Even though we’ve had a rainy (and cold!!) March so far, I know that warm weather is just around the corner and very soon I’ll be able to shed my winter parka and perhaps wear just a tee shirt! I CAN’T wait!
And while I might not be ready to trade in all my winter gear for full on shorts and tee shirts, I do know that customizing my wardrobe to this early spring season makes it a lot easier to get dressed in the morning. Simply packing up the seasonal items I know I won’t wear anymore helps create breathing room in my closet and makes the items I DO want to wear much more visible.
Today I want to share with you my easy way to create a seasonal capsule wardrobe. Making a few curated adjustments to your closet doesn’t take a lot of time and can be done quickly and easily, and I’ll show you how!
Now to start off – Is this really a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a term used to describe a minimalist wardrobe, where every item can be mixed and matched to create many different outfits for different occasions. While some people say there should be an item limit to a true capsule wardrobe, I tend to err on the side of no limits, and instead focus on including only items that are necessary or fit within a certain season or color palate.
We all have different sized closets and know how much is too much for the space we have, so as long as we stay within those limits we should be good. 🙂
What do I do with the items I take out of my closet?
Anytime I’m going though my closet I remove items that I know no longer fit or are something I like to wear. These are items that no longer bring me joy and if they are in good condition, I will plan to donate right away.
For any items that I DO wear or like, but just not in the current season, I will pack up in plastic bins and store them either under my bed frame or at the top of my closet. Getting the items out of the way is important for allowing me to be able to see the items I do want to wear in my closet. Similarly, I will often grab items from these storage areas to add to my wardrobe as needed. Sort of a “shop your closet” mentality.
Do I need to buy a whole new wardrobe?
No, absolutely not. You actually don’t need to buy anything. The way I approach curating a seasonal capsule wardrobe is more like editing what you currently have, instead of buying a whole new wardrobe to fit a season. That said, you may need to buy a few items to round out your wardrobe, especially if you have items that have worn out or become unwearable.
For me, I knew I needed to add a few new pairs of jeans after literally wearing holes in a few of my favorite pairs. I made sure to add these to my list of things to buy and included specifics for what I was looking for (ie. light colored denim, cropped length).
Here’s the easy method to curate a seasonal capsule wardrobe
Pull anything from your closet that you KNOW you wont wear in the next month
Start in your closet and flip through every hanger and folded item. Make a quick assessment of whether you will wear the item in the next 3 months or not. If you hesitate, then consider that a no. Go fast and don’t worry too much about being careful. Just pull out anything that is obvious.
I know that for myself, even though it’s still 40’s and raining in March, I find myself not wanting to wear the fall/winter colors of dark brown, maroon, and orange. I’m drawn to more lighter & brighter colors as the season changes, so I know I can pull the darker colors from my wardrobe. Some materials also feel very seasonally wrong, so heavier wool sweaters and knits are other items I put away.
Consider trips, events, and holidays that you may need to plan for
Think about any upcoming trips or holidays and make sure that you include items you will need for those events. In spring, I make sure I have a dress for Easter. If I’m going on a spring break holiday, I may need to add a few shorts/tee shirts from my summer clothes to round out my wardrobe.
If you have a special event coming up, or a spring wedding to attend, double check that you have an appropriate outfit and shoes, or add those items to your shopping list.
Look at what’s left
Once you have removed the obvious out of season items and clothing you know you won’t wear, it’s time to take a look at what’s left. If you need a way to “see” what you have, group similar items (i.e. jeans, tee shirts, skirts, sweaters, etc.) You can lay all of these items on your bed or keep them hung in your closet, whichever makes it easier to see everything at once.
Now take a look with a critical eye and ask the following two questions:
- Is there a common color palate? Remove anything that is too far outside this common palate as it will be difficult to mix and match these items.
- What’s missing? Make a list of anything you need to add or replace in your wardrobe.
Organize your capsule wardrobe
Now all that should be left is items that work well mixed and matched as a capsule wardrobe. It’s time to put everything back into the closet, taking the time to hang items either by type or by color. Nicely fold all sweater and pants and hang accessories on the closet door.
If you keep shoes in your closet, they should be placed on a shoe rack near the floor or stored in storage bins on shelves or near the top. Any out of season items that you have chosen to remove should be packaged up in bins or boxes and placed at the top of the closet or in another storage spot in your home.
Next, stand back and admire your closet! It is truly a joy to get dressed in the morning when every single thing in your closet is seasonally appropriate and something you will actually wear.
This method works especially well if you have a small closet, like I did in my old house. My closet was effectively a hall closet, but it was all mine and I loved having a space where I could curate a minimalist seasonal wardrobe. Every item was something I wore frequently and loved and it was so easy to put together outfits each morning
Creating a curated seasonal capsule wardrobe can be a quick and easy process if you follow the steps above. Remember the important part is to focus on things you love (certain colors and styles) and remove items that you don’t love or think you won’t wear. This will leave you with just the right items to create a seasonal capsule wardrobe perfect for you.
Over on LTK I’m sharing the items that I purchased to add to my spring capsule wardrobe. I strategically chose 3 tops and 3 pants that fill in some of the holes in my current wardrobe and will be items that I can mix and match into many different outfits this spring. You can check them all out right here and be sure to follow me on the LTK app where I’m sharing my favorite shoppable finds.
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