My Fall/Winter Capsule Wardrobe
I started curating a capsule wardrobe several years ago when I noticed that even though I had a closet full of clothes, I wore the same four or five outfits over and over again. The idea of a capsule wardrobe is that you narrow down the clothes in your closet to your favorite items that you wear all the time. These items should be easy to mix and match so that you can create different outfits from using the same pieces. Make sense?
BENEFITS I HAVE NOTICED…
Saves money
Saves time
Saves energy
Creates an intentional process for buying new items (slow fashion)
Stores easily
Allows for a more concrete idea of my own style
Respects the environment as we produce less waste
MY FALL/WINTER ESSENTIALS
Note: I am highlighting my casual clothes for this post. I am happy to share my workout/athleisure capsule collection too. I do workout most days and inevitably end up staying in my leggings all day at least a few times a week. If you would like to see that capsule, just let me know! Athleisure wear rocks!
Tops
I have six sweaters. Three are cashmere (from Uniqlo). The other three were bought used. In my old closet life, I had quite a few button-down shirts. I love the idea of them. I appreciate the look of them. I just never actually wore them. It has been such an interesting process to become more aware of what I instinctively want to purchase versus what I will truly wear. I may add a used cardigan to the mix this year. If I do, I will edit out one of the turtleneck sweaters.
Bottoms
I have four pairs of jeans and one pair of black pants. I appreciate having a variety of washes and fits to choose from. Most of my jeans were bought used. The brands aren’t incredibly fancy. American Eagle. Madewell. Ann Taylor. I have a pair of jeans that can be dressed up but I also have a couple of jeans that are ripped just the way I like! Versatility is a beautiful thing!
Blouses
I have two choices here. That is all I really need to dress things up a bit.
Last, I have SHOES and EXTRAS.
I turn to these three shoe options for the fall and winter seasons. I am a big fan of Dansko shoes as they never hurt my feet and well…the minimal aesthetic suits me! My short snow boots are from Sorel. They are perfect for running errands in the cold and wet snow of Utah. I must say that I do have another pair of snow boots for when I want to snowshoe or hike in the mountains. This was a crucial purchase! I have found that investing in the right gear has been crucial to my enjoyment of the winter season. I did include my beloved sherpa pullover in this category (random!) as it is like wearing a blanket. Who does not want to wear a blanket when it is cold outside?? It is HYGGE in a top, I tell you. And it comes from my daughter, Clara. Lastly, I have one black scarf but I am looking to add a fall pattern scarf for a little variety.
A couple of quick items that I did not mention but that I do own and value.
Two winter coat options. Both black. One is lighter weight. The other one is great for the coldest days.
One winter scarf (Thank you, Kristen and Erin)! Black and white. I love it. I wear it constantly during the winter months.
One pair of warm gloves. Black. Are you noticing a theme here?
Two warm hats. One black. One grey.
In the end, a capsule wardrobe should work with you in your life and in your situation. The items don’t have to be plain or minimalist or lacking in color. I am noticing that I gravitate toward all of those descriptions though!! Ha! But if you enjoy wearing color or prints, then your pieces should reflect that. Overall, the idea is to own less but to wear the items more. As a side, the quality of what you own tends to be better, overall. Why? Because you are more intentional about what you buy and you want the items to last.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CAPSULE WARDROBES? HAVE YOU EVER TRIED CURATING ONE? WHAT DO YOU WEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN DURING THE FALL AND WINTER MONTHS? I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!
