Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris

by Jennifer L. Scott

a drastically different ten-item wardrobe than a stay-at-home mom in Atlanta. Think about what your day usually consists of. Board meetings? PTA meetings? Working from home? Riding your bike? Also take into consideration the season (snow, perpetual rain, warm sunshine?) and of course your style and personality (fashion forward, classic minimalism, bohemian?). My ten-item wardrobe has been tailored to fit my particular life situation: I am a mother with two small children, but I still like to look pulled together, so the majority of my wardrobe is casual sportswear with a slight dressed-up edge. I live in Southern California, which has a temperate climate even in the winter. I mainly spend my days taking care of the home and children, going to playdates, writing, and going on walks. My choices for the ten-item wardrobe reflect my lifestyle. Here are some examples of ten-item wardrobes. Every item in this selection of clothing can be mixed and matched, thus creating many sartorial possibilities—a must for any capsule wardrobe. Sample Ten-Item Wardrobe for Spring/Summer sea-green silk top tan sheer blouse navy and white striped sailor tee beige crewneck sweater sea-foam button-down tie cardigan lightweight pleated black trousers tailored black high-waisted shorts sea-green A-line skirt tan khaki pencil skirt white and/or dark blue jeans Sample Ten-Item Wardrobe for Fall/Winter 3 cashmere sweaters in beige, cream, and black 3 silk blouses 1 button-down white shirt tailored dar...