it can tie any pieces together. The silhouette of this blazer is to die for -- not too oversized but still big. I have a blazer similar to this color, but it’s shorter and cuts above my waist, so it’s more of a professional silhouette that doesn’t really allow me to wear it casually.

HOW TO STYLE IT:

This is a really good style piece! If you want to elevate your outfit or look more put together effortlessly, throw this on top of a simple look.

For work, I plan on matching this blazer with any of my tapered slacks and a nice top. Depending on my slacks color, I will be able to pair this with solid colored tops, neutral tops, or even pattern.

For casual wear, I plan on throwing this blazer on with mom jeans and a fitted t-shirt.  I’ve seen this look floating around everywhere and it’s so cute and comfy but still chic! I also think this blazer will look great with turtlenecks in the winter.

relaxed T-Shirt

WHY I LOVE IT:

Can you believe that I’m 24 and do not have a simple ivory (or anything white for that matter) top?

This shirt is a very creamy ribbed shirt that I know will go really well with almost anything in my closet. According to the reviews, this shirt is not see through at all (praise Jesus!) and is also super soft so I’m very excited to see the quality of it when it comes in. I’m hoping this serves as my nicer “basic white tee”, that I can wear to dinners, business meetings, and other places where I need to be a little more dressed up. I love the neckline and the long length of the short-sleeve. Shirts with long short-sleeves tend to look a little bit more expensive.

HOW TO STYLE IT:

This is a perfect staple item for layering! Blazers, jackets, cardigans, etc. For work, I plan on pairing this with tapered slacks,  business skirts,  or mom jeans for Casual Fridays. This will look really good underneath a boyfriend blazer, or on it’s own!

For casual wear, I think this would look really good with ripped jeans and sandals. Or with a skirt for Spring!

Mom high ankle jeans

WHY I’M IN LOVE:

I’ve been looking into getting myself a new pair of mom jeans this spring, as the only other pair I have is 100% cotton and super stiff. I love the loose/tapered fit of mom jeans, and based on from the reviews and many youtube hauls I watched, these ones seemed to be tight in all of the right places, but still look nice and comfy.

The material of these mom jeans are 99% cotton and 1% elastance which means they’ll be good quality but still comfortable.

HOW TO STYLE IT:

This is a perfect staple item in every closet! The mom jeans’ silhouette has been really trendy and for good reason - it’s awesome to not have to squeeze into your jeans.

For work, I will most likely be throwing this on with a blazer. I also think this will look really nice with my lightweight fitted sweaters and some jewelry. I have neutral toned sweaters that are perfect for work (especially if it’s hot outside and freezing in the building).

For casual wear, I will be able to pair this with anything! Tube tops, crop tops, t-shirts, etc. I’m really excited for this addition to my wardrobe!

The Double Breasted Blazer

WHY I’M IN LOVE:

If beautiful pastel pink blazer isn’t personally singing a Spring/Summer love song to you, then I don’t know what to tell you. As soon as I saw this on the website, I knew it was coming home to me. I was instantly drawn to the color of the blazer and then loved the double breasted silhouette, beautiful white marble buttons, and overall aesthetic.

I try to keep my blazers neutral for the most part, but neutral doesn’t mean “no color”. There are a lot of colors that are more on the neutral side, for ex: soft pinks and sage greens. I can see myself wearing this blazer for years to come as the seasons come and go, and I am super excited to wear her for the upcoming Spring and Summer seasons!

HOW TO STYLE IT:

For work, I plan on matching this blazer with any of my patterned tapered slacks and a nice top. Depending on my slacks color, I will be able to pair this with solid colored tops or neutral tops.

For casual wear, I plan on throwing this blazer on with mom jeans and a fitted t-shirt.  I’ve seen this look floating around everywhere and it’s so cute and comfy but still chic! I also think this blazer will look great with turtlenecks in the winter.

blocked-heeled sandals

WHY I’M IN LOVE:

Y’all, this is one of the pieces I’m so incredibly excited about! I’m a sucker for a good mule, and have been looking for something similar to this for a long time. I saw the shorter heel version of these in the H&M store last year when I wasn’t shopping and was so sad to have to walk away. But now they’re back in an even better version!

The simplicity of the straps makes this a timeless piece that can go both casually or dressy depending on the occasion.

HOW I’LL STYLE IT:

This is a great staple shoe in your closet for both casual or dressy events!

For work, I plan to pair this with my black tapered slacks, blazer, and top. Or a black tapered slack and white sweater. Basically, since these are black, this will be my shoe of choice for my black pieces! (Verses my navy blue slacks and neutral pieces).

Casually, I plan to pair this with dresses, skirts, or even my mom jeans! This is such a versatile item and will be able to truly go with whatever you decide to pair it with.

*They sold out of the ones I got, so I linked the mule version!

fitted twill pants

WHY I’M IN LOVE:

This is one of my FAVORITE pieces that I ordered and exactly what I was looking for. As soon as I saw the silhouette of these pants on the website, I knew they were going to be bomb. So after I saw it over and over again on everyone’s H&M youtube hauls, and it looked absolutely fantastic, I knew it was a must-have for my new wardrobe. Reviewers described this pants as a linen-like quality, which means this will be perfect for the summer. I also have been really into wearing pants that don’t require much effort to put on (ie. tight slacks) so I’m really looking forward to how this fits.

HOW I’LL STYLE IT:

These are a perfect Spring/Summer item! Their neutral color will make it easy to match with other things in your closet, but bring an element of style since the silhouette is so chic!

The main way I plan to style this is to wear it with my pastel color t-shirts, for a neutral but chic look. I think they will look so good as a base and then accessorized with mules, sandals, and jewelry.

For work, I will pair this with solid colored (or printed) dressy tops and may pair with my camel toned blazer.

Fine knit sweater

WHY I’M IN LOVE:

From the tiny detail of the pearl buttons on the sleeve to the beautiful pastel lavender color – this sweater is gorgeous. It is absolutely perfect to wear during the Spring and Summer because the material is nice and light. I zoomed in really close to the screen to see the quality of the sweater, and I definitely think I’m going to be impressed. I think it’s time I invested in some adult sweaters lol.

HOW I’LL STYLE IT:

This is a great go-to sweater for work or a layering piece (in the winter)!

For work, I plan on styling this with my fitted white twill pants! Maybe paired with my gold mules and other accessories. I also think this will look good with skirts, mom jeans, and virtually anything else in my closet.

*Sold out

v-neck camisole

WHY I’M IN LOVE:

This was an absolute classic that I knew I needed to pick up. There have been so many times where I wish I just had a simple nice white cami to complete a look. I love the super thin elastic bands of the top, and really think this will be a quality piece. The reviews say that it is not see through at all (which was very important to me) so I’m excited to see what it looks like in person.

HOW I’LL STYLE IT:

This is another staple basic for your closet! You will be able to dress this up or down and it will serve as a neutral top to pull together all your looks.

For work, I plan to style this under my blazers with tapered slacks or skirts. Casually, I plan to wear it underneath my blazers or on it’s own! But I definitely want to pair it with my white tapered pants to make a monochromatic look.

Straight-cut t-shirt

WHY I’M IN LOVE:

This color was too beautiful not to pick up in this straight cut style. I love the length of the sleeves and how it lends itself to look more expensive than it actually was. I can’t wait to pair this with classic pieces to really chic it up.

HOW I’LL STYLE IT:

Solid t-shirts have become such a great basic that you can dress up and down.

My go-to pieces to pair this with will be either my mom jeans, or my fitted twill pants (can you see a pattern here?). I think those will look really well with the color and tie everything together. I also will be throwing on a lot of blazers with it!

t-shirt with motif

WHY I’M IN LOVE:

I have been looking for a graphic tee to rock this summer! I originally saw this shirt in white and wanted it, but when I saw this shirt in a dark blue gray, I liked it so much better! If we’re being honest, I don’t really watch Friends which makes me a total poser — but I’ve heard so many good things about it, so at least I’m a poser with taste! I have been a simple graphic tee for awhile now (that wasn’t a college shirt).

HOW I’LL WEAR IT:

 Graphic tees are a perfect way to spruce up your wardrobe and balance out your more dressy pieces. I plan on pairing this baby with the famous mom jeans as well as the fitted twill pants (do you sense the theme here?). I also think this will look really good underneath any blazer (camel or white). I also have a pair of platform Keds that I think will look perfect with this look.

Aaaand that’s the ten item round up, friends! I hope this was helpful (or entertaining haha) and hope you enjoyed getting productive with me — while helping the economy :-).

What was your favorite item? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Shopping!
The Corporate Queen

— 

For When You Feel Your Faith Waning

2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

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