With September just around the corner, I did a quick closet clean out this weekend and began prepping my closet for the early days of fall.
What does that closet prep look like?
SWAPPING PIECES FROM STORAGE
I bid a (temporary) farewell to a few summer pieces and put them in storage. I like to do this because it gives them a break so they don’t wear out prematurely. 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 later, it’s love all over again. Most importantly, storing off season pieces keeps my closet clutter-free which really simplifies getting dressed in the mornings.
As my summer pieces were going into storage, I pulled some of my early fall pieces out of storage. It’s exciting to see them again! (And, if you’re wondering, by “storage” I mean a plastic bin in the guest bedroom closet.)
MENDING, DEFUZZING, ETC.
I got my fall pieces up to speed by depilling and defuzzing my knits, mending anything that had lost a button, and taking anything to the tailor if it needs an alteration or the dry cleaner if it needs a good cleaning.
This doesn’t take much time, but it can make older pieces feel new again — and it quells that urge to run out and shop for a new piece. Sometimes it’s easy to think a piece is worn out, but it really just needs a good depilling or a good cleaning.
A GOOD CLEANING
I also conducted a quick closet clean out. Not only did I check my clothes, to make sure I still love everything in there, I also did some real cleaning to freshen up my closet. I dusted the baseboards, cleaned the shelves, and vacuumed the floor.
As I was taking inventory of my clothes, to see if there was anything that didn’t fit anymore or wasn’t fitting a need in my life, I realized that my approach to a closet clean out has changed.
I’m much slower to let go of clothes these days. Whereas in the past, I was all about letting ’em go if they weren’t serving a need in my closet right then.
It makes sense. Back then, I had a closet stuffed with cheap clothes that didn’t match my style or lifestyle. So those first few clean outs were pretty mammoth.
But now, I have an edited closet that I love and most of my clothes fit my lifestyle. If a piece is high quality, but I’m just not feelin’ it at the moment, I still keep it. I just put it into storage for a little while.
Notice, I said most of my clothes fit my lifestyle. :)
I still make mistakes, and I’ll be chatting about a few of those mistakes in Thursday’s post — the second installment of my Style Series, the Summer Wrap Up. I’ll also be covering my most worn pieces, least worn pieces, and lessons I’ve learned this summer. I’m excited to share it!
In the meantime, is there anything else you’d like to see me cover in my Summer Wrap Up? And I’m also curious — do you err on the side of keeping high quality pieces for “one day?” or do you like to give things a new home once they aren’t fitting a need in your closet?
• • •
01 | Jeans by Seven (made in USA — also on sale) | same jeans in lighter wash (made in USA — also on sale)
02 | Indigo tee gifted by Ace&Jig (made responsibly) | similar for less (made responsibly)
04 | Bag by ONA
05 | Hat by Hinge (Fit note: It’s got an adjustable drawstring inside so it won’t blow off on a windy day, yay!)
06 | Necklace in Yellow Raw Diamond by Julia Szendrei (handmade in USA)
• • •
xo
Beautiful post as always, I feel the exact same! I have a 12 month 35 item wardrobe and before I reached this point I let go of anything that I wasn’t wearing but now that I own better quality items, mostly from Madewell thanks to you :), I hold onto them and wait for their time to come. I don’t tuck them away because I keep all of my clothes together but they get to rest on their nice wooden hanger until it’s time to wear them! I agree that this approach makes sense with fewer, higher quality items.
My 12 month wardrobe is 80 items including shoes. I have to keep some of them in the guest room closet and dresser, but some day I hope to have a big walk-in closet. :)
Well done, ladies! :) xo, Caroline
This is exactly what I did this past weekend! Except, in addition to the pending fall weather, we did heavy seasonal cleaning in preparation of family coming over. Haha. I need to adopt your idea of taking out my pieces well in advance and inspecting them for needed repairs and adjustments. I’ve only taken them out to see what I have. I’m also changing my style a bit and need to know what I have and need to replace.
As for keeping high quality items for ‘one day’, I fall into that trap when it’s expensive. I generally will keep it for a year and see if I reach for it. I figured if I don’t need it in four full seasons, then I won’t ever need it. So far, it’s a good trick!
Sincerely, Tania
Hi Tania, we always do our best cleaning to prepare for company, don’t we! Whatever it takes to get the job done! :) xo, Caroline
Here’s something I’ve always wanted to know, Caroline: How many pieces do you have in that plastic bin in the guest bedroom closet? There has to be a limit, right? It’s not like it’s a bottomless bin. :)
I’m going to err on the side of caution and keep high quality pieces that I love. I’m 56 and the hubs and I have been married for 37 years. Due to many factors, during the majority of our life together, money has been tight. So a lot of high end, quality clothing was out of our reach. If I did find something, even at a deep discount, I really had to love it to purchase it. So, money being tight, I seldom got rid of things until they fell apart. But sometimes being broke can have a silver lining, lol! I have a few nice pieces that have gone in and out of style a number of times over the years. And often all that was needed to make them current was to change out the buttons, raise or lower a hem or take off or add a bit of trim. And as you said, putting things away for a while can be just the thing to renew your love for an item at a later date!
Now I can see passing items on when you’re pretty positive that they’re never going to fit you again even with some skillful alterations. But, I think, if you have the room to store those quality items that you love then you should, by all means, do so. And prepare to enjoy them again in a few years!
I’m 28 and this is totally how I’m building my closet. Buying high quality pieces that can be refashioned over and over. :)
Hi Kim! I love your perspective. Thank you for sharing what we can expect when we invest in a wardrobe that we love! :) xo, Caroline
I’m 58 and have definitely followed Kim’s approach – on the few occasions that I could afford better items, I have treasured these and over the years the collection slowly builds up. There is a huge amount on the internet that recommends major closet ‘purges’, and I can see that it could be quite exhilarating, but often it is far better to store pieces away for a few months. If you fight the urge to get rid of things too quickly, instead of buying a massive number of new things each season, you can focus on getting just a few exciting and different pieces to liven things up. You already have lots of outfits that will be fine until you find just what you want.
First of all, let me just say how jealous I am fall is coming your way. It’s my favorite season!
Also, those jeans are perfect! The whole outfit is beautiful. Blue is one of my favorite colors to wear.
Regarding your question, high quality or not, I’m very prone to give clothes away once I realize I haven’t been reaching for them in a while. Having too many clothes in my closet really messes with my mental peace. (Not exaggerating :)
Alina
http://www.eclecticalu.blogspot.com
Alina, I feel you! :) xo, Caroline
I have lost quite a bit of weight over the past 20 months…I’ve dropped three sizes! So I’ve been replacing all my clothes. I only buy clothes that I love. I also buy most of my clothes from thrift stores or garage sales or I sew them myself. If I find an article of clothing that I love and that fits well, I will buy it, even if it doesn’t fit many occasions in my life (since I mostly thrift shop, I don’t spend much on these pieces). But then I have them for certain occasions that might come up…or I come up with a way to wear them in my everyday life! I do “invest” in pieces that I know are high quality as well as something I will wear often…especially shoes.
Hi Beth! Congrats on the weight loss! Enjoy shopping for new things that you love! :) xo, Caroline
Great tips! I’ve just finished the swapping pieces from “storage” bit (which I now have everything hanging back in my closet) and the mending bit — fresh heels + cleaning on two pairs of ankle boots thanks to my local cobbler — and will be having a few pieces altered for fit for this coming fall.
I have to be perfectly honest with you that the only thing I disliked about the capsule experiment the first go around was the wastefulness of (over)purging. I am in the childbearing season of my life and could not see how letting go of pieces that didn’t work for my current (or even near future) lifestyle made any sense and was consistent with the methodology “less is more”. I think the goal has always been to have fewer, high quality pieces that attempt to service my rapidly changing and demanding season of life — even if they all don’t get worn within a single calendar year. Holding on to “goal pants” (as they call’em) is counterproductive to the bigger goal here, but holding on to pre-pregnancy clothes, maternity clothes or high quality staples you have have just over-worn and will rediscover some day — to me is actually living out the less is more mindset.
I look forward to your summer wrap up! :)
Hey Laura, thanks for the comment. I appreciate your perspective as a mother and what you said totally makes sense. I’m glad you are doing what works for you in this season of life. :) xo, Caroline
I’d like to know how to add layers in summer. Ive been doing it to great effect in winter but with the heat how do you add interest by layering in summer?
Hey Larissa, I know here in Texas, I’m not too interested in layering when it’s already so hot. So I add interest to an outfit with a hat or simple necklace. Maybe a light vest if the weather is cooperating. Otherwise I just try to keep my outfits and fabrics easy, breezy, and comfortable. :) xo, Caroline
Although my closet is definitely not minimalist (by any means!) I do adhere to the rule of IT MUST BE WORN. I have no problems parting with items I haven’t grabbed and have no vision for doing so. I’m still at a stage in life where my pieces aren’t high quality, but I love the idea of putting items away for seasons. I am a firm believer it feels like shopping all over again!
Hey Simone! It’s a good rule — wear the darn thing! ;) xo, Caroline
I am so glad I started following your blog and that I get your posts on my e-mail too, because it makes it easy for me to read, and I believe we have pretty similar organizational styles (or something like that). I love your idea on having an uncluttered closet AND putting your out of the season pieces to rest… I get tired of things easily and I think that could help.
Although, living in California makes a bit harder to have well defined seasons (still doable tho).
Anyway, your blog is great! Congrats on such a great job :)
I did something similar this weekend as well (why is it in all caps? I have my caps off!)…anyway..I didn’t pull out any fall stuff just yet, though I have a few hoodies that are always within reach so I’m ready should ‘cool’ weather show up. Lets face it I live in SE Texas near the gulf Coast, so it’ll be a while but anything below 70 is cold here. hahahahaha!
I see now its not all caps, but when I am typing it is in all caps. Weird.
Yes June! Haha, looking forward to those “cold” temps! :) xo, Caroline
A lot of my cardigans have loose buttons or I complete lost them :( I definitely need to take some time to fix them before fall rolls in!
http://www.thebeautydojo.com
This may not exactly fit your philosophy but I often buy very inexpensive items for a splash of a color I don’t usually wear, or a style or pattern that is fun but that I doubt I’d like season after season. For example a $10 dollar shirt or flouncy skirt. Doesn’t matter if they don’t hold up long. I’m not a big shopper in any case. (And loved your post on shopping online). When I’m tired of the look I can always use them when I’m really cleaning the house or take them to Goodwill. I also give some items to a family member and she’ll get some wear out of them as “new to her.” I do spend more on good quality classics that I expect to last a lifetime or at least a LONG time. These can always be updated with a new shirt or accessories. Not a fan of accessories though, except earrings.
My problem is deciding what is considered “summer” wear- I tend to keep all sleeveless shirts and tanks accessible to wear under cardigans and sweaters. Same thing with dresses. The only thing I seem to be able to pack away without fear are my shorts- of which I don’t own many. I want to make more room in my tiny closet, but I can’t wrap my head around a system of “what stays/what gets packed.” (I also can’t force myself to do a capsule yet… I want to, but I can’t narrow my items down. It gives me anxiety to even start trying!)
I have the same problem–and I would love to hear Caroline’s opinion too on this:
When it concerns leather footwear, how do you decide what’s summer, what’s for fall, and what’s for the other seasons for that matter? I get that winter boots and sandals are obvious. But what about spring vs fall boots? Example: blundstone boots, suede ankle boots, tall flat boots. What seasons would you assign them? I feel overwhelmed keeping them
In year round rotation in the limited closet space I have. Thanks!
Hey Jen!
Great question. I think it’s mostly just personal preference on this one. For instance, there are certain leather booties I can wear almost year-round. But I usually reserve heavier fabrics and darker colors for the fall and winter. On the other hand, if the boot generally feels lighter in weight and color, I think it can be worn almost anytime! It depends a lot on your personal style too.
One way you could narrow them down is to really think about the outfits you enjoy wearing them with (via the Capsule Planner or Stylebook app). If there are none in the current season that seem to work, put them away for a bit. It takes some work, but may help save you some closet space!
Good luck!
xo, Caroline
Thank you so much for your help! I love your planner and will do that. :)
I do this too. I live in MN but my tanks always stay out because I like to wear them under cardigans in the winter. All of my clothes actually stay out with the exception of heavy winter sweaters during the summer and shorts during the winter. It took me forever to edit my closet to get it this way. But this way I can see it all and utilize it better. I don’t have a lot of pieces, probably less than 80 for all seasons of the year. I struggled with this at first because I tend to have eclectic taste and I think that a capsule wardrobe is harder if you run that way, but I think I’ve hit a good groove.
Jess, I love that feeling of hitting your groove. Great method! Thanks for sharing :) xo, Caroline
I think I’ll do what Jess does, and start with ‘shorts away in winter/sweaters away in summer’ and see what direction my organizational methods take from there. I also struggle with “what to hang vs. what to fold” but am slowly working my way through this issue as I take things out of the closet to photograph and upload into my stylebook app. SOMEDAY I’m going to have a great system… someday! :)
What I do to narrow down my tanks and t-shirts for winter is I pick a colour scheme. If you try Caroline’s Capsule Planner, she gets you to pick out a few colours. So this fall I’ll pack away my mint-coloured, pink, and light yellow tanks but keep out my white, burgundy, and blue ones.
Basically, If I only keep the “main” coloured tanks and maybe one or two “accent” coloured tanks, then I still have an easy mix-and-match system that won’t overwhelm me.
Hey Katharine! Thanks for sharing :) xo, Caroline
Love this idea. Thank you!
I am in the exact same boat. I know it will help me, but it’s partial fear of commitment, and partially unsure of where to begin!
I’ve always been a bit confused on transitioning pieces, whether from summer to fall or winter to spring. Are these pieces meant to fill a void until a fully established capsule is formed? Or are these pieces part of the capsule, they’re just being pulled out during the transitional period? I ask because I recently did something similar where I moved some very summer-y items out and put in a few light weight sweater options. However, I’m not sure if these substitutions will carry on into fall as they are geared for cool summer evenings rather than fall days (if that makes sense). As I type this out I realize I’m not sure what my question is behind this comment–it’s probably just me voicing my confusion haha! Any feedback would be appreciated. As always, you and your blog are lovely! Thanks for such a thoughtful post!
Cheers,
Andrea
Hey Andrea! That is a great way of doing it! I think either method works depending on your needs. :) xo, Caroline
I’m French so sometimes I can’t use the advice or the links you give just because I’m not in the same country.
I love your posts most of all because I can feel your care and concern about clothes and feeling comfortable with what you wear. I love that, thank you.
Hi, Caroline! For the past couple of years, I have really tried to make the wisest decisions about updating, adding to, removing from, and tweaking my wardrobe. However, sometimes I’ve noticed that I’ve become a little over-cautious, as I’m a little worried about making the wrong choice and potentially wasting money or an opportunity. In today’s post you eluded to the possibility (hopefully I’m reading you correctly!) that even with the best of intentions and experience, we may still make mistakes here and there with our wardrobes. But really, how are we ever going to stretch ourselves to our fullest potential if we don’t take a risk? Even as small of a risk as a new top! Your focus on the journey I think helps us all acknowledge this support network of readers that you’ve seemed to create in your little space on the web. Great post – thank you!
Thanks Denise! Yes, that is a great way of looking at it. Take a little risk hoping for the reward. As our style progresses and changes (it’s bound to happen!) we may look at some of our lesser used items as mistakes — or learning moments. :) xo, Caroline
On your question regarding keeping high quality pieces – I held onto a boiled wool J.Crew coat from 1980 (!) and some cotton bandannas, also J Crew, from 1982. I was just out of high school and broke so these were huge investments at the time- I hung onto them over the years because of the quality of the fabric and tailoring. Every time I went to sell or donate them something stopped me. The coat stayed in a garment bag for ages. Now they are fully back in style – will wear the bandannas all trough fall and the can’t wait to start wearing the coat this winter! I also invested in some Todd and Duncan cashmere caps that I will keep forever :) Thanks for your lovely blog…
Oh how awesome Susan! They sound like very enviable pieces. :) xo, Caroline
I am loving your outfit because in 1975 I had the EXACT same outfit. And wore it non stop. It’s true what goes around, comes around. My 19yr old self LIVED in bells, chunky heels or clogs, and a peasant top. ( I was in school in Mexico at the time. Literally that was my main and pretty much only wardrobe.). Love the style and confess at almost 61, I still love peasant tops, jeans and clogs.
Hey Caroline! :)
I was wondering if you still recommend ordering your normal size in the jeans, despite the website suggesting a size down. Has living with the jeans for a while changed your perspective on that? I would love to know as I would like to order a pair for myself.
Thanks much! :3
Hi Caitlin, I did order my regular size and have been perfectly happy with that :) xo, Caroline
I think I would choose to err on the wrong side and keep the clothes that temporarily dont fit me, unless they are SO incompatible to my style. Anyway, style may change according to time and an expensive piece of clothes is itself an investment in the future. OK, I know I am giving myself a justification for my overspending sometimes. Anyway, I have made up my mind to try the capsule wardrobe this fall. I want it be better and leaner than my summer wardrobe :)
Hey Dina, hope you enjoy the process and have some fun with it! :) xo, Caroline
Do you get definable seasons where you’re at in Texas? Thinking of relocating to Austin (or somewhere out west), but I LOVE the change in seasons (even if somewhat drastic) here in the east!
Great post as always–need to do a closet cleanout myself. I don’t have a ton of storage options at my apartment so I’ve been ruthlessly editing my closet of late. There are a few pieces of mine that sadly have tiny tears in them and I suspect the communal laundry room dryer has something to do with it :( Tips for mending/hand washing clothes welcome! I could probably google that, but would rather hear first-hand advice :)
These are such great ideas! I really need to give my closet a bit of a sort out; it’s a good way to make it feel fresher and ready for fall! Love the shirt you’re wearing in these pics too :) xxx
I keep my high quality pieces only if I love them and make me super happy. Sometimes, the opportunities to wear it doesn’t come up frequently, but I want to be able to wear it as soon as the chance comes up. Loved this post, as always :)
Marie
marietheresebatt.com
I’m totally for keeping higher quality items for “one day”! I’ve hard-stored things before that I thought I might not want again, only to realise after a while that I actually really missed them and liked them. Of course, some things went the opposite way, and I realised after storing them for a while that I really didn’t want/couldn’t use them anymore. But, at least I took a break from them that helped me figure that out – and eight times out of ten, I wound up keeping and reusing the items heaps!
Hey Gwen! Thanks for sharing. Glad that method worked out in your favor! :) xo, Caroline
I’m doing the same thing, but preparing for spring! After month of woollens I am very grateful to see my lighter and fresher pieces.
I to keep my items under the bed, and I’m no longer parting with items unless they are fully worn out or I am passing them onto a friend or family member. I’ve realised I have too many clothes but while we are staying in one place I’m happy to keep them for future capsules.
I can’t wait for your post on summer lessons… any makeup tips for summer coming?
Hey Alethea! My makeup routine is pretty set right now. I shared more about it here: http://bit.ly/2bZaqy2
Happy summer! :) xo, Caroline
I feel stuck in that middle space between “I want the stress-free life that comes with a minimalist wardrobe” and “I want to have options!” I edited my closet yesterday, and I now have three piles of clothes on my bedroom floor, and I can’t remember what the piles mean. (I think one is “donate.”) I wish this process was less stressful and complicated!
Oh Emily! I totally understand being in that frame of mind. It can be really complicated. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Do what works for you. Even if those clothes go in storage for a little while, you might enjoy living with less and you might not! But give it a go :) xo, Caroline
Love that hat! Great tips too!
Love,
http://www.thestyleventure.com
I finally did it – I filled out your worksheet! I have been following you for several years and have embraced the capsule culture fully. However I had never really done the work on paper. I have a fully edited closet right now. I am saving a few pieces that I am not sure I want to ditch completely. I think this gives me freedom to conserve cash for later on, if I want to. The thing with editing and replacing is that it does in the end cost money. Being a stay-at-home mama of four, makes me super conscious of our limited resources and what I could be spending if I just “made do” with what I have. But what I am loving about this re-think for my fall capsule is that I can really be honest with myself in what my lifestyle is and what I feel really incapsulates my uniform. Being honest means allowing myself the freedom to pick out some new t-shirts that I really love – b/c I wear those more often then a button down or a nice blouse. I am more comfortable in those. So yeah for Everlane and Cuyana t-shirts!! Your recent posts have been so helpful and refreshing. Thank you!!!
Hooray Esther! Thanks so much for sharing :) xo, Caroline
I’ve never posted on your blog before, but I have to say that I absolutely love your outfit. It reminds me of how I dressed in the ’70s.
Caroline, I want to thank you for all the time and effort you have put into this blog. It has provided me with countless hours of enjoyment, a great deal of information and insight in regard to capsule wardrobes, minimal lifestyles, quality over quantity, ethical clothing, and a less is more philosophy.
I found your capsule planner extremely helpful, and your chronology of outfits created inspiration in curating seasonal wardrobes for myself.
I would appreciate your considering doing a post in regard to quality fabrics and workmanship; what to look out for and what to avoid.
As of late, I have noticed thinner fabrics, less natural fibers, and poor construction with many of the so-called “better” brands on the market now. I like to thrift, but don’t often find good quality merchandise in my local thrift stores.
While I have never had a strict capsule wardrobe of a set number of pieces, my seasonal wardrobes are minimal. I would like to learn more on caring for the purchases I have, and what to look for when I make future purchases.
At 58 years old, I have learned so much from you. I look forward to learning more as you continue on with your journey.
Oh my goodness Georgi! Thank you for the thoughtful comment and for sharing what is working for you! I appreciate the kind words so much. :) xo, Caroline
Such an interesting post with inspiring ideas! I really should “declutter” my closet but I have such a hard time to get rid of clothes.. but I hope it gets better with age :)
And PS: your outfit is lovely! :D
Hugs from Switzerland
Janine from http://www.yourstellacadente.com/
Hi Caroline,
I love your posts! Such practical and inspiring information.
So my question… I live in Panama and we don´t have seasons here. The weather is practically the same all year long. What would you suggest for refreshing ones wardrobe when the seasons don´t change?
Thank you!
Technically I’ve never lived in a place with one season, but I think what I would do is the same as what I do now: I would rotate out the pieces I’m tired of into storage for a while to make them feel new again. You could take it a step further and make two or three colour-based capsules to swap out.
I’m not strict with myself about using only items in my capsule for the whole season. Sometimes I dig into my storage for something I’ve remembered and suddenly feel like wearing. If you only keep 30-40 pieces out and hide the rest away, those hidden items will feel fresh when you take them out again after a while.
Doing this also helps me see what items never get worn. Those items often get in the way of me enjoying the pieces I truly love.
Another thing I can think of is using accessories and patterns to liven up the items you already have. They can really inject new life into things you were getting bored of. I think that’s another one of Caroline’s brilliant ideas, if I’m not mistaken.
Hi Paty! Yes! Katharine’s suggestions are right on target. I couldn’t have said it better myself :) xo, Caroline
caroline, how tall are you? I love these jeans, and most likely will just have to accept the fact that I need to have them hemmed. I just feel like they never look the same afterwards and for me those jeans are quite an investment….I do love them though! thanks!
Hi Eileen! I’m 5’5″ and didn’t need to have them hemmed, even though I was totally expecting to. :) xo, Caroline
All of Ace & Jig’s clothing is made in India. They champion a sustainable process and are involved with the weaving, dyeing and construction of each garment. They use a family-run Indian manufacturer, where they employ 90% women and offer free childcare. They also use reclaimed water to grow fruit and vegetables on the site for their employees.
So, it’s a sustainable brand, but not made in the USA.
Hi Katy! Ah! Thank you for this. I always appreciate corrections on credits. All updated now. :) xo, Caroline
Whether or not to get rid of high quality items you aren’t curr burly in love with is such a conundrum! I have the same struggle with my high-quality items (I also do seasonal “clean-outs” to reassess what I want/need at the beginning of each season). So far the only “rule” I’ve found that works well for me is not to get rid of things at the end of a season. It’s easy to look at a tank top in September that I’ve worn 20 times in the last two months that I’m sick of looking at and think I’ll get rid of it, but I resist the urge (unless it doesn’t fit or is worn out). I’ll keep it until next summer and see how I feel about it then. I do have a couple pieces that I’ve been holding onto for 3+ (omg!) years wondering if the style will comeback around. I’m ok with that as long as it’s only a handful of pieces. I like to travel lightly through life :). Have to say I’m such a huge fan of your blog!
Hey Julia, that is a such a great method! I think you’re spot on that we’re more likely to get rid of something at season’s end when we don’t actually know how we’ll feel about it in a few months. :) xo, Caroline
Hi Caroline,
I am excited that you are going to write about your “mistakes” and least worn pieces. I always like what I do see you featuring here, but I sometimes wonder what happened to this piece or that piece that you had in a past capsule or whatever — did it last, did you tire of it, etc. For example do you still wear your Birkenstocks? Converse? Blue wrap skirt (which I loved)? Zara graphic cardigan (which I also own but do not wear often)? When I was trying to develop a capsule I was constantly referring back to your list (and those I found on some other blogs) for general direction, but I always wondered how many of those items you actually still liked/kept in your current wardrobe 1, 2, or 3 years later. I think we learn more from the mistakes than the successes sometimes, so I’ve always wished for a “10 Things I Thought I Loved” post, haha! Generally I prefer classic, easy timeless style and think these are the pieces in my wardrobe that will stand the test of time, but not every single thing can be “timeless.” So I debate with myself what is and what isn’t and whether this or that is worth it. I loved a couple of the outfits you had at the end of your capsule year – white shirts and hip jeans and good shoes and bag for example – totally timeless and beautiful. Your new style seems to be moving away from that look – more playful like you said, so I also wonder if you feel you might have a higher turnover when you experiment more?
Hi Lynn! Thanks for the comment. We’ll definitely be exploring this change in style and what that means for experimentation and turnover. Stay tuned! :) xo, Caroline
Hi Caroline.
I decided to give the capsule concept a try this Fall – mainly to simplify life – but decided to keep most of the clothes that didn’t make the cut, only I put them in storage (under the bed). Lots of them are pieces I love, especially sweaters, but too warm for where I live now. Still, it would be a shame to get rid of them.
I am toying with the idea of creating two additional mini-capsules: one for dressy occasions, one for when I go at my parents’, where it’s cold, and this one will include the sweaters and other cold weather stuff.
As for other things, if they are high quality I tend to keep them. I have this romantic idea of passing them to my daughter one day…
Hi Caroline,
Thanks for sharing about MATTER, we would love to get in touch with you and speak more about ways we could collaborate together. We’ve sent you a couple of emails, but haven’t heard back from you.
Let us know if you would be interested.
This time of year I always get super itchy for fall even though it’s still 90 degrees and super duper humid outside. I imagine that’s even worse in Tx :) Like you, around this time of year I switch out a few things I’m over (usually things I loved and wore a ton in the summer) for things that have more of a fall flare to them, like a cardigan in a fall color that I can wear in the air conditioned office.
As far as storing clothes – I keep things that I love but (a) am temporarily bored with or (b) don’t work for my life now but might in the near future. But I’ve gotten more aware of when I’m not reaching for items and more analytical about why. If it’s an issue with fit, or the material, or some other issue that’s not easily fixed then I’ll get rid of it. Right now I have a nice-quality button-down that I don’t reach for just because the proportions are off, so that will probably get donated. But I had a pair of flare jeans that I kept in storage for about a year because my office had a no-jeans policy – I’m super glad I kept them because our policy loosened up so I should be able to wear them more this fall.
This is a little off topic but I’ve wondered what it means when you write an item is “gifted” – does that mean to company gifted it to you?
Hey Mic! Yes, that basically means the company sent the item over for me to try/review. :) xo, Caroline
Thank you for replying! I was so curious where all these “gifts” were coming from! I remember you used to have a blurb about affiliate links and I think it said you didn’t accept stuff like that and if it was on the blog it was because you believed in it enough to buy it. So I had been assuming that was still the case but thinking you must have very nice husband/parents/friends to be buying you all these clothes! Ha! I’m also glad to know because I wondered how you/they could afford or justify so many expensive things. Thx for clarifying – it makes much more sense now! :)
Such great tips! I definitely agree with taking off the fuzz, it just refreshes the garment!
http://www.bluelabelsboutique.com
http://www.fashionnotfear.wordpress.com
Caroline:
Will you share a summary of your summer outfits? :)
ox
Are you going to post your favorite fall pieces? ??.
Hi Caroline (and everyone) – just quickly speed-read the comments and didn’t see this question asked: what do you recommend using to de-pill sweaters? Definitely need to do this!
Hi Stephanie! The bold text “depilling and defuzzing my knits” in the post is actually a link to it! :) It’s an awesome (and cheap) little tool! xo, Caroline
oh my – I’m an idiot! Thanks…off to get another cup of coffee so my brain can start functioning ;)
Haha no worries! :) xo, Caroline
Great tips, especially now that I’m trying to up my blog activity. I want to be deliberate in minimizing my wardrobe while staying fashionable and functional. You blog is a great spot for inspiration and that kick in the butt! Thank you!
Xx,
Jennifer
I absolutely keep things for someday. It’s not at all unusual for me to just not really be into a piece as much as I’d expected, then fall in love with it years later and wear it constantly. I have pared down my wardrobe considerably, but keep those out of rotation items in storage bags in a downstairs closet. Then, each season, I “shop” my own wardrobe to make a new capsule. It’s not quite in keeping with the minimalist ideals I’ve been trying to embrace, but it works for me, so I go with it. I bought a pair of booties in about 2006 that I never really wore, but have worn the dickens out of this year. 10 years later! That’s the most extreme example, but it really does all come back around. Now people envy those booties that they can’t just run out and buy, and I know my wardrobe is uniquely mine, curated over time.
I also did a pre-fall clean out of my closet. One reason I do this is so that I can wear my favorite summer pieces one last time before putting them away for next summer. I try to use them as part of a transitional outfit.
Great post, very interesting and useful <3
I absolutely loved this post, and have included it in my recent blog post about the best places to start planning your fall wardrobe. I also shared a picture from here, I hope it is okay, otherwise I will remove it of course.
Thanks for an awesome blog!
http://bedremode.nu/nettets-absolut-bedste-tips-til-efteraars-garderoben/