My Earthy Tone Capsule Wardrobe as a Mum in My 40s — What I Actually Wear
Simple, comfortable and finally feeling like me.
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I’m not a fashion blogger. I don’t have a walk-in wardrobe or a clothing budget that stretches beyond the basics. But I do have a genuine desire to feel good in what I wear — comfortable, grounded and like myself.
For years I wore whatever was practical, whatever fit, whatever was on sale. I never really thought about whether my clothes actually reflected who I was or how I wanted to feel. Then I started my slow living journey and something shifted. I began to notice that the colours around me affected my mood. That cluttered spaces made me stressed. That getting dressed in something that felt wrong set a tone for the whole day.
So I made a decision. I was going to slowly build a wardrobe that actually felt like me.
Why Earthy Tones?
I’ve always been drawn to nature. Beaches, forests, open fields. The colours that make me feel most calm and most myself are the ones I find there — warm camel, forest green, soft brown, sandy neutrals, dusty sage.
Earthy tones also have a practical magic to them. Everything goes with everything. You can mix and match without thinking too hard. For a busy mum who doesn’t want to spend mental energy on getting dressed, that’s genuinely life changing.
There’s also something about wearing colours from nature that just feels aligned with the slow living values I’m working toward. Less noise. More calm. More intention.
Where I’m Starting — What I Have So Far
I want to be honest here — this is very much a work in progress. I’m not showing you a perfectly curated wardrobe. I’m showing you the beginning of one, built slowly and on a real budget.
Earthy tone t-shirts
My foundation pieces. Simple, soft, comfortable. I’ve been collecting basic tees in forest green and warm brown so far. These are my everyday staples — thrown on with anything and they instantly look intentional rather than thrown together.
Khaki wide leg trousers
Honestly? These are my favourite purchase. Wide leg trousers are so comfortable — and as a mum with a real body who values comfort above everything, that matters. The relaxed fit works for the school run, for working from home, for a casual day out. Paired with a simple tee and they look effortless.
I’ll be honest — I went up a size to feel comfortable and I have absolutely no regrets. Clothes should work for your body, not the other way around. I have a mum tum and separated stomach muscles so I do have to size up most of the time to allow for that.
Brown crocs
Yes, crocs. I said what I said. Comfortable, earthy, practical 😁. They pair beautifully with the khaki trousers and honestly look much more stylish than you’d expect. Slow living is about comfort and joy — and these bring both. Other options I have are a simple pair of black casual shoes with a brown sole, or some peach crocs for a bit more of a feminine soft touch of color, they pair well with these khaki trousers too above.
An earthy tone jumper
Coming soon to my wardrobe — a cosy knit in warm neutral tones for layering as the seasons change. Because living in New Zealand means the weather does whatever it wants and you need a layer you can throw on without thinking. I love this new jumper, it is so soft and a lovely soft brown color. I’ll add a photo when I can!
Smarter earthy tops
I’m also adding some more structured tops — linen-feel shirts and smart casual pieces in earthy and soft blue tones — for days when I want to look a little more put together without sacrificing comfort. Still relaxed, still me, just slightly more polished. I already have black and blue tops so I’m glad to see they seem to go with the khaki trousers too. I want to have minimal amount of colors to be honest so it’s easier for me to get ready and look put together.
The Straw Hat — My Favourite Finishing Touch
There’s something about a straw hat that instantly makes any outfit feel more intentional and more beautiful. It’s one of those pieces that elevates the simplest outfit — a tee, wide leg trousers, crocs and a straw hat and suddenly you look like you’ve made an effort even on your most tired day.
It also feels very aligned with the slow living aesthetic — natural, relaxed, a little coastal. I love it.
My hat is actually just from a cheap store, but you can look online if you can’t find one in near a store near you, I added some to my Temu storefront which are kind of similar here.
One thing that I look for in a hat, is on the inside some have an internal drawstring to adjust the size, but also a strap that can go under my chin as it can get quite windy when I’m out, and I almost always wear a hat if I’m outside for any amount of time due to the sun being s strong here.
What I’m Learning About Building a Capsule Wardrobe
A few honest things I’ve discovered along the way:
Comfort is non negotiable. If something doesn’t feel good to wear I won’t wear it. Simple as that.
Build slowly. This isn’t about a wardrobe overhaul overnight. It’s about gradually replacing things that I feel make me feel better about how I look. One piece at a time. I also want to stop buying so many clothes and found t-shirts can age quickly. Black clothes can fade, I haven’t tried dying them yet but I feel a slight difference in how I feel with more earthy tones clothes, like green is more calming.
Stick to your palette. Once you know your colours everything gets easier. I know that anything in warm earthy tones will work with what I already have. That makes shopping simpler and more intentional. I am also trying to keep to darker tones, due to hiding stains more easily, say if out and about and a child smears there food on my clothes it can be easier to hide. 🫣
Go up a size if you need to. Clothes that fit comfortably and allow you to move freely look infinitely better than clothes that are technically the right size but feel restrictive. Wide leg and relaxed fits are your friend. As I mum there have been times I’m running around, sitting on the floor, being comfortable and being able to move freely makes me feel less stressed as I am more comfortable.
Budget doesn’t mean bad. You don’t need to spend a fortune to build a wardrobe that feels good. Temu and other affordable options have genuinely surprised me with the quality of their earthy tone basics.
Where I’m Shopping
I’ve been building this wardrobe on a real budget and finding some genuinely great pieces. I’ve set up a Temu storefront with my current earthy tone finds if you want to browse — I’ll keep updating it as I add new pieces.
I also have affiliate links throughout this post which means if you purchase through my links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it helps support this blog.
I have had a look around shops near me, when I look for clothing I look for if it’s cotton, linen or another material that is breathable. A little polyester can help items keep their shape for longer but aiming for less man made items could help with their breathability and be more eco friendly.
I tried to find some clothes in the store near me, and they are good quality, cotton or mix of cotton or linen but they are very expensive, almost $100NZD. Most other store their trousers are around $55 but they seemed quite thin, a bit more like the ones from Temu, but Temu I have found trousers that are the right length for me for about $27NZD instead.
I would like to support more eco brands and local stores, so I’ll keep an eye out on what I can find but it’s definitely hard going in NZ finding the clothes I like!
This Is Just the Beginning
My capsule wardrobe is far from finished. But that’s kind of the point of slow living — it’s not about arriving at a perfect destination, it’s about enjoying the journey toward something that feels more aligned and more you.
I’ll keep sharing updates as the wardrobe grows. If you’re on a similar journey — a mum in your 40s trying to simplify, slow down and feel good in your own skin — I hope this gives you a little inspiration that you don’t need a big budget or a perfect body to dress in a way that feels genuinely beautiful.
Just start with what feels like you. The rest follows.
Are you building a capsule wardrobe? I’d love to know your favourite earthy tone pieces in the comments.
