Q: I’m wondering if you’re planning to post a spring capsule soon. I’m dying to pick up some new things for spring but I want to be smart about it. –Erin
A: Hi Erin! I’m posting my spring capsule on March 18th — woohoo! And starting next Wednesday, I’ll be posting a few sneak peeks + my thoughts as I put it all together. Can’t wait to share!
Q: I live in San Francisco and would like to put together a capsule wardrobe but feel like we don’t have seasons here. All of the clothes in my closet stay in my closet year round. How would you handle this? –(name withheld)
A: No seasons? No problem. If weather isn’t a factor, use this as an opportunity to base your capsule on something else — like a color palette or mood or style.
Or you can simply use it as a way to honor the person you are + the life you’re living, here and now. Filling out the lifestyle section of my capsule wardrobe planner every three months is a special, reflective experience for me. It always helps me slow down and focus on the present … and appreciate it.
It sounds like your clothes may be appropriate all year round, so it may feel strange to put perfectly good clothes in storage for a little while. But in every capsule, there are always “appropriate” clothes that I choose to store instead.
Why?
It gives them a break so they don’t wear out too quickly. It also gives me a chance to shake up my wardrobe. I may be tired of wearing a certain piece, so I’ll retire it for a season — but then when I pull it out of storage three months later, it’s love all over again. Most importantly, it keeps my closet clutter-free which really simplifies getting dressed in the mornings.
If you simply don’t want to remix your wardrobe every three months, you may want to try having two capsules a year — a warmer capsule and a cooler one — instead of four.
Experiment a little until you find what works for your life. No matter what, do what feels right to you.
Q: What books or blogs would you recommend for someone wanting to simplify their life? — Jenna
Hi Jenna! Here are my top 5:
Enjoy these last days of February. Spring is coming!
xo
Sweater: old from Zara (get on the waiting list here or here’s a similar one)
Top: old from H&M (similar here)
Necklace: Moulton
Pants: old from J.Crew Factory (similar here)
Shoes: Diba via DSW
Bag: Marc Jacobs
I love the idea of mixing things up based on a color palette each season. I’ve been trying to do this lately. The past few months I’ve been enjoying blue, gray, and black, but now I’m starting to think about what colors might be fresh for the spring. Looking forward to seeing your next capsule soon!
Looking forward to the sneak peaks, Caroline! Have you decided to stick to 4 capsules a year?
Hey Caroline! Thanks for sharing and I can’t wait for the 18th!! I had a question as I’m approaching my third capsule. This concept works really well for me but I was wondering how many clothes you keep in storage to pull from? Our house doesn’t have tons of storage space but I love the simplified closet for making decisions. I also have some really nice clothes that may find their way back into my life in future seasons. How do you not get bogged down with the stuff you aren’t using? Any tips? Thanks so much!!
I live in San Diego where the weather is mild most of the year. I like to follow the season capsules to keep me from wearing the same things for 12 months . I don’t like a lot of things so having a minimum amount of clothes each “season” that I wear ( storing the rest) is fun…I too get to pick out different colors, textures, accessories and shoes …without this I get bored of wearing the same items over and over . I love following Unfancy for new ideas !! I hope Carolyn continues to have a capsule for each season !!
In North of Brazil we dont have seasons too, it’s always very hot. So I’m planning my capsule based on my activities: work, loungewear, errands, night life, etc. Its working wonderfully!
Hey! I used to live in Manaus! Always hot and humid but very beautiful and wonderful culture. :)
Although I really wish we had one seasonal climate here in Pennsylvania, I will say that filling out the lifestyle section of your planner helped me out a ton too! And simplifying the clothing I wear into it’s uses made me realize that my outfits must either straddle the line between comfort-casual and business-casual. It makes buying seasonal capsules more of a segmented thing, but totally makes sense to me!
I love this outfit!
Love the outfit in the photo! Can I get details on where they are from? I love things I can wear and transition all year round.
Thanks for the blog suggestions. Can’t wait to find some time to explore them.
Caroline,
I’m turning 49 on my birthday next Friday! And I LOVE your blog. I can take your advice and work it into my life style- 49 year-young teacher and wife who loves to gather with friends and play. I love that your advice encourages living with less and staying true to your own style. This is a theme I’m finally getting at 49 and I wish I had understood it better sooner- BUT I have no regrets and believe I am where I’m suppose to be.
Besides fashion, I appreciate your recommendations on books, self-improvement, food, blogs, and just your general way of thinking,
Blogs, social media, and technology in general are allowing people to be more well informed and exposed earlier in life. My wish is that everyone can embrace the positive aspects of being well-informed and exposed (cause there are lots of negatives too).
I’ve done two capsules with your guidance and looking forward to creating my spring capsule.
Anyway- just wanted to say how awesome your blog is for me- thanks for “doing you” and inspiring and encouraging others to “do themselves.” That’s good for the world!
Tammy
“Living the Simple Life” by Elaine St. James – it’s small [5.5″x6″] and so well written – it’s one of the few books that I have NOT given up through [literally] years of moves and goodwill and library donations. This book is so well written and started me thinking and moving in the ‘simplification/minimalist’ direction before it was a common subject all over the internet. There are many books out there on the subject, but I have yet to read one that is as well thought out and thought-provoking as this one.
I also live in San Francisco. I started my first capsule on Dec 1 using what I already had and had recently purchased. I’m still figuring it out but a couple things I did were :
– I excluded shorts from my number because I only have 2 pairs and they could be needed at any time (even in Feb)
– I also excluded some layering elements like tank tops that rarely get worn as just tops.
-for winter I included more sweaters since it’s likely to be colder then and I’m more likely to visit colder climates. Keeping where I might visit in mind for other capsules.
SO EXCITED to see your next capsule! That means warmer weather is headed to the northeast, right?
“Seasons” can mean so much more than weather though. Think holiday season, wedding season, sports seasons… in winter I know I want to include a cocktail type dress and fancier wrap or jacket, and in spring and summer something I can wear to the many weddings, beach parties, and other dressy-casual outdoor gatherings. In fall, the football jersey comes into rotation.
Caroline, thank you for the blog & book recommendations! I just purchased one of the books for my Kindle- going to read it on a flight later tonight. I so enjoy coming to check out your blog- I love the fashion but also love the additional articles on home, beauty, and your life simplification mantras. Keep up the WONDERFUL work! Have a great weekend :)
Looking forward to seeing the new capsule!
http://www.mrsfranzos.blogspot.com
There is a great article about Marie Kondo in today’s Wall Street Journal.
I am also from San Francisco and totally agree! I am constantly switching up my clothes! I do find that I keep my capsule I just layer with loads of tank tops!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Oh my goodness. This reminds me that I was going to adjust my capsule timing so that my spring capsule starts and the beginning of March. And I lost track of time and haven’t even thought about my spring capsule. :p I actually feel a little sad. I really love my winder capsule. Oh, well. I guess I know what I’m going to do this weekend.
“…it may feel strange to put perfectly good clothes in storage…in every capsule, there are always “appropriate” clothes that I choose to store instead….It gives me a chance to shake up my wardrobe…when I pull [a certain piece] out of storage three months later, it’s love all over again.” Light-bulb moment! My closet is only 80 pieces total – including summer shorts, winter coats, shoes, and my fancy dress. At any given time at least 20 pieces are seasonably unwearable. But the rest work all the time, so I felt like I needed to wear them, make use of them. I loved the idea of capsule wardrobes, and now I get that it’s not wasting them to put them away till the next season, and I’m excited to pull something out down the road and fall in love with it all over again. Yay! and Thanks!
Hi Caroline! I love checking out your styles for inspiration in my own wardrobe. I, too, will put my close in hibernation to give them a rest and also its like shopping without spending when I rediscover them months later, woo! I’m looking forward to the sneak peaks and the big reveal in March! xo – Charlie
clothes* …ah, proofreading is a must!
Minimalist Baker and Into Mind are really amazing, I have been following them for a while and I absolutely love both styles and the design.
Really excited to see your spring-capsule!
Do you know any blogs that are similar to your own? I would love to read some more inspiring blogs, but can’t seem to find any that suits my taste like yours.
Hi, I am really loving your blog. I have a question , just started a new job i have not figured out the dress code yet but how do you style 3 or 4 outfits without looking boring or the same day in day out.
So kind! Thanks for the mention. I literally squealed when I saw it. Adorable outfit! You look stunning, per usual.
I like the idea of non-weather-based seasons for capsule wardrobes. I live in a place where there are all four seasons, but winter seems to be the longest. I have to work on finding enough winter clothes (spring has been my favorite season for clothing and so I have too many of the wrong weather clothes), but it might be nice to be able to change things up in the middle of a cold and slushy season.