Wardrobe

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Love is an Overused Word

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When working with clients to declutter their homes, we ask a lot of questions.  We look at items through a variety of lenses to help our clients determine whether or not an item is adding value to their life (and should stay) or is no longer relevant or needed (and should be donated).  

Some of these questions include: 

  • Is this a duplicate?

  • If you needed it, could you use something else in its place?  

  • Would you buy it again if it cost twice as much? 

  • And the ever popular (yet not always effective for reasons I am about to explain) question, do you love it?

 

Let’s imagine we are helping a client declutter her handbags (feel free to insert "backpacks," "costumes," "electronics" or "sneakers" if those are a better fit for you).  After staging all handbags for easy decision-making, Cary holds up the first bag.  Our client responds, “I love that bag, I use it all the time.”  Ok, we put it in the keep pile.  Cary holds up a second bag and again the client says, “I love that bag, I use it all the time.”  Ok, keep pile.  Fast-forward to twelve handbags later, our client has said the same thing for all 12 bags.  

Ok, waaaait a minute.  Do you really love all 12 separate handbags?  And use them all the time?  First of all, it is physically impossible to use all 12 handbags all the time.  So let’s just remove that reasoning from the table.  

Secondly, what about the true meaning of love? It is a noun, defined as “an intense feeling of deep affection”.  Do you truly love even one handbag? Like actually love it, the way you love your grandmother?  Or your kids?  Or your pet? Would you do anything for this handbag?

When you start to use a word like “love” to describe all your handbags, how is it possible to differentiate between them?  What if it came down to having just 2 and only 2?  What if your house were on fire and you could only grab 2 handbags on the way out, which ones make the cut?  (Never mind that if your house were actually on fire I’m guessing you would ditch the handbags altogether and save the family photos!)

Marie Kondo uses the lens, “spark joy”.  If an item “sparks joy”, then it earns the right to stay in your life.  And while that lens may work for some people, others first need to define what joy means for themselves.  Doing so requires a grounded self-awareness that won’t work for the people who claim to love everything that they own.

So, let’s say you are decluttering on your own and you find yourself rationalizing that you love all your items.  What do you do then? 

At this point, you have to pivot and use a different lens to look at your things.  You have to be even more discerning. You start by slowing down, taking a deep breath, and stepping back. Reexamine your use of the word love. Give it back the power it was originally intended to have. Be selective when using it in your day-to-day life. 

Because here’s the thing - even if you love something, you can still donate it!  

I know - it’s shocking!  It is possible to concurrently appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of an item and let someone else own it.  The act of cherishing an item and donating it are not mutually exclusive, in fact, those two acts, at their heart, are probably positively correlated. 

Because things are made to be used, and when they are not being used you are not honoring the inherent usefulness, the time and energy it took to extract those resources, dye the fabric, product the zippers and assemble the materials. 

So if you actually, truly love your 12th favorite handbag, you'll understand that you are not using it with the frequency that this wonderful bag deserves, and you'll donate it, so that it becomes someone else’s No. 1, favorite handbag that they use all the time.

 

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The Desire to Accessorize

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Kyle, the other half of New Minimalism here to talk about something very important: personal style.

The other week I found myself at the mall. 

I was there for a quick stop to get my phone upgrade.  Somehow, before I knew, it I was checking out at the register of Aldo with a handful of impulse accessory purchases! 

Did I black-out for a moment?  I run a business called New Minimalism!  How could this have happened?! 

Let’s take a step back to dissect:

I had an upcoming international trip that I was eagerly anticipating.  This trip included attending a music festival, and I was excited to express myself through my clothing in a hot climate for once, OMG. 

Finding myself at the mall, I was susceptible.  Suddenly my existing wardrobe seemed dull and unexciting in comparison to all the shiny, of-the-moment merchandise at the mall.  The window displays worked their magic on me and I was lured into Aldo.  I ended up purchasing a pair of sandals, a necklace, a pair of sunglasses and earrings, all made of so-so quality.

Evidence of the impulse-buy on Instagram.  All minus the fanny pack, which has been a faithful companion for years now.

Evidence of the impulse-buy on Instagram.  All minus the fanny pack, which has been a faithful companion for years now.

There is an innate human desire to express oneself through personal style and adornment. 

The earliest examples of jewelry adornment in human history date back 7,000 years!  While jewelry was a form of currency or financial investment, it was worn primarily to convey “social status, wealth, and power.” 

And today, while clothing and accessories surely still relate to a desire to convey social status and wealth, I assume that most people, like me, simply enjoy expressing themselves creatively through their clothing.  This is not wrong.  Hey, we have to wear clothes so we might as well make the best of it, right? 

But with a personal pursuit towards minimalism and more simplified lifestyle, where do I draw the line?

The answer relates to our 11 Principles: 

“#7 Move past the myth of choice. Excessive choices can leave us paralyzed or dissatisfied. You understand that creativity flourishes within constraint.”

 

Can you have a capsule wardrobe that still expresses your personal style?  Of course!  Like any life-simplification effort, you have to first ask yourself some tough questions:

  • What do you value the most? 

  • Which items earn the high esteem of making it into your wardrobe? 

  • What clothing do you feel the best in? 

 

6 Steps for a quick, 1-hour wardrobe decluttering. 

1. Select your top 3 outfits: 

  1. your top outfit for work. 

  2. your top outfit for play.   

  3. your top outfit for maxin’ and relaxin’ at home. 

2. Pull out these 3 outfits, and arrange them on the bed/floor. 

3. Complete them with underwear, shoes, accessories and all.  Arrange little flat versions of yourself.  Heck, go crazy and use grapes for eyes and then let them hang out until your partner comes home and becomes sufficiently freaked out.  (Ok, sorry, I took it too far.)  

4. Back to the 3 outfits: consider these your “guiding light”, the epitome of your style.  In contrast, assess each individual item in your closet.  Does it stand up the “guiding light outfits”?  If there is any hesitation with the garment in question, the answer is DONATE!  Be firm with yourself, act like your own personal trainer. 

5. Keep a short list of any wardrobe “holes” you create and need to fill.  Like if, for example, you finally donate that black sweater that you’ve worn to death and everyone in your life is secretly hoping you get rid of anyway.  Write "black sweater" on your shopping list to keep you focused while you shop and keep your favorite outfits working for you.

6. At the end of your decluttering sweep, be sure to put all donations in a bag by the door so that you actually take them with you on your next trip out.  Schedule the donation drop in your calendar to really hold yourself accountable.

Before (left):  too many choices, earring pairs separated, chaos. After (right): individual accessories have room to shine and displayed with pride.

So, back to the mall. 

What was the result of my impulse purchases?  The necklace and sunglasses served their purpose on the vacay and have since been donated to the Goodwill, the earrings I kept, and the sandals, the bulkiest of all my belongings on my trip, followed me all throughout Croatia and Copenhagen, and returned to the States unworn!  Turns out that chunky, platform metallic sandals (yes), were somewhat impractical for stomping all around Europe.  I never even tried to wear them.  They were an inconvenient daily reminder that impulse buys are not worth the trouble.  Thankfully, Aldo accepted them as returns. 

The moral of the story:  know that there is an entire industry dedicated to making you feel like you need more things. 

Marketing teams are paid buckets-o-money to do just that.  So you must enter the consumer world with your armor on, shielding you from the power of savvy marketers (and avoid it all together whenever possible).  And like most things in life, there is a middle path.  You can be a stylish minimalist, just as long as you clarify and prioritize what your version of style is.

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BTR: A Tiny Bedroom in Alamo Square

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Welcome to the bedroom of client, "N".  Located in San Francisco's NOPA neighborhood, N has been living in the space for over 10 years (ahem, rent control).  She called New Minimalism because she was tired of feeling cramped, unorganized and overwhelmed by the things that had collected over the years in her tiny bedroom. Not to mention that N was recently engaged and was inspired to turn over a new leaf and refresh her space. 

The closet was a major source of frustration for N.  You can see in the before image (left) that it was pretty much unusable.  After 10 years of living a busy city lifestyle items had, well, accumulated.    Once the closet started to go down hill, the thought of cleaning it was too daunting for N and it quickly turned into a catch-all space.  In addition, the back of this closet has a deeper nook that, if you don't plan for, ends up becoming a trap for items to disappear... never to be found again (until we show up and start pulling everything out!).

The biggest design improvement here was removing the sliding doors (after: right image).  By doing so, we increased accessibility and unapologetically displayed the bright and beautiful clothes within. N has great taste and enjoys expressing herself through her fun wardrobe.  Granted the closet is small, yet we were able to hone down the clothing so that all of N's hanging garments had space in the closet while still making space for her fiance's coats.

Much of the contents that were hiding on the floor of the closet were donated, thereby opening up space to store shoes.  We carefully measured the space and included a tall and narrow shoe rack in the rear of the closet to store seasonal shoes (plus a pair of badass roller skates) in the nook.  The upper shelf became storage for R's work-related materials, N's winter accessories and purses.

Tip:  We start all NM projects by decluttering the wardrobe.  We love it so much, that we even created an Essential Wardrobe Decluttering Guide to share our process.

Above is a detail shot of the closet (left: before; right: after).  The top of the table kept N's makeup (silver box) and was a landing zone for work jackets (fuzzy draped sweater).  The shoes, not having space in the closet, gathered below the table. 

During the session, we learned that N has a very specific work wardrobe that is separate from her "play" wardrobe.  She has been working at her current job for six years and yet never carved out a space for her work-only clothing.  As such, it was easy for the work wardrobe to simply float about the room, getting lost or damaged in the process.  By removing the clothes N no longer used, we created space in four drawers of the dresser to contain all work clothing.  Now N knows exactly where her work clothes are, and if something is out of place, she knows where it should be. 

As for that silver makeup box, we decluttered the cosmetics that had expired, threw away the silver box which had seen better days, and repurposed the small 3-drawer stand as the new make-up holder.

 When we first came to N's room, various surface-level piles were the result of existing storage being over-stuffed and under-optimized.  The items N no longer needed crowded out the items that she used regularly.  By setting aside the time to declutter her clothing, N examined and shed the items that no longer served her in her current life and reclaimed the existing storage of her room.  

After two full-day sessions of decluttering, and the installation of some strategic hooks and shoe racks, we were able to transform N and her fiance's bedroom into a peaceful space; a space where they can come home after a busy day to rest and rejuvenate.

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BTR: Creating a Home Retreat for a Traveling Professional

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Room: Wardrobe (all clothing) and Bedroom

Hours to Complete: 10.5

Main Objective:  To open up floor space and lighten the feeling of the cramped room by removing duplicative furniture and clothing the client no longer inspired creativity or joy.

The Details:  Client K approached us to redesign her bedroom.  As with all bedrooms, we start with clothing.  Its a crucial first step because it illustrates how much actual storage a room needs, rather than what might appear necessary while the wardrobe is bloated with outdated and underused clothing.  

Thankfully, K already had plenty of practice creating what we call an Essential Wardrobe.  For work, K often travels to Europe for weeks at a time.  In living out of a carry-on suitcase, she was forced to distill to her most practical, versatile, and loved pieces.  Yet while she was able to travel with a select capsule, K's wardrobe at home still had an abundance of clothing that she was not longer using or inspired by.

In the before image, you can see that there are two large dressers in the room.  There is one on the left of the frame, and one near the windows.  We determined that it would be best for flow and the limited floor space to reduce the clothing so that we could remove one of these dressers.  Not all pieces of clothing can be hung or folded, and we knew that by removing one of these pieces, we would need to create drawer space elsewhere.  In the after photo, you can see how much bigger the room feels with one less piece of furniture.  Now K can easily access her windows and city views!

Above is a photo of one of the two armoires in the bedroom.  We decided to make up for the lost drawer space by adding a free standing set of Elfa drawers here.  Now workout clothing and undergarments have clear homes, extra linens are stored above, bags and scarves to the side.  

K placed two armoires flanking the head of her bed.  We all agreed the armoires added nice definition to the space and K liked the cozy sleeping nook they created.  However there were a few design and feng shui elements we needed to remedy.  

If you look closely in the before image, you can see that the bed was not pushed against the wall but instead had several suitcases and a full but unusable bedside table behind the headboard.  This ate into the already-tight floor space and not being against a wall creates a slight sense of unease while lying in bed.  We decluttered all the items under and behind the bed, finding new homes in the hall closet and in the newly decluttered dresser for the small group of keeps. 

For a finishing touch, we added custom cabinet pulls to the drawers.  This small detail had a huge impact of tying the armoires into the rest of the décor.

By thoughtfully editing her gorgeous shoe collection, we were able to easily fit all of K's shoes on her rack or neatly tucked in the base of the closet (rather than in a large pile like before).  The biggest difference to notice here is that all of K’s winter coats and long dresses now live here in a neat and orderly fashion.  By relocating her long hanging items to this closet, we freed space in one of the armoires to make space for a new shelving unit.  Plus, having her jackets close to entrance of the space makes for an easier transition out the door. 

This shot looks towards the entrance of the bedroom.  You can see the second dresser before was cluttered with daily-used items, and the back of the door was full of jackets and scarves.  We completely emptied this dresser and removed a the majority of makeup (which was expired or out-of-date) and donated a bag of costume jewelry and accessories.  Afterwards, this piece of furniture neatly housed all makeup, non-bathroom toiletries,and office-related materials. With the mirror now, the countertop is clear and able to serve as a proper vanity.

A final look at the beautiful space!

Winter Capsule Wardrobe: The Big Reveal

It hardly feels like it, but I'm just over three weeks into the official Winter Capsule Wardrobe Challenge.   Below are some early takeaways and my complete Winter Wardrobe!

Having a capsule wardrobe is:  Liberating, creative, and pleasurable.    

Benefits:  There is something so fulfilling about wearing every single item in my closet, and not because of the challenge, but because I genuinely love each piece.  The biggest surprise to me is how creative I've become with my clothing.  I'm conscious of trying each of my 37 items out and combining them in unique and creative ways.

What was hard:  It was strange to need to prepare for a start date.  It's kind of like how before you get in the car for a road trip and you pee 3 times beforehand, but as soon as you sit down you panic that you maybe need to go again?  In this first go round I struggled with feeling confident that I have everything that I needed to last me until April.  

22 days in, I can tell you that without a doubt I do.  I've had the full spectrum of experiences, aka: been hiking for 4 days, hosted a cocktail party, worked with a half dozen clients, had a cold, been on date night with my husband.  So far I've literally needed nothing.  

What I focused on: Layers.  Winters in SF are temperate (mid to low 60s during the day, low 50s at night).  But the sun/wind/rain/fog can make it feel like summer some days and a Pacific Northwest winter others.  Just switching the sunny side of the street to the shade can require 2-3 additional layers.  

Layering pieces: lightweight sweaters, 3/4 sleeves, tees and tanks.

The Details:

Tops: I started with a few great basics for bottom layers: grey and blue tanks, grey and white tees, grey and white longsleeves and a few sweaters.  I know this makes my wardrobe sound heinously boring, but the variance in texture, shape and material provides a lot of depth.   I then added in a few nice silk tanks and tops, as well as patterned and collared long sleeves.  Capped it off with a couple of easy sweaters and a pair of blazers.  

Bottoms: For pants I went super basic, sticking with a core of dark garments: stretchy high waisted jeans, classic denim skinny jeans, black skinny jeans.  Something I learned recently in my work is that medium to high-wasted pants are key.  I spend my days bending, lifting, grabbing things under couches and on top of shelves.  The last thing I want to worry about is exposed underwear (!) or lower back.

Dresses: A knit sleeved dress for cozy days, a black sheath dress with an exposed gold zipper up the back for cocktails and when I'm feelin' fancy, a blue silk belted dress that can go from work to party.  

My three winter dresses.

Shoes: My basics include

  • black leather booties;

  • cowboy boots, these might be duplicative, but I cannot imagine a day when I will let go of my 10 year old, perfectly broken in, 4x resouled Tony Lamas;

  • suede booties, fun for in cocktail and slightly nicer day-to-day;

  • gold flats, can be worn to work or with a dress;

  • TOMS, are great day-to-day and post weekend hikes; 

  • Converse high-tops -- my go to everyday shoes.  They're grey (oh my god, I'm starting to freak myself out with this grey thing) with black leather accents.  And while I'm not the type who thinks that therefore makes them fancy, I do think it makes them a serious upgrade from normal sneakers;

Fancy shoes have historically been challenging for me, because: 1) I'm already quite tall and 2) I hate anything which might impede my ability to dance my face off.   But Cam recently told me he thinks high heels (worn on rare occasions) are sexy.  Hello, information that would have been useful 7 years ago!  And I've learned from several clients how investment shoes really can make a massive difference in levels of comfort.  So now I got myself a baller pair of Manolos (ebay) that make me feel amazing even in my normal black sheath dress.

Jackets: I have a range of key jackets to work with the large weather swings we experience in SF.  Leather, patterned (awesome for on top of all that grey:), green winter coat, olive drab light weight coat.

Jackets to take me through San Francisco's varying winter weather.

Jackets to take me through San Francisco's varying winter weather.

Non-Counted Items

Scarves:  Though they're not a part of my core 37, I did limit myself to 3 scarves.  An oversized deep-red patterned scarf, a navy basic in a quality silk, and a grey knit infinity.  The three range from dressy to cozy to bohemian, which I love and suits my various wardrobe needs.

Jewelry: I also paired down my permanent jewelry even further even further.  Key has been the addition of a Madewell gold bib necklace and Whitley Paige necklace.  Plus my Bittersweet mala-style necklace (an old Christmas gift from my mother-in-law).  Again, these three can be worn over cocktail dresses, over a t-shirt and jeans, over my yoga clothes all to help me feel instantly pulled together but also very me.

Added to this are my wedding rings (which I love more than anything) that I wear separately or together depending on my mood (or how swollen my fingers are:).  Plus a few bangles/statement bracelets.  And, my very favorite new addition in the world, my gorgeous Circle + Hide watch.  It is a conversation starter for sure, something I get compliments on whether I'm wearing it with a dress or to a yoga class.  Interchangeable bands help me dress it up, but my day-to-day leather band feels perfect for me, relaxed but elegant, full of personality but also timeless.

Bags: To close everything out I have my work bag (Mijlo backpack), my small crossbody Coach purse, and my daily black Foley & Corinna purse.

Other clothing:  In doing this challenge of my day-to-day clothing, I've also seriously reduced my workout and lounge wear.  Now that I have clothes I love, I tend to stay dressed in real clothing even at home, even on weekends, even early in the morning.  And I actually really like it.  A few items of clothing that I've loved but in the process I realized are past their prime I now use as yoga cover ups and hiking layers.  I love this because I don't feel like an overly spandexed out lady in my casual life and I can run to a meeting or even a client in my workout gear but looking really put together (see statement necklace, gold flats, sweaters).

The best part?  

Knowing that I'm not going shopping for the next several months.  This gives me a break in my budget (much needed after the holidays/ in prep for wedding season) but perhaps more importantly, it gives me a mental break.  I don't have to worry about sales, I can unsubscribe from all retailer emails, I don't need to consider the windows of the stores I pass by.  Though I haven't been a big shopper for years, this mental pause of knowing I'm not shopping. at. all. It's really spacious.

What about you?  What has been the biggest benefit?  What scared you the most going into this challenge?  Have you found yourself tempted to shop or to swap out items?  Please share below!

Capsule Wardrobe Challenge: Let's Go (micro) Shopping

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Image // via.

Can you believe that 2015 is just a sleep away?

I personally got sucked into vortex of preciousness known as my nieces and nephews back in Chicago and got a little behind on the Capsule Wardrobe.  Luckily with my list and budget in place, I know exactly the few items I need to procure before January officially begins.  

And, of course, though this is a Challenge but also meant to be Fun, if we happen to kick-off a day or two late it ain't no thang.  

That being said, and this might be the one time you'll hear it from me -- it's time to go shopping! 

Or micro-shopping as I'm calling it, because let's be honest, we don't want this to spiral into some Cher Horowitz-worthy Galleria binge.  

So before you run screaming to the mall with all your credit cards flying out of your pocket, let's get clear on the rules.

“In a Capsule wardrobe, mediocre items have nowhere to hide.”

Capsule Wardrobe shopping rules:

  1. Stick to your list.  This is the key difference between shopping as you previous knew it and shopping as a minimalist.  Gone are the days when you wander around the mall seeking inspiration and leaving with 3 sale sweaters that don't fit right but were such a good deal.  Know where the holes are in your closet and allow your current pieces to inspire you before leaving home.

  2. Stick to your budget.  Remember, you set your budget not only to be mindful or minimalist, but also to inspire creativity and for the thrill of a challenge -- don't cheat yourself out of that!  (Also, I've included a few friendly tips below if you find your stash dwindling.)

Capsule Wardrobe Tips (to make following the rules a bit easier):

  1. Shop vintage/used.  My November shopping spree is a great example of why vintage rules.  Theory silk tank = $7.  Zara blouse = $10.  Bad ass vegan leather jacket = $25.  Sure, shopping vintage can take more time and a bit more patience, but the payoff can be huge, especially when you're looking to make a budget stretch.

  2. Swap with friends/family.  Growing up with two sisters, I essentially had 3 wardrobes to chose (steal) from.  I never realized how massively this impacted my clothing choices.  Now as adults living in different states, we still get together and give each other items that we might be sick of ourselves but are still in great shape. 

  3. Don't shop sales.  Now sales aren't all evil, what I really mean is don't buy something just because it's on sale.  If there happens to be an item on your list which fits you perfectly that is also on sale -- then by all means buy it.  But don't let rosy-colored sale goggles make you end up with an item you don't love.  In a Capsule wardrobe, mediocre items have nowhere to hide.

  4. Repair what you already have.  When you invest in good pieces, they tend to stand the test of time.  But much like a car engine or amazing hair cut, they do require some maintenance.  Rather than getting a new pair of boots, get your old pair re-soled and polished.  Find a leather shop that can fix the strap on your favorite purse.  It costs a fraction of buying new and is kind to the earth.  Win - win.

  5. Alter what you already love.  I've found as my wardrobe gets smaller, I've become more and more particular about fit.  Through my 20s and into my 30s I've discovered certain shapes that work for me.  I've also discovered that few things feel more glamorous than a garment tailored specifically to your measurements.  For $10-$20 you can update an old favorite to make it truly fit you.  

Share with us in the comments below! 

What tips have you used in the past to stay on budget?  What are you most nervous or excited about as we get closer to January 1st?   

Capsule Wardrobe Challenge: where are your holes?

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Just joining the Capsule Wardrobe Challenge?  Check out Week 1 then swing back here to get up to date.

To recap: From January until April I'm going to be wearing only 37 items -- my Capsule Wardrobe.  

Oh, and I really want you to join me.

I ended sticking with 37 garments.  I like the number and the fact that it feels challenging but still leaves me with hundreds of potential outfit combinations.  

About 31 of these items are much loved pieces from my current closet.  Those items in my current closet that didn't make the cut for this Winter wardrobe were divided into 2 camps:

  1. Donation.  This option was for any item which, when faced with the possibility of having to wear it bi-weekly for a few months, left me cringing or at least feeling uninspired.  Since this is my first Capsule Wardrobe, I applied this philosophy to whether that garment is in season or not.
  2. Storage.  This category I used for out of season items that I love (jean shorts, bikinis and a few summer dresses) AND for a few very special winter items that I adore but don't fit into this finely tuned capsule (about 5 items).  All in, everything I'm storing fit into a bin about the size of 3 shoeboxes.

I also decided to take Lisa Gordon's tip and not include scarves in this final number (check out her amazing advice in the comments).  There is a chance that all my accessories will fit in the original group of 37, but this challenge is meant to be joyful, so I'm not going to force it.

This Week's Focus: Find the holes in your capsule and set a budget for acquiring them. 

If we're being totally honest, knowing that I get to purchase 6 new items is both super exciting and slightly daunting business.  

After spending so much time paring down and getting rid of things that don't spark joy, I'm thrilled to add some new pieces to my wardrobe.  But I also want to be sure I'm super thoughtful about getting the right things -- which is why this week prepare for intentional wardrobe additions (aka: shopping!).

1. What's missing?   

I used to shop by walking into a store and letting inspiration hit me.  If a certain color I loved was in style, I might walk out with a sweater, scarf and shirt all in that same shade of green.  Or if a salesperson told me those uncomfortable shoes were just meant for me -- well I'd purchase a pair or two  (likely to be donated many years later without a single wear).

Working within a Capsule Wardrobe necessitates viewing all your garments as a part of a greater eco-system.  You'll need to account for a range of temperatures, levels of formality and moods, but with only 37 items, you'll also want each garment to work with most of the others in terms of style, fit, and function.  

When I look at my wardrobe, I realize what I am missing most are items that can be worn alone or layered to achieve varied degrees of warmth.   Being cozy, loving and patient are some of my core desired feelings for this winter -- and I know I feel none of those ways when I'm dealing with tight shoulders or numb fingers.   

As I prepare to fill out my 37 item Capsule Wardrobe, I’m going to be focusing all of my extra items and creating a solid layering system and acquiring a few really warm pieces.   

2. Create a budget. 

For my winter Capsule Wardrobe Challenge, I’ve set my budget at $300.  Now of course you can set any budget you'd like, but keep in mind the intentions behind this are both minimalist and for this to be a challenge, so set accordingly.

I've ear-marked $300 on my Mint budget pages, so I will know exactly when I've spent that cash.  However, as I've shared before, I’m all for creating extra money through non traditional routes.  So, if I end up selling old clothing or finding a gift card, I am not counting that against my $300. 

I do this not to bend the rules but to encourage the resourcefulness and play that I’ve developed with my things.  I view 90% of my items as temporary and as such I'm always willing to sell, alter or trade them when it seems right.  The excitement of bringing in new things is made that much more intense when I know that I’ve cleared room for them.

Please share your budget and any tips you use for shopping below!

Next Week:  Fill out your wardrobe

Week 4: Finalize and document your wardrobe.

The Capsule Wardrobe Challenge: join me?

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Image via

There is a reason that people like President Obama and Steve Jobs wear the same thing everyday: to take the guesswork and the decision making out of getting dressed so they can focus on bigger decisions.  (You know, like running the world or a multi-billion dollar company.)

The idea of a "uniform" is universally praised as an act of efficiency and as beneficial to overall mental acuity over the course of the day.

That being said, I'm sure we're all in agreement that black turtlenecks and navy suits are not exactly the pinnacle of fashion.  

And while I do admire the efficiency of the whole "work uniform" thing, I also know that I do like to express myself more through my clothes.  I like trying out new combinations.  I like dressing to the weather and dressing to my mood.  I like if I'm feeling a little under the weather the feeling of flannel or cashmere against my skin. I like to layer on work days and show selective skin on date nights.

Not that it's any surprise to my husband, I want the best of both worlds.  I want the ease and efficiency and fiscal benefits of a limited wardrobe AND the joy of creativity, playfulness and diversity in my clothing.

Which leads me to the New Minimalism Capsule Wardrobe: a small, seasonal, micro-closet of my favorite clothes.

Now while I would like to take credit for this brilliant strategy, the mother of the seasonal minimal wardrobe is actually Courtney Carver with her Project 333.  I've been following her for years and am so impressed by the vision it took to create such a popular challenge.  

However, much like how the strictness of the 100 Things Challenge actually made me feel stuck and stressed instead of lighter and freer, wearing exactly 33 items for 3 months felt a little rigid to me.  So I'm giving myself some flexibility in creating this wardrobe.  

The Rules.

  • I'm sticking with her 3 month timing and her most of her rules around what counts and the item (all work/day wear, shoes and jackets) and what doesn't (jammies, undies, workout clothes).  

  • I'm choosing to not count jewelry (I already have a very minimal jewelry box), and

  • to go with 37 items instead of 33 (you know, cause prime numbers are good luck -- I made that up, but it seems totally possible, right).  

I also chose 37 items because one of my biggest sources of inspiration for this project is Caroline of Un-Fancy.  She's the one who convinced me that a capsule wardrobe didn't have to just be about efficiency, but could be about the joy in honoring your preferences and your things.

My goal is not to create a uniform, but to actually encourage more creativity and daring in getting dressed while thoroughly appreciating the garments that I have.  I've decided that this winter I want to feel cozy, creative, and confident, loving, patient and bold.  And I will choose my items accordingly.

If you'd like to join me, I'll be starting this project on January 1st and wearing my winter capsule until April.  This gives us just under 4 weeks to get ready.  

This Week: Survey your closet

  • Figure out what garments you have and love and definitely make the cut.

  • Choose the number of items that feels right to you (challenging but exciting).

  • Find inspiration for how you want to feel this winter season, whether that means what fabrics are against your skin or the emotions you most desire. 

  • As always, share your thoughts on the Capsule Wardrobe Challenge in the comments below!