(Please note: this post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you click and / or purchase items via those links, I may receive a small commission as a result, at no cost to you. If you would prefer to view an item via a non-affiliate link, use the contact form to let me know and I will be happy to email one to you. Thank you for supporting Devastate Boredom!) Anybody been waiting impatiently for me to make good on my promise to offer my Secrets of the Capsule Wardrobe ebook for free-or-nearly-free soon?? I confess that I still haven't had a chance to sit down and figure out Kindle's marketing / promotional system, but, in the interim, I've figured out another way for y'all to read my book for free!
I have HUGE news! My shiny, awesome new book Secrets of the Capsule Wardrobe: How to Find Your Personal Style & Create a Happy, Confident Closet! is now available on kindle!! Okay, I'll be honest, it's actually been available via pre-order for a few days... and I've been dropping hints about it here and there... but have been too shy to make a huge fuss. But, shyness be damned, haha! I've worked hard on this book, and it's pretty much AWESOME. "What makes it so awesome?" you might be asking... or if you're more cynical you might be thinking, "Well, of course, the author is going to say that..." but, DUDE, it is completely true. You know how I know?
Hungry for more fashion fun and minimalist style updates?
Update August 2016 -- I have HUGE news for a fashion-savvy, Capsule Wardrobe lovin' girl like you! My shiny, awesome new book Secrets of the Capsule Wardrobe: How to Find Your Personal Style & Create a Happy, Confident Closet! is now available!! Feel free to continue to read this post if you like, but just be aware you're basically reading an incomplete rough draft... my book is the Perfected Guide to finding your personal style and building a effortless, confidence-inspiring, non-boring capsule wardrobe, step-by-step! It also contains never-before-published information on how to avoid the three most common mistakes that will SABOTAGE your Capsule Wardrobe, how to continue to curate your collection of clothing by purposeful shopping in the future, a whole chapter on the role of accessories in your minimalist closet, and more. Go check it out right now... a happy closet awaits you! Super girly post alert! Writing today about fa-SHUN... ready to be glamorous and sophisticated with me?? Seventh in a weekly series of ?. Missed the first six installments? Click below to catch up.
How to build a minimalist capsule wardrobe without losing your mind! Step by step towards a happy closet:
Part 7: Organizing your closet... the life changing magic of hanging ALL THE THINGS!
Wow, looking back over the last six posts, we have truly come so far in the journey towards a functional, simple, HAPPY closet! If you've been following along, you have developed a minimalist capsule wardrobe that reflects who you are, is unique to you, and makes you feel confident. It also only contains items that you love, and is easily adaptable and mix-and-matchable. That is amazing!
Now, an important element in the "functional" part of your wardrobe is how to store and organize your clothing in a way that is easily accessible AND visually appealing. So let's dive into that!
There are a lot of blog posts bouncing around on pinterest about how buying a matching set of hangers will transform your closet. So, I bought a set and tried it out. Honestly, it really wasn't that revolutionary... still the same clothes, still the same closet. If you're relying on the "new hangers" trick to totally transform your closet with no other time or effort invested, you're bound to be disappointed. But since we've already invested a LOT of time and effort into transforming our closets, I have to say that the hangers were a nice touch. So as you read the below, picture it with a snazzy set of matching hangers into the bargain. ;P
It's likely you've already heard of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up -- a book written by Japanese organizational expert Marie Kondo that is heavily influenced by the philosophies of minimalism. If you've already done a lot of reading on minimalism and simplicity living, many of the ideas it contains may be familiar to you already, but it still has some fun thoughts and approaches that are more unique to Ms. Kondo. I'm looking forward to reviewing it more in-depth soon!
Though I enjoyed the book, I strongly disagreed with it on the topic of clothing organization...
Update August 2016 -- I have HUGE news for a fashion-savvy, Capsule Wardrobe lovin' girl like you! My shiny, awesome new book Secrets of the Capsule Wardrobe: How to Find Your Personal Style & Create a Happy, Confident Closet! is now available!! Feel free to continue to read this post if you like, but just be aware you're basically reading an incomplete rough draft... my book is the Perfected Guide to finding your personal style and building a effortless, confidence-inspiring, non-boring capsule wardrobe, step-by-step! It also contains never-before-published information on how to avoid the three most common mistakes that will SABOTAGE your Capsule Wardrobe, how to continue to curate your collection of clothing by purposeful shopping in the future, a whole chapter on the role of accessories in your minimalist closet, and more. Go check it out right now... a happy closet awaits you! Super girly post alert! Writing today about fa-SHUN... ready to be glamorous and sophisticated with me?? Sixth in a weekly series of ?. Missed the first five installments? Click below to catch up:
Putting the Finishing Touches on Your Capsule Wardrobe - How Many Items Should Be in a Minimalist Closet?
Tackling the "Number Thing"...
There's a pretty big issue that I have been skirting this whole time while writing this style series... have you noticed? Has anybody noticed? I haven't mentioned numbers once. I haven't said, "Only have 35 items in your capsule wardrobe," or "A minimalist closet should contain no more than twenty hangers," or ANYTHING related to numbers. That's because I think that the number of items in your closet has to be a personal choice based on your lifestyle... not something handed down prescriptively by someone who doesn't even know you. However, there does need to be a CHOICE. For you to benefit from the wonders of a minimalist closet or a capsule wardrobe, you need to set limits for yourself. A "happy closet" is one that reflects who you are, and that you enjoy wearing every day. I find it very unlikely that if (click through to keep reading!)
Update August 2016 -- I have HUGE news for a fashion-savvy, Capsule Wardrobe lovin' girl like you! My shiny, awesome new book Secrets of the Capsule Wardrobe: How to Find Your Personal Style & Create a Happy, Confident Closet! is now available!! Feel free to continue to read this post if you like, but just be aware you're basically reading an incomplete rough draft...my book is the Perfected Guide to finding your personal style and building a effortless, confidence-inspiring, non-boring capsule wardrobe, step-by-step!It also contains never-before-published information on how to avoid the three most common mistakes that will SABOTAGE your Capsule Wardrobe, how to continue to curate your collection of clothing by purposeful shopping in the future, a whole chapter on the role of accessories in your minimalist closet, and more. Go check it out right now... a happy closet awaits you!
Super girly post alert! Writing today about fa-SHUN... ready to be glamorous and sophisticated with me?? Fifth in a weekly series of six. Missed the first four installments? Click below to catch up:
Minimalist Style for the Rest of Us --
aka, How to Transition to a Capsule Wardrobe Without Losing Your Mind
Part 5, Balancing Our Base Items, aka, The Capsule Wardrobe Secret No One Is Telling You!
Wow, what a journey we've had so far! Over the past few weeks together you've determined your personal style, kicked out of your closet all of those freeloading clothing items that (for whatever reason) weren't getting worn, segmented out the ones that you need to keep but don't use on a regular basis, decided which colors to build your wardrobe around, and even experimented with being adventurous in your outfit pairings. Way to go you!
Now we're going to look at how to flesh out this "capsule minimalist wardrobe" thing, in order to give yourself the most mix-and-match options with the least amount of actual items of clothing. We're not looking for volume here! A crowded closet is NOT our aim. Our goal is to fill in the gaps in your closet strategically, so you can maximize all the other gorgeous things you already own. There are two questions that will aid us in this quest... 1. Where is my wardrobe the "lightest"? I mostly mean for you to consider bases here (dresses that can be layered, skirts, pants, shorts, etc), but if your bases are already balanced you can always do this exercise with tops instead... Do you have six pairs of jeans but no pants in neutral colors? Are all your base pieces the same color? Do you not have any layering dresses at all?Our goal is to balance out our bases to provide you with a more flexible collection of "looks."Ideally, you should have a roughly equivalent numbers of dresses, skirts, pants, etc, with different silhouettes or colors within each type. If you're with me so far, skip to the graph below. If you're having trouble getting your mind around this, you're probably going to need to do some more counting. ;P I know, I know, I'm sorry! But this will help if you're stuck, I promise. Stand in your closet and jot down a list of your layer-friendly dresses, short skirts, long skirts, shorts, capris, jeans and pants, noting how many you have of each, cut, color etc.
Update August 2016 -- I have HUGE news for a fashion-savvy, Capsule Wardrobe lovin' girl like you! My shiny, awesome new book Secrets of the Capsule Wardrobe: How to Find Your Personal Style & Create a Happy, Confident Closet! is now available!! Feel free to continue to read this post if you like, but just be aware you're basically reading an incomplete rough draft... my book is the Perfected Guide to finding your personal style and building a effortless, confidence-inspiring, non-boring capsule wardrobe, step-by-step! It also contains never-before-published information on how to avoid the three most common mistakes that will SABOTAGE your Capsule Wardrobe, how to continue to curate your collection of clothing by purposeful shopping in the future, a whole chapter on the role of accessories in your minimalist closet, and more. Go check it out right now... a happy closet awaits you! Super girly post alert! Writing today about fa-SHUN... ready to be glamorous and sophisticated with me?? Fourth in a weekly series of six. Missed the first three installments? Click below to catch up on: Part 1: Finding Your Style! Part 2: The Winnowing Phase Part 3: The Importance of Color in a Capsule Wardrobe
Minimalist Style for the Rest of Us --
Part 4, Be Adventurous! How to Use a Mix-and-Match Fashion Show + Look Book to Achieve a Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe That Isn't Boring!
Welcome back! It's been an exciting fa-SHUN journey so far... already you have determined several key characteristics of your style, AND chosen which colors you will build your capsule wardrobe around, AND figured out which pieces you love and which are on probation. Most of your wardrobe is probably on probation, but don't let that discourage you! Some of these pieces will probably work great in your minimalist capsule wardrobe, you just have to figure out which ones fit together into a look that you love, and which ones aren't worth the space in your closet. Our key word is still "minimal", right? Which means your goal is to keep whittling down your clothing collection until each piece is maximized and valuable! BUT we still want to be adventurous with what we wear, and part of that is finding some clothing combinations you might not have initially thought to put together. This post is all about one way you can test out which pieces deserve a place in your happy closet, and which ones should be passed on to somebody else -- via a Fashion Show! ;P
For this process, it will work best if you have another set of eyes. These CAN belong to your significant other, but it will be better if they belong to a friend instead, since people tend to be fairly invested in "looking good" for their significant others... and right now isn't about them and what they like, its about what you like. The friend you ask for help doesn't have to have the same style preferences as you, but s/he does need to be able to tell you if an outfit "works," so try to ask a friend whose sense of style you respect. Be sure to communicate what style "look" you're going for, and remind your friend that you aren't asking if she would wear the outfit herself, you're asking if the pieces combine well. This friend needs to be armed with a camera, and take a full-length photo of you in each outfit you try. If a friend isn't available, use the timer function on a camera to take the photos instead. Either way, you want photos so that you can decide objectively yourself later whether to keep or pitch the "probationary" items, because if you love how an outfit looks and makes you feel, it honestly doesn't matter what your friend or spouse says... yours is the opinion that counts! As a bonus, the happier and more confident you feel in what you're wearing, the more attractive you will appear. Being able to look back afterwards at all the outfits you have tried, from a distance and in the context of other cute outfits, will help immensely in deciding what you think about them.
Your Assignment:
Start by gathering your "base pieces" -- pants, jeans, shorts, skirts, dresses.
Be methodical! Either try one top with all possible base combinations, or try a base with all possible tops, whichever approach makes more sense to you. This will keep your photos orderly when you are comparing looks later.
Be adventurous! Try wearing a button-down dress open over another dress! Try wearing a long skirt over a shorter dress! Try a collared shirt under that sweater, or over that dress! Combine different textures! ETC. (See below for a pinterest board of the kind of "adventurousness" I'm describing here...)
Mix-and-match away, catwalkin' it up for your extra pair of eyes and/or camera. Remember, you want a picture of each and every outfit!
Don't forget to include belts, shoes, scarves, jewelry, etc, in your catwalk outfit. You may even end up with multiple pictures of the exact same outfit, but with a different belts or scarves or whatever accessorizing each one... that's perfect! I realized after going through this process that I had one belt that looked terrible on my body-type no matter what I paired it with. I similarly got rid of multiple shirts that looked fine on the hanger but just didn't work on me, and discovered a lot of new outfit "pairings" that I just hadn't thought to combine before.
After you're finished with your mix-and-match fashion show, go through all the photos on a computer and decide what you think about each. Does it work? Is it just kind of "meh"?I recommend using a computer rather than a phone because the photos will be easier to see, and you can compare outfits next to one another if it is helpful.
Delete the photos of outfits you don't like, and print or save the photos you do to create a "look book" to remind you of your outfit possibilities going forward. Don't forget to go ahead and donate any items of clothing you've now ruled out altogether as a result... if it isn't in the look book, it doesn't need to be in your closet.
So, in a nutshell...
4 Simple Steps to Discovering Your Capsule Wardrobe:
1. Try on EVERY outfit combination you can make, out of what is in your closet.
2. Take pictures of EVERY combination.
3. Go back through the pictures on your computer and look at each outfit combination.
4. Delete the photos you don't like, and print or save the photos you do like to create a "look book" to remind you of your outfit possibilities going forward. Donate the clothing you've ruled out.
Disclaimer: This is definitely the "slightly OCD" / "I have a little time on my hands" way to do this. The "totally not OCD over here, feeling sorry for you right now Sarah Eliza" / "NO time to spare, are you kidding?" approach would be to just start pairing tops with bottoms, and give it a quick eyeball before heading out of the house to decide if the pieces are earning their keep or need to head for the donation pile after you get home that night. However, doing it all at once does mean it is DONE and then you can start benefitting from the ease of your capsule wardrobe right away, rather than continuing to fine-tune over a prolonged period. Also, trying out outfits in the privacy of your own home, with a friend to offer opinions and encouragement, can allow you more space for experimentation and self-expression than you might usually allow yourself if you're in a rush, headed for work, etc. Either way, remember you are curating a collection of clothing that you enjoy, and that makes you feel confident and happy. :)
Up next week, the secret to having an effective, easy capsule wardrobe! In which you also discover that I am NOT an artist. ;P I hope you will join us for the fun... if you haven't already, please consider looking to the right sidebar and subscribing via email, bloglovin', twitter, or your other favorite bloggy source. :) For some fa-SHUN inspiration along the lines of "be adventurous!!", check out this pinterest board I created... These outfits aren't all my style and they're probably not all yours either, but rather they're meant to give you ideas on how to layer and combine clothing you might not normally think about. I tried to include a range of fashion styles and looks to help jump-start your wardrobe brainstorming. Look at them not as outfits to copy verbatim, but instead in the spirit of "how could I modify this to suit me?" Enjoy browsing -- I will continue to add more fun ideas as I find them!
Update August 2016 -- I have HUGE news for a fashion-savvy, Capsule Wardrobe lovin' girl like you! My shiny, awesome new book Secrets of the Capsule Wardrobe: How to Find Your Personal Style & Create a Happy, Confident Closet! is now available!! Feel free to continue to read this post if you like, but just be aware you're basically reading an incomplete rough draft... my book is the Perfected Guide to finding your personal style and building a effortless, confidence-inspiring, non-boring capsule wardrobe, step-by-step! It also contains never-before-published information on how to avoid the three most common mistakes that will SABOTAGE your Capsule Wardrobe, how to continue to curate your collection of clothing by purposeful shopping in the future, a whole chapter on the role of accessories in your minimalist closet, and more. Go check it out right now... a happy closet awaits you!
Super girly post alert! Writing today about fa-SHUN... ready to be glamorous and sophisticated with me?? Third in a weekly series of six. Missed the first two installments? Click below to catch up on: Part 1: Finding Your Style! Part 2: The Winnowing Phase Last week I promised this post would be on the theme "Now Multiply Outfits," but I realized that I spoke too soon! There is a really, really important step that we have to do first... one that I'm worried you might not be too pleased about. Read on to discover what it is...
Minimalist Style for the Rest of Us --
aka, How to Transition to a Capsule Wardrobe Without Losing Your Mind! Part 3: The Drastic and Undeniable Importance of Color Choice
I just came away from reading a blogger decrying the capsule wardrobe as too "overwhelming" with all of that "mixing and matching." While I totally understand that some systems will work for you and some won't, I have to say that if your capsule wardrobe is overwhelming, you're probably doing it wrong!
When you DO have a capsule wardrobe, you can literally pick a base, pick a top, put them on, and look great. Boom, and you're done. There is no hassle about mix-and-matching once your wardrobe is set up... it all just WORKS, no thinking required. BUT to have a capsule wardrobe that works this smoothly, there is one drastically, undeniably important thing you have to commit to now. *looks around nervously* If you really are committed to a minimalist capsule wardrobe, you're going to need to limit what colors you own. *watches reader gasp and cringe* Yes, this is hard! But for a true capsule wardrobe, you want a piece of clothing to look great with as many other pieces as possible.... which basically means you can't own all the colors of the rainbow. Aside from black/grey/white, I wear red and shades of blue. I can throw on almost any top with any bottom, add an accessory or two, and look put-together. Like I said... boom, five minutes, NO thinking, and I'm done. Your Assignment (if you choose to accept it...):
Update August 2016 -- I have HUGE news for a fashion-savvy, Capsule Wardrobe lovin' girl like you! My shiny, awesome new book Secrets of the Capsule Wardrobe: How to Find Your Personal Style & Create a Happy, Confident Closet! is now available!! Feel free to continue to read this post if you like, but just be aware you're basically reading an incomplete rough draft... my book is the Perfected Guide to finding your personal style and building a effortless, confidence-inspiring, non-boring capsule wardrobe, step-by-step! It also contains never-before-published information on how to avoid the three most common mistakes that will SABOTAGE your Capsule Wardrobe, how to continue to curate your collection of clothing by purposeful shopping in the future, a whole chapter on the role of accessories in your minimalist closet, and more. Go check it out right now... a happy closet awaits you!
Super girly post alert! Writing today about fa-SHUN... ready to be glamorous and sophisticated with me?? Second in a weekly series of six. Missed the first installment? Click here to catch up on Part 1, Finding Your Style!
Minimalist Style for the Rest of Us --
aka, How to Transition to a Capsule Wardrobe Without Losing Your Mind -- Part 2, The Winnowing* Phase
Hello friends! I'm excited to be back once more for Part 2 in our Minimalist Style / Capsule Wardrobe series... today we tackle The Winnowing Phase, eliminating the "chaff" from our wardrobe and getting one step closer to a Happy Closet. Did you hear a faint, *dun dun DUH* in the background when you read those words "winnowing phase"? Yeah, I did too... tackling our messy closets and disheveled sense of style can be overwhelming. It can also be hard to have enough perspective on the items in your closet to know when it is time to part ways with something, but I'm going to try to help with that!
To review from last week... First, take a deep breath, and remember that you want your own style, not someone else's! Then, think about this past week of wearing "favorites" -- how did it make you feel? Do you have a clearer idea now of the kind of things that should go in your "Happy Closet"? Keep those things in mind as we move forward!
Your Assignment: The basic "winnowing" technique is probably one you've heard before -- three piles! One "keep," one "donate," and one "clean/mend." But oh my friend, that is way too limited! My special touch (*bats eyelashes*) is to add in a fourth and fifth category... the "probation" category and the "well, duh, I'm going to need this" category. Yep, now it's getting good!
We're also going to be extra efficient here at Devastate Boredom:
your "keep" pile is going to be a designated area towards the back of your closet -- these should be your "favorites" only. Everything else is going to be duking it out for the right to stay in your collection!
your "probation" pile is going to be a second designated area in your closet, preferably right up front!
your "donate" pile is going to be a paper bag, ready to load up.
your "clean/mend" pile is going to be your laundry basket.
Your "well, duh, I'm going to need this" will probably be the VERY back of your closet, but you can decide for yourself as I explain below.
Keep: These are the favorites from last week, and if they aren't already in the hamper from being worn all week it should be pretty simple to quick transfer them to the back of your closet. You aren't allowed to wear any of your "favorites" next week -- only items on Probation... which is going to be, basically, anything else from the rest of your wardrobe.
Probation vs Donation: Now go through the rest of your closet with these questions / meditations in mind:
Does this belong to an "old" me? For me, my artsy/boho clothes would fall in this category. I know myself better now, and these items belong to an earlier version of myself. If there is a sentimental tug that is keeping you from getting rid of these items, maybe take a quick mirror-shot of you wearing the outfit, and journal or blog about why the memories are meaningful to you. Then let those items go! It is the memories that are valuable.. the rest is really just fabric. :)
Would I buy this again if I saw it in the store today? Pretend that the item costs a "normal" amount for you. Would you pay that right now, or would you pass that item by and keep browsing? If you would not buy it again, into the donation bag it goes. If you aren't sure, stick it in probation. If your answer is a resounding yes, you may have just happened upon a forgotten favorite!
Remember that you are curating a collection. Think galleries and museums here people! Are you wearing this piece out of habit, or does it deserve to be in your collection? However! Keep in mind that neutrals and basics are a great backdrop for really awesome, stage-stealing accessories... so as a general rule, these things are good items to keep in probation, at least for now.
Well, duh, I'm going to need that! As you sort through your wardrobe, the "uh duh, I'm going to need that," items will include:
Interview clothing (up to 3 outfits, mix-and-match -- you really shouldn't need more than that)
A black dress or outfit for funerals
A number of very-dressy "wedding" and "cocktail" type clothes -- the number depends on your stage in life and what circles you run in, haha.
Specific "work clothing," particularly if your environment is business casual or you otherwise have a uniform. Those will (obviously) need to stay accessible, so keep them sectioned together towards the front of your closet.
IF you are actively working on loosing weight, definitely keep a few basics in the next size down, but do NOT keep clothes that are too big or way too small for you! I find that the former can turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy of gaining weight back, and the latter usually just depress me, haha! When you get down to those smaller sizes (and I have full faith that you will if that's your goal!), you're going to deserve new clothes to reward your self-discipline anyway. :)
Do not leave the "well, duh, I'm going to need this" items scattered in with the "probation" and "favorites"! They are visually cluttering your space, and you're trying to make it easier to find and keep track of the stuff that brings you joy.
Clean/Mend: This one should be obvious -- stained items, missing buttons, tears or holes. Give yourself a one-week window to deal with these things, and get rid of them if you haven't cared enough to deal with them by the deadline. Quick tip from experience: don't wash something BEFORE mending it, or it could really make small holes morph into big ones. *shakes head sadly* Also, the only way I EVER actually manage to mend is if I bribe myself with a favorite movie, and work while I watch. I recommend that method.
To summarize.... Winnow away! Then, next week, only wear outfits put together from your "probation" items -- do three probationary items layer so beautifully that all the sudden the outfit is a favorite? Fantastic! Does wearing it again remind you that that shirt itches unbearably, or that the cut is just not good on you? You know what to do.
A quick note in case you're freaking out -- I am not made of money, and I'm not assuming you are either! It is fine to leave items in "probation" simply because you can't afford to go out and replace everything at the moment. But as we continue to hone our minimalist, capsule wardrobe, you will be able to start phasing these things out more and more as time goes by and opportunities (read: sales ;P) arise.
Okay, true confessions... how many items of clothing did you count in your closet and dresser last week? How many are left in "favorites" and "probation" now? Keep chipping away at that last number... you're already much closer to achieving the organized, minimalist closet of your dreams!
Next week, join us for Step 3: The Drastic and Undeniable Importance of Color Choice"Now Multiply Outfits!" -- where we really start to work on the "Capsule Wardrobe" aspect of this series! If you haven't already, may I suggest you might want to subscribe via email, bloglovin', or twitter? ;)
Update August 2016 -- I have HUGE news for a fashion-savvy, Capsule Wardrobe lovin' girl like you! My shiny, awesome new book Secrets of the Capsule Wardrobe: How to Find Your Personal Style & Create a Happy, Confident Closet! is now available!! Feel free to continue to read this post if you like, but just be aware you're basically reading an incomplete rough draft... my book is the Perfected Guide to finding your personal style and building a effortless, confidence-inspiring, non-boring capsule wardrobe, step-by-step! It also contains never-before-published information on how to avoid the three most common mistakes that will SABOTAGE your Capsule Wardrobe, how to continue to curate your collection of clothing by purposeful shopping in the future, a whole chapter on the role of accessories in your minimalist closet, and more. Go check it out right now... a happy closet awaits you!
Super girly post alert! Writing today about fa-SHUN... ready to be glamorous and sophisticated with me?? First in a weekly series of six. Already read this one? Skip ahead to catch up on the rest!
For a while now I've been fascinated by the idea of having a smaller, minimalist wardrobe, one that would be easy to mix -and-match and that would eliminate the "I have nothing to wear!" morning paralysis. I was inspired especially by the idea of a "happy closet" - one that I would feel comfortable and confident in because it was entirely made up of clothes I loved. Isn't it sad that that wouldn't be a given? That so much of our closet space is often taken up by clothes we don't even like?
I've done a ton of reading and pinterest-browsing in the search for what constitutes a "happy closet," and I thought I would pass along the steps I've identified in how to make that transition without losing your mind... Going from our fast-fashion, cluttered-closet, shopping-as-a-hobby** culture to a curated collection of favorites is a pretty seismic shift, but it IS possible to cut down on waste and clutter, and achieve a capsule wardrobe* that you love, without being overwhelmed. I promise!
* Capsule wardrobe, dahhhling, is just fa-SHUN speak for "mix-and-matchable." ** Please note, I love shopping! But now I shop in the spirit of looking-for-new favorites, which as you will discover below, are far more elusive creatures than you might previously have imagined.
Note: This series is for non-models and other "normal" females, who like to look good without spending ridiculous amounts of time and money on it. Hence the "rest of us" in the title. If you are a model or otherwise making your career out of fa-SHUN, just go ahead and stop reading now... you can always guest post instead! ;)
Ready? Here we go!
Step 1: Recognize that you want your own wardrobe, not somebody else's. A friend of mine told me how she found a pair of shoes she really liked, at a price she liked even better, but that she didn't get them because she knew someone else who already owned them... deep down, the call to be unique is strong in each of us! This is part of why I can't stand the "15 pieces you MUST own" type of lists... the things I "need" to own are going to be different than the things you "need" to own, because we each have different occupations and environments, different ideas of comfort, and, oh yeah, what I wear to feel confident and at ease is very likely different from what you do. So, the first thing to do is to determine what you like to wear (actually LIKE to wear) and go from there. Pinterest can be a fun tool for this, but it can also suck you into a confusing abyss of "oh that's so pretty... and this is so cute too... and oh my gosh, that's the best yet..." so this is also the time to realize that just because something looks good doesn't mean you want to own it.
Shift your perspective to realize that you can admire something, and find it visually satisfying, without wanting to claim it as part of your identity by putting it on your body. Being more deliberate in curating your clothing collection can be a game-changer in terms of attitude, enjoyment, and confidence!
An example -- I love the artsy, dreamy, "boho" look, but what that look communicates isn't what I'm most interested in saying about myself. I actually feel like a flowery, filmy imposter when I wear it, so it certainly doesn't add to my confidence! But I can love it on other people, in the same way that I can admire art at a gallery without necessarily wanting to buy each piece.
Your assignment: Tonight, or this weekend if you're going to need more time to deal with it (set an alert on your phone so you don't forget!), count how many items are hanging in your closet. This is just a starting place, so make a note of the number and move on. Then, go through each item, and pull out your favorite pieces. How many things can you definitively identify as favorites? Is there a theme? Color, style, brand, comfort factor, or otherwise? Right now, you are trying to determine your personal preferences, under all those layers of "but it was on sale," and "but my mother always told me I shouldn't wear such-and-such" and "but everyone in the office wears this kind of thing"... What do you enjoy wearing?
When I did this experiment myself, I realized I like simple, minimalist combinations of color and style. I like long silhouettes, clothes with unexpected details, and solid colors. Oh, and stripes. I really like stripes. I love neutrals (white, grey, black, not big on khaki), and gravitate towards red, turquoise, and blue. Need a visual? Here's a fifteen-piece collection in my creative-indie style that can be mixed and matched into FORTY-FIVE different outfits! (keep scrolling for shop-able links...)
Similar Wardrobe with Shop-able Links!
But what about you? Do you like patterns? Florals? Lace? Collars? Sweetheart necklines? All of this is data you're collecting on yourself. (Pssssst! Check out this post... if you tell me your style and color preferences, I'll help you brainstorm a capsule wardrobe to fit your own needs!)
When you have finished, leave your favorite clothes clustered together in one section of your closet, for ease of access going forward.
Done with that? Assuming that you are now tired and/or have other things to do than play with your clothes all day, you can wait until tomorrow to... do the exact same thing with your folded clothes. ;) Then check and see - do the "favorites" from your dresser fall in line with your closet favorites? The end result should be at least a drawer and a section of your closet full of "favorite" items... plan to wear favorites every day for a week. Try to notice if it changes your mood and attitude to be wearing things you enjoy. Does it speed up the morning selection time? Do you identify anything new about what makes those items your favorites?
Confident, unique style is in reach for each of us! I'm so excited about taking this fa-SHUN journey together. Together we can curate and organize that closet into a thing of beauty... just like you!
