Summer 2023 Wardrobe Additions

I added a bunch of new items to my wardrobe this past summer! Turns out I was on a multiples binge, and those purchases inspired this blog post on buying multiples. I love the new bra tops I bought, though—I wear them all the time, just as I predicted! I also purchased more bottoms because, in the words of the great Regina George, sweatpants are all that fit me right now.

Here’s my summer 2023 clothing budget update: everything I added to my wardrobe this past June, July, and August! (ICYMI, I’m adding all of my 2023 clothing purchases to this Pinterest board.) I also shared what I tried and returned and what’s coming up for fall!

READ NEXT: Spring 2023 Wardrobe Additions

Summer 2023 wardrobe additions | how to keep a clothing budget | style on a budget | Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair

Summer 2023 Clothing Budget & Wardrobe Additions

$600 (quarterly budget) = $600 - $753 ($318 June + $150 July + $285 August) + $153 earned from Poshmark sales => $0 left over

Items I added to my wardrobe:

I placed a big Abercrombie order during a recent sale so I could try some of their curve love styles. There are so many to choose from, it’s overwhelming! Unfortunately most of my order didn’t work out (more on that below), but it was a good starting point. I ended up keeping these “super dark” indigo straight leg jeans. I originally tried size 27 and exchanged for a 28, and the regular length fits me pretty much perfectly.

I haven’t owned Birkenstocks in sooo long, and now I do! I’ve worn these sandals way more than I thought I would. I was worried about the buckles rubbing, but they don’t at all. They do squeak a bit when I walk and I’m most conscious of that when I’m in the office. I did have to exchange size 7-7.5 (EU 38) for size 6-6.5 (EU 37, my true EU size).

Everlane made my favorite and most comfortable summer sandal in an olive green, so of course I had to snatch them for myself. However, I have not yet worn them, lol. I find the first wear is the hardest for some reason. These sandals fit TTS for me.

I’ve been wanting the Legend sweater shirt in pure white twill for so long and finally bit the bullet when a blogger I follow had a discount code. It’s a spendy shirt! I ordered size medium and it fits perfectly in the shoulders and arm length but the body is pretty long on me. I wish it was shorter. Otherwise, the material is really soft but sort of feels like it might be prone to pilling, and it’s thinner than I was anticipating.

Much like jeans, shorts suck to shop for, especially when you have no idea what size you are! I placed a Madewell order earlier this summer including these green shorts. I wore them constantly! I ordered size 28, and even though it’s a little big, I like to extra room if I’m feeling bloated.

I rarely make it to our Madewell store, but I waited too long to make returns by mail and had to take them back to the store. While there, I tried on a few curvy styles (my store doesn’t have much stock) and donated a couple of old pairs of jeans (including the very first pair of Madewell jeans I ever bought!). At the time, they were offering $50 off a new pair of jeans with each donation, so I got quite the discount on these jeans. I haven’t had luck with the regular perfect vintage styles in the past (the sizing is not consistent) but finally found a pair I liked and took them home!

Another pair of shorts, this time in a mid-length that make me feel like I suddenly aged a decade… I’m just not used to wearing this much fabric in a pair of shorts again! I took size 28 and they are comfy enough to wear all day long (I wore them to a Mariners baseball game and The Eras Tour!).

I feel like I waited forever for Madewell to release their white wide leg jeans in a curvy petite style and decided to order them anyway because the “crop” suggests that they run slightly shorter than normal. That said, they aren’t really cropped (at least compared to my other cropped wide leg jeans). I sized up to 29 to account for the fact that they’re white (less forgiving) and for those fun extra bloated days. They do run small IMO!

  • Madewell Velvet Baseball Cap (no longer available | used Poshmark credit)

I own this baseball cap in pink and was thrilled to find it in grey on Poshmark! I love the velvet for something different and fun for fall and winter. The only downside is that I can’t machine wash this hat due to the velvet and the leather tab in the back, and I need to be extra cautious hand washing so as to not ruin the velvet. (I wore my pink hat in hail and it has spots now.)

I sort of impulse purchased these bra tops. I mean, I certainly didn’t need 5 different colors LOL. I couldn’t decide between blue and olive, so I just got both! I definitely wear the other colors more often since they’re neutrals. I love them, though. Ever since I realized I reach for tank tops the most in the summer, I’ve been on the hunt for good basic tanks, and these fit the bill perfectly. Plus, the bra top feature is pretty amazing; I’ve never worn a top with a built-in bra this nice. And I love how I don’t have to deal with bra straps! I bought size small but a medium probably would have worked too, they feel a little snug after being washed.

Items not included in clothing budget:

I had been wanting a top entry backpack like this one and thought it’d be useful even though I don’t have kiddos (and am not pregnant, lol). I exchanged the dark moss color I originally ordered for storm because the dark moss looked too military to me. The storm is beautiful but things get lost because it’s so dark! And my laptop doesn’t fit with its case. I didn’t include it in my budget because it’s a travel bag I’ll use occasionally.

Items I tried and returned:

I still love a good skinny jean and have been on the hunt for a new pair of black skinny jeans. I ordered these in black, size 27, regular length (27.5” inseam). These were sadly too small in the waist and also really tight on my calves.

I ordered these in medium with raw hem, size 27 short. I was not prepared for just how relaxed these 90s relaxed jeans were, haha! They were very relaxed through the leg and they were also far too long for me. At the same time, they were tight in the waist. Back they went!

I was so excited for these jeans in particular because I ordered the dark green color in size 27 short! The green definitely read a bit grey in the mirror photos I took. They were a touch tight in the waist and also just a hair longer than I prefer, but I know full-length pants are the style right now.

Ever since Everlane retired the authentic stretch skinny jeans, I haven’t purchased any of their denim. I know the Way High style replaced authentic stretch, so I ordered a pair and they were too small. Historically, I’ve taken a size larger in Everlane jeans compared to Madewell, so I ordered these in a 29 and they were too snug and I didn’t exchange them.

I own a very similar dress already and love the A-line shape. It’s perfect if you carry weight in your midsection. I was -this close- to keeping it (it has pockets!) but wasn’t crazy about the cutaway straps that would expose bra straps.

How fun are these pants?! Colored pants are coming back! I saw these pants in the gorgeous red “beetroot” color and was like OMG, I should wear those to The Eras Tour! Lol. They are really nice in person but felt too snug in size 27 (the petite length was perfect). The rise hit just below my belly button. Besides the fit, I didn’t know if I’d wear them more than the one time. I do recommend them otherwise!

At the same time I ordered the red pants, I grabbed this shirt on impulse. I’m a sucker for nice 100% linen shirts, and this one was lightweight and airy (and the stripes paired perfectly with the red wide leg pants!). I ordered this right before Sybil’s emergency vet episode so decided to return it sadly. The medium was a perfect, loose fit.

I ordered these in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and FedEx promptly misplaced my package for about a month. Nordstrom refunded me, so I was shocked to see the package randomly show up on my doorstep one day lol. I tried on the leggings and they were sized absolutely comically. Like… the sizing is not based on reality. I ordered size small after reading reviews but they wouldn’t stay on my hips they were so loose! Anyway, I sent them back lol.

What’s on deck for fall:

I tried these on at the same time I made returns at Madewell and bought the other pair of jeans and was quite impressed! I get the hype now. I ended up ordering the regular Align leggings in size 6 (both sizes 6 and 8 fit me) and am planning on bringing them on our trip. There’s an Amex offer for 2,500 points if you spend $125 at Lululemon—one of the only times I’m okay with paying full price lol.

  • Souvenirs from Europe?!

All my mind can think about at the moment is our trip to Europe coming up soon! I am planning to do a lil bit of shopping. Who knows if I’ll come back with anything, but I won’t say no if I find something I really love (unless it’s way too expensive, haha). I’m excited to visit & Other Stories and COS, two stores we don’t have in Boise!

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