7 Reasons You Should Try a Capsule Wardrobe

We all want to feel good in what we're wearing. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom or a career girl, knowing what is in your closet and not being overwhelmed by it will make your life simpler.

I'm not going to give absolutes on how many items you must have in your wardrobe because all of us are different therefore our life requirement for clothing is different. I keep a super minimal wardrobe (about fifteen pieces) because I have that freedom ~ I work from home and I don't need formal work attire. BUT some of you at corporate jobs or fashion industries need what's suitable for that.

Let me give my definition for a capsule wardrobe: a set of clothing particular to your style and fit, that you can mix and match effortlessly. Every top goes with every bottom. Every outer layer compliments each outfit. (Optional: Each shoe can be worn with each combination or a good mix of them.)

You might be wondering how limiting yourself to a capsule wardrobe could help. I assume you've probably had the dilemma of standing in front of your packed closet wondering what to wear. I also bet that you have a few go-to pieces you wear as much as socially possible. What if your closet was full of only those type pieces ~ the pieces that fit you awesome, feel comfortable and make you feel amazing when you wear them? Does that sound better than trying to find that one top crammed in the middle of the closet you have to wrestle to get out?

Let me share a few more reasons:

1. A Capsule Wardrobe reduces stress. 

You go to your closet knowing that everything goes together and fits. You've chosen your colors, your patterns, your cut and style of clothes and you love them all. You pull out a top and know exactly which bottom you'd like to wear with it today. You don't have to scuttle through tons of accessories because you have a select few necklaces and scarves to choose from. It's almost like wearing a uniform, except that your uniform is culled to your preferences.

2. A Capsule Wardrobe helps you access your favorite clothes, because they're ALL your favorite. 

I know that sounds impossible but stay with me. Say you only have 20 pieces of clothing in your capsule wardrobe (don't panic I'm not going to make you only have 20, this is just an example) and all of them have been purposely selected by you because they feel good on and they accent your best features. You are no longer digging through all those colors you thought were cute but never looked good on you; or the jeans that you thought fit you well until you wore them for a day and hated how you had to keep pulling them up; or the dress that always seems to call your name but when you put it on it emphasizes your middle. Having a capsule wardrobe eliminates all this frustration because the only things hanging in your closet are your favorites.

3. A Capsule Wardrobe sets you apart; you are able to take ownership of your style. 

When you are able to weed through your mass of clothing to your favorites, you will discover your style and what actually looks best on you (without worrying so much about fads). You will understand a little more about yourself. Are you bold and colorful? Are you dressy and classic? This process will help you establish what it is you love about yourself and how you present that with your clothes. (I share more about that process next Wednesday) You will feel your best and it will set you apart from others because you will have a style all your own. When you have a style, people notice. I have a friend that always looks put together. She often wears a simple top with a jersey skirt and sometimes a necklace. When I see her, I don't think "shirt and jersey skirt"; I think "put-together". Her style is simple but sweet. Looking "put-together" is easy with a mixable capsule wardrobe.

4. A Capsule Wardrobe saves money. 

Knowing what you have and what you need are two components often missing when we go shopping. I have scoured sale racks and brought home things that were really marked down that I never wore past one time because although in fashion, it went with nothing else in my closet or it was really not my style. Having a capsule wardrobe helps you understand what types of clothing/colors work for you and what to put back on the sale rack. Saving money from "guesswork shopping" will help you have extra funds for replacing a favorite piece when it wears out with a better quality item.

5. A Capsule Wardrobe saves time. 

I can't tell you how many times I've been rushing to get ready trying on a plethora of outfits only to have nothing work, either it fit awful, one piece was in the laundry, or nothing matched. It's so frustrating to think you have an outfit ready to go only to realize there's a tear, or a button missing. With a capsule wardrobe, everything goes together so if I realize one top has a stain, it's easily fixed by grabbing the next one on the rack. My mornings are calm now and getting ready goes so fast. I love how everything fits so I'm not wasting time trying on stuff that doesn't work.

6. A Capsule Wardrobe means that buying less gives you the option to buy better. 

When I say "better" I mean two things: quality and fair trade. Since you'll be buying less and staying within your capsule wardrobe, you'll be able to save the money you might have spent on unneeded sales items to purchase great quality. Quality clothes are more durable and save you even more money in the long run. It also enables you to buy from ethical companies who have to charge more to be sure their workers are receiving a fair wage. It's good for you and it's good for others.

7. A Capsule Wardrobe reduces consumption and saves the earth. 

We are such a consumeristic society and we continue to send the message to companies to keep producing MUCH more than is truly needed because we keep purchasing crazy amounts each year. Landfills are full of our over-consumption. What would happen if we all stopped buying so much? I don't think it would take long for companies to back off production to avoid a huge loss. It may seem like a little thing to reduce your spending by reducing your wardrobe but it actually helps the world. We're not only stopping over-production but we're changing the mindset and message that "more is better". By changing our mindset, we change the future.

A capsule wardrobe may sound limiting but I've found it to be extremely freeing. Intimately knowing every piece in my closet helps me decide on outfits quickly and feel good in them. It doesn't matter that I don't have a perfect figure, I've culled my clothing and kept only those items I love that work with my body shape. Knowing everything fits and enhances my body gives me confidence for whatever the day holds.

Have you ever considered creating a capsule wardrobe?

Mini-{Sister}-Style: 10 = 16

Today I've got a special treat! My sister volunteered to let me create a mini-style capsule from her wardrobe. She generously allowed me to photograph her and post it here on the blog. That's a sister for ya! Most of you know, but if not, she's my twin sister. :)

We created these looks from ten pieces: a checkered blouse, tank top, floral blouse, bohemian blouse, polka-dot blouse, red jeans, shorts, maxi skirt, dress, and cardigan. Here are some closer shots of the outfits:

I love her various patterns, they were so fun to play with! Patterns are fantastic, especially if you enjoy a more monochromatic wardrobe. They're easy to mix because the consistent colors tie outfits together but the pattern creates interest. It's a fun way to spice your wardrobe capsule and help it stretch further.

Hope you enjoyed this month's mini-sister-style! Wishing you a great weekend.

If I Made a 100 Things List

I'm not quite to this point of minimalism yet, but I love imagining what 100 Things I would keep if I whittled things to that number. I don't usually include things like furniture or dishes, just a list of my personal items ~ as if I were a world traveler with only a bag full of stuff. I especially love creating this list when I feel the need to de-clutter. It reminds me of what I really use and helps me let go of the rest.

My Imaginary 100 Things List:

Things:

• Laptop & charger
• Laptop case/purse
• Phone & charger
• Camera & batteries
• Tripod
• Kindle fire
• Sunglasses
• Glasses
• Contacts
• Hair dryer
• Comb
• Curling/flat iron
• Hairspray
• Travel makeup bag
• Toiletries bag
• Journal
• Bible
• Favorite pen
• Art supplies {one bag}
• Lip balm
• Lotion
• Water bottle
• Travel mug
• Good coffee
• Carry-on suitcase

25

Books: 
{Yes, I have a Kindle but I'd store some of my books because I can't quite give them up. This is my list today.}

• Juicy Pens and Thirsty Paper
• Bird by Bird
• Steal Like an Artist
• Daring Adventures in Paint
• Flying Lessons
• Painted Pages
• Creative Call
• Hidden Art
• A Beautiful Mess Photo Book Idea
• Pride and Prejudice
• Harry Potter (all 7)
• Crooked River
• Fairies of Dreamdark
• Julie and Julia
• Eat, Pray, Love
• This I Know
• For Women Only
• Seven
• A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

25


Clothes ~ all seasons:
{In my imagination, I'd probably store one season in a box at my friend's house, while traveling with the other}:

• T-Shirt
• T-Shirt
• T-Shirt
• T-Shirt long-sleeve
• T-Shirt long-sleeve
• Blouse summer
• Blouse summer
• Blouse summer
• Blouse winter
• Blouse winter
• Blouse winter
• Swimsuit
• Shorts
• Shorts
• Skirt
• Skirt
• Little black dress
• Casual dress
• Jeans
• Jeans
• Pants wool
• Yoga pants
• Sweater
• Sweater
• Cardigan
• Cardigan
• Sweatshirt
• Jacket military
• Jacket professional
• Trench coat
• Wool Coat
• Hat
• Gloves
• Pajamas
• Underwear/socks{one zipper pouch}
• Ballet flats
• Decorative flats
• Wedge sandals high
• Wedge sandals medium
• Gladiator sandals flat
• Flip-flops
• Toms
• Boots
• Loafers
• Moccasins
• Hiking boots
• Tennis shoes
• Scarves {one small bag}
• Jewelry {one bag}
• Wedding ring

50


I'm curious, what would be some of the things on your list if you pared down to 100?

Mini-Style: 7 items, 12 outfits

Looking at the photo above, you might be thinking there were more items in the second summer capsule post and that there should be 25 outfits.

You would be right, I said I would have 25 outfits and I was promptly reminded of why I shouldn't promise anything that I don't already have finished.

My sister and I set aside time for photographing outfits. It was perfect. We got it all done in record time!

Then I got home and perfect disappeared.

Somewhere between her house and mine, half of the photos on my memory card got lost. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the operator *coughs*.

So sadly, today I only have 12 outfits to show you instead of the planned 25. It's the thought that counts, right? *Cheshire cat smile* If you'd like to see June's mini-style (which DID have 25 outfits) go here.

This month's set was a more casual grouping but I knew that's how I'd want it in July, simple and breezy.

Summer Capsule Wardrobe No. 2

For July's capsule, I added more tops since it's unlikely I'll need more than one cardigan during July. I have two skirts this go-around because I wanted a breezier variety for the bottom items. I'm reusing a few of the items I put in the last capsule because I love them and wear them often. After all, the point of this is to have less clothes and use the ones I have, right?

So here's the breakdown of what I'm wearing in July:

• a wrap blouse
• bohemian blouse
• graphic t-shirt
• comfy t-shirt
• tie-die t-shirt
• summer dress
• pencil skirt
• a-line skirt
• shorts
• cardigan

This is a more casual wardrobe for summer vacation because I know this is what I'll actually be wearing.

I'll post the 25 outfits from this set of 10 items on the last Friday of this month, July 25th.

Hope you're enjoying something beautiful about today! (I'm celebrating the front moving in this week, yay for lower temperatures!)

Mini-Style: 10 Pieces, 25 Outfits

{More photos below}

I really enjoyed experimenting with this summer capsule wardrobe.

Taking photos of all the outfits inadvertently helped me see what items go better with my shape than others. I'll be making some changes for July.

Here are three things I learned using 10 pieces for 25 outfits:

1. Don't have too many similar pieces.

I quickly found that even though my black blouse has a pattern, it's not obvious enough to look different from my black t-shirt. That meant that some of my outfits ended up looking too similar. There was also a black cardigan that didn't get much use because I had so much black already in my wardrobe. Not sure why I chose all that black in the summertime.

2. Incorporate a versatile dress.

The dress ended up being my most versatile piece in the entire set! I didn't plan on that, but wow, it was fun. I used it as a scarf, skirt, flowing shirt, and peplum top. The elastic in the middle really helped to be able to wear it creatively.

• For a scarf, I wrapped the elastic waist around my neck and hid the straps inside.
• For a skirt, I tucked the top inside and let the elastic be my waistband. 
• For the flowing shirt, I pulled the dress on but left the elastic under my armpits. This made it look like an extra ruffle at the top and open at the base. I'm not sure this would've worked as well without a ruffle already in place.
• For the peplum, I simply tucked the dress into my bottoms, and then pulled it out just enough to create a peplum.

3. A neutral cardigan appears to be another top.

Most people focus on the outter layer of an outfit ~ that's what they remember. So if you're wearing the same shirt underneath that you wore earlier in the week, it doesn't appear to be the same because the cardigan is different on top.

What's the most versatile piece in your closet?

Minimalist Makeup

I used to keep tons of extra makeup on hand, "just in case". But I found that most of the time what I was using was a small sampling of all the products I had in the bathroom.

There were certain things I loved wearing and those were the ones I kept coming back to. When we had to clean out the cabinets of our bathroom for repairs, I found all kinds of make-up stuff that I'd probably held onto for five or ten years. Unopened! Yikes.

Nowadays all my makeup fits into a small travel bag. When I start running out of something, I simply get a new one. Giving myself permission to do that has kept me from hoarding "just in case" back-ups.

The only thing I don't keep in this bag is my facial cleansing set, which I keep in a separate bag.

In my makeup bag:

• Small tweezers
• Mascara
• Eye pencil
• Foundation
• Powder
• Blush
• Lipstick
• Lipgloss
• Makeup sponge
• Deodorant
• Comb
• Bracelet (not sure why it's in my makeup bag, but I do love to wear it ~ made by women across the globe)

I'm pretty simple when it comes to makeup. I wear it every day, but I keep it light to look natural.

What's in your make-up bag?

Cozy Minimalist: Walls

I thought it'd be fun to share what I perceive as the balance between minimalist cold and minimalist cozy. I'll use my entry wall for an example.

I humorously refer to myself as a "cozy minimalist". I love learning about minimalism and whittling down my stuff, but I also love things to feel warm and inviting. When I think of cozy, I think of quilts, cushions, carpets, pillows and color!

This seems opposite of what I imagine an avid minimalist would own. I assume their home would not have fluffy things and would be mostly neutral. I'm not there yet. For now, I prefer to reduce my stuff from overwhelming-chaos to simple-cozy. This feels doable to me.

I love having color all around me {artsy girl}, so obviously my decor reflects that. My husband loves black and white photography, so we have that in the living room. The combination of the two keep our home's style a bit eclectic but it's a good representation of us.

I hung this small selection of my art in a loose arrangement. I didn't want it to appear too aligned, but still wanted some form to it. I decided on six pieces because I thought it was a good number to showcase my style without going overboard.

What do you like on your walls?

In My {Goodwill} Bag

With all the chaos with our house in May, we lived temporarily in a rent house of a friend. I only had four pots (sauce pan, soup pan, casserole dish and skillet), a few silverware, plates and cups. And you know what?

It was wonderful.

There were no leftover dishes in the sink. Every night I could fit everything in the dishwasher and voila, it was done the next morning. We didn't have much to mess up, so very little got dirty.

It once again made me aware of how much excess I have at home. I returned to dust filled kitchen cabinets and the task of washing everything in them. I found myself tossing more and more into giveaway bags (and sometimes trash) thinking thoughts like:

"It's been years since I used this." 

"I don't remember having this." 

"This is worn out, why was I keeping it?"

"Where did this come from?"

"What is this?"

If I didn't know what it was or hadn't used it in a really long time, I put it in giveaway. I wish I'd taken photos of that first batch, but I was too busy at the time. However, I thought it'd be fun (and hopefully encouraging) to periodically show what's in my goodwill bag.

Today I have:

• Frankenstein pillow (above)
• Diaper cream (above) - my kids are teens, ha, no need for this anymore.

• Karaoke machine 

• Sponge rollers

• Child's sleeping bag ~ my kids have outgrown it.

It's been super freeing to be giving things away each week to people I know who might want it and then to Goodwill for the rest. Our home seems much more spacious and I hope to continue moving in that direction.

Do you find it hard to give things away? Or do you give away stuff away as soon as you bring something new into the house?

Summer Capsule Wardrobe 2014

It's always thrilling for me to see how many outfits I can make from ten pieces. I get a little obsessive about it. Sooo, I thought it'd be fun this summer to let you see how many outfits can be made from so few pieces. The set above is the first capsule I'm going to work with.

This set is not all the clothes I own, but I'd like to experiment with wearing only these. In July I may switch out the jeans for another pair of shorts or another dress. But I want to play with this little group for now.

Since I'm trying to be less consumeristic with my purchases, I'll list where each item came from. While making the list, I was happy to see that most of these pieces I didn't even purchase myself. Here's the break down:

• Blue Gap t-shirt (hand-me-down ~ sister)
• Black v-neck t-shirt (hand-me-down ~ mom)
• Teal shorts (thrift store)
• Summer dress (hand-me-down ~ daughter)
• Black blouse (hand-me-down ~ sister)
• Purple blouse (hand-me-down ~ sister)
• Army-green skirt (thrift store)
• Cream long-sleeved cardigan (hand-me-down~ sister)
• Black short-sleeved cardigan (hand-me-down ~ daughter)
• Red jeans (thrift store)

Yes, I have some rather colorful pieces but I really love bright colors ~ they make me smile. I tried to stay away from too many patterns. If I had a monochromatic color palette I might add more patterns. With bright colors, I've focused more on solids to keep it from being too overwhelming.

All the tops go with all the bottoms. The only article of clothing not compatible with all the other pieces is the black cardigan ~ I don't particularly like black on black but a scarf might help it work. If the black cardi becomes a big hindrance I'll switch it out too.

Have you ever experimented with a capsule wardrobe?

(See the 25 outfits I created in this post!)

5 Reasons to Live Simply

A few years ago, some hard losses awakened me to the fact that my life was too focused on things that didn't matter (like the latest gadgets) and I was letting the real stuff slide by. It put into focus what I wanted to pursue. Discovering minimalism helped me de-clutter my life and embrace living. Life is short, I want to live it to the fullest.

Here are five reasons I've found to live simply:

1. To reduce stress. 

We are a culture full of stress. We're busy from morning to night and still feel as though we haven't accomplished enough. We put this pressure on ourselves and feel it looming over us. But living simply is deciding what things are truly needed versus what is just busy-ness. We often buy into what culture and advertising feeds us, we guilt ourselves into doing things that we think we "should". 

My good friend and I often tell each other to "stop shoulding yourself". If you find yourself saying, "Oh I should..." stop and evaluate why you're saying that. Do you really believe this is something you need to do? Or is it because of someone's expectations? Maybe it's because you're afraid no one else will do it? 

Those are not good reasons to add things into your life that you don't feel a strong love or a strong passion for. We spend enough time working to make a living, we don't need to add extras that we don't really care about.

My son is involved with sports and there have been moments I've felt guilty for not letting him sign up for many various sports a year. But when I examined that guilt, it was about disappointing my son, not really what I felt was right for him or our family. When I could pinpoint my reason, I knew I didn't want us to be that busy and that he could really focus on the sports he loves if we limit his choices.

2. To cut out the time suckers. 

Some years ago when my kids were young, I discovered Flylady ~ a woman who encourages you to de-clutter your things. I did so at the time but didn't completely grasp what degree my stuff was ruling me. That realization happened later on when we were cleaning out my grandmother's house. 

My grandmother was still alive but moving in with my Mom and Dad. Everything was laid out so that her children and grandchildren could take whatever they wanted of it. She wanted us to have what she was no longer able to enjoy. My grandmother was a good housekeeper, she had a small house and yet, there was all this stuff! 

It finally clicked for me that at the end of life, this stuff has to go somewhere. Someone has to deal with it. I decided then that I didn't want to keep anything that I don't actually use. I don't want trinkets in a cabinet that I spend time cleaning because I'm accustomed to them, but not because I love them anymore. 

Getting rid of excess and keeping only those things I love is a better use of my space and time. Now I actually wear what's in my closet instead of cramming stuff in and trying to find what I'm looking for. Reducing busy-ness and clutter gives back time to my day. It lets that time to go to something I actually care about, which leads to my next point.

3. To own your own life. 

It's okay to say no. Saying no gives you the freedom to say yes to the things you are really care about.

I have a passion for helping and teaching others, but if I also feel the need to go to every PTA meeting, church function, or neighborhood cook-out I'm invited to, then I might not have the time I need to focus on that.

During basketball season, our family is gone many nights of the week to go my son's games. During that time of year, I don't say yes to much else. I know that I'll be maxed with games. I want the pace of our life to stay slow and steady so I decide what is priority at that time.

You dictate what you spend your time on, don't let others dictate it for you.

4. To focus on the things you want to focus on. 

Do you find yourself saying, "I would love to do this or learn that, if only I had more time?" Let me tell you a secret, you probably have the time. That hidden time is most likely taken up by something else you allow to suck your time (I'm looking at you, Television).

Now, I'm not talking about neglecting our duties (we all need to eat and have clean underwear). But it's good to truly evaluate everything you do during the week. Can you let something go? Could some of those things be delegated to others?

Getting rid of stuff is a huge time saver. When you have less stuff ~ you have less to clean or keep up with. People rarely believe this until they try it. Just try it in one area of your home, maybe your kitchen. Box up everything and only leave the bare bones. 

Experiment on how easy it is to clean your kitchen and how one dishwasher load takes care of everything. The plus side is that your family might begin helping you with the dishes when they realize there are no cups and they're thirsty!

5. To enjoy life. 

We want to be participators of life, not just observers of it. Often what happens is that we're so numbed by keeping up with our overwhelming lives, we stop living. We stop engaging with life in a meaningful way. We let life happen to us instead of making life happen. Simplifying life is cutting out the excess so we can embrace what matters.

Instead of being so busy with meetings or overwhelmed with planning for events, we can go hiking, fishing, painting, or visiting parks with our kids. 

The simple life opens the door to space. Space to enjoy life, to give breathing room and time to explore the world around us. 

If our time is not filled to the brim with activities and busy-ness, if we are not consumed with keeping up with our stuff; then we can actually spend that time enjoying our one, beautiful life.

I'm still simplifying my life; it will probably be a continuous journey. But I'm getting freer and the more I experience this freedom, the more freedom I want.

What do you think of these reasons for living simply? Do you have other reasons you might add? Or maybe you struggle to simplify life; what keeps you from doing so? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

My Favorite Wardrobe Capsules

I've been a little crazed about wardrobe capsules lately and have found some really great ones on Pinterest. It's always fun to see what items others choose for their capsule. Here are a few of my recent favorites:

1. This black and white capsule is so fresh and adorable! I love the idea of a black and white capsule, but I'm also drawn to color so I'd have to have it somewhere ~ maybe in scarves.

2. This neutral travel capsule also caught my eye. I love the combinations of light and dark.

3. This work-a-day capsule is versatile and I would enjoy wearing all these outfits. They're pretty, yet comfortable.

4. This polished neutral capsule would be good for professional as well as traveling. It's got a fun blend of fabrics.

5. A French-inspired capsule is my latest obsession. It always looks so chic! And this set is especially thrilling because it's simplicity at it's finest: twelve pieces turned into twenty outfits.

What core items must you have in your closet?