For cold weather, I’ll add a sweater and a coat (maybe, coats are usually optional for me as I don’t spend a lot of time outside or get cold quickly, even though it gets plenty cold and snowy here).Īnyway, that’s what I’m working up to. My goal is to have two capsules- cold weather and warm weather, each with 3-5 bottoms, 5-7 tops, and 2-3 dresses, and 2 pairs of shoes. I’m also looking for style basics rather than statement pieces because I can’t afford those. I’ve looked through a couple of “must-have” lists, so that when I do find something within my budget, I know that it’s not redundant. I hate just about everything in my closet because I am purchasing the cheapest items just to “get by.” My strategy going forward is to start looking into my personal syle and what types of clothing I really need to have. My budget for clothing is minimal and I’m frustrated. Unlike the vast majority of women considering the capsule wardrobe, I (like you) am needing to build UP to 37 items.
Are you IN? Leave a comment so we can all cheer for you! Do you need to downsize? Put a few more items in your MAYBE box. Do you need to supplement? Time to plan + shop. You’ll want to have 37 season-appropriate items in your closet. Step 3: Assess what’s left in your closet–aka your LOVE IT clothes. You’ll definitely use it in your capsule wardrobe when that season rolls around. If it’s not in season, but you LOVE IT, put it in a nice under-the-bed box and store it. But you’d never get rid of a staple like that–come on. Wool coat in summer? Probably don’t need it handy. Donate, swap with a friend, or sell it to fund new purchases. If it’s still in the box at the end of your season, it’s time to say goodbye to it. You can always go get stuff out of it, but you probably won’t. Put all this stuff in a box and store it in the garage. This is for items that don’t fit quite right, the color is a little off, have sentimental value, you can’t put your finger on it but you just don’t wear it, or you’re keeping it because you paid a lot for it but you don’t wear it. LOVE IT AND WOULD WEAR IT RIGHT NOW!! Self explanatory.Step 2: Sort each item into one of these four piles: But that won’t be the case if your closet is still being muddied with MAYBE pieces left hanging in there. As you put your LOVE IT pieces back into your empty closet, your style will practically scream at you. Don’t cheat–taking everything out at once is the secret to style clarity.
Seriously, take absolutely everything out of your closet and lay it out on your bed. Need help paring down your closet? Here’s 3 quick steps: I typically end up getting between 4-8 new pieces for each new season. So, less is more, you know? That being said, style should be fun and picking out a few new pieces for my next season is my favorite part. Rule #5: Okay, not really a rule, but still really important! The amount that you buy for each new season is up to you, but remember, this is a minimalist challenge. Rule #4: During the last week or two of the season, plan + shop for next season’s capsule wardrobe. Rule #3: Enjoy your capsule wardrobe, and don’t go shopping during the 3 month season. And remember, since accessories aren’t included in your capsule wardrobe, you can mix them in to your heart’s content. I split up my seasons like this: Winter (Jan-March), Spring (April-June), Summer (July-September), Fall (October-December). Rule #2: Wear only these 37 pieces for 3 months–what I refer to as a season. Or peek inside my current capsule wardrobe here.
Need help paring down? Scroll to the bottom of the post for 3 quick steps. Need help picking your 37 pieces? Download our free wardrobe planner here. If 37 isn’t your thing, find a number that’s right for you. Then the remaining 4 were just enough for 2 dresses and 2 jackets/coats. To me it feels generous yet minimal.Īnd honestly? The point of this is just to try something new if we don’t like our current closet situation - it’s not about getting obsessed with a number. For example, I knew I wanted 9 pairs of shoes, 9 bottoms, and 15 tops. Why 37? After trying out different numbers, I settled on 37 because of how it broke down in each category. Your 37 pieces should not include: workout clothes, jewelry, accessories, purses, swimsuits, pajamas/loungewear, underwear, and the jeans you wear when you paint your living room. Your 37 pieces should include: tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, and shoes. Rule #1: Pare down your current clothes situation into a happy little 37 piece capsule wardrobe. Ready to try a capsule wardrobe? Here’s my approach: