closet inventory

Inspired by other bloggers, especially Kimi, I was inspired a couple of years ago to do a closet inventory post, since I find theirs so fascinating and informative. And since it's been a few years now, I decided to put on my 19 in 2019 list a goal to do an updated version.

I have a dresser where I store undies/socks and workout clothes, so those (and real outerwear) are not counted here, but otherwise here's everything that's in my half of the closet (you can see the general layout of the shelves + 2 hanging bars below). With the major categories, I also listed how many more or fewer of each type of item I have now, compared to the 2016 count.

Dresses: 19 (+4)

• Long-sleeved: 5
• Short-sleeved: 3
• Sleeveless: 8
• Jumpsuits: 3

Shirts: 40 (+0)

• Tees/tanks: 13
• Long-sleeved: 9
• Blouses: 13
• Button-downs: 5

Sweaters: 22 (-4)

• Pullovers: 16
• Cardigans: 4
• Sweatshirts: 2

Pants: 9 (+2)

• Jeans: 5
• White/black jeans: 3
• Others: 1

Shorts: 3 (-1)

Skirts: 5 (-2)

Outers: 8 (-1)

• Jackets: 4
• Blazers: 3
• Vests: 1

Shoes: 25 (+1)

• Flats: 7
• Heels: 4
• Sneakers: 4
• Sandals: 5
• Boots: 3
• Espadrilles: 2

Whew, that really seems like a lot of items when you write them out, but since this is my entire wardrobe (I store everything in my half of the closet, no switching out for seasons except to put seasonal shoes on the lower shelves and non-seasonal shelves on the ones I need a stool to reach), I feel pretty good about it - especially because I'm basically at the same total number as 3 years ago. I do like to shop for new things, but I try to be conscious of not accumulating too much, and this makes it feel like I've been pretty successful... even if many of the items in the closet are different than ones I had 3 years ago, at least I don't have way more of them.

Perks of doing a closet inventory:

• Really assessing what I have, weeding out stuff that's not in such good shape any more (hello armpit holes in some white tees), and also figuring out what things I might like to be incorporating into this existing wardrobe, to make a specific shopping list (and an attempt to stick to only that for future purchases!).
• Also, really assessing what I actually wear - which is an opportunity for seeing what it might be time to let go of (check out my Poshmark for a few of the things...).
• Realizing that I have plenty of clothes, enough to have plenty of variety in my outfits - and while I have the space to store more if I wanted, there's perhaps not a need for it, because look how many sweaters I already have! Good reminder.
• Getting everything all organized nicely - I'm usually pretty tidy, but going through everything was an excuse to get it all put back nicely.

And because I love any behind-the-scenes peek, here's a glimpse of my half of the closet... If you've ever done any wardrobe inventory or closet tour post, drop me a link so I can satisfy my nosiness!

wearing lately: curated closet

As someone who's tried out the capsule wardrobe approach, and referred to the blog Into Mind as part of the process, that blogger's first book - The Curated Closet - sounded right up my alley. While I have a decent handle on my personal style and on maintaining a relatively streamlined wardrobe, I've felt a little lost style-wise and not quite me lately (maybe it's something to do with kind of hating my hair cut? Blerg), giving me the itch to pinpoint what I can do in my closet to get out of the slump.

So the arrival of a book subtitled "A Simple System for Discovering Your Personal Style and Building Your Dream Wardrobe" feels like it could be just what I need. What I like about this book: it's so comprehensive. Every step of figuring out your personal style and building a curated closet is in there, and it's all laid out really well. I like keeping it on my nightstand to page through and ponder little sections at a time as they relate to my closet.

What I like less: it's not a miracle worker. It has all the tools you need to make a great wardrobe suited to your (life)style, but you do have to put in the work, from creating inspiration boards to cleaning out your closet to coming up with your outfit formulas, for the wardrobe to work for you. Which is slightly annoying, because it is a lot of work that takes a lot of time. But worth it! I do wish there were more images that corresponded directly to closet selections/outfit ideas, but I suppose that's hard to do when this book is for every individual style, rather than being one of those style prescriptions that claim to tell you the "10 things every woman needs in her wardrobe", etc.

I've long known that my style should be labeled "basics with a twist" but needed this book's prompts to put more words/specifics to it, in terms of outfit formulas and what the actual items should be. So in the basic outfit formula of jeans + neutral top + flats, I'm pinpointing what makes this kind of outfit feel complete and feel "me": special details to the top (texture, buttons, etc.), snazziness to the shoes (color!). Two-fer tops like this one are really great for making the luxe, pulled-together feel happen instantaneously.

Some other key parts of the process I've been working on: first, the inspiration board, scrapping my style Pinterest board so that I could start fresh with what inspires me now and is actually something I'd wear. Feels just as good to clean out that clutter as it does to ship off a bag of under-worn stuff from my closet to ThredUp! I'm also working on the color palette portion - I have a lot of neutrals but have been craving a little more well-placed color, such as in statement pieces that can stand alone with jeans to make an outfit pop. And then the fun part: getting dressed in my outfit formulas! Two others that I think will really work for me and satisfy the style cravings I have right now are jeans + blouse + cardigan, black jeans + statement top + neutral flats, and dress + jacket + ankle boots.

So that's how my personal style has been going lately. How's yours? If you've ever been interested in a capsule wardrobe or minimalist/streamlined approach to your wardrobe, definitely check out this book - it's inspiring!

I was provided a copy of this book by Blogging for Books, but all opinions are my own. Sharing on What I Wore to Work, Hello Monday.

closet inventory + Capsules tool

Here's something most of us can use in the New Year: a closet reassessment! With the help of the Capsules by Cladwell tool I mentioned last month, I have been doing just that:

I love the concept of a capsule/minimal wardrobe, having experienced many benefits from doing one a year ago in the fall and winter: the wonderful paradoxes of feeling like I had more to wear even though there was less in my closet or wanting all the things less even though I wasn't "allowed" to shop, the bliss of reduced decision fatigue, and the greater satisfaction with my personal style in general.

However, I don't necessarily want to have one at the moment - I just want to have a good wardrobe, one that is suitable for everything I need, uncluttered, and easy to make great outfits from. In light of this, I thought the Capsules tool could be useful for re-focusing myself this year: clearing out some non-essentials (or, worse, non-"me" items) that have managed to re-build up the size of my wardrobe again, finding the pieces that really work for me and my lifestyle, and making only smart new purchases (also avoiding any extras!).

For starters I did a closet inventory; the results, along with a little tour of my closet organization, just for fun:

I've always been intrigued by other bloggers' closet inventories, and perhaps a bit smugly so... the numbers always sound so big, and surely mine would seem more reasonable, as one who has previously done capsules and is so into remixing, right? But it turns out there's actually a ton of stuff in my (half of the) closet! I mean, there aren't even close to enough days in the week to wear 40 shirts, even if I spill on a bunch of them. Clearly I don't need all of what I have in there - and I don't wear it all with regularity either. (The Capsules team suggests that 80% of our wardrobes tend to go unworn! I'd have to dig a little to see if that's true for me, but definitely there's always a 10-20% that I wear WAY more than the rest.)

So after this assessment, I used the Capsules tool to make a goal for the size of my wardrobe. I didn't focus as much on the tool's first steps of closet cleanout and inspiration gathering that it walks you through (though these are very useful for newbies); what I found really helpful here was the needs assessment section: first, recording the activities in my life, what types of items I want to wear for them, and how much variety of clothing I need for each.

Based on this assessment, after inputting my personal activities (mostly working from home, church, occasional date nights and ladies nights, some work travel), along with the variety required (which made me realize, let's be honest, I really don't need much variety for any of these things), I ended up with much smaller numbers: 10 dresses, 8 sweaters, 3 outers, 15 shirts, 6 pants, 3 shorts, 4 skirts, 16 shoes.

Now I'm considering how I want to use this going forward. I think it'll help me take a harder look at what I really wear, so I can remove extraneous items and get closer to these suggested numbers, and also be more firm about shopping for specific things only and not adding anything I don't need to my wardrobe.

To finish off the process, I used the color palette selection section of Capsules to give myself a focus for January - I still have the whole regular wardrobe available, but this "mini wardrobe", like I've been assembling monthly since September, narrows down some go-tos for when I need something great to wear that makes me feel great - and quick.

Trying out the Capsules tool with a focus on just January ended up being helpful, given the work travel I have this month. Since I work from home, usually professional wear doesn't factor in to the equation so much, but with two trips for meetings, this month I need to be a bit more organized on the outfit planning front. Creating a small capsule was really helpful in narrowing down my wardrobe to this month's essentials, which makes getting dressed so much easier by eliminating extraneous options and reducing decision fatigue. I just made all the decisions up front about what to wear in January, and now all I have to do is throw a couple of things into my gym bag or my suitcase and I'm going to be good to go, since everything goes... you'll see the selections tomorrow!

Whether you want to have help refining your wardrobe, figuring out what to add to it each season, or picking a mix & match set of items for a trip, I definitely recommend checking out Capsules. It's easy to use, whether on your phone or your computer, and it does a good job of guiding you through all the steps - steps that might seem onerous at first (closet cleanout, making a Pinterest inspiration board) but that are so worth taking the time to do, as having a streamlined and cohesive and "you" wardrobe, whatever size that might turn out to be, will save you so much time in decision making in the end.

I do think there are a couple of drawbacks - I wished that I could go back and adjust some of my settings within the capsule, rather than having to start over, and I wish that I could create more than one at once, as I like to do separate ones for seasons or specific trips - but if this concept is something that has intrigued you but you haven't known where to start? Start here!

p.s. looking for more on how to use this tool to create a personal capsule, or on ideas for what to include? See Audrey or Tieka's great recent posts on the benefits and basics of capsules, or check out my lineup from last winter.

Capsules by Cladwell provided me with free access to try their tool, but the opinions here are my own. Thanks for supporting the sites that support mine!

wearing lately: holiday plaid

So far this month we've done metallics and red, so now turning to the third trick up my sleeve(s) for festive dressing all December long: plaid. And with my little December capsule, it was super easy to pull together a couple of outfits for a couple of occasions - such as one that could do cocktails and one that could do a casual gathering. Read on for even more styling ideas, and for a new online tool, Capsules, that can help you build a simplified but fabulous little mix & match wardrobe of your very own...

Super easy and pretty basic, but just that mixing in of plaid (plus some well-placed baubles and bright outerwear) makes it all feel much more festive, right? And these are just two of the many ways to wear a plaid shirt in this season... tucked into the sequin mini skirt from my December lineup would be fun. Or layered under the cozy cardigan. (And just to show how timeless a plaid shirt is for the holidays, there are even more ideas from last year here.)

That's just one of the many things I love about this mix & match mini capsule approach - versatility! With a little planning ahead on what items to include, I feel like I've so easily got something to wear for everything, which is helpful when there are so many things this time of year. A simplified wardrobe to make great outfits from - that's what these little wardrobes help me do. And everyone's interested in that, right? I've gotten lots of great feedback on these mini wardrobes that I've been posting monthly since September, including comments like "I want that to be my closet!" and now good news... you can!

Recently the team of a new online tool, Capsules by Cladwell, reached out to share their product, and I'm really excited about it, as one of their chief goals is exactly what I'm going for here: to create awesome outfits from your closet.

metallic stripe tee | cable knit sweater (similar) | plaid shirt | little red dress (similar, similar) | skinny jeans (similar cheaper) | black jeans | party skirt (similar, similar) | festive flats | chambray shirt | pea coat (similar cheaper) | clutch | sparkly jewelry: earrings, similar necklace | ankle boots | heels | plaid scarf | chunky cardigan (similar)

This tool walks you through everything you need to make a capsule of your own: closet cleanout, self discovery (figuring out the wardrobe/color palette that works for YOU), examination of your lifestyle (to make sure everything in your wardrobe will get worn), and finally - the fun part - edit and shop. Capsules generates a simple wardrobe by focusing on your personal preferences and the activities in your life. Users check-off the items you own, and only buy what you need, so you can clear out the clutter and get on with what really matters in life.

This would be a great Christmas or New Year's gift to yourself, the new year being a great time to clean out your closet and start fresh and all. Check it out. I'm planning to use some of my downtime from work over the holidays to do just that, and I'll be sharing my experiences (and new mini wardrobe lineup) in January.

Sharing on Hello Monday, Mix It Monday.

Capsules by Cladwell provided me with a free trial of their tool; thanks for supporting the brands that help make my posts possible!

wearing lately: September mix & match wardrobe

I didn't want to quite go the distance and tackle the full capsule thing again this fall, but I really was looking for some of the closet satisfaction and ease that it brought... so I thought: why not pretend my wardrobe is a suitcase? I always know what to do when I reduce things down to my mix & match packing lists, so breaking the closet into suitcase-like sections should work great for everyday life, right?

silk blouse (similar, similar) | striped tee (similar) | gingham shirt | burgundy dress (similar) | skinny jeans (similar inexpensive) | white jeans (similar) | cognac belt (similar) | cardigan | navy booties (similar) | scarf | a-line skirt (similar) | leather backpack (similar faux) | sneakers | nude flats (similar) | field jacket

When I travel I'm always looking for pieces that can do a variety of things - dressing up and down - and of course that's exactly what's needed in regular life too, since some days I'm working from coffee shops, then momming, then having date night - but I want to keep my wardrobe size manageable. Hopefully this monthly mini wardrobe approach also helps get me excited about working with what I already have, but otherwise if I shop will point out closet holes or items that will fit in really well to my wardrobe and my style.

What I wear this month doesn't need to be restricted to these items by any means, but when I want to pull together something quickly (like when I'm throwing stuff into my gym bag to change into after my shower there) or am having one of those "nothing to wear" feeling days, here's a set of go-to items that mix & match to create great early fall outfits.

September always feels tricky with temperature fluctuations throughout the day, plus some summer-like weather when I feel like wearing more fall-like clothes, so I have lots of layers for cool mornings/warm afternoons and also items where I can go with bare legs or arms, but with fall twists (booties, rich burgundy and cognac hues). This mini wardrobe has a bit more color than I expected, but after tiring a bit of my summer wardrobe, I'm all excited about this navy/burgundy combo at the moment - but with the fun surprise of leaving white jeans in the mix to keep it feeling fresh.

Here are a couple of outfits already made from this slate, making the same shirt/cardigan combo suitable for a family cottage gathering and for church - extra handy when I had about 5 minutes to get ready for each. Exactly when a pre-planned outfit is called for!

Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks for two ways to wear those white jeans for fall, plus two ways to wear the fab navy ankle boots. Plus I'm already all excited about the next section of my closet I'm going to mix & match this season: the black and white and gray part. Lineup coming in October!

Sharing on Third Thursday Threads plaid theme, Creative Closet jewel tones linkup, Just Jacq, Hello Monday.

wearing lately: what I'd wear

Today I'm over on Roxi's blog in her great guest series, "Meet Another Blogger." It's fun to read a bit about other ladies' personal style and get to share about my own in a guest post too, but what I really love about Roxi's series is the "what would you wear to..." question list she came up with. What a great way to pinpoint your own style by thinking through these prompts, and also great inspiration from seeing what other people would wear for different occasions.

Here are some of mine - go check out the post for full details about these outfit ideas!

What would you wear at brunch with your grandmother?

What would you wear to the grocery store?

What would you wear on date night?

What do you wear that has special significance to you?

Other questions include "What would you wear to a gym session?" and "If you could have anyone in the world, past or present, to dinner, who would it be, and what would you wear?" I loved Kimi's outfit for meeting T.Swift. Also loved finding a new blogger though the series - I can definitely get on board with Sarah's brunch style!

And what would YOU wear?

Sharing on Just Jacq.

capsule wrapup + linkup

We've come to the end of March, which means the end of my winter capsule wardrobe. It's not really the end though, since plenty of these items will get plenty more wear in other seasons - but there's the fun of spring, getting to pair the gingham shirt with white jeans instead of layered under a sweater and a vest, or cuff the jeans with some cute sneakers instead of thick socks and booties.

A little recap of how this season went down:

Most worn items: top: down vest and cable knit sweater / bottom: dark wash jeans / shoe: cognac booties

Least worn items: navy dress. Also, top: both blouses / bottom: burgundy cords / shoe: riding boots

Favorite outfits: layered stripes, chambray & vest with sneakers / gingham shirt with peplum jacket / everything with the graphic tee

Least favorite outfit: floral sweatshirt with utility jacket - kinda blah somehow

Tweaks: returned the moto boots that I really wished worked for me (liked that little bit of edge) and replaced them with a block-heeled version scored on sale at Madewell - also a worthy purchase as they were quite versatile.

"Cheats": hmmm, a lot more than last time. Some warm weather clothes for my Bahamas trip, an additional (polka-dotted!) down vest to replace my yucky old black one, this perfect striped tee (I've proved how useful they are!) and awesome sweatshirt in mid-March super clearance sales, and some great black heels for upcoming weddings after getting rid of my horribly uncomfortable old pair.

Closet rescues: amazingly, I thought I was kind of over my black & white striped tee, but it got a ton of different uses and is definitely sticking around.

On their way to Goodwill: my riding boots, which I already didn't really love, just aren't looking their best and don't fit my style as well any more as the other options I've got now.

Biggest surprise: how I didn't actually want to TORCH my sweaters and  boots (though sick of wearing them, sure) after the season. And how much I loved my cream cable knit sweater - surprisingly shows up only a few times here for how much I liked wearing it. So basic but versatile.

Biggest mistake: the burgundy cords. I loved my burgundy jeans in fall but just wasn't feeling the colored bottoms this winter - I think it's because my warmest coat is plum colored, which just looks dumb with colored pants! And skirts/tights, for that matter.

Lessons learned:

• I don't really need another official capsule. Based on the lessons I learned from fall (fewer items in the wardrobe paradoxically leads to more options/satisfaction, neutrals work for me, etc.), which were reinforced by doing this again for the winter, I feel ready to transition into a "regular" closet that incorporates those principals. I still love the concept of creating mix & match collections (my suitcase posts are my favorites to put together), but I'm at the point where my wardrobe sort of is that. It's pretty well pared down, I've really learned what my style is and what works for me, and so I'm kind of good to go at the moment without getting formal about rules. I liked my spring/summer wardrobe a lot from last year and thought I did a good job of streamlining it (though I wasn't doing a capsule then, the options I have reflect how I was starting to think along the minimalism/pared-down/neutral style lines) so I'm hoping I'm able to just carry on informally with the capsule concepts I love into regular life - having a small wardrobe, doing great mixing & matching, finding outfit formulas that work for me, not accumulating too much via shopping but making smart purchases. 

• Which leads into my newfound faith that I really CAN moderate my wardrobe shopping! I was much looser on the no-shopping rules this season, as seen above, but even with kind of throwing them out the window, I didn't go back to my old habits. By getting used to having a smaller wardrobe, learning that I really don't need that much in there (and actually really liking the limited stuff that is in there!), and just doing less shopping in general, I just don't have as much desire to add more stuff, so I don't feel like I need formal rules beyond my monthly budget. Sure, I still kind of have some of that "want all the things" feeling as spring arrives - who doesn't - but much less so. Pulling out the non-winter capsule clothes from where I had packed them away is making me feel like I have new clothes all over again, which is fun, and beyond that I think I can make smart, targeted shopping choices.

• Which then leads to the lesson that knowing what you're going for is crucial. It's one thing to identify your personal style, which I feel like I've had a handle on for a couple of years, but then it's another thing to have specific direction. This winter I really wanted to take my basic style up a notch by wearing items that added a bit of a luxe feeling, or that added a little bit of edge. This was SO helpful not only in figuring out what should be in my wardrobe but also in putting together daily outfits, so that I could walk around feeling how I wanted to feel in clothes. Which felt great.

• A cute down vest is a winter wardrobe must-have. Duh.

• Shopping smart pays off. Usually at the end of the winter I'm ready to torch all of my sweaters and boots (or at least donate all of them, which is what I did after last year). Really putting some thought into my wardrobe and buying a couple of sweaters that would be great for my personal style and lifestyle (same thing with boots) worked out, I think. I'm tired of having to wear them, but I absolutely plan to have them in my wardrobe when cold weather comes back around, and I think that's a feat - both in terms of still liking them and in terms of how well they've held up. A few quality pieces vs. my normal buy a bunch of sweaters on sale mentality paid off, as I didn't end up with any sweaters that ended up feeling not "me" after only a couple of wears, or that were too pilled after one season to be able to bring back next year.

• Cognac booties go with everything. Also duh.

• I don't really wear dresses/skirts in the winter, but they're still worth their slot in my wardrobe - especially the ones I included can be pulled out for the few occasions I end up needing them in the winter, but they also can be adapted to fall and spring outfits really easily, so they're smart to keep in a wardrobe of limited size, as I move beyond the specific capsule. I think this versatility is a feat! Same goes for the blouses in my capsule - not worn much but nice to have around for date night/work trip, and definitely usable in several other seasons too. 

This wardrobe approach might not be for everyone, but I'm glad I did it - I know there are a lot of people who, like me, are looking for more wardrobe satisfaction while sticking to a budget and focusing a bit more on quality vs. quantity where possible, and giving myself a set of rules was a big help in finally achieving those wardrobe goals and feeling like (for the most part) I always have "something to wear."

How about you? Did you do one too? Over this whole idea or still going strong? Link up winter capsule recaps or outfits (or a post from any current style remixing challenge you've got going on) below - and please be sure to link back to Jacquelyn & me in your post to share the love.

An InLinkz Link-up

to wear: fall capsule wardrobe linkup

I admit, I've been having a few qualms along the way as I put together this capsule wardrobe. Closet purging doesn't tend to make me anxious, but this is my most pared-down wardrobe ever. And though I don't think I'm going to end up missing the things I got rid of, I have been occasionally second-guessing my capsule choices, whether I'm going to get tired of a small selection, or whether all these neutrals are going to be a mistake - seeing all the photos together makes me worried that it's a boring palette or too plain. But going back to my inspiration boards and my intentions reminds me that this is really what I'm drawn to, and I really don't need more than a few great basics to make a bunch of stylish and "me" outfits.

So I'm excited that it's finally time to just get started on this capsule wearing. In the end, even if some of it doesn't work out as I hoped, it's just 3 months - and you don't know until you just try it out! So without further ado, here's what I've got for September through November:

tees/tanks: graphic tee | long sleeved tee | black tank | drapey striped tee | peter pan collar tee | black striped tee | yellow striped tee | embroidered shirt | blouses/shirts: chambray shirt | lace top | plaid shirt | leopard print blouse

*links to same items when available, otherwise similar options

sweaters: metallic tweed pullover | blue sweater | graphic sweater | chunky knit sweater | mustard cardigan | jackets: denim jacket | cargo jacket | black blazer | quilted vest

dresses: sweatshirt dress | striped dress | skater dress | skirts: black mini skirt | denim pencil skirt | pants: eggplant skinny jeans | dark skinny jeans | distressed jeans | chinos

flats: black flats | cognac flats | coral flats | cognac booties | white sneakers | heels: bow-back kitten heels | leopard mini wedge

It's actually taken a fair bit of time and thought to put this together, and there are a few things still on the way/on the shopping list, as you can see: for a few specific things I knew I wanted to be part of the capsule it just made sense to wait for inevitable Labor Day sales and dates I could redeem coupons, so they'll be included as they arrive (if they work out - if not, that just means I don't need them and can get by with fewer items!).

But I think the upfront investment - both time and money-wise - will pay off over the next couple of months. Having a cohesive, mix & match approach to my closet and thinking ahead about what kinds of outfits I need for my casual, work-from-home-mom lifestyle, and then coming up with lots of specific options out of these pieces I've chosen, should mean it's easier to get dressed because the only options in my closet are pieces that I'm excited about, that go together, and that work for my personal style and lifestyle.

So I'm excited to begin the wearing part of the process and start photographing some of the results to show off in future linkups - but at the moment I can't wait to preview your capsules!

Aside from a request  to be sure to link back to Jacquelyn's blog and to mine, so that your readers know where to go if they want to join in, this is a pretty loose link up - even if you aren't quite ready with your capsule, or are doing a different/similar challenge like a 30x30 remix, we still want you to join in and share with us where you are at in the process. As Jacquelyn said, the point of the link up is to encourage one another as we work towards a more workable, financially responsible wardrobe, so we look forward to seeing how you make this work for your lifestyle.

Link up your capsule below:

An InLinkz Link-up

Sharing on Style Sessions and What I Wore.

5 things Friday: shopping freeze Q&A with Brynn

Here's even more inspiration/encouragement ahead of next week's fall capsule link up, if you're still waffling on whether or how to join: My blog friend Brynn, after realizing how much stuff she had in her closet (similar to what got me going on this whole thing!) decided to do a year-long shopping freeze. The things she's learned already about viewing her closet differently - and the actual decreased desire to even shop at all - are exactly some of the things I'm looking for out of this challenge, so she's got me excited and encouraged about the possibilities. Read on for more about her experience, and check out the photo captions for some excellent capsule wardrobe building tips!

Hello! My name is Brynn, and I blog my daily outfits over at brynnash. I just started a new job as a high school counselor after two grueling years of graduate school, so I'm especially enjoying putting together work outfits these days. I also decided to undertake a huge challenge starting in June. I'm trying to go a year without shopping.  [And yes, I may be crazy.]

I'm a longtime fan and reader of Anne's blog, so when she asked me to write a post detailing my shopping freeze, I was so excited! So, here we go!

Q: Why did you decide to stop shopping for a year?

A: Oh gosh...my decision to stop shopping for a year took a lot of thought and involved a lot of different factors. Probably the biggest reason for the shopping freeze was monetary. As I mentioned above, I just graduated with my Master's degree in May, which means that I have a chunk of student loans that I'd love to pay back as soon as I can. Since my hobby is clothing and personal style, I was finding myself shopping a lot, and spending a lot of money that I either didn't really have, or money that could have gone to paying back student loan debt. I also was feeling a little bit ashamed of how much stuff I had in my closet.  I did a closet inventory back in March, and seeing how much was hanging in my closet and taking up space in my dresser was utterly shocking to me. I desperately needed to make a change, so I decided to be happy with what I already owned and stop adding things to my already-full wardrobe.

Fun shoes and accessories are great at helping my outfits feel fresh and exciting, even though I'm rewearing the same clothes I've had in my closet for months with nothing new.

Q: Did you set up any parameters for yourself?

A: Yes! I knew that going cold turkey, so to speak, would have been setting myself up for failure, so I wanted to make sure I had some rules for myself in order to be as successful as possible. I am allowing myself to purchase clothes if my body fluctuates, if I use gift cards or rewards (aka no money from our bank account), to replace my black boots, and school spirit apparel for my new job. Basically, I want to eliminate impulse buys and boredom shopping from my life, while saving money at the same time.

Having a closet mainly made up of neutrals has helped me to mix and match my pieces to create different outfits.

Q: What has been the hardest part of your shopping freeze?

A: My husband and I moved to a new city in mid-June (after I had already committed to the shopping freeze). At the time that we moved, I had no idea that our new house is a mere 5 minutes from an outlet mall. I drive by it all the time and sometimes I just want to go in and see what kinds of deals are out there (I'm a bargain queen!). I think that living so close to a great outlet mall is the hardest part, haha! I also didn't realize how badly I needed short-sleeved shirts that were also work-appropriate before starting the challenge. Also, spoiler alert: I wound up buying two short-sleeved shirts just a couple of weeks ago at Goodwill that I can wear to my new job. Starting a new career during the middle of a shopping freeze probably wasn't the wisest idea, but I was so mindful about what I bought, and I wound up spending only $8 on the two shirts, so I feel good about those smart and useful purchases.

Colors and patterns add some nice variety in my small wardrobe as well.

Q: Has the shopping freeze affected the way you've viewed your closet and put together outfits?

A: Yes, immensely!! Because I'm trying to work with what I've got, I've really done a great job of trying to think critically about the pieces that I have. If things are not versatile or if I'm not in love with the items, they're cut from my closet. I'm still constantly getting rid of things, because I'm learning that I need to be 100% happy with what's in my closet. I see so many impulse purchases that are hanging in my closet from before the challenge began that I feel guilty about, and instead of seeing them every morning and making myself feel bad about having spent the money on something that I don't even really like, I'm getting rid of those things. Right now, it's all about feeling 100% satisfied and happy with what's in my closet.

Consequently, since the number of things in my closet is decreasing as I get rid of the excess, I have had to get more creative with my purchases. I just wrapped up a 20x30 remix challenge, which was fantastic - I remixed 20 items from my closet over the course of 30 days, with no repeats.  I've participated in other remix challenges before (two 30x30 remixes have been documented on my blog!), and every time, I am reminded about how much fun it is to play dress up in my closet and stretch my imagination in creating new outfits. Another bonus? Playing with what I already have and creating challenges for myself keep me feeling excited about the items I have...and actually, it's taken away my desire to shop at all!

Staples, like my green vest, get worn a ton to help maximize the pieces in my closet and keep me from wanting to buy all the things.

Q: How are you planning to use what you've learned from your shopping freeze so far in the future?

A: This all actually ties in perfectly to Anne and Jacquelyn's capsule wardrobe linkup that will be happening over the next couple of months! I mentioned previously that I really enjoy doing remix challenges, and for over a year now, I've been really interested in adopting a capsule wardrobe mentality. Because I'm not adding anything into my closet for a year and because of my previous successes with remix challenges, I'm going to be participating in Anne and Jacquelyn's capsule wardrobe linkup this fall. I've chosen 45 items from my closet that I'm going to be wearing and rewearing for the next three months (with room to add in up to 5 other items, for a total of 50 items in my capsule). I'm feeling so excited about the opportunity to give this a shot with some other fantastic bloggers!

Thanks so much for reading all about my year of no shopping! I know it's not something that everyone can or wants to do, but for me, the benefits have far outweighed my crazy "need" to shop and spend. I definitely recommend giving a shopping freeze a try (even if it's just for a month or two). I promise it will help you to view your closet differently!