How a Stylist Thinks: 4 Late-Summer Outfit Ideas From One Vintage Blazer

I wasn't planning to style four outfits... I was just cold.

It was a warm August day and I popped into the studio to get some admin work done after running errands. I was wearing my favorite vintage Levi's, a black tank, nude Tkees flip flops, my everyday jewelry and carrying my LV Speedy. My makeup was minimal, hair clean and straight... nothing particularly exciting about my look.

But as I stepped into the air conditioned space and sat down at my computer, I realized I was chilly. I looked up and saw this vintage DKNY blazer hanging with our limited Crow Vintage collection and slipped it on. 

Immediately my brain went... "Oh. This blazer is really good." And que the 90s closet montage that happened in my head.

A little black dress. Those sporty red shorts. A pleated skort.

Considering the limited footwear and accessories I had worn that day, within about 5 minutes I styled four outfits, decided I was creating a reel for Instagram and started brainstorming more content topics highlighting not only this perfect blazer, but the method of curating a small capsule from the inspiration of one hero piece. There went my plan to do admin work, because the creative juices had started flowing.

Watch One Vintage Blazer, Four Looks on our Instagram.

Here are the results

After I sat down and looked at the outfits I had just recorded, I realized it was actually one of the best examples I've ever shared of what personal styling (at least at CoCapsules) really looks like. For us, styling isn't about memorizing and implementing fashion rules. It's about seeing connections and playing with unexpected elements.

It often starts with one great piece

Today, the blazer happened to be the anchor. Vintage DKNY. Grey plaid. Double-breasted. A little oversized. Chef's kiss.

Enough personality to make a simple outfit interesting, but neutral enough to work with just about anything. It's exactly the kind of piece my stylist brain gets excited about when we're out buying or editing a client closet because I know it's going to create variety, not just an outfit. I'll share even more ideas at the end because I can't stop and won't stop.

The Outfits

One - Vintage blazer, black tank, straight jeans. This is the outfit I was already wearing, the blazer just gave it a little more direction.

Two - Vintage blazer, little black dress. Nothing complicated, just added structure to an otherwise effortless dress - something you might not consider wearing on a typical Tuesday, made practical by an everyday piece.

Three - Vintage blazer, cream bodysuit, relaxed red shorts. Mixing polished and casual elements for an unexpected result. 

Four - Vintage blazer, pleated athletic skort, dad cap. This is the kind of outfit that reminds you style doesn't have to make sense on paper, sometimes it just works. This combo came to me as an afterthought because I wanted to show the blazer closed, styled more like a top than a layering piece and it's my favorite!

Elements that never changed

I used the same shoes and accessories throughout, mainly because that's all I had during this spur of the moment styling session. But also because I wanted to prove you can build polished and intentional outfits for work with just a few extra elements that you already have and love.

Simple jewelry pieces, a high-end handbag, nude sandals, classic sunglasses.

These are my real-life go-to's. Finding a few pieces that feel like you build consistency in your personal style. You don't have to change up your accessories with every outfit. Not only does it make getting dressed easier, but it also teaches you which pieces to invest ( or re-invest) in over time.

A little Monthly Capsule Box plug

As I was cleaning up and editing my video, I realized something... this little styling exercise had accidentally become the perfect example of one of our Monthly Capsule Boxes: Seven core pieces, one hero layer, multiple combinations, with accessory suggestions that work across every outfit. The process wasn't necessarily intentional, it's just naturally how my mind works while I'm styling.

Monthly Capsule Boxes are available to our Shopping Members. If you'd like to try a Monthly Capsule Box before joining our 18$/month membership - reach out to us at hello@cocapsules.com and ask about a trial.

When we curate a Monthly Capsule Box, we're not thinking: "what should we send this month?" With each selection, we're actually thinking: "what will this unlock inside her wardrobe?" We are looking for pieces that create options, easily mix together, and can be dressed up, down and layered differently to be worn regularly in your real life.

So, this seven-piece collection is a pretty accurate snapshot of what a stylist-curated Monthly Capsule Box often looks like. Every box is unique to the recipient and based off of their specific lifestyle and needs. So you wouldn't receive these exact pieces, but this is the thought process behind them.

Monthly Capsule Boxes are available to our Shopping Members. If you'd like to try a Monthly Capsule Box before joining our 18$/month membership - reach out to us at hello@cocapsules.com and ask about a trial.

The part of styling you don't always see

The outfit is the finished product, but with us the styling happens long before that. It's seeing a blazer and immediately knowing it can work over a dress. It's recognizing that sporty shorts become a completely different outfit with one tailored layer. It's understanding that sometimes the best styling decision isn't adding something, it's changing one element and leaving everything else exactly the same. That's the part you don't always see. But it's also exactly what you're getting when you work with a stylist.

Whether we're building a Monthly Capsule Box, planning your wardrobe for the season or helping you shop with intention, we're constantly making those connections for you.

Sometimes all it takes is one really great blazer.

BONUS: here are 3 ways to style a blazer into fall

One - Casually over a sleek brown workout set (we have one coming soon!) with crew socks, sneakers, a cap and diamond studs.

Two - Polished with ultra wide leg trousers, a fitted tee, statement belt and heeled boots.

Three - 90s chic paired with cigarette style black jeans, a crisp white shirt, brown loafers and a slicked back pony tail.