Capsule Wardrobe

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Capsule Wardrobe

I'm taking a break from purging my closet. Thinking I'm going to TRY this capsule wardrobe concept. We'll see how well this goes!

I have 22 pairs of shoes...what's reasonable? I still feel the need to purge, but will be returning to work soon and am not sure what I may need for that purpose.

4 pairs tennis shoes (tie-dyed rainbow Van's, bright orange and aqua Pumas, navy blue Tom's style slip-ons, white & light blue Tommy Hilfiger slip-ons)
1 pair tennis/casual/work shoes with velcro closure {don't judge!} (not sure how to describe them, exactly...in brown)
2 pairs slip-on work shoes (1 black, 1 brown)
3 pairs sandals (1 tan, 1 black and 1 brown)
6 pairs "dressy" shoes (2 pairs lacy espadrille-style: 1 black, 1 cream; 1 silver metallic Mary Jane style, 1 black patent leather Mary Jane style, 1 brown Mary Jane style, 1 black slip on)
3 pairs of boots (1 low-cut in brown, 1 mid-calf in black, 1 fuzzy Ugg-style in black velour)
1 pair flip flops
1 pair swim shoes
1 pair house slippers

I did purge down my closet, though...maybe not to an ideal "capsule wardrobe" status, but pretty close!

Hello, I´m not aware of what is a capsule wardrobe can you explain me? Maybe i´d like to give it a try, i´m always trying to purge my closet and my kids, they are three, so: tons of clothes around!

thanks!

Marisa brought it up a while back (see HERE (Part 1) and HERE (Part 2)), but basically, it's a minimalist approach to your wardrobe/maximizing the pieces you have! smiley

And I should note that I did NOT get rid of my clothes...just put them away in storage for now, until I'm sure I can do this! smiley

Tina, LOVE those rainbow tie-dyed shoes! Did you get them recently? I've got to try and find them!!! I'm purging my old clothes that are too big, stained, etc. I've lost a little over 100 lbs. and I'm getting rid of almost all my "fat" clothes (even though I'm still quite fat!!! LOL). If I save them, I'll always know in the back of my head that if I regain the weight, I'll have them to fall back on and I'm NOT going to do that. I now have a new wardrobe that was great fun to shop for...it's the first time I've had all new clothes in at least 30 years! I love shoes and have a bunch also. My most recent purchase was red Keds with white polka dots!

If by recently, you mean within the last year...then YES! smiley Shoe store in the mall that sells Van's...my first pair, but I have a thing for rainbow and tie-dyed, too! Though, I'm not really a "shoe" person...I find what I like and usually wear them until they are all worn OUT!

Awesome about the weight loss! I lost 50 pounds before, got rid of all my "fat" clothes, then gained a lot back and ended up having to buy more clothes. But, the ones I have stored away are mostly the smaller sizes I need to lose weight to get back in to anyways, so maybe this will help!

I love my capsule wardrobe! I feel like I have so many options because I actually love all the clothes in my closet. Also, my clothes take up a lot less space.

Putting things away in storage is a great way to get started. I just kept stashing clothes away, and then months later I'd stumble on them and think, "guess I didn't need those!" It takes the pressure off.

Shoes are my weak link, in that I don't have any! I may buy a pair this fall.

Keep us posted on your progress!

I don't think I could do it! HaHa! I rarely ever buy shoes any more, and when I do, it's to replace a pair of tennis shoes that I've worn out. but I don't NEED to buy any more shoes because I have SO MANY to fall back on. *giggle*
The older I get the less I feel the need for more clothes, more shoes, more jewelry, etc. I'm finally somewhat content with what I have. The problem is, I don't want to get rid of anything that I already have. *sigh*

So, I counted the remaining items

7 pants
3 jeans
3 capris

5 dresses

3 skirts

11 "jackets"

27 shirts, but this includes tank tops/sleeveless tops that I wear under the "jackets"

So, still a little high (more than the 40 items I read about) but definitely NOT what was in there previously!

I'm working on photographing each item to put in an app so you know what you have on hand. A lot easier to do this now than before, when my closet was stuffed full!

This sounds like a great idea. I think I may have to do some research to start. I know I have too many things in my wardrobe. I love the app too but will have to look for one for iOS.

I have tried to do the capsule wardrobe but still find myself buying items of clothes that wear once or twice, and then they never get worn for months. I work as a admin assistant in an office which as a smart casual dress code, so recently I did purchase 4 pairs of work trousers and do tend to rotate those trousers with a few different tops for work. I have started to separate my clothes into work wear and weekend wear which has helped me stop buying loads. Also moved house and lost a lot of wardrobe space, so know only buy something new if have thrown out an old piece of clothing. But my capsule wardrobe still needs some work to get more co-ordinating pieces.

I have also looked into service like Rent The Runway, where you can rent some special occasion/wear once type clothing! Just another thought, so you only have it when you need it!

I am obsessed with the idea of a capsule wardrobe! I have seen a few Pins around the concept and as soon as we get to our new home next month that's one of the first things I'm going to do!

I think I need to weed through my accessories/jewelry now! smiley

I really ·REALLY· want to do this but I have a shirt woot! addiction and I have like 35 shirt woot! shirts that I don't think I could get rid of...

OMG...I want a bag of crap so bad but every time I've tried, they've sold out! smiley

OK...so for my four-million t-shirts, I'm going to make a t-shirt quilt. I'm not really going to wear all of them, but I would use a quilt! And there are companies out there that will do it for you, too!

I've been working on trying to go through my closet too! So far I've donated two bags of stuff that were definitely no's and I've been working on putting the maybe's in a box. But having less clothes already has been freeing! And less expensive because laundry lol. I still need to work on getting some basics in my closet because I don't have much for plain shirts that go with multiple outfits, I have shirts with lots of graphics on them that don't necessarily go with everything.

It wasn't until I heard about the concept that I realised that I really did gravitate towards the same couple of tops and the same pair of jeans every day. I'm not worrying about the exact number but have done a big purge and am now very aware within a season of what is (and isn't) getting worn so that I can keep reducing it little by little. Such a simple idea that has had such a big impact.

I've got a question on this, it's about Laundry...how often do you do laundry? I feel like I would be doing it everyday.

@Erin: I'm not sure I can answer that question without giving TMI! Haha. I have a hard time coming up with dirty laundry because aside from underwear, I generally just hang up my clothes to give them an airing between wearings. Eventually I'll wash them, but rarely after every time I wear them.

Erin - it definitely depends on what you 'do' during the day - if I'm desk-based all day I'm happy to get a couple of days out of a pair of jeans, jumpers the same, and sometimes I'll put on a nice top to go to town and only wear that for an hour or two so that can be reused - so I probably wash once a week (and usually one -maybe two- 10kg load is enough) and have enough to get through that... and if I'm lazy and don't fold and put away the washing straight away I find I'm just raiding the basket for the next week's clothes anyway, not bothering to rummage into my cupboard etc. Which is why I think the capsule concept works so well. Of course gym clothes or if I've gotten filthy are a different situation...

Marisa - I totally get where you are coming from, like you I've done a lot of travel and on one instance did 18 weeks with four pairs of pants and maybe half a dozen tops, and if it means you don't have to find a coin laundry for another day, you can be quite creative in making your outfits stretch!

I'm with Marisa and Jade on this, too, but then I tend to keep some sportswear type clothes specifically for when I'm exercising or working where I know I'll sweat and wash those. But I also have a family (who aren't doing the capsule wardrobe), so it really hasn't affected how often we do laundry around here (thankfully, also, my husband usually does the laundry and the 18 year old does her own, too!).

Growing up super poor I was doing a capsule wardrobe all thru my childhood. smiley I used to be a jeans & T girl but I like the softer feel of cords and wear those year round. Yes even in summer.

I have about 4 or 5 skirts, 6 pants [2 light jeans & 4 cords], 2 dresses, 1 hoodie, 3 bolero/crop sweaters, 2 long sleeve sweaters, 2 coats, 4 pairs of shoes and around 15 tees, casual and dressy tops combined. I do have about 7 or 8 undershirts which is probably more than I really need. Im a sucker for the different colors. And this list is all seasons so during winter some of the shirts & skirts sit at the back of the closet until spring and vice versa for cool weather items like the hoodie/coats.

ALtho I still need to move out the stuff I dont wear anymore. I used to wear a lot of blazers but I haven't worn those in years. Love the look still but they are just not comfortable anymore.

Now I will say I probably need to do better in my daughter's wardrobe lol! I love buying cute girly things so at one time she had quite the closet full. It has slimmed out this past year and I think I will continue to cut down and be more selective. She ends up only wearing a handful of favorites anyway. But I'll admit I shop at Once Upon a Child and I have a hard time not having a huge buggy full of clothes smiley

With fall approaching I've been in purge mode around the house. So I will probably take a peek at my closet and get it cleaned out soon.

And on the laundry note despite all this we are a family of 6 and laundry is never caught up on. One day I will tackle that. smiley

Thanks for sharing Jessica. I have a few weaknesses of my own. I will not admit to how many scarves I own, nor will I stop buying them smiley

With both scarves and jewelry I have a much harder time slimming down my collections, even though I definitely have a bunch of stuff I don't use. But most of it was purchased on a trip somewhere, and since at the end of the day it's all so small, I haven't really come up with the motivation to clean it out...

I give an update HERE, but basically I converted for my work clothes. I still have one pair of blue jeans and many t-shirts and I kept my "little black dress" plus some specialty items, like capris and my football jerseys. I got rid of all the excess stuff I was storing too. I can't tell you how good it feels to have downsized (minimalized) like that!

Thanks for sharing Tina! I'm mostly converted to a uniform now. I was just wearing dresses. But now that I'm breastfeeding I'm just wearing leggings and a tshirt. Life is fancy!

This is such a great share, Tina! I love your blogpost and will have a look at the app you are introducing. Thank you so much. smiley Inspiring to see your liberation!

Same.