Winter 2020 capsule wardrobe
Image credit: @wildlittlethingsphoto via unsplash.com
One of the projects this year was to whittle my wardrobe down to an extreme minimum and see what it was like first hand to just use a few pieces (that I love) in high rotation. It's a great experiment to try for yourself. You read many great blogs on how others have done it, but doing it yourself really makes it hit home. You do start to see what colours, fabrics, shapes work best for you. Even when you make a mistake (which isn't a big deal), you better understand why a piece isn't so good in your wardrobe/for you. I think of it as a safe way to get to know yourself better. Self-awareness can then be the springboard to more profound insights. Decluttering your wardrobe is a great first step.
You can see the rules I used in my Summer 2020 capsule wardrobe post.
Let me repeat here that I realise it's an absolute privilege to have enough clothes to wear and to select things one loves rather than what one can borrow, inherit, or repair. The idea behind ruthlessly whittling the wardrobe down is that you find joy in the pieces you have in front of you. This is a project to re-find your style and how you choose to express yourself. If you're happy as you are and 50 pieces of clothing works for you, great. If you're curious to find yourself, here's one way to simplify and strip things back.
As with the Summer capsule wardrobe, I whittled my items down to 13. Now that we're in the colder months, half the items on this list are sweaters and coats. I've also bumped up my t-shirts (which is why I'm no longer at 10 items), because it turns out it's wonderful to always have white t-shirts as a base.
What pieces have actually made the cut?
4 white crew neck t shirts
1 white jeans
1 pair white sneakers
1 pair blue jeans
1 pale yellow wool sweater
1 black turtle neck sweater
1 black wool midi dress
1 navy wool coat
1 pale green wool coat
1 pair brown ankle boots
Again, I've stuck with mostly classic basics and one "special" piece, which this time is the pale green wool coat. It's the irrational one that doesn't go with much else, but when I wear it, it keeps the outfit playful. We wear so much black in the Winter. You need something with a bit of cheer and lightheartedness on a dark Winter's day. You'll notice the items above don't need ironing. As much as I admire the look of a white linen shirt, it would be hidden under the sweater and coat at this time of year. T-shirts are so forgiving and can be worn under sweaters and used for yoga outfits and when I go for a run.
Have you tried a capsule wardrobe before? What did you learn about your style in the process? I'd love to know.
You can see the rules I used in my Summer 2020 capsule wardrobe post.
Let me repeat here that I realise it's an absolute privilege to have enough clothes to wear and to select things one loves rather than what one can borrow, inherit, or repair. The idea behind ruthlessly whittling the wardrobe down is that you find joy in the pieces you have in front of you. This is a project to re-find your style and how you choose to express yourself. If you're happy as you are and 50 pieces of clothing works for you, great. If you're curious to find yourself, here's one way to simplify and strip things back.
As with the Summer capsule wardrobe, I whittled my items down to 13. Now that we're in the colder months, half the items on this list are sweaters and coats. I've also bumped up my t-shirts (which is why I'm no longer at 10 items), because it turns out it's wonderful to always have white t-shirts as a base.
What pieces have actually made the cut?
4 white crew neck t shirts
1 white jeans
1 pair white sneakers
1 pair blue jeans
1 pale yellow wool sweater
1 black turtle neck sweater
1 black wool midi dress
1 navy wool coat
1 pale green wool coat
1 pair brown ankle boots
Again, I've stuck with mostly classic basics and one "special" piece, which this time is the pale green wool coat. It's the irrational one that doesn't go with much else, but when I wear it, it keeps the outfit playful. We wear so much black in the Winter. You need something with a bit of cheer and lightheartedness on a dark Winter's day. You'll notice the items above don't need ironing. As much as I admire the look of a white linen shirt, it would be hidden under the sweater and coat at this time of year. T-shirts are so forgiving and can be worn under sweaters and used for yoga outfits and when I go for a run.
Have you tried a capsule wardrobe before? What did you learn about your style in the process? I'd love to know.