I’m taking a break from folding laundry to share with you all about my 6-month Capsule Wardrobe (Fall & Winter). I’m really excited to share the highs and lows of this whole closet/clothing/capsule organizing process with you!
In all honesty, it’s been mostly highs. The minimizing and scaling back of my wardrobe has really been transforming! I really feel like getting dressed and having outfits that actually go together, is getting easier and easier. Additionally I’m shopping for clothing now with even more intention – and really not shopping for clothing much at all. #lessismore
Let me do a quick recap before we dive into the 6-Month Capsule Wardrobe for Fall & Winter…
Last spring I decided to do an overhaul of my closet. I wrote a post and shared my plan of attack and all of the details around my approach.
My focus and vision was to try to pare down my clothes so that my closet reflected the following:
- Only clothes that I love (and wear).
- Tops and bottoms that GO together.
- Overall less clothes, but more outfit options, with quality pieces.
Well…it worked! I truly enjoy having a more organized closet, a closet that has fewer options but better options…options that work! (This week, I re-visited that post and updated the numbers, so if you are curious you can check it out here.)
Overall, I met my three objectives, so now it’s time to do the same 6-Month Capsule Wardrobe for Fall & Winter!
When I began working on the capsule wardrobe idea, I discovered Caroline’s site, Un-fancy, that is sweet Caroline pictured above. After reading through many of her posts I realized that I had found a plan that I could work with.
Caroline’s rule #1…
“Pare down your current clothes situation into a happy little 37 piece capsule wardrobe. Your 37 pieces should include: tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, and shoes. 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.”
This is the idea and concept that I followed, but I didn’t concern myself with the actual number of pieces (37). I chose to focus instead on two 6-month capsule wardrobes, versus four 3-month seasonal wardrobes. (Caroline’s capsules are done seasonally, four per year, I gave myself some more flexibility.)
6-Month Capsule Wardrobe – Fall and Winter
This first rack hold my tops, total number, 25 – that’s not bad!!!
I should mention that I didn’t count my “coats” as part of my numbers and I also have four vests that I put into the coat category, or “winterwear” too.
- 2 3/4 length dressy shirts (S/S)*
- 8 casual long sleeve shirts (the type I wear day-to-day)
- 6 semi-casual longer shirts/tunics/sweaters
- 6 cardigans (I ditched 2 that I didn’t ever wear – S/S)
- 2 light jackets (1 denim and 1 grey – S/S)
- 1 dressy jacket (my power jacket for whenever I might need a power jacket)
*(S/S – was also in my Capsule Wardrobe – Spring & Summer)
Now on to the bottoms and dresses, total number, 18 bottoms and 3 dresses!
- 3 dressy dresses (I mostly wear these for work functions with my hubby)
- 2 pairs of dressy pants
- 4 dressy skirts (these are just too nice not to keep…I am planning to find more ways to wear them to church etc…)
- 12 pairs of jeans (pictured below)
(6 pairs of jeans – Fall and Winter)
(6 pairs of jeans – Spring and Summer)
I have a total of 12 pairs of jeans, ranging from skinny jeans to casual jeans, to my red jeans – for when I need a little “pizazz” – but I wear all of them, I live in jeans so these are all keepers!
Note…I’ve learned the importance of buying better denim, if your jeans fit well, you’ll wear them more. Invest in the best – for you!
Total number of shoes: 9 pairs (Same as S/S!)
- 2 pairs of flats (S/S)
- 2 pairs of tall boots
- 1 pair of cowgirl boots (S/S)
- 1 pair of casual boots
- 1 pair of clogs
- 1 pair of dressy pumps
- 1 pair of dressy heels
OK, so let’s look at my numbers a little more closely…
- 25 tops
- 18 bottoms
- 3 dresses (I’m not counting my 3 ball gowns…)
- 9 pairs of shoes
*This list does not include: workout clothes, jewelry, accessories, purses, swimsuits, pajamas/loungewear, and underwear – and I’ll add “winterwear” – ie: ski coat, rain coat, winter coat….
That’s a total of 55 pieces of clothing, which to me = simplicity! I’m looking forward to continuing with my less is more within my closet.
While I was re-organizing everything for Fall & Winter, I made a short list of the items that I need to purchase to help create and/or complete more outfits. It’s a deliberate shopping list that I’ll work to check off over the winter. The only reason to add these items to my wardrobe is to truly help to create more outfits.
Need to buy…
neutral wedge shoes (still left over from my Spring/Summer list)4/2016black long cardigan2/20162 more neutral long sleeve shirts for layering (neutral colors)12/2015
POST UPDATE: 5/2016, I am not going to do a recount of my CW Fall & Winter, I can tell by a glance that I am within five pieces from the start, November, plus or minus. My six-month Capsule Wardrobe individually range from 55-65 pieces of clothing.
MY TAKEAWAYS & TWO CENTS:
- I’ve realized I have a hard time actually wearing skirts! Coordinating the right top, with the right skirt, with the right shoe, can be really HARD. So…I’m sticking more to dresses, they are less complicated and require less coordinating.
- Neutrals are KING! The better neutrals I have in my closet, the better outfits I am able to create. I suggest you invest in your staple/neutral pieces and you’ll get ahead in the fashion game!
- I shop mostly at Target, Old Navy, H&M, Nordstroms Rack, TJ Maxx, and JCrew.
- My series – {M}organized Fashion – will give you more of my “fashion” tips. These are not tips from the runway, more like tips from the “momway.”
- As I set up my Fall & Winter Wardrobe I turned all of the hangers backwards. My seasonal Wardrobe is designed for November – April. So on 4/30 I am going to see which hangers are still not turned around and address those items. Then at that point I’ll transition my Wardrobe back over to a Spring & Summer focus!
- My personal goal will only be to shop from the shopping list above, which is a pretty short list!
TELL ME: How do you coordinate your outfits? Do you find getting dressed easy or challenging?What about following the one in one out rule?
Interested in getting more organized but don’t know where to start? I’m here to help. Start by subscribing to my monthly newsletter to get tips and tricks, and more!
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