I’m sitting here writing in black yoga pants…and I have no plans of going to yoga today. That’s a no-no in a lot of circles, but especially when you’re planning an intentional capsule wardrobe!
This is the first of a series of posts on how I create my own intentional capsule wardrobe:
- Starting an Intentional Capsule Wardrobe: Take Inventory
- Starting an Intentional Capsule Wardrobe: Separate the Seasons
What is a capsule wardrobe? There is some variation in the number of items, but it’s a set number of items of clothing, shoes, and accessories for a season. Courtney Carver of Project 333 chooses a seasonal capsule wardrobe of 33 items for 3 months. She counts clothing (including coats), shoes, jewelry, and accessories in her 33 items. She does not count underwear, lounge around the house clothes, and workout clothes (if you’re actually working out) in her 33 items (hence the reference above to my yoga pants…).
Decluttering Clothes with the KonMari Method
I’ve edited my clothes using the KonMari Method over a year ago and donated and recycled over three large garbage bags full of my and my husband’s clothes. Since that time I may have bought one or two items, but the amount of clothing in my closet has felt fine. I know that not every single piece sparked joy but they were mostly being used.
I recently saw a documentary, The True Cost (on Netflix streaming now) on the detrimental environmental effects as well as human rights violations involved in fast fashion. It opened my eyes to how I need to consider how and who I buy my few clothing purchases from.
READ: The True Cost of that $5 T-shirt…Now What
One of the other things that watching the documentary stirred in me is the fact that I should be more intentional about what I actually keep. Sure, I went through once and asked if each piece of clothing “sparked joy” but now I wanted to go through again and try to put intentional pieces together to form a capsule wardrobe.
Step 1 to starting an intentional capsule wardrobe
First step? Put all of your clothes on your bed – spring, summer, fall, and winter. This was the advice given by both Courtney Carver of Project 333 and Caroline from Un-fancy.
The two questions I had going in to this were:
- How many pieces of clothing did I actually have?
- Would I be able to form a cohesive, attractive capsule wardrobe of 33 pieces for the season?
Here are all my clothes piled on top of our bed:
It turns out that I had:
- 2 formal skirts
- 1 black blazer
- 2 brown blazers
- 5 skirts
- 14 dresses
- 5 button down shirts
- 6 pairs of jeans
- 6 pairs of pants (slacks)
- 20 shirts (casual and work tops)
- 4 tank tops
- 19 sweaters (pullovers/cardigans/turtlenecks)
That is a grand total of 84 total items in my bedroom closet and dresser. I do have a raincoat, a jean jacket, a khaki coat, a windbreaker, and 2 cold weather coats not included. If I included those, that would be 90 items of clothing. I haven’t looked at my shoes yet but I don’t have many.
Donate and Recycle
I immediately put in the donate pile:
- 1 pair of jeans
- 1 cardigan
- 3 shirts (for recycling – 2 are threadbare but I wore them around the house because they were colorful, and the other had a few stains.)
I also immediately knew I would put 2 nice pair of black slacks in the thredUP pile. They’re too small in the waist and I’m finally facing that fact. I held onto them this long because they’re more expensive pants and I even had one pair tailored.
I could squeeze into them comfortably in the morning, but by mid-day, I was doing the first trimester pregnancy thing of wrapping a rubber band around the top button to keep it from being too obvious that I had undone my top button. (Was that oversharing? I hope I’m not the only one who has done that!) Anyway, it is time for them to go, and for me to find a pair of black slacks that actually fit…all day long.
Next step, divide my clothes into Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter wardrobes, then inventory my shoes, jewelry, and accessories. Now the burning question is, should my yoga pants be counted as item #91?
Have you experimented with a capsule wardrobe? Want to join me?
This post will be shared at these lovely link-ups.
DON’T MISS STEP 2:
Angela, she didn’t count lounge around the house clothes, so I think you’re good on the yoga pants. Lol
I know Melinda – but she says you should count them if you wear them when you’re not at yoga! Maybe I could do a couple of downward facing dogs and then that’ll keep them as workout clothes! 😉
I’m excited about this idea! I hate thinking about clothes and have been consistently paring down.
I’m right there with ya Liz! I really don’t mind people at work seeing me in the same handful of clothes as long as they’re comfortable, clean and presentable!
What an interesting idea. I love this!
Hey Christine! Isn’t a fun (and practical) idea? I hope you’ll follow the journey!
This is a Great idea!
Thanks Angela!
Hi Angela, I’m also trying to develop a capsule wardrobe. It’s interesting if you’ve ever looked at old houses – there are few closets and the closets that are there are very small by today’s comparisons. Madison Avenue has really sold Americans on the idea that more is better. I’d rather have some carefully chosen, well-made, classic, quality items than a closetful of junk clothes that will go out of season next year. Interesting post! Blessings, Janet
I agree Janet – for many years we lived in old row homes in Philadelphia that had very small and narrow closets. I’m doing the capsule wardrobe this year with the intention not to buy anything new. Once I live with it for a season or a year, I’ll definitely carefully choose some well-made, classic, quality items as well.
I’m fascinated by the idea of a capsule wardrobe. I’m not sure it’s right for me, but I’m excited to follow your journey!
Thanks Abby!
I transitioned out of my long-time career last year to start working at home and it’s been tough letting go of the clothes that made me feel like “me” for so long. I’m slowly letting things go but it’s taken me awhile to get there. I do love this idea though and maybe I can get the closet pared down even further.
That would definitely be difficult Shelley. The nice thing about this experiment is – you don’t have to donate or sell them right away (unless you want to!) – you just box them up and put them away for a season. If you miss them, you add them back. You may find though that boxing them up helps you to let them go.
This is fantastic and I needed to read this. My wardrobe and closet are in shambles. Time to be more intentional there for sure!
I’m glad it came at the right time Jen! Thanks for reading it!
I really need to do this . I was looking in my wardrobe yesterday and wondered how on earth it all fitted when I had to share with a husband. Seriously, i have so many clothes there is no way I could share my wardrobe or my chest of drawers. You have motivated me to have a good clear out, thank you #happynowlinkup
Oh good Lisa! Even if you don’t do an actual capsule wardrobe, taking everything out may clear up what you actually love and wear and want to keep around!
I started a capsule wardrobe last fall and love it. I still need to get a could more pair of dress pants but my caual clothes are covered. It makes getting dressed much easier and I love the simplicity. Thanks for sharing with Small Victories Sunday linkup, pinned to our linkup board.
That’s great Tanya! I’m hoping it does the same for me – making it simpler and more intentional than it already is. No matter how small the wardrobe, the 80/20 principle still seems to apply.
I’m intrigued by this whole idea of a capsule wardrobe. I am pinning to revisit later when I can sit down and analyze my own wardrobe. Thank you for walking us through the process!
Great! Thanks Linda.
I’ve been meaning to move towards a capsule wardrobe. You’ve inspired me to get on it this weekend.
Awesome Susan! Good luck – let me know how it goes!
I don’t even want to know how many items of clothing I’ve got. It’s far more than 90. I remember reading your article on the true cost of clothing, and I’ve definitely given some more thought to my wardrobe. Now if I could only convince my husband to try out a capsule wardrobe!
That’s great Leslie! Paring down little by little to get to the true loves in your wardrobe is a great start.
I’ve been seriously considering a capsule wardrobe lately, mostly due to seeing how many pieces have lingered unworn in my closet. Thanks for the tips! #MerryMonday
Yes, Megan. I think a capsule is good for that “new to me” again feeling when you pull it out after 3 months. It’ll help make clear what the truly unworn pieces are too!