Clothes, closet cleanses, and capsule wardrobes.

ElcaB

I love clothes, I have way too many, and I usually feel like I have nothing to wear. (I realize this is a FWP, but am sure I'm not alone...right? RIGHT?) I have tons of clothes that fit and tons of clothes that don't. I have clothes I like, clothes I love, and...just so many clothes. 

I'm so over it. 

Last weekend, I started the lengthy process of switching out my winter & summer clothes, which led to the start of a closet cleanse. Then I remembered an article I read awhile ago called Why I Got Rid of My Wardrobe & the inspiration behind it, the capsule wardrobe. 

You guys, I think I'm going to try the whole capsule wardrobe thing. Experimentally, at first, to see if it works. I'll build a capsule wardrobe using stuff I have and put everything else away & give it a try. That way, if I hate it, I don't suffer any losses. But, if I like it, I can continue & permanently get rid of the stuff that doesn't fit/I don't love/I never wear. 

What are your general thoughts on wardrobes? Do you tend to think in the "the more, the better" camp or are you more of a minimalist? How many of you still keep clothes that definitely do not fit (I admit it, I have an entire tote of "Elca_B's Skinny Clothes)? Have any of you tried a capsule wardrobe? Your thoughts, please. 

redoryx

I love clothes and used to have WAY too many and was constantly buying things that would hang in my closet never worn.

Now I belong to Gwynnie Bee -- it's a subscription service that is like Netflix for plus-size clothes and it's amazeballs. I get fabulous new dresses that don't take up room in the closet. I haven't bought new clothes in months, I just rent them and mail them back when I'm done.

falsara

I love the idea, but I definitely think you (general) need to have an established idea of what you wear/ need for clothing in life. 

 I'm not in that category yet since I'm getting ready to graduate and have no idea what type of setting I'll be in 6 months from now.  

I'll be looking forward to creating this a year or so from now though. It seems like the best way to really get the most out of the clothes you buy. 

redheadbride15

I think this is a great idea, and I'd like to do it too. I only wear about 25% of what is in my closet and would really love to get rid of the rest. The problem with the suggested "capsule closet" of 37 items, however, is that it will NOT work if you live in a climate with serious seasons (like here in northern New England...). So I'd probably start with at least 3 capsules: one for summer, one for winter, and one for spring/fall.

ElcaB

redheadbride15 said:

I think this is a great idea, and I'd like to do it too. I only wear about 25% of what is in my closet and would really love to get rid of the rest. The problem with the suggested "capsule closet" of 37 items, however, is that it will NOT work if you live in a climate with serious seasons (like here in northern New England...). So I'd probably start with at least 3 capsules: one for summer, one for winter, and one for spring/fall.

@redheadbride15 that's exactly what she recommends --- four seasonal capsules. In Ohio, we get all four seasons, so my experimental capsule will be spring/summer. 

peachy13

I love closet cleanses. They happen twice a year when I do the switch (start of spring and start of fall) and I always fill up at least one bag of clothes to donate. You know what clothes you don't wear but are still in your closet for whatever reason. The hardest part is saying goodbye. 

My best friend buys a lot of clothes throughout the year and does something incredible to keep her closet organized: every New Year she puts all her closet items in with the hangers facing the opposite way. At the end of the year, whichever items are still in that position with the hanger facing the opposite way, she'll get rid of since she didn't wear it all year. So ruthless but she has been doing it for years and always says she usually agrees with what the hanger says and can't even remember some of the items that have been sent to the donate bin.

Cookie Pusher

I have a lot of clothes. When I changed my closet over a few weeks ago, I had over 50 spring/summer dresses, 30+ tops, over a dozen suits/blazers, a dozen skirts, and a dozen pairs of dress pants. That's just my work wardrobe! I don't even get into the jeans, shorts, and t-shirts. It's... a lot. But I do wear all of it. I put all the same type of clothing on the same color hangers (dresses on white hangers, sleeveless tops on blue hangers, etc.), and put the stuff that comes out of the laundry to the back of the group of hangers. When I get dressed in the morning, I only pull from the stuff towards the front of the hangers. I do spend roughly $200/season on items to replace things that are becoming worn or to add different colors/styles, but I also purge items that I don't like as much or don't fit well anymore.

charcoalandblush

I really wish something like this would work for me. I think I would really need two capsules though, one for casual clothes and one for work clothes, because the style/formality is STARKLY different. It would work great if I could be business-casual at work though.

Maybe I will try two capsules... 74 pieces would still definitely cut my wardrobe down a TON.

[Deleted User]

I recently recommended a capsule wardrobe to someone living in a tiny house; she was looking for solutions since she doesn't have a closet in her bedroom.

I essentially have a capsule wardrobe but didn't build it with that intention. I just don't like having a shit-ton of outfits. That means more choices and to be honest, the fewer decisions I have to make, the better.

jenna8984

I think I'm into trying this as well! Since we moved a month ago, A LOT of my items are still boxed up. Since the apartment is temporary I don't want to waste time unpacking and re-packing. So I have been wearing about 10% of my clothes for the last month and I feel like it's working out totally fine to be honest! Like who cares if I wear the same 5-10 shirts to work over and over? I used to alternate so often that I wouldn't wear a duplicate for another 2 months- that's just crazy and pointless! And then I find items that I'm absolutely in love with not getting worn because I feel like I have to "save" them from getting worn out. And again, that's dumb, I love them, I should wear them all the time.

 And I'm definitely with you on owning the "skinny" clothes that haven't fit in 3 years.

cupcait927

peachy13 said:

I love closet cleanses. They happen twice a year when I do the switch (start of spring and start of fall) and I always fill up at least one bag of clothes to donate. You know what clothes you don't wear but are still in your closet for whatever reason. The hardest part is saying goodbye. 

My best friend buys a lot of clothes throughout the year and does something incredible to keep her closet organized: every New Year she puts all her closet items in with the hangers facing the opposite way. At the end of the year, whichever items are still in that position with the hanger facing the opposite way, she'll get rid of since she didn't wear it all year. So ruthless but she has been doing it for years and always says she usually agrees with what the hanger says and can't even remember some of the items that have been sent to the donate bin.

I'm doing this right now! I started on New Year's Day and will be purging next month. I already have so much that I'm going to get rid of.

louxnoelle

I've gained a lottt of weight in the past year or so, and I absolutely have a bin in storage full of clothes that don't fit me, that I refuse to get rid of because I'll totally fit into them again - right? right?!

I try to buy higher-quality basics that I can switch up with less expensive elements, but it's kind of just become the hottest of in-my-early-twenties-and-fulfilling-different-roles-and-changing-sizes-and-figuring-out-life messes.

My dream is that when FI and I find a house, I'll use the move to reevaluate all of my belongings, not just clothing. I'd love to have an uncluttered, zen living space.

jacques27

I'll have to sit and ponder that link.  I started going through my closet over the weekend, too.  After donating 30+ shirts, I still have enough shirts to go three months, three weeks, and six days without repeating.  And that doesn't include undershirts or camisoles since I would never wear those on their own.  Or shirts that are obviously stained/ripped that I keep for knocking around the house for chores or exercise.  And they all fit.  I may have issues.

hellosweetie1015

I already live that life haha. I hate it. My wardrobe feels bland and boring. I wear the same thing every day, there's no variety. I don't have any funky stuff or even interesting stuff. Most of my stuff is Old Navy tees of various sleeve lengths.

I want enough clothes to not have to wear the same thing every week. Two weeks or maybe three, would be nice.

ElcaB

hellosweetie1015 said:

I already live that life haha. I hate it. My wardrobe feels bland and boring. I wear the same thing every day, there's no variety. I don't have any funky stuff or even interesting stuff. Most of my stuff is Old Navy tees of various sleeve lengths.

I want enough clothes to not have to wear the same thing every week. Two weeks or maybe three, would be nice.

I feel like the key to creating a capsule wardrobe is to determine your style & build it using lots of pieces you can mix and match. Does anyone remember What Not To Wear? Stacy and Clinton would always encourage the shopper to buy pieces that can be combined for different looks, i.e., skinny jeans & a tee can be paired with a scarf and flats for a casual look or a blazer and heels for a night out. I'm going to try to remember that this weekend when I begin my experimental capsule wardrobe. 

doeydo

Apparently I have a lot of clothes.  I love and need them and do buy more sometimes.  Stay and Clinton always made sure the people bought clothes that they could mix and make tons of different outfits with, which I thought was cool.  I tend to layer less than that, though, and just put on a shirt (and a camisole underneath, if need be) and a pair of pants or shorts.  Or, go the easy route and just out on a dress.  Meh.

jenna8984

ElcaB said:

hellosweetie1015 said:

I already live that life haha. I hate it. My wardrobe feels bland and boring. I wear the same thing every day, there's no variety. I don't have any funky stuff or even interesting stuff. Most of my stuff is Old Navy tees of various sleeve lengths.

I want enough clothes to not have to wear the same thing every week. Two weeks or maybe three, would be nice.

I feel like the key to creating a capsule wardrobe is to determine your style & build it using lots of pieces you can mix and match. Does anyone remember What Not To Wear? Stacy and Clinton would always encourage the shopper to buy pieces that can be combined for different looks, i.e., skinny jeans & a tee can be paired with a scarf and flats for a casual look or a blazer and heels for a night out. I'm going to try to remember that this weekend when I begin my experimental capsule wardrobe. 

Yea I remember always watching that show and being like sooooo they threw out 42 tops and only bought about 8 new ones...it never looked like they got much for the money at all. But I guess it is quality over quantity if you just wear the same basic things all the time.

larrygaga

I am moody with clothes so I just keep too many. I grew up with 2 sets of outfits  and a dress, so I went overboard once I had money to buy my own things.

Long hair don't care

hellosweetie1015

jenna8984 said:

ElcaB said:

hellosweetie1015 said:

I already live that life haha. I hate it. My wardrobe feels bland and boring. I wear the same thing every day, there's no variety. I don't have any funky stuff or even interesting stuff. Most of my stuff is Old Navy tees of various sleeve lengths.

I want enough clothes to not have to wear the same thing every week. Two weeks or maybe three, would be nice.

I feel like the key to creating a capsule wardrobe is to determine your style & build it using lots of pieces you can mix and match. Does anyone remember What Not To Wear? Stacy and Clinton would always encourage the shopper to buy pieces that can be combined for different looks, i.e., skinny jeans & a tee can be paired with a scarf and flats for a casual look or a blazer and heels for a night out. I'm going to try to remember that this weekend when I begin my experimental capsule wardrobe. 

Yea I remember always watching that show and being like sooooo they threw out 42 tops and only bought about 8 new ones...it never looked like they got much for the money at all. But I guess it is quality over quantity if you just wear the same basic things all the time.

I LOVED that show haha. I channeled them when I started my new job! I got 2-3 weeks of outfits (3 pair of pants I loved and 2 weeks worth of tops, all mix'n'matchable) for $500 right before I started last year. It was FABULOUS. I loved every piece.

Too bad I only have one of the shirts left haha, and I hate wearing it now.