It is January. Does anyone else the get the urge to purge and/or obsessively clean and organize? Ever since we moved into the house, we've been living in partial limbo. Furniture destined for the studio is crammed every which way in the main house and a tent out back. Also, props to the tent for withstanding El Nino. Furniture is super dry. Yay!
But, the studio is almost done. ALMOST. We'll finally have our weekends back, space in the house back, and money to spend on important things - like a dresser. My socks have just been chillin under the bed.
I have cleaned out my closet twice. This will be my third time, and I think - last time. Each have been invaluable in showing me what direction I want to move in.
round one:
Figuring out what *I* really like.
I think this was a huge success. I narrowed down my personal style: chic, vintage, prep - loafers will always be my one true love. And, I determined my favorite fit: skim the hips, cinch the waist. I dealt with the guilt of giving away clothes that were gifts. And, just because you loved something doesn't mean you still love it. Thank it for the time you had with it, and move on. It was such a freeing experience.
round two:
The capsule wardrobe experiment.
I wasn't a huge fan. I don't like the idea of putting away out of season clothes. Maybe there were still too many options? Maybe I need to do it multiple times to get the hang of it? I just wasn't all that into it.
round three:
The 18 Piece Wardrobe.
So, I'm really excited about this. I really want to try this experiment all year. I don't have all of these pieces, but I have most of them or something very similar. I tried to pick only sustainable brands that mirrored what I have in my closet. A lot of my stuff was found second hand.
I'm getting annoyed with several of the second hand tops I have; because, they're 100% polyester and I can't stand wearing them. There's no breathe-ability, and I feel like I'm suffocating. I would love to replace a couple of items with natural fibers and more functionality.
I struggle between both worlds. I think buying second hand is fabulous for the environment. I have more luck at consignment stores than a thrift store when it comes to clothes. But, it's still difficult to find natural fibers. I also support fair trade and ethical clothing lines. I think we absolutely need to support new businesses with ethical practices.
I'm sure some of you are pretty good at math and realized there's more than 18 pieces there. I'm not counting the two coats or the accessories. But, I do plan to keep them very limited. I've been wearing hats a lot more since I'm wearing a DIY sunscreen that only has about 8-12 SPF. Perfect for everyday sun exposure like car rides or short walks. But, if I'm in the sun, I really like to wear a hat. Plus, they're stylish.
Also Paris To Go has an actual 18 piece wardrobe which includes accessories and is fabulous.
Socks and underwear, obviously not included. I do need to buy a swim suit. I'm keeping three pairs of PJs. Because, I really cannot let go of my penguin button down jam-jams. I'm keeping 3 workout outfits. I only have one belt, but would really like another one. I'll be keeping a couple of pieces I use in the theatre a lot and I'll be keeping all 6 pairs of my dance shoes. (Black characters, tan characters, character taps, flat taps, jazz shoes, ballet shoes.)
What do you think about wardrobe minimalism? Have your tried a capsule? What did you think?
PS I can't wait for a dresser.
