Can I share a secret with you? We did a terrible job with our pears again this year. The thing with pears is that they’re all ready at the exact same time. ALL of them. So you have to really get the job done fast or you miss your window.
Last year we did nothing with them. This year… we got them picked! And then they all rotted in their containers before we could do anything with them (although we did eat a lot of them raw!).
So David and I have been joking that every year is just going to get better and better! We at least got them picked this year! Maybe next year we’ll get them all cut up before they rot. 10 years from now, we’ll have a jar of jam! It’ll be worth the wait.
I was bummed that we didn’t make it happen again this year. I had all of these aspirations to can and preserve, but… three babies. Oh well! We’ll laugh at our “failure” and try again next year.
But anyway…
It’s been awhile since we talked capsules, but I’ve actually had some thoughts lately in regard to capsule formulas.
Am I wrong in assuming that a lot of people start doing capsule wardrobes because they need some sort of order brought to their wardrobes? I don’t think I am.
And part of that “order” is a set of rules that can be easily put into place in order to create a better system.
Which is good. But…
sometimes I think people (including myself) can take the “rules” a bit too far and end up with a wardrobe where they still feel the need to shop all of the time.
I’m in a couple of capsule wardrobe groups on Facebook, and I hate to say it, but the feeds seem to be full of women showing their new purchases or asking advice about possible purchases.
And I’m not judging that. I, myself, am in a season of adding because of weight changes. So, while I still am all for the lean closet approach, I’ve had to do some shopping.
But, these women may still be shopping because capsules run the danger of taking away our ability to curate wardrobes based on how we feel about clothing.
Does that make sense?
So many capsules are now reduced to a set formula: this many tops, this many pants, this many shoes, etc.
And not only that, but you should have one gray top, one white top, one navy top, etc.
So you have to force your wardrobe into this paradigm that it might just not want to fit into.
I had that problem. To be fair, I’m a rule follower. So I see a formula and I try to match it exactly. I know there are a lot of people pursuing capsules that are perfectly capable of being flexible and not running into this problem. That’s great.
But for those who are trying to figure out how to build a capsule wardrobe, and who are trying to force their wardrobes into a set of rules…
might I invite you to stop? ?
Yes, getting rid of excess is super important, but so is your gut.
How your gut responds to clothing is just as important as the “categories” you include in your capsule.
For example: I had this idea for a really long time that having more than one type of clothing was excessive. So only one cream sweater. Only one dark wash pair of jeans, etc. And I ended up filling the rest of my wardrobe with pieces of clothing I didn’t really love and wearing that one cream sweater all of the time… and feeling guilty that I wasn’t utilizing the rest of my closet.
Because ultimately… I love cream sweaters.
I’ve been thrifting some warm sweaters throughout the summer for this fall, and… guess what?
They’re all neutral grays, creams, whites, and blacks.
Because that’s what I like. And yes, I have more than one sweater in some of those categories (though not all).
I’ve released myself from the “should” that my capsule mindset had brought on, and instead I’m filling my wardrobe with only what serves me.
This probably seems pretty basic to most of you, but it took me a long time to catch on to this idea, and I’m betting I’m not the only one.
So yes! Pursue a lean closet. Do a capsule if you need the structure… but don’t feel hemmed in by all of the rules. Pick which ones work for you, and ignore the rest.
And keep listening to your gut… it’s much more trustworthy than an ebook about what you should be including in your capsule.
What about you guys? Have you struggled with this? Do you like the rules, or are you more “free spirited” with your wardrobes?
Until next time,
Karin
Recreate my look:
Outfit formula: neutral top. light wash denim. neutral shoe. neutral hat.
THIS SWEATSHIRT IS THE BEST SWEATSHIRT EVER. Okay, but seriously I love it so much. High quality, the color is a perfect cream, and it fits so, so well.
You can find it here. A cheaper, similar option can be found here. Both are made ethically.
Shorts can be found here. And ethical option can be found here.
My shoes can be found here. A cheaper option can be found here.
My hat is thrifted, but a similar ethical option can be found here.
My glasses are this style from Warby Parker.
Hi Karin!
Thank you for this post; I couldn’t agree more 🙂 I’m also a rule follower, which means that I feel the pressure to conform to capsule formulas and buy the pretty, consumer conscious items I see on Instagram (even though my heart lies with thrifting!!!), but I agree that it’s better to use formulas as loose guidelines or inspiration and go with your gut. Personally, my gut has been telling me to work on more of a year-round capsule or a sort of season-less wardrobe, with extra heavy or extra light items that float in and out during extreme weather months, but it’s been more difficult to pull off than I thought (probably from lack of time to dedicate to my endeavor as well as pressure to shop or general discontent with the clothes I already own LOL!). I’d love to know if you have any thoughts on this!
You’re welcome Elizabeth! I feel the same as you… especially about thrifting! I’ve also been working on a year long capsule wardrobe, but you’re right that it does take a little bit more work.
I too am in this same exact boat. It’s been fun to see many of the capsule wardrobe women I’ve been following along with for a couple of years now all start arriving to similar places in the journey. The capsule was an extremely useful tool to start with and allow personal growth and discovery.. and now we are all arriving to these content with ourselves spots that reflect each person differently. Too deep? Lol.. but really, I totally get this. Especially the bit about multiples of similar items of clothing. I have 3 grey shirts.. two chambay shirts, etc.. bc each are different but I wear them a lot. Done. ?
Totally agree Sarah!
Yes. This is excellent advice!! With a seasonal capsule, I felt like I was always getting caught up in the adding items part, and only wearing things for that season! Of course I still get caught up shopping, and I get carried away thrifting now and then — but without the structure I (more often than not) just want items I’ll wear as much as I can, as long as possible.
Me too! And i think that’s the general message given to people pursuing a capsule wardrobe. Without the focus on seasons I’ve found myself picking up pieces only when I notice a hole, and not because a new season is starting and I need a “refresh.”
I really liked the concept of capsule wardrobe but none of the examples I saw had skirts instead of pants and shorts. I’ve been a huge fan and wearing skirts for so long that I just couldn’t do a capsule correctly so I didn’t bother. I did start paying attention to what I like and admire and have more “rules” of what articles of clothing I may purchase or sew. For example pockets have become a must for me. It used to be that hoods on sweatshirt or jackets were a must but I discovered I could embrace the cardigan lifestyle with a purchase of a very lightweight rain jacket with the hood. I also branched out from the skirt to the dress. Capsule movement did help me to really think about what I wear and why to being able to focus on smaller companies for when I did what to purchase.
That’s great! I think you’re wise to pull from the capsule what works for you, and you leave the rest.