Mother Love

I’m a huge lover of minimalism and I’m excited to introduce you to a fellow blogger who feels the same way! Say hi to Melanie from The Realization of Good, an adorable blog full of thoughts on intentional living, fashion, and other inspirational topics. I’ve been intrigued with the capsule wardrobe idea for a while now and she’s here today to tell us all about it. I haven’t totally jumped on the capsule wardrobe bandwagon yet, but after reading Melanie’s thoughts, I’m ready to drive in! Whether or not you consider yourself a minimalist, this guest post will inspire you to shop, spend, and live intentionally. 

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Have you ever taken the time to count how many pieces of clothing you own? What if you opened your closet right now and totaled the sum of every single last garment—from your current favorites, to the winter gear that’s packed away somewhere, to the t-shirts you never wear but hang on to because they hold sentimental value…what would the number be? What would the value—the amount you’ve spent on your entire wardrobe, combined—be? I think you might find yourself shocked, even appalled, at the answer.

A year ago this time, I had more clothes than I knew what to do with. Forcing my drawers to open and close was a physical workout, and it seemed I was making regular trips to Target for “one more” pack of hangers. I thought I loved having so many options when it came to deciding what to wear, but my overflowing closet was overwhelming my brain, my space, and my budget!

Then someone told me about Un-Fancy.com, where Caroline Rector was blogging about her thirty-seven-piece “capsule wardrobe.” Though it piqued my interest, I was sure such a limited repertoire would never “work” for my lifestyle. I loved Caroline’s style, however—both in fashion and writing—so I subscribed to her blog. Before long, I was so intrigued by her ability to look SO GOOD despite such a small wardrobe that I decided it couldn’t hurt to give her minimalist model a try.

And so began the process of paring down my closet. I began by tossing everything that was worn out, didn’t fit me well, or hadn’t been worn in forever into a bin for our local consignment boutique. Then, I moved the things that were “out of season” into the empty closet in our guest room. With a little more head-scratching and a lot of determination, I was able to narrow the final results down to my thirty-seven top favorite garments. That was in October, and I semi-successfully managed to wear only those things through the end of December. (I say semi- because I did end up making a few swaps—but I still kept the number of things in my closet at only thirty-seven pieces)

I couldn’t believe how great it felt to have such a small collection of clothing, and I couldn’t believe how much fun I was having mixing and matching my favorite pieces to invent creative new outfit combinations. My husband, who thought I was crazy at first, soon noticed I was making smarter spending choices as well as taking less time figuring out what to wear. So, I never looked back! I’ve tweaked Caroline’s rules a bit to make the concept personal and practical, and I’ve curated and worn a capsule wardrobe for every season since.

At the end of each three-month season, I choose my thirty-seven (or less) items for the next season’s wardrobe. I’ve found it easiest to start with the things that I’m carrying over from the previous season. (Some of my basics—chambray button-down, black flats, a tee or two, to name a few—get worn year-round.) Next, I add the season-specific pieces. I tend to associate certain colors with certain seasons, so for example, I had a couple mint things that were obvious choices this past spring, and I’ve got a mustard yellow item or two that I’m saving for fall.

Then I spend some time thinking intentionally about what I want to wear for the next three months. I like to fill out at least parts of the Un-Fancy Capsule Wardrobe Planner each time, and I take note of the looks I’ve been pinning to my Wardrobe Inspiration board on Pinterest. Lastly, if I need to, I shop for new items to fill in the “holes.” This summer, my to-buy list included things like a few dresses to “wear anywhere,” a pair of black shorts to pair with a few of my tops, and a statement piece I really wanted: short overalls. For fall, I’m planning to look for things like a pair of ankle boots (to swap for the tall boots I wore last year) and a new pair of jeans (to replace a pair that I gave new life to for summer by cropping them, since their original length wasn’t working for me).

My thirty-some-item capsule wardrobe for each season includes all the obvious things like tops, bottoms, and dresses. It also includes shoes and outerwear (jackets/coats). It does not include my hats, jewelry, bags, scarves, or other accessories. Nor does it include underwear or sleepwear or the things I wear to work out, lounge around the house, or work with my husband (in horse barns).

Limiting myself to a specific number of items in my wardrobe has been life-changing in countless ways. I spend much less money on clothing, because I’m only buying things that I LOVE and will definitely wear often. I spend less time shopping because I only shop when I need to replace something. When I do make a purchase, I invest in something that will last. Figuring out what to wear before heading out of the house takes a minimal amount of time, because I only have a few favorites to choose from. I’ve come a long way in establishing my personal style and recognizing the colors, fits, and fabrics I gravitate toward. My closet and chest of drawers are clean, neat, and clutter-free. I’ve been able to turn unwanted items into cash. Most importantly, it has been an exercise in contentment.

You see, minimalism is about far more than having a tiny number of things. Minimalism is about the messy process of reduction, and what that process teaches us. Cutting back, paring down, and making do with less gives us time, energy, and space for the things that really matter. While “what really matters” varies based on our individual values systems, and what I deem “essential” may not seem necessary at all to you, the benefits are the same. As we rid ourselves of excess stuff, we uncover the beauty of “enough.”

For further reading: click here to read all the posts tagged “capsule wardrobe” at www.therealizationofgood.com.

Photos + styling by Alyssa Beiler.

What about you: do you implement a capsule wardrobe? What are your thoughts on minimalism?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!