let's talk about capsule wardrobes

have you heard of this? after natalie posted hers i became kind of obsessed with the idea. i think it's a good thing for two reasons:

1. it has totally kept me busy in between searching for a job and avoiding the yucky parts of life right now.
2. i am pretty sure hoarding tendencies run in my family.

i've always been drawn to the idea of minimalism. when i read about how people live minimally i think they must be really self actualized or have incredible self control - two qualities i very much admire. that being said i love to shop. like, it really makes me happy. sometimes even if i know i'll probably never (or rarely) wear something i'm so drawn to a color or pattern that i end up buying it. and that, my friends, is how you end up on an episode of hoarders.

minimalist wardrobes aren't a new thing. diana posted this years ago and i saved it because i was just so fascinated with the idea of having a tiny wardrobe. and even longer ago erin did a thirty items for thirty days challenge. so with these lovely ladies as inspiration i decided to take the plunge.

first things first i downloaded caroline's capsule wardrobe planner and spent days browsing my pinterest boards to figure out what my style is. i still don't really know...  but as i pinned away the words that came to mind were preppy, boho, pink.

my goals:

comfort: i want my clothes to fit well and be comfortable. this seems like the biggest "duh" statement but i either buy things a little too big because i don't want them to be tight or am feeling self conscious and then end up feeling sloppy and self conscious or i hang try to make things work that aren't quite the right size or style and end up feeling uncomfortable and self conscious.

feminine: i like a little pink or a ruffle detail here and there. i enjoy wearing skirts and dresses, and with tights. i like a some sparkle. ban.do always saves the day here.

modest: i kind of dread using that word. if anyone says "modest is the hottest" i'll poke them in the eye. i feel most comfortable covered up. i don't care if it's hot or not.

structured: i really love the peasant, flowy look but it just doesn't work for me. i promise i would wear peasant tops and chiffon skirts all day long if i could. but one thing i've learned about my style is that a little structure helps me feel more put together and more confident.

second, to be completely honest the amount of money i plan on spending for this fall capsule is zero dollars. some people budget a certain amount for each season and that's completely awesome. but given my no job/potential hoarding situation i'm going to work with what i have. and i have plenty. so far i've taken two very large garbage bags to goodwill and di and it's made feel kind of wasteful. why buy something if i'm just going to get rid of it in a few months? even if it is only $20? and there are several storage tubs going into the garage for future seasons or to sell. maybe for the winter i'll budget for a pair of boots.

i lied. i do want a pair of these.

my have-it-all-together date is september 21st. totally doable. i think. it's actually turned out to be a lot more effort than i anticipated. i feel like the end result will be a good thing but right now there are piles and boxes of clothes and empty hangers everywhere. my poor harlow is under the bed... which is probably a good idea.

have you ever done a capsule wardrobe? or a mini wardrobe? are you going to?



top image from ny mag featuring chloé pieces, hunting down sources for the other images