My First Capsule Wardrobe: Outfit Creation... and Beyond

This week I'm talking about capsule wardrobe creation. I'm sharing my wardrobe from this summer and the tips and tricks I learned along the way! Be sure to check out the previous posts if you missed them: Introduction, Creating A Palette, Lifestyle Needs, & Item Selection.

At last, the great reveal! The photos below showcase every outfit I've constructed since the initiation of my summer capsule wardrobe in late July (minus one or two weekends spent at home in my pajamas... shhhh!)

I've arranged them by circumstance, as outlined in the Lifestyle Needs section of this series.

1) Professional Work Days



 
2) Weekend Outings & Vacations




3) Rehearsal & Casual Work Days
 


4) Special Occasions  
 

So, unless I've blinded you with my science of casual posing (I assure you, the limoncello scream was necessary after 5 hours of shooting), you probably want the dirt. What about the capsule wardrobe was a drag? What felt limiting? Would I do it again, and if so, what would I do differently? I'm so glad you asked!

TIPS, STRAY THOUGHTS, AND LESSONS LEARNED:

-Stylist's Block: Just like with writing, no matter how great my resources were, I still struggled with an occasional loss of imagination. Wardrobe minimizing is liberating for the most part, but if you've only just emerged from The Land of 1000 Options, it's hard not to lust for it when your creative impetus fizzles. I overcame this hurdle by creating simple challenges for myself. Not doing laundry for a couple weeks will sure do it; I only have a sweater and it's 90 degrees outside? Guess I better get creative with my bottom half. Other fun challenges include "let's-pull-three-things-at-random-and-run-with-it," "let's-dress-in-monochrome," and "lets-match-the-boyfriend-without-him-realizing-what-we're-doing."

-Wearing the Same Thing Twice: Guess what? -- GASP! -- No one cares. Or rather, no one will notice. They're too busy worrying about the same thing. Still, if you have a personal partiality to uniqueness, you'll get by with a little help from the secret weapon of the fashion world: the accessory. Scarves, purses, tights, sunglasses, belts, earrings... go wild with these! They don't take up much space, and they're an inexpensive way to spice up the same outfit. Also, never underestimate the power of shoes. Just watch how your jeans clean up when they're paired with with a heel instead of a flat. 

-Laundry: Living with a man who goes through clothes like they're bacon, doing laundry once a week is already a necessity. That said, I'm pretty sure doing a load every ten days or so would be just fine for the average individual. Also -- unless you live in nudes and neutrals, you may have to get used to mixing whites and colors. I think you'll survive being this much of a badass.

-Wear & Tear: Just recently, I finished Elizabeth Cline's Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. It's a fabulous read for anyone who's ever felt immediately and totally overwhelmed while attempting to navigate Forever 21 -- or anyone infuriated by the Polyester Invasion that is 21st century clothing. (Warning: This book will make you want to sew things.) For capsule clothes that last beyond the first month, you're probably going to have to invest a bit more. As usual, I highly recommend thrift shopping for a happy medium. Just stay the dickens away from polyester.

    Winner of Best Wear Through Most Washes: Flare Jeans (Lucky Brand) 
         Still looking bluer than ever after 2+ years of weekly wear.
    Loser of the same category: Dot-print Tee (H&M)
         Bought it brand new this summer. The very first day I wore it, my seat belt caused the fabric to permanently pill. Not awesome.

-Fall Capsule '14: It's happening, yes. This time I've given myself more planning time to fine-tune my personal style. I'm aiming for less (ho-hum) solids and more challenging, mixable prints. I will probably donate more and invest in some nicer pieces, since autumn clothing is THE BEST. For some reason, my main source of inspiration so far has been foxes. I kid you not, foxes. I may continue writing down my outfits every day (though I probably won't go through the process of photographing them all again.)

What amazed me most about the process? How easy it was to remix the same item different ways! Once I had a functional palette and knew exactly what was in my wardrobe, outfits practically formed themselves. Plus, with a few minor exceptions replaced along the way, I genuinely loved everything in my closet.

And that, my pumpkins, is what it's all about!

Did you enjoy this exploration series on building a capsule wardrobe? Did I leave anything out? Let me know in the comments!

A Word on Capsule Wardrobes

If you've so much as peeked at a fashion blog lately, chances are likely you've run across the term capsule wardrobe. The popularity of this minimally-minded, carefully-tended collection continues to snowball, particularly with eco-conscious fashion gaining more momentum.

As detailed in my Style Journey series, I've been on-the-verge obsessed with wardrobe structure and personal style for a little over a decade now, and I've worked my way through almost two years' worth of capsules since my first examination of the subject. Only a few months ago did I really start to grasp what works best for my lifestyle, my budget, and my creative impulse. I preface with these points to affirm my commitment to a movement which, unfortunately, many are using as an excuse to shop more often.

Whether you're an OG capsuler or you've merely toyed with the concept, I wanted to offer some insight beyond the generic how-to guide; to dig deeper into the hows and whys of the capsuling process.

What a Capsule Wardrobe Should Do:

Simplify the daily dressing process --though not so much that it becomes boring!

Ideally, a capsule wardrobe is widely intermixable, with a style and color concept enabling this. This means that, in theory, you could go to your closet and pull two things at random with a good chance of them "going" together.

Showcase your personality in a lifestyle-appropriate way

The right capsule wardrobe will accurately reflect your "you-ness" while still adhering to the constraints of your lifestyle. This means if you love disco dresses but you work five days a week in a conservative library, you're going to have to make a few concessions. Still, your cardigans ought to have some shiny buttons or something.

Keep your budget in balance and your shopping in check

There's a strange conundrum in life: the less we have, the less we seem to crave. More logically, the less we crave, the less money we spend. This presupposes that the things we have include the things we actually need. Most of us don't need to a new outfit for every day of the year. That myth should have ended with Sex and the City.

What a Capsule Wardrobe Should Not Do:

 

Necessitate a mammoth purging of your pre-owned pieces.

Assuming you're capsuling for the purpose of simplifying, and assuming you give two shits about our planet Earth, whittling your current closet down to some fashionista's list of must-have items kind of undermines the greater principle. Better to wear out the jeans you already own than throw them out in favor of an on-trend style. Kind of like making an effort to actually eat the groceries you purchased before ordering take-out.

 

Confine you to a minimalist aesthetic.

Minimalism -- stylistically speaking, rather than lifestyle-wise -- is definitely having a moment right now. You don't need to go far in this city to find a pair of artistically-ripped black jeans, flanked by a white button-down and Adidas. Since most bloggers are interested in what is trendy (and also what photographs well) it makes sense that their own capsules reflect this aesthetic. That doesn't mean yours needs to as well. In fact, for purely selfish/snobbish reasons, I implore you to dig deeper than black and white and striped -- there are more animals in the kingdom than zebras, after all!

 

Foster mindless consumerism. 

Part of the logic behind establishing a set list or number of items is to avoid unnecessary, impulsive shopping trips. Few of us can make wise decisions on the fly, and if impulse shopping is your joi de vivre, chances are there's a darker impulse driving it. Capsuling should help you face these issues head on, rather than enabling them. Don't bend the rules for bad habits' sake!

Common Problems & FAQs

 

I already have a ton of clothes... how do I weed out the bad seeds?

The first time I created a capsule, I stored a bunch of stuff for "seasonal" consideration. The second time, I expanded the number of items in my collection so I could include everything. I justified these amendments as being necessary for my individual lifestyle. Truthfully, I just didn't want to get rid of anything. Whether it was sentiment, guilt, or fear of boredom, I was a prisoner in my own closet.

Here's how you Shawshank your way out:

1.  Choose someone you want to look like. (Pro tip: This is called a style icon.)
2.  Research their outfits, until you have a good handle on their essential style. (This is called a style concept.)
3.  Go through your closet, piece by piece, asking yourself if your chosen icon would wear this item or not. Give yourself some flexibility here; if your style icon is Prince and you're short one glitter-encrusted purple coat, trust that a well-tailored piece in black velvet would still fit the bill.
4.  Donate or sell what doesn't fit your style concept. Construct your wardrobe off the rest.

I don't have a "style concept," and I don't know where to get one.

Many people mistake having style for being trendy or wearing what's currently "in." While that can factor into it, being stylish is more about a confidence with who you are and how you choose to outwardly express that. If you believe yourself to be frumpy, dated, or above-it-all (and if you aren't interested in changing that), then by all means continue wearing what reflects those adjectives. If you'd like to communicate otherwise, however, but you're not sure where to begin, here are some gentle approaches:

• Was there a point in life when you felt most confident with your style? If so, try to pinpoint exactly what it was about the clothes from that period that you liked.
•  Buy some fashion magazines or blogs. Bookmark the pages that speak to you, without questioning their practicality in your own life.
•  Sit at a cafe and people-watch. When you see a look you like, make note of it. 

and finally a not-so-gentle approach, for the polar plungers among us:

•  Go to a thrift store. Set a small budget for yourself. Buy the first three items that speak to you, with no judgment or concern about how they'll jive with your closet. Take these pieces home and hang them where you can see them. Study them. Better yet, wear them out in the world. If the items match your personality, chances are you'll receive comments from others that give you hints as to why they're "just your style."

 

My work wardrobe is very different from what I wear otherwise.

Make two capsules! I'm surprised this hasn't been more widely discussed or exemplified in the blogging world... I suppose it's because most bloggers have the benefit of working out of their home, though. For the first time this season, I'm separating my work wardrobe from my "play" clothes. It's a relief to know everything in the former section is boss-appropriate -- and also that my favorite silk dress will never be tempted into the reach of jam hands. (I nanny.)

 

I have more than (10, 20, 37...) items.

While setting limits for yourself can be very helpful, proscribing to someone else's standard likely won't get you anywhere. A better approach is starting with the maximum items you think you'll need (maybe two laundry period's worth) and reducing from there.

 

What if I get bored with the clothes I choose?

This is something I was particularly worried about as I started my first capsule, but which decreased as my personal style solidified. At first, having fewer clothes to choose from seemed limiting, but eventually I started to value quality over quantity. I didn't mind wearing my absolute favorite dress to every date night, simply because it was my absolute favorite! If the purpose of a date is to look smashing, having three almost-right dresses won't do you much good. Eventually, the dress will wear and you can find something new. Enjoy it fully now, though. :)

A final note, regarding author bias:
I'm Type A to a t, and I enjoy creating lists, charts, and spreadsheets -- taking wardrobe inventory, creating outfits, and all that. If allowed, I could probably spend days doing exclusively this. As such, I feel like some of this advice might be biased toward people of a similar disposition.
That aside, I'm confident that by playing within your own guidelines -- yet keeping the simple aim of the capsule process close to heart -- you can find an approach that works for you.

Happy Capsuling!

My First Capsule Wardrobe: Introduction

While I'll always be a fan of revamping my style, I have long been in pursuit of the "perfect" wardrobe. I do enjoy shopping, but I'm not nuts about mindless consumerism, and I always feel guilty throwing away clothing that I didn't get much use out of. That's why creating a capsule wardrobe, or a selection of essential pieces garnered for maximum versatility, sounded like the perfect fix for me.

Most of us face one of three problems when it comes to our closet:

1) THE RUBIX CUBE - We have a decent collection of clothing, but there is no consistent style or color palette to lend itself to maximum outfit creation.
Likely causes: shopaholism, trend addiction, Jekylll/Hyde personality.

2) THE CLING-ON - We're holding onto clothes that we don't really love; either we've outgrown their style or fit, or they never really suited us in the first place.*
Likely causes: weight gain/loss, pregnancy, being Tom Hanks in Big.

3) THE CH-CH-CH-CHANGES - We have a closet of clothing that isn't suitable to our current lifestyle.
Likely causes: college graduation, moving cities and/or changing jobs, Time Travel.

Me? I definitely struggle with Rubix Cube syndrome. My style and sense of self seem to be constantly evolving. I'm always concerned that I'll get bored if forced to focus on just one aspect of my personality. To my surprise and delight, however, limiting myself to a few carefully selected items has not only simplified my everyday dressing decisions, it's also helping me clarify my sense of style.

To get started, I took inspiration and instruction from Un-Fancy (a blog discovery from earlier this summer.) Some folks have criticized Caroline's wardrobe as not representing a truly minimalist approach, but while 37 pieces may seem extravagant to some, it's a great start for those us with overstuffed drawers -- or a fear of monotony!

While Caroline's style is neutral-based with an urban, sporty-chic vibe, I tend toward a more colorful, classic, and clean-cut look -- with an edge of eccentricity to jazz things up. My goal for this project was to figure out how to maintain those quirky, colorful undertones (which mirror my ridiculous, whimsical sense of humor) while still projecting an air of professionalism and practicality.

This week, I'll be sharing the results of my 40-day adventure through Capsule Wardrobe Land in a series of outfit photos organized by daily purpose. Advice will be offered, frustrations will be revealed, and you might just find yourself creating your own capsule wardrobe by week's end... Buckle up, my pumpkins!

How To Build A Work-Friendly Capsule Wardrobe

One of the most common questions surrounding capsule wardrobes is how to construct one that accommodates both your worklife and your everyday / "off" life. Many of us deal with dress codes, uniforms, or other presentational guidelines at work -- and sometimes our personal style just doesn't suit our chosen career path! Whether you work in construction or corporate law, however, there are many ways to design a work-friendly capsule wardrobe without sacrificing your personal style.

In my four years since college, I've held five separate jobs alongside my chosen acting career (which, costumes aside, requires its own wardrobe suited to the constant movement and on-your-feet nature of rehearsals.) These five day jobs each called for a markedly different style of dress than what I was used to wearing around campus.

When I worked in real estate, I needed office-appropriate clothes that would also permit movement through apartment tours and meetings with contractors in sawdust-covered renovation sites. My telecommuting jobs -- writing, website management, and bookkeeping -- allowed me to work from home. Still, I've never been the type of person who can do their best while wearing pajamas, and occasional in-person conferences with my employers required presentable daywear regardless. At present, nannying requires a similar wardrobe.

Up until a few weeks ago, I had my capsule system down to a T. One set of clothes included my weekend and audition wear. A second, much smaller collection functioned as my nanny wardrobe. Since adopting a second job as a restaurant hostess, however, I've had to readjust my style -- essentially making room for the kind of chic items that always peppered my New York dreams, but which ultimately proved impractical alongside aggressive and all-too-affectionate jam hands.

I wondered: How could I stylishly reconcile these three very-different arenas of my life?

Enter the three-part capsule wardrobe.

The idea is not radical, if you understand capsule basics: Rather than building one all-encompassing wardrobe with lots of mix-and-match options, I chose to separate my clothes into three activity-based categories and build from there:

1 - weekend activities (friend dates, errands, city-wandering, shopping)
2 - nanny & personal assistant work
3 - auditions & restaurant work

To estimate roughly how many items I would need, I applied the kind of "laundry bottleneck" analysis described by Into-Mind (link.)

Completing these tandem processes quickly revealed existing "holes" in my closet. For one thing, I had too many shoes, only one of which proved properly suited to my new job. Most of my cold-weather gear was worn-out from last season, and I somehow had more lightweight outerwear than I knew what to do with. After dragging everything onto my bed, sorting by color, mixing and matching, and going through a few rounds of "how many oversized sweaters do I need, really?" I finally settled on something that resembled three funtional wardrobes, with a list of just five or so missing elements to thrift.

It's been a couple weeks since finalizing my three capsules, and I couldn't be happier with how they've turned out. I can't wait to get dressed on my days off (a delight which ensures this lazy housecat ventures beyond her living room on Saturday afternoons...) and my work clothes are now simple and streamlined, leaving more time for focused hair styling and second breakfasting.

For those of you interested, I've created a step-by-step breakdown of the process, below. I'd love to hear how it goes for you if and when you try it!

Part One: Plan

1) Before opening your closet, take some time with a blank sheet of paper to calculate your personal laundry cycle's worth of outfits. For me, that meant about 10 outfits per week. Divide said outfits into activities. For example:

10 TOTAL outfits = 3 nanny days + 4 hostess days + 3 off days

2) Next, consider what each of these outfits might look like. What kind of clothes do you tend to wear to these activities? If you're stumped, sort through blogs, magazines, or Pinterest for inspiration. Or take a look at what your boss and coworkers are wearing. Again, here's an example from my own notes:

3 nanny outfits:
-wrap dress + boots + parka
-light-knit sweater + flare jeans + sneakers
-t-shirt + skinny jeans+ ankle boots + cardigan

4 hostess outfits:
-blazer + silk blouse + cropped trousers
-a-line dress + heeled booties + overcoat
-silk blouse + black jeans + ankle boots
-button-down + pencil skirt + work heels

3 off-day outfits:
-silk blouse + chunky sweater + skinny jeans + oxfords
-collared blouse + sweater + pencil skirt + heels + wool coat
-knit dress + knee boots + moto jacket

You now have a bare-bones idea of what you need on-hand for one laundry cycle of outfits. If your preferences lean in the minimalist direction, this might be a perfect amount clothes for you. For the sake of variety and/or laundry emergencies, though, most of us prefer to have a few more options. To err on the safe side, you might multiply your results by 2 -- or simply add a few extra days to your laundry cycle before plotting your outfits.

3) Now make a list of your items, as such:

Nanny
1 dress 
1 sweater
1 t-shirt
2 jeans
1 parka
1 jacket
1 cardigan
1 sneaker
2 boots
...
(etc.)

Remember to consider which items make multiple appearances on your list, as well as the ones you might wear more than once. For instance, I might don a parka for two chilly days of nannying, but that doesn't mean I need two separate parkas!

Part Two: Compile

1) Here comes the hands-on part. Pull everything out of your closet and onto your bed. If you store clothes seasonally, pull out any in-season garments as well. Be sure to check your laundry -- you want to consider everything.

2) Sort your garments into piles by type (sweaters, pants, skirts, dresses, etc.) It's helpful to group each category by color as well, in order to locate duplicates or preexisting palettes.

3) Using the list you generated in Part One as a guide, begin building your capsule piece by piece. Remember to remain flexible! You may find that the cardigans and skirts you have on hand are in discordant colors, but an available dress fills the same niche. Of course, you can always draft a shopping list to fill in any missing pieces, but try to consider what you already own first.

4) Once you've fulfilled most of your listed items, look over any remainders on the bed. (You may have none, and that's great!) Ask yourself if you'd be comfortable parting with these leftovers. Maybe an item belongs in another season and should be moved into storage. Maybe another no longer suits your style and can be passed on to a friend or donated. Beware clinging to sentimental items; depending on your lifestyle and living situation, some of these may be appropriate to place in (deep) storage, but avoid turning your home into a museum of nostalgia. It's probably best not to let our memories chain themselves to belongings.

Feel free to share your experience and questions below! I'm thrilled to be of any assistance on your journey. :)

Happy capsuling!

My First Capsule Wardrobe: Creating a Palette

This week I'm talking about capsule wardrobe creation. I'm sharing my wardrobe from this summer and the tips and tricks I learned along the way! If you missed yesterday's introduction to the series, you can find it here! 

The other night I was talking to a friend about creating a color palette for my fall wardrobe and she looked at me curiously. "I'm not sure I know anyone who does that."

Once upon a time, I didn't either. I've always been a nerd about color, but for most of my life I didn't deem it necessary to plan out a wardrobe palette. Just the phrase "palette" sounded pretentious to me. They're clothes, not works of art. You just sort of throw on what looks good together and go, right? This is a valid approach. My brothers and boyfriend alike would probably argue this is as far as the brain need stretch when considering what to wear each morning. For an eternal perfectionist like me, though, it never ends up as "easy-breezy" as all that. Sooner or later I'm stuck in a rut, feeling like nothing I own matches, and fighting the urge to shop my way out of this pickle and into another.

Determining a color palette, whether it's just for a season or for every wardrobe update, can work wonders for time-saving and budgeting. For instance, have you ever purchased a t-shirt just because you liked the color, and then come home to realize you're going to have to Donald Duck it because you have absolutely no bottoms to match? You could've saved yourself the $12.99 (or $39.99, pending on your t-shirt taste) if you knew what colors were in your wardrobe to begin with. Having a set palette will also prevent you from running out to purchase that additional skirt to match the t-shirt, only to realize the skirt doesn't work with anything else in your wardrobe either. Oy!

So how do you get started? A common approach is determining your seasonal coloring. While I stand behind this theory as an excellent starting ground, I don't necessarily think it's the be-all-end-all of wearable color. So I would instead propose starting with whatch'ya got: your current wardrobe.

Turn out all of your clothes onto your bed or floor. (What's that you say? That's where your clothes are already? Bravo, then -- you're one step ahead.) Next, examine your clothing focusing specifically on color. You might sort your items into piles of blues, greens, reds, etc., then see what your dominant colors are. You might pick out the first five colors that you LOVE and see what compliments these shades. You might hold each color next to your face under a well-lit mirror (or a trusted friend) and decide whether this shade is working for you. A good color will give your eyes that extra "pop" and even out your skin tones. Whatever method you choose, you're shooting for three color categories: neutrals, mains, and accents.

A neutral color works as a base. It should be the most versatile shade in your wardrobe. Black and white are obvious neutrals, but you might also go for browns, beiges, creams... or even something less obvious, like burgundy. As long as it works with everything else in your palette, you can consider it a neutral.

A main color should be something you love to wear. It's probably a color that already dominates a large portion of your closet. Ideally, it's also a color that looks good on you. My most favorite color in the world is a bright acid green, but I know better than to let it anywhere near my face!

An accent color might be a shade you're not certain about, maybe even a little intimidated by. It should offer contrast to the other colors, or harmonize with them in a striking way. A bright pair of pants, a red necklace, or a white belt against darker colors are all examples of accent tones in action.

Since I already had a healthy mix of clothing on hand (rubix cube syndrome), I built my palette off colors already present within my closet, and eliminated* the rest.
I ended up with a palette of 10 colors in full for my summer wardrobe:

Keep in mind that color palettes aren't restrictive or absolute. If you find something beyond the palette that you find works with the rest of your wardrobe, by all means, welcome it to the family. As a well-known pirate once said, "They're really more like guidelines."


NOTE: The color palette approach presupposes that you already have an idea of what works on your body, and you like at least half of what's in your wardrobe. If you're still struggling to find clothes that work for your style or body-type, take a look at this page to set you on the right path. If you've recently undergone a significant lifestyle change, this might be a choice time to cull your closet and eliminate anything taking up extra space. Read more about closet culling here.


*By "eliminated," I really mean "boxed into storage." If you don't have the heart to donate your discarded clothes immediately (or if you think they might work for another season), put them out of sight for a few months. At season's end, challenge yourself to remember what you stored before you pull it out again. If you can't remember, you probably won't miss it! Go forth and donate.

Fall Capsule Wardrobe 2014

Today I'm very pleased to present my Fall Capsule Wardrobe!

While it's technically been in cycle since late September, I've been fine-tuning and adding final touches over the past month or so. As I have neither the time nor the camera skills to photograph my actual clothing, I used Polyvore to create an approximation of the full wardrobe. What you see above is more or less what I’ll be working with through November.

Recalling the lessons learned from my summer capsule project, I tried to be more particular during the planning process, especially with my color scheme. Like most sensible shoppers, I recognize the value of neutrals and tend to shy away from color. Sooner or later, though, a more whimsical side of me takes hold, and I wind up impulse-buying a Skittles-rainbow of colorful items that won't work with each other -- and sometimes not with the neutrals either!

Here, I’ve broken down my wardrobe by color type: mains on the left, then neutrals, and accents on the right. Since I'm always in the midst of a love affair with the color black, I invited that shade into my main color category, but I also added some grays for a casual, less severe alternative. Wine and chocolate, two of my favorite shades (and indulgences!), round out the main color category. For neutrals, I chose three trusty favorites: navy, cream, and cognac. The sophisticated academic vibe of this color trio perfectly complements my professorial inspirsessions. The creams and cognacs also serve to contrast the darker mains. Finally, my accent tones are still a bit of a rainbow, but their tones are in harmony enough to mix and match.

In the coming weeks, I'll show you a variety of outfits that can be created from this capsule, in addition to styling tips and tricks acquired along the way. I hope you find them useful as you learn to mix and match your own pieces!

My First Capsule Wardrobe: Item Selection

This week I'm talking about capsule wardrobe creation. I'm sharing my wardrobe from this summer and the tips and tricks I learned along the way! Be sure to check out the previous posts if you missed them: Introduction, Creating A Palette, & Lifestyle Needs.

We've finally reached the down-to-business portion of the capsule wardrobe process. Enough planning and prepping: it's time to pick your players!

Having decided on a color palette and determined your stylistic needs, you should have a pretty clear idea what pieces will function best for you. What's left to determine is how many of each item you need. As always, breaking things down into additional categories will simplify the process.

For a 37 piece wardrobe, Un-Fancy suggests 9 shoes, 9 bottoms, and 15 tops. I think her "Rule of Three" is absolutely brilliant, but in the end I found my lifestyle ratios to be more informative. For me, it's easier to think in terms of clothing types (i.e. tanks, jeans, sandals) than styles of dress. For instance, I know I'd gladly sacrifice a casual (basic) hoodie for an additional interesting (statement) jacket, because (a) I have a quirky vintage coat problem obsession, and (b) I'm only ever inclined to pair hoodies with yoga pants and pajamas.

Ergo...

-9 shoes became:

• 3 sandals
• 3 flats
• 1 heel
• 1 boot
• 1 platform

-9 bottoms became:

• 4 pants
• 2 skirts
• 2 shorts 
• 1 capri

-15 tops became:

• 3 tanks  
• 2 dresses
• 2 jackets
• 3 blouses 
• 2 tees
• 1 cardigan
• 1 sweater
• 1 blazer 

      +4 extra:  1 cardigan , 1 blouse , 1 dress, 1 sweater

Okay, hold the phone: Four extra tops?? Yes, pumpkins, it's true. I went over the 37-item limit. Had I realized this earlier, I would've fessed up! At the time of my original list construction, I was trying to decide between a few different shirt options, so I put duplicates down temporarily. I meant to narrow my list back down to 15, but I guess I conveniently forgot to do so. C'est la vie! This is a prime example of adapting to suit your own needs. That, or it's straight-up cheating. Take your pick.

For those of you interested in a more minimal approach, I'll share which items I could've done without in tomorrow's "lessons learned" section. For the purposes of honesty in the upcoming photos, just know I'm working with a 41-item wardrobe: 19 tops, 9 bottoms, 9 shoes.

Here's an alternative representation of my Summer '14 selections, for my fellow color junkies: 

-9 shoes:

• * * * sandals
• * * * flats
• * heel
• * boot
• * platform

-9 bottoms:

• * * * * pants
• * * skirts
• * * shorts 
• * capri

-15 tops:

• * * */* tanks  
• * * * dresses
• * * jackets
• * * * */* blouses 
• * * *  tees
• * * cardigan
• * sweater
• * blazer 

And here's the palette again, for reference:

What would you add or take away from this list? Share your thoughts, findings, and questions in the comment section!

My First Capsule Wardrobe: Lifestyle Needs

This week I'm talking about capsule wardrobe creation. I'm sharing my wardrobe from this summer and the tips and tricks I learned along the way! Be sure to check out the previous posts if you missed them: Introduction & Creating A Palette.

Have you ever seen those "100 Items For Every Wardrobe" lists? For a long time, I used to follow these religiously (mostly because I have an irrepressible fondness for lists of all kinds...) Then a fellow blogger pointed out the ridiculousness of the notion that every person can benefit from the same set of clothing parameters. If you work from home and you have an active kid and also enjoy gardening, you're not going to feel very at home in a closet full of party dresses. Similarly, if you're working in a law office, you'll probably get more mileage out of two versatile blazers than a hoodie and denim jacket.

My point is, I can't tell you exactly what goes into a capsule wardrobe. Everyone's closet needs are different, because everyone's lifestyle is different.

Not only does lifestyle vary from person to person, one person's lifestyle may also vary from season to season! As an actor, my lifestyle is constantly changing. I may be in consistent rehearsals for a two month period, practically living in movement-friendly casuals, then be back at my 9-to-5 the next month and needing slightly snappier work clothes. Then there's the obvious factor of weather. Unless you live somewhere like Hawaii, your outfit choices will largely be at the whim of Mr. Golden Sun.

To ensure my modest wardrobe would still meet my day-to-day needs, I split my weekly activities into categories. (I ended up with four; you may require more or fewer.) Then I calculated how many outfits I'd need over the course of one month per each category.

1) Rehearsal & Casual Work Days

• comfortable, conservative, easy to move in
• 10 outfits (2 casual days a week per 3 weeks of work, 1 rehearsal day per week)

2) Professional Work Days

• tailored, conservative, projecting an air of authority & experience
• 9 outfits (3 professional days a week per 3 weeks of work)

3) Weekend Outings & Vacations

• comfortable and walkable, with an air of offbeat fun (more liberal)
• 10 outfits (4 vacation days, 6 weekend days not spent in loungewear...)

4) Special Occasions

• a mix of formal and casual statement pieces, sexy/flirty, funky
• 5 outfits (1 occasion per week, plus one for good measure)

Keep overlaps in mind. I rehearsed more than two times a week, for instance, but some of these rehearsals doubled with weekend outfits. Most special occasion days had to pair with a weekend or work outfit for daytime. I left off work outfits for the week I took a vacation. You get the idea.

Overall, I discovered that my closet demands were fairly casual. About one third of my items needed to be business-casual and the other two thirds could be comfy-casual. Breaking that down further, about half the comfy-casuals would lend themselves to movement and the other half would lend themselves to fun, unique outfit creation (i.e. statement pieces.) Special occasion clothes could be mixed within these divisions (i.e. a quirky silk jacket, a conservative cocktail dress, some hot-date heels...)

Like I said, I've used Caroline's 37-item parameter, but you can fine-tune the actual item count based on how often you do laundry or how many times you feel comfortable repeating outfits. As long as your unique lifestyle ratios are in order, you'll be solid!

Winter 2015 Capsule Wardrobe

“Surely everyone is aware of the divine pleasures which attend a wintry fireside; 

candles at four o'clock, warm hearthrugs, tea...

whilst the wind and rain are raging audibly without.” 

 -Thomas de Quincey

I've been so excited to get started on winter capsule outfit creation. Next to fall, winter is probably my favorite season. It gets a bad rap -- especially from Seattleites, who love to hate the cloudy curtain of gloom that envelopes the city around this time. As tired of rain as I'll inevitably be in March, for now I'm enjoying the solemn energy -- for peace, relaxation, and self-reflection.

... Not that any of those words describe my lifestyle right now. Since Pride & Prejudice closed, my schedule has certainly shifted gears, but I still feel busy as ever. The mental alarm bells that used to clang "Carpool!", "Showtime!", and "That's your cue!" have merely been reoriented to signal other duties of my life.

The inconvenient truth of this season is that most of my wardrobe needs are back in the "office" category. For the sake of budgeting, I pulled mainly from storage and my preexisting fall capsule. This (unfortunately) meant keeping a pencil skirt in the mix, along with a few collared blouses and my two blazers. With any luck, these items will all be worn out within a year or so, and I can invest in some better-quality blazers (not polyester-lined, for the love of Jehoshaphat!) and skirts that don't necessitate heels.

Day job obligations aside, there are many reasons I'm jazzed for outfitting from this stock:

      1) This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius. January marks the start of my fabulous sun sign, baby, and that can only mean one thing: electric blues -- in the weird spirit of the Uranian water-bearer. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, that's okay. Just appreciate that little leftward pocket of cerulean dresses & tops up yonder.

     2) Sweater Weather! Every excuse I have to wear a sweater this season, I'm gonna take it. I felt a little ridiculous when I realized I'd included four gray sweaters in one wardrobe, but I'm certain that sense of ridiculousness will be swiftly trumped by my enjoying knitted coziness for FOUR DAYS STRAIGHT without the slightest reservation toward hygiene. Hello Netflix, tea, and salted popcorn. We have a date. All winter long.

    3) The ankle boot strikes back. Once, what now seems like a very long time ago, I had a pair of dearly beloved combat-style gray ankle boots.* They were gifted to me by my mom (bless her timeless fashion sense), and arrived in the mail during a particularly burdensome evening in London. I walked everywhere in them during my travels, and continued to do so when I returned to the states. After two years of use and abuse, I was finally forced to take them to a cobbler, who first reprimanded me for not investing in higher-quality shoes, then fixed them for $35. As he predicted, they fell apart again by the end of the season. For a full year, they've been sitting in a corner of our apartment, collecting dust like some kind of monument to past adventure. Well, my friends, the time has come for more adventure.

(Side note: I've never had brown boots before and am also kind of excited to scale this new frontier.)

For you graph nerds, here's a visual of where these capsule items came from:

I'm pretty proud of myself for continuing to build off what I already own. With each season's passing, my storage container becomes more and more compact. I even managed to clear an entire dresser drawer this month by nixing a grocery bag's worth of unneeded pajamas and workout gear (which I don't include in my capsule count, for the record.) It was exciting to see my old favorites come out of storage -- some of them feel brand new again! As for shopping: having just one or two things to focus on and setting a clear budget made decisions easy & regret-free. Whee!

How about you, pumpkins? Have you tried the capsule process yet? What have been your findings? What are you still struggling with? What items are you looking forward to incorporating this winter? Please tell me in the comments!



*Exhibit A, B, and C.

8 Amazing Resources to Inspire a Simpler Wardrobe

Hello everyone, and thank you for bearing with me through my August sojourn -- which has now unfortunately bled into September! *laughs and cries at the same time*

To be perfectly honest, I have not bothered to create or maintain a sampler wardrobe this month because I have yet to figure out what my day-to-day life looks like. As I am no longer nannying, I've been working on sorting through the kid-friendly-casual portion of my wardrobe to determine whether or not those pieces could still be useful to me. This change has also resulted in my taking on more shifts at the restaurant, which means I need to take stock of my hostwear as well. I'm actually sitting here in yoga pants and a grubby t-shirt because some days I can't even pretend that I know what my life is.

One thing I know for certain: I need to be practical with my time and money right now (aka: use hours off to find my next central source of income), so fall shopping has receded to the back of my brain. It's a bummer, because like most of the blogging world I love autumnal clothing, and a few of my duds are badly in need of replacement. Ain't budgeting grand?

In my absence, though, I wanted to offer a few resources for those of you seeking some fall wardrobe inspiration -- with a minimalist twist, of course! While my brain is craving novelty, I'm nevertheless still firmly on my path toward a sustainable closet. It occurred to me recently that I no longer follow bloggers for outfit inspiration and trends. Rather, I'm focusing on writers who offer perspective into their wardrobe structure and challenge themselves to maintain similarly ethical values. Most of them have been mentioned on Inspirsession before, but I thought it would be useful to document my favorites all in one place. Plus, it gives me an excuse to share this dorky picture I drew:

In the off chance you've come here seeking inspiration and/or guidance, please don't hesitate to check out their sites, podcasts, and channels! Each sketch has a link to their particular corner of the internet. Below, you can also read a brief summary as to why I think they're awesome. Enjoy!

Un-Fancy

Caroline basically pioneered the on-trend American capsule, in all its denim-and-white-tee glory. She came onto my radar around 2014, and while she no longer blogs as regularly as she did then, I still find myself checking in on her clean, to-the-point posts and pictures. Everything about her presentation is exactly as she promises -- un-fancy -- and I like that I leave her blog feeling calm, joyful, and content, rather than envious of her living room or breakfast.  Can't miss: Free Capsule Wardrobe Planner

Into-Mind // Anuschka Rees

Anuschka's blog was one of my earliest introductions to the capsule wardrobe process, and it also served as the direct inspiration to Un-Fancy, according to Caroline. Anuschka has provided the most thorough wardrobe-building process I've found to date, and her infographics are out of this world. Since the publishing of her book, The Curated Closet, she posts less often these days, but her archives are well worth a deep dive.  Can't miss: This amazing flow-chart

Paris to Go

Ariana is one of the sassiest writers I've come across on the blogosphere. There's something in how she presents her life that gives me the feeling I'm reading an epic novel -- one woman's journey toward ultimate sustainability. Where Caroline is gentle and forgiving, Ariana is frank and cutthroat. I love the contrast, and I really wish she was my friend.  Can't miss: Any post where she lists all her possessions. You won't believe how little this woman owns.

What I Wore 

Jessica Quirk is OG. Like, had-an-established-blog-before-I-even-knew-the-word OG. Like, her-blog-is-actually-still-on-Tumblr OG. She currently lives in Indiana with two kids and a husband, which is not something I can exactly relate to, but I still use her book, (also entitled What I Wore) and photo archives for outfit-mixing tips. Though I wouldn't consider her process truly sustainable, I love that she mixes her new clothes with thrifted vintage and homemade items.  Can't miss: Her book!

The Minimalists

Ahhh, these guys. If you haven't seen their documentary on Netflix, now is the time to open a new tab on your browser and take care of that. I've been listening to their podcast regularly and really enjoy most of what they have to say about what they call "living a more meaningful life." Their work certainly doesn't center on clothing specifically, but all their topics are worth a listen, 'cause everything's connected, really.  Can't Miss: Podcast #56-Clothing -- and all the ones on budgeting.

The Vivienne Files 

It's not every day you meet a blogger over the age of, well, Had-A-Modcloth-Phase. But this gal not only proudly aligns herself with L.L.Bean and Hermes scarves; she also has a taste for churning out beautiful art-inspired palettes to create functional, minimal wardrobes. And that's fun for all ages, I say.  Can't Miss: Core of Four

The Daily Connoisseur 

If Emily Post merged with Donna Reed and then simmered down to a grownup version of that cool-yet-levelheaded babysitter you admired in your youth, this would be Jennifer L. Scott, author of The Daily Connoisseur book, vlog, and blog. Her concept may seem over the top to some (wear pearls for your baby, vacuum in your silks, dine daily over your best china), but I think a good question lies at the core of the matter: What "someday" are you saving those precious possessions for, anyway?  Can't Miss: Her original video on The Ten Item Wardrobe

Light By Coco

Coco just recently stopped blogging to focus on her real life/job. While that's fair and all, I already miss her a lot. Also, it took me until just now to realize her blog and channel have been emptied of all their content. So I guess this is a rather sheepish way to end my post. (Oops!) You'll just have to take my word for it that she was pretty cool.

Fall Capsule 2016 - Lookbook Video

November greetings, everyone! Today I'm excited to share the third installment of my capsule wardrobe lookbook video series.



While I had tons of fun filming this, I'd admittedly been procrastinating on it due to some recent changes in my wardrobe structure. As described in my last post, I recently took on a second job as a restaurant hostess in addition to nannying. This has given me a greater sense of balance in my day-to-day life while I work toward acting projects, but it meant compiling a whole new set of work outfits!

Lucky for me, the nicer, chicer elements of my weekend wardrobe (i.e. fitted blazers, tailored pants, and pencil skirts) fit that niche perfectly. I pulled these elements into a new, additional work capsule wardrobe, filled in one or two missing elements with some consignment store finds, and voila!: I am now the proud owner of not just two, but three capsule wardrobes.

I know. Sounds a little crazy. But I promise you, it works!

If you'd like to see the contents of these work wardrobes alongside my weekend stuff in future lookbooks, let me know in the comments! As I see it, my weekend wear continues to be the most honest, personality-based portion of my closet, so that's why I've given it focus thus far.

Now, onto this capsule...

Oh what a joy it was to rediscover my sweaters, boots, and jackets -- most of which had been stashed away since last spring, hiding from New York's oppressive humidity. For the fall season I wanted to focus on incorporating my most unique pieces and better honor my favorite part of fashion: mixing the unexpected. Of course this meant a good deal of creative layering (it's fall, so duh) and obsessively* running through previously unexplored item combinations. In prepping outfits, I found myself toeing that maddening line between "I could totally be in a Vogue magazine right now" and "A thrift store just vomited all over me."

October marked a full year of purchasing only secondhand or otherwise eco-conscious items, and I'm proud to report I've persisted another month now without the pressure to buy anything new. (One exception is a pair of tights that were on their last leg, so to speak. After a year of research, I'm still on the hunt for eco-conscious hosiery and supportive bras. Got any leads?)

Of the 22 items featured here, about 60% were acquired secondhand (some recently and some not.) The others are new purchases from the days before I started this project, but the majority of this category is at least 3 years old. I've been doing seasonal check-ins to evaluate my closet's eco-score, and it's exciting to see the percentage of conscious choices on the rise! That said, I'm still working to keep my overall numbers down. The city's extensive variety of thrifting options is a constant temptation for this girl!

Like many of you, fall is my favorite season, and I'm greatly looking forward to riding that holiday wave (all the way home to the west coast!) with this collection. Then it's on to the final and most challenging installment: WINTER.

*P.S. - When I say obsessive, I'm not kidding -- I developed a kind of master spreadsheet which details each potential layering option per piece. I couldn't help but think I'd reached new levels of neuroticism, but it's actually been a useful tool on those days when I'm rushing out the door.

Fall 2016 Inspirsession (+ How To Use Inspiration Photos To Construct The Perfect Capsule Wardrobe!)

I don't think a year has passed without me longing for fall before summer's even hit its peak. Despite the fact I seem to run ten degrees colder than the average human being, I'm a cool-weather gal through and through. I'll take extra layers any day over sweaty shorts and shifty tank straps.

From school supplies to fashion week to crunchy leaves to Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas, the season only proves to outdo itself with each passing week; I simply can't see what's not to love here. In fact, if we could just cut March through August out of the calendar entirely, I think I'd be perfectly happy. Two Christmases a year sounds like a great deal!

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Today New York is still gracing us with temperatures in the 90s, and I'm only in the early planning stages of my fall capsule wardrobe.

Like most Type A individuals, I spend roughly 90 percent of my energy thinking about how I'm going to do something, leaving just 10 percent for the actual doing it. As it turns out, though, my style has really solidified in the past few capsule cycles, so my inspiration-gathering process was fairly straightforward this time around.

If you're building a capsule of your own, I'd encourage spending a day or two collecting inspiration images (from Pinterest, blogs, books, magazines, etc.) These don't necessarily have to be fashion-related -- they can be as abstract as you like -- just be sure you can identify what about them sparks your interest. However, if you do compile mostly outfit photos, as I have done below, the capsule-building process is made that much simpler.

For instance, here's a little cheat I used this time around:

1) Make a list of the individual pieces that you like from each outfit photo. Be specific about fabric, shape, color, etc. (i.e. denim jacket, straight skirt, black boots.) If an item shows up in more than one photo, take note: it could be an ideal foundation piece. Consider making room for duplicates of these items.

2) Refine your list. Pending on how large you want your wardrobe to be, you may also need to consolidate similar items. (For example, if both "denim jacket" and "moto jacket" turned up on your list, you could combine these into one "lightweight jacket.") This is also a good time to consider color palette and silhouette. You don't want an unmixable wardrobe of clashing tones or mismatched proportions!

2) Cross-reference the completed list against your current closet stock, including anything you may have stored from last season. Check off any listed items that you already own. You may need to try them on to ensure good condition and fit. Collect any seasonal misfits to donate, sell, or repurpose.

3) Review what's missing. These are the items you should focus on purchasing to complete your capsule. Go forth and shop!


Now here's a peek at what's inspiring me for fall:
 

This Mod Look:

Image Source

Image Source

Thanks to a recent viewing of God Help The Girl, I've been absolutely mooning over this oft-revived 60s look. I just can't wait to pair last year's long-sleeve floral dress with opaque tights and oxfords!

1970s Silhouettes

Image Source

Image Source

Image Source

Image Source

It's rare for me to chase two different decades at once, but I just can't resist these faaaar-ouuuut 70s looks! (I may have Everybody Wants Some to thank for that...) While it's the outfit components of the 60s that intrigue me (knee-high boots, tights, mini dresses), it's really the proportions of the 70s that I love. Volume at the neck and shoulders, an itty bitty waist, and a gradual a-line pull downward -- sometimes all the way to the floor. Loving. It. 

Classic Basics

Image Source

Image Source

Image Source

While I love a quirky thrift store find, no wardrobe is complete without foundational basics -- and for whatever reason, mine tend to fall on the classic/preppy side of things: straight skirts, pumps, tailored coats, and v-neck sweaters. Autumn plays a siren song to my inner nerd!
 

Creative Top Coat Stylings

Image Source

Image Source

Image Source

I've long referred to this coat style as a trench, but it just now occurred to me that trench coats are typically double-breasted with a belted waist. So I guess my beloved "trench coat" is actually considered a "top coat" with military accents. Anyway, I'm loving this year's new looks for my old standby.

Skinny Bottom + Bulky Top

Image Source

Image Source

Image Source

For someone who once felt certain this trend would never stick around, I've become quite the skinny jean devotee. And though I'm wary of adding bulk to my abbreviated upper half, I can't help but love these stripey, city-ready looks.

Extras: Wide-Brimmed Hats, Well-Made Bags, and Wavy Locks

Image Source

Image Source

Image Source

Personally, I don't include accessories in my capsule count, but that doesn't mean I don't consider them in the planning process! After all, the devil's in the details.

My obsession with wide-brimmed hats is going three years strong at this point, and I'm happy to see the trend is sticking for the time being. (Sidenote: How cute is that lamb?! I would just carry that thing everywhere...) I'm currently on the hunt for a structured, quality handbag that won't break the bank -- any suggestions? And finally, I purchased a curling wand off ebay this summer, and boy has it been a game-changer! Can't wait to experiment more once a) our apartment settles back to a reasonable temperature and b) my hair stops sticking to my neck.
What's inspiring you this fall?