Summer is a time to take a new look at your wardrobe.

Lately, I've been downsizing my closet, inspired by watching videos of Capsule Wardrobes on YouTube (The Anna Edit does a great series on it). It's a really interesting idea that you can have only 35 or so items in your wardrobe (for those who love following the rules). Personally, I've found that reading The Art of Simple plus just piling all the clothes out of my cupboard onto my bed was a good starting point to look at what I have, and what I needed. I ended up donating two large bags to Recycle Boutique and one to the Salvation Army, to free up some more room for a few key pieces for Summer, including a couple of dresses from Wilson Trollope.

Buying mindfully for your wardrobe is actually way more fun than buying in a mindless online guilt fuelled panic. Recently, I had to buy some wedding shoes for being a bridesmaid, and it was all a bit stressful. When you can take the mindful route, you actually consider what you want, what trends are currently interesting for you, and what you need still. Personally, I always find I wear my dresses from Wilson Trollope lots, so by making some more space, I was able to get two great new looks for Summer that I know I will get great wear from.

The key items that I picked up for Summer include the Sacher and Giselle dresses, Gold belt (both from Wilson Trollope) and Cranfields Rattan bag in this blog post. I have some earrings also from the same brand I was gifted for my birthday. I've really been feeling a 70's vibe as of late which has been all over Instagram from last Summer. I really found myself watching blogger girls on Instagram this year, like Wish Wish Wish and Kristabel and checking out their accessories and style throughout the cold Winter months, waiting for Spring to arrive here in the Antipodes.

Just because you see things online, however, doesn't mean you shouldn't shop locally to recreate the look. I think that it is better to take inspiration from certain people who you admire, rather than directly copying them by shopping an entire look. It is also possible to find the items you want if you just hunt around, and still support independent boutiques. For instance, I was lucky enough to find this amazing bag from Scottish/NZ blogger Kate La Vie at Cranfields, which was so exciting!

Look 1: The Disco Earth Mother

I love this Sacher Dress from the latest Wilson Trollope Collection (all made in NZ) because the warm colours are very flattering on all skin types. The terracotta share is one you don't see that often around but goes perfectly with gold, which is very much glitz 70's. This is a collarless semi-fitted shirt dress with flared panels. Gold buttons feature down the centre front opening and on cuffs, and lengthwise, it finishes at the bottom of your knee.

I paired it with a gold belt, and my dangly earrings, both from Wilson Trollope's accessories range. The belt shortens the skirt a bit, so you can decide which length you'd prefer. I love how the panels in it look like a disco ball!

This Denim Jacket is great to tone it down for the weekends. Mine is an old Marc Jacobs one I own originally from Workshop Denim (but you could use any denim jacket that you like, like this one here).

The shoes are Beau 5's from Beau Coops, and I still adore them.

Look 2: The Bright Lights of Paris

For something a bit more formal, say for the office and then for going out, the Gisele dress, also from Wilson Trollope, is a great find to add to the mix. I love a mystery panel to make me look a bit more toned, so this dress is perfect. It is quite petite around the waist and then flares out with a sort of 50's silhouette. The pattern on it reminds me of neon lights flashing by in the night. Its also got a button on each cuff, which works left open or closed. An invisible zip finished things off nicely.

I like some tassel earrings so my white ones from Droplet worked well here. I also felt like this was one to play up for down with outerwear, which makes life easy.

Wilson Trollope just makes the best most feminine dresses that are brilliant for playing up your waist. I have a pretty modest waist, so I think it looks ultra flattering to emphasis it where I can. I used an old belt from my Mum to tie the look together that I've had for years. Any vintage belt would be perfect to tie it all in.