Kristin’s Suitcase Capsule Tip

This post this last installment in the Show & Tell series of posts featuring TROG readers and the capsule wardrobe-inspired changes they’ve made to their wardrobes and lives. Read all the posts in this series here.

Kristin writes:

The concept of the Capsule Wardrobe is fascinating to me, especially when it applies to traveling. My husband travels a lot for business and I am often able to go along. I used to pack WAY too much and after a while, I got weary of having too much extra unnecessary stuff. We often just take carry-ons when we fly, so the fewer clothes you take, the better. The basic principle I adopted was to pick a color scheme for the trip, for example: navy blue, gray, black, and coral. It really helped pare down my travel wardrobe when I only chose pieces that mixed and matched. The bonus was, now all the shoes/jackets/accessories would match everything. No more carrying around shoes that only matched one outfit!

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That’s such a smart strategy for packing, Kristin! I think I’ve chosen a color palette while packing like you described a time or two without trying, and it definitely simplified things–not to mention made the suitcase look pretty. 🙂 I’ll have to use that as a rule in the future. Thanks for the tip!

Go check out Kristin’s blog, Transparent Splashes of Color, and if you found this post helpful or inspiring, leave Kristin some love in the comments below!

Katie’s TROG-Inspired Capsule Collection

This post is part of a Show & Tell series of posts featuring TROG readers and the capsule wardrobe-inspired changes they’ve made to their wardrobes and lives. Read all the posts in this series here.

I was thrilled when my friend Katie of A Girl Named Katie contacted me asking if I’d help her go through her closet and put together a capsule wardrobe. We spent the better part of a day together back in August, and we both learned things from each other as we collaborated! Katie has written about her experience with capsule wardrobe on two different occasions so far, so head on over to her blog to read her insight on the process:

• Creating a Capsule Wardrobe with The Realization of Good
• How to Create a Capsule Wardrobe

 

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Everything you do is so inspiring, Katie! Thanks for sharing these links with all of us.

If you find Katie’s posts helpful and inspiring, leave her some love in the comments below! And after you’ve checked out her blog from the links above, be sure to follow her on Instagram for more ethical-fashion goodness!

Arie’s Toddler Capsule Wardrobe

This post is part of a Show & Tell series of posts featuring TROG readers and the capsule wardrobe-inspired changes they’ve made to their wardrobes and lives. Read all the posts in this series here.

Rosina, my sister-in-law, creator of Tortoise & The Hare, and the one who first told me about this “capsule wardrobe thing” she had read about online, writes:

The image is terrible because it’s as dark as it gets in our house today, but here’s an image of my 2-year-old daughter’s wardrobe (minus about 5 dresses and her pajamas). I wish I would’ve known how to do a newborn wardrobe like this when she was born, but unfortunately or fortunately found out about this concept after she was born.

I barely spend any time shopping for her. It’s just so easy. Tops and sweaters are all neutral or her statement color, as are her tights. The only pieces I purchase or make that have patterns or more adventurous colors are her skirts and bottoms. Hair accessories are all neutral as are her hats. Just so easy.

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I think Rosina’s all-neutral-except-bottoms idea is a BRILLIANT strategy for an infant’s or child’s wardrobe. I can’t wait to implement something similar with our own wee one’s wardrobe!

If you found this post helpful or inspiring, leave Rosina some love in the comments below. And check out her Instagram, chock-full of delightful images of her beautiful heirloom-quality handmade children’s clothing line.

Sadie’s Closet Clean-Out

This post is part of a Show & Tell series of posts featuring TROG readers and the capsule wardrobe-inspired changes they’ve made to their wardrobes and lives. Read all the posts in this series here.

Sadie writes:

I do not have my wardrobe down to 37 items, unfortunately, but I am working in that direction. I get sentimental about clothing and keep stuff WAY too long.

Not only that, but you know those sales for t-shirts, like 2 for $10? They get me every time. I’m working on it, though. It’s better for me to buy a shirt I REALLY like, instead of two, that I’m mostly just buying because they’re cheap.

Closet favorites that I’m keeping. (There are other clothes that I’m still going through.)

 

My four favorite pieces: teal shirt from LOFT, black skirt from LOFT, white sweater from Gap, gray skirt from Gap. (It was hard to narrow it down…I have more favorites I could share, but those are the main ones.)

 

The husband is quality over quantity, so needless to say, I learned a lot when I married him. 🙂 I’d much rather shop with him, than without. He knows me and what I like and helps me make great decisions.

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Sounds like you are making great progress and headed in a fabulous direction, Sadie! Thanks for giving us a glimpse into your journey!

You can connect with Sadie on Instagram here, and if you found this post helpful or inspiring, leave her some love in the comments below!

Sarah’s Strategic Capsule Curation

This post is part of a Show & Tell series of posts featuring TROG readers and the capsule wardrobe-inspired changes they’ve made to their wardrobes and lives. Read all the posts in this series here.

Sarah writes:

My closet has always been small, at least compared to that of most of my friends. I love minimalism and tend to purge on a regular basis. However, before I found out about the Capsule Wardrobe concept, I would often stand in front of my closet feeling as though I had nothing to wear.

During this time I got pregnant with our first child, and while I did purchase a few maternity pieces, for the most part I simply wore my regular clothes, making them work by layering a long cami underneath my shirts and wearing a belly band when needed with my jeans. This was all well and good until our precious little boy was born and my body shrunk back to its pre-pregnancy shape, leaving my clothes looking quite baggy and stretched out! Now not only did I feel like my options were limited, but I was left with a closet full of worn out old favorites.

In the weeks after Carson was born, I discovered un-fancy.com and immediately knew this was a route I wanted to take. On her blog, Caroline Rector shared her 37 piece wardrobe, which she updated season by season as needed. I chose to create an all seasons wardrobe, where I would have more than 37 pieces, and instead of changing things out every three months, I would wear the clothes year round. I live in upstate New York, where winter seems to last forever and a jacket still might be needed on a July summer night, so this seemed more practical.

As I replaced worn out items and added a few new pieces to my wardrobe as well, I made a Pinterest style board, where I pinned outfits I liked. Browsing through it, I was able to see specific styles I was drawn to again and again, along with new outfit combinations from pieces I already had in my closet but wouldn’t have nessecarily thought to pair together before. This made shopping —which is a chore for me— a bit easier. I was finally feeling a bit more put-together, my mornings weren’t wasted wondering what to wear… and then I got pregnant again.

I just entered the second trimester, and things aren’t fitting quite as well as they once had. This time around, instead of trying to make things work, I am going to be more intentional and invest in a few key maternity pieces that I plan to dress up with accessories like jewelry, hats, scarves and vests. I chose a simple color palette that will mix and match well, giving me many outfit combinations. I still have a few more pieces I would like to add, but I plan to do it slowly, giving me time to grow and fill out the items I already have. 🙂 I can already tell that I will feel a bit more polished and put-together this pregnancy, thanks to Un-fancy and the valuable lessons I learned from that blog!

Fun fact: 9 of the 15 items pictured here were thrifted, and 2 were gifted (the rest I purchased new). I know a lot of people think that a capsule wardrobe is expensive, because in their mind everything is bought new at the beginning of the season, but it really doesn’t have to be that way!

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You’re an old pro at this, Sarah! Thanks for showing us your gorgeous wardrobe and telling us about your journey!

Check out Sarah’s blog, Come What May and find her on Instagram here. And if you found this post helpful or inspiring, leave her some love in the comments below!

Jessica’s Pared-Down, Style-Defined Wardrobe

This post is part of a Show & Tell series of posts featuring TROG readers and the capsule wardrobe-inspired changes they’ve made to their wardrobes and lives. Read all the posts in this series here.

Jessica writes:

I’m not a minimalist, really; but in the last year, my wardrobe has changed pretty dramatically. I went from a closet full of things I didn’t enjoy wearing, to a closet full of versatile mix-and-match pieces that I love. I discovered that I really like to wear layers, so I have a small selection of plain t-shirts with various sleeve lengths, and a larger selection of sweaters, cardigans, vests, and lace tops to wear over the tshirts. I have a moderate number of skirts. Here is a picture of the little capsule wardrobe I put together for a 5-day trip out of town to my mom’s: 24 possible outfits, 14 separate pieces.

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Thanks for allowing us this little peek, Jessica! I love the point you brought out that it’s not necessary to limit yourself to a certain number of pieces; the point is to invest in clothes that fit your body and your style and that you can wear and feel good in.

You can follow Jessica on Pinterest and if you found this post helpful or inspiring, leave her some love in the comments below!

Mindy’s High School Wardrobe Mastery

This post is part of a Show & Tell series of posts featuring TROG readers and the capsule wardrobe-inspired changes they’ve made to their wardrobes and lives. Read all the posts in this series here.

Mindy is the youngest of my three sisters, and by far the youngest participant in this blog challenge. 🙂 She writes:

Fall 2015 has been my very first capsule, and I am L O V I N G the concept, although I haven’t gotten picky and down to the details on it. One of my favorite parts about capsule is how it makes me be intentional about what I purchase, and even about what I wear. I tend to get stuck on a track, wearing only a few of my very favorite things over and over until I am tired of them, and I’m sure everyone that sees me is too.

At first when my sisters got started with capsule wardrobe, I was intrigued, but certain that it wouldn’t work for me right now. But Melanie was so excited about it, and so sure that I would love it, that I decided to actually try it.

I love so many things about capsule, but my absolute favorite part is the confidence-builder that it has been for me. I care about looking good, and when I don’t feel like I look good, that pretty much puts a damper on my entire day. Part of it I’m sure is that I care way too much about what other people think of me, but I think that as women, we want to look good, and need to be able to feel good about ourselves. When I love every piece hanging in my closet, it is so much easier for me to put on an outfit, look in the mirror, and actually like what I see.

I L O V E fall. Everything about it. Pretty leaves, coffee, bonfires, blankets, pumpkin everything, hayrides, hoodies…it’s just wonderful.

Plaid will always be one of my go-to pieces in fall. So cozy, comfortable, and comforting! And I love how many ways you can wear it. Scarf, cardigan with cuffed sleeves, open over another shirt, pull-over sweater over it, or just by itself!

Another one of my favorites this season has been my chambray button-down. If you don’t have one of these, go buy one. Such a simple, versatile piece! If I could wear mine every day, I would. This is the first piece that I applied the capsule method of paying a bit more for something that I absolutely love, and it hasn’t disappointed! This has been such a fun piece for me, as I can dress it up or down, depending on the occasion.

​Needless to say, I am loving capsule wardrobe so far, and to all the skeptics, I would definitely say give it a try! The process itself is so fun, and you will not regret it! I can’t wait to start on my winter capsule!

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Mindy, I’m so proud of the changes you’ve made and what a fabulous job you’ve done of implementing the capsule concept at the ripe old age of fifteen. You’re amazing!

This girl’s got good taste, y’all — you can connect with her on Pinterest, and if you found this post helpful or inspiring, leave her some love in the comments below!

Rosanna’s Freeing Wardrobe Makeover

This post is part of a Show & Tell series of posts featuring TROG readers and the capsule wardrobe-inspired changes they’ve made to their wardrobes and lives. Read all the posts in this series here.

Rosanna writes:

Wardrobe capsule….you could say I’m in the very beginning stages; this fall has been my very first attempt, but I’m sold already! I was telling a friend the other day though, that here in Pennsylvania, it might be easier to start your very first capsule in the winter or summer, versus fall or spring, because the fluctuating temperatures have made it a bit more of a challenge for me to know what to incorporate.

This summer my wardrobe had gotten out of control with clothes just overflowing my drawers and closet. I was so busy with my garden, preserving, starting a business, and three little ones to care for. But I determined that by October 1st something needed to change. Enter capsule wardrobe! While I still feel like I may need to add a few key pieces (I’ve mostly been making do with what I already had in my closet), it has freed up my mind tremendously! I lost count of how many pieces I got rid of, but at one point I remember I was at #58 in items to get rid of!

This is definitely a practice that I plan to continue, and I want to thank Melanie for her insightful blog posts on capsule wardrobes!

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Thanks for your kind words, Rosanna! I’m delighted to hear that capsule wardrobe has brought such positive improvement to your life. Thanks for sharing some of your journey with us!

You can keep up with Rosanna on Instagram here, and if you found this post helpful or inspiring, leave her some love in the comments below!

Sara’s Classy Capsule Lifestyle

This post is part of a Show & Tell series of posts featuring TROG readers and the capsule wardrobe-inspired changes they’ve made to their wardrobes and lives. Read all the posts in this series here.

  

Sara writes:

This is not a fad for me…this is a serious lifestyle change that I fully embraced over a year ago. I am currently in my fifth capsule and am still loving the process.

Having less has given me so much more: more time to spend with my dog in the morning instead of contemplating what to wear, more money to spend on experiences rather than items, more mental free space to focus on projects and ideas that really matter to me, and more soundness in what my personal style and preferences are.

I’ve learned so much about myself and my tastes through this practice, and I don’t think the learning process will ever stop. You slowly notice a theme or certain patterns developing in your closet. My personal uniform is made up mostly of black, grey, or white, of sandals, and of maxi skirts or dresses.

The idea of a capsule wardrobe started in my closet but has leaked into all facets of my life. I have narrowed down my make-up, my cleaning supplies, my books, and my photo albums. The KonMari Method, found in Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up really says it all: if it does not spark joy, get rid of it. You will be glad you did.

Side note: Stylebook is WELL worth the few dollars to purchase the app. Putting together different looks and combinations within a capsule is incredibly easy with their user-friendly interface.

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Thanks for sharing these fabulous photos with us, Sara! I LOVE your work look ensembles.

Follow Sara on Instagram at @micro_human. And if you found this post helpful or inspiring, leave her some love in the comments below!

Alicia’s Less-is-More Closet Approach

This post is part of a Show & Tell series of posts featuring TROG readers and the capsule wardrobe-inspired changes they’ve made to their wardrobes and lives. Read all the posts in this series here.

Alicia writes:

Though I have not followed the capsule wardrobe idea to a T (no pun intended), the choice to live with less and make intentional shopping decisions has been life-changing as far as my closet is concerned. I love shopping for clothes. It’s like therapy for me. Actually, it practically bordered on obsession until recently.

I remember reading several blog posts about the simplicity of the capsule wardrobe. I looked at my closet, stuffed with all seasons and all styles, and decided it was time for a change. It took me several days weeks to purge, organize, and delegate what goes to which store. Off-season clothes went in a plastic bin under my bed (this is a superb option for me as it’s easy to switch out seasons when the next one comes around!)

I don’t do well “sticking to the book” so to speak, but my shopping habits have decreased from several times a week to once every 1-2 weeks and only as needed. I haven’t “arrived” yet, but for the first time in my life I feel overall content with the apparel in my closet. As an added benefit, I have made approximately $80 in the past month on my purging efforts, thanks to Plato’s Closet and a nearby consignment store. Score!

A few of my favorite fall/winter items: thrifted black boots, and Oxford hoes (Rue 21 clearance a year ago)

Current favorite outfit: plaid + scarves (pictured here, both from Target) …so comfortable and perfect for school, work, church, and coffee with a friend. Basically, perfect for almost anything.

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I love hearing about the positive changes you’ve been able to make to your shopping habits, Alicia! Thanks for sharing!

Check out Alicia’s blog, Musings of a Twenty-Something to get to know her more, and if you found this post helpful or inspiring, leave her some love in the comments below!