My Capsule Wardrobe Journey (Trendy Wednesday #119)
In June, I will have been blogging for 3 years! I can’t believe time has gone by so fast. It seems like yesterday I was just setting up my blog on Blogger and learning more about how to use my first DSLR camera. I’ve learned so much about blogging, especially about how to make money from it! I love blogging about fashion and style, creating graphics and publishing my capsule wardrobe e-books. It’s my passion and what I truly love to do.
In my three year journey of blogging, the way I look at clothes has changed. When I first started blogging, I started learning about “capsule wardrobes”. Although, I still had the mindset of “buy what I like on a whim”. I would see clothes that I liked and I would buy them without knowing if I would keep them, if I would grow tired of them or if they would match more than one item in my closet. Luckily, I purchased several pieces that I still have today, as they were well-made and go with several other pieces in my closet. I did get some clothes from a couple of companies on the internet that sells inexpensive clothes. When I received them, they were cheaply made, the material was not of good quality and they just didn’t fit right.
In the photo below, that used to be my closet when I started blogging…yikes! Yep, that used to be my closet! I snapped this photo just before I emptied my closet and experimented with my first capsule. I’m glad I took the photo. It’s a reminder that I DON’T want my closet to look like that again! I share this photo alongside a neat closet photo on every capsule wardrobe e-book sales page in my Capsule Wardrobe e-Book Store. I used to keep everything in my closet. I had too many clothes with too many patterns. I had so many clothes in my closet that I couldn’t find anything to wear. See this blog post where I talk about how to save $1,000 a year with this closet method.
Year: 2014
Here’s one of the first outfits I wore when I started blogging. A navy striped skirt with a navy tee. I still have the skirt and it still looks great! I bought it from J. Crew Factory. I bought the tee from a thrift store. I wore it many times, but I eventually had to donate it from too much wear.
Similar Outfit Items:
navy tee
striped skirt
ankle strap sandals
brown satchel
When I started utilizing a capsule wardrobe, my whole way of thinking about clothes changed. I would look in my closet and it was neat and tidy, how refreshing! I started feeling better about myself because I could find everything in my closet and in turn was getting dressed faster. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders because I felt less stressed getting dressed. I started wearing the right clothes for me, that I felt great in. I started receiving compliments about how great I looked. I was spending way LESS on clothes and I LOVED everything I was wearing. My life had changed for the better!
Here’s an outfit I’m not too proud of from October 2014. It’s a trendy, “dressed up sweatshirt“. I bought it because I thought it was pretty, but I only wore it with black jeans. I spent about $40 on it, but I was limited as to what it would coordinate with. Needless to say, I grew tired of and I don’t have it anymore. Lesson learned. But, I wore the jeans so many times that they faded.
Similar Outfit Items:
black jeans
black satchel
black bow flats
Year: 2015
In the photo below, from 2015, the way I bought clothes had changed. I was shopping with purpose, buying not only what I liked, but making sure each purchase would coordinate with at least 3 other items in my closet and making sure the items were well-made and would last for years. Even though the dress below consists of a pattern, I’ve worn it several ways in multiple seasons. Below, I’m wearing it with a denim vest, but I also have worn it with with a beige cardigan, a utility vest and an olive utility jacket. I still have all the pieces in this outfit today! Find out more about this outfit in the Dress, Vest and Rivets blog post.
Similar Outfit Items:
sleeveless patterned dress
denim jacket
Kate Spade bag
rivet heels (limited sizes available)
Kendra Scott necklace
Year: 2016
The photo below is from last year, June 2016, “Neutral Palette“. This is when I discovered my love for clothing styles with solid colors and simple designs. They are truly timeless clothes that I love to wear! The top is linen and I found it at Urban Outfitters when I was shopping with my daughter one weekend. I had been looking to add a cold shoulder top to my summer capsule and found this one when I was least expecting it. The ivory beige color is beautiful, the fabric is gorgeous and is well-made. I’ll be adding it to my summer capsule again this year. I still have the jeans, faux leather tote and these wedge espadrilles, that I will be wearing again this summer season.
Similar Outfit Items:
ivory cold shoulder top
ankle jeans
faux leather tote | real leather tote
wedge espadrilles
Year: 2017
I think I have come full circle with using a capsule wardrobe system. A few weeks ago I did an experiment, a “10 x 10 Challenge”, and put part of my spring capsule wardrobe to the test. I chose 10 items and wore just those items 10 different ways for 10 days. Find out more about it in this blog post, “10 x 10 Challenge“. Find out how I wore those 10 items for 10 days in this post, “10 x 10 Challenge: What I Wore In 10 Days“.
Here’s a recent post where I’m wearing basic essentials, but I make the outfit more interesting by adding colorful accessories. I added this white short sleeve top and frayed hem jeans to my spring capsule this year. I’ll be wearing this short sleeve top in my summer capsule as well. See my outfit details in this blog post, “Frayed Hem Jeans and Central Shirt“.
Similar Outfit Items:
white courier shirt
frayed hem jeans
blush slide in pumps
bandana scarf
I’m content with the clothes in my closet and love to wear every one of them! My clothes preferences has changed, along with how I shop for clothes. I make more concious choices when shopping. I buy less, but I feel like I now have more!
Has your closet changed over the years? Has your sense of style changed?
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So fun to look back! Love the closet comparison pic. Congratulations on 3 years!!
Mary
http://www.marymurnane.com
This is very inspiring! (lol, I think every blogger cringes at some of her outfits from when she first started blogging… I know I do!)
I am pregnant this summer, and I’ve been thinking of doing a 10x10x10 challenge, just to keep me from spending a ton of money on clothes that I will only wear for a couple more months… what do you think? Have you talked to many women who have tried capsule wardrobes or 10×10’s for their pregnancy season? Would love to hear your thoughts or chat about this. 🙂
Casey,
I think doing a 10×10 challenge while you are pregnant is a great idea! It’s a great way to get the most wear of your clothes until you need to buy bigger pants. Depending on how far along you are, you could include loose, flowy tops and mid-rise or low-rise jeans/pants.
Leanne.
Love seeing your progression and reading about what you’ve learned about yourself and your style. I think blogging does have a way of making you look at and think differently about your closet. Thanks for hosting the link up!
Just started following you and so enjoy your posts. Thanks for linking to others as well. It strengthens your blog! I keep coming back for inspiration since you are a great source.
I am slowly working towards a capsule. I have finally cracked the code on what styles look best on me (jean style, length of top, etc.) so now I feel I can buy things I will really use instead of a trend that doesn’t suit me and I wind up rarely wearing. I am also considering one of your summer guides when they are published.
Thanks for your blog.
Jenifer,
Thank you for your comment! I just published the 1st capsule wardrobe e-book of the summer series. It is in the e-book store! I’m currently working on the French Minimalist e-book, so it will be ready soon. I’ll also be publishing the Workwear and the Stay At Home Mom e-books as well.
Leanne.
Congrats on almost 3 years!!! That’s such an accomplishment and I loved reading/seeing your closet/wardrobe transition. Thank you for sharing!!
Sarah
Trendy & Tidy
Love this post and how you have evolved over the years with your wardrobe!
Cherie
http://www.stylenudge.com
STYLE NUDGE