I'm really excited. I've known about capsule wardrobes since early this year and been really intrigued. The concept is, you set a limit to how many pieces of clothing are in use at one time, and you make sure the pieces all go together, so you can wear them in various combinations.
Maybe because this was a more finite way of getting part of my life in order (vs. renovating the house, which could go on for years and cost tens of thousands of dollars), but when I realized I didn't have many fall/winter clothes, I decided to seriously try this concept.
So yesterday I made a list of the 33 items I thought I'd need, and AS and I went on a breakneck shopping spree (we put the kids down earlier than usual and had about an hour and a half until the store closed).
I didn't get everything on the list and got a few things that weren't on my list, but when I got home and also pulled out my current items I intend to keep, I realized I was very very close. So today AS and I went to a few more stores over my lunch hour and got the last few items we needed to round out our capsules.
We did have to go in the hole on our shared spending, but we won't carry a credit card balance or anything. All it means is we'll be floating our purchases using money that's allocated elsewhere for a month or two, and then when more spending money comes through the budget we'll be able to cover other expenses. (Sounds complicated but it's really very easy to do if you've got a lot of money set aside for various things.)
I spent between $500 and $600 to get 20 things, and AS spent a bit less than that. (She had more existing pieces of clothing that worked with her capsule.) This is the first major investment in my wardrobe in a long time, and the most I've ever spent at one go. But hopefully many of the pieces will last through the season and be able to be brought out again next fall/winter.
My first capsule wardrobe!
September 30th, 2015 at 09:50 pm
September 30th, 2015 at 10:18 pm 1443651536
October 1st, 2015 at 12:41 am 1443660096
October 1st, 2015 at 01:57 am 1443664650
October 1st, 2015 at 02:05 am 1443665108
snafu, I decided my collection made sense, so I'm not going to bother getting the things on my list. What happened was I didn't get a 3-piece suit, but I got two nice blazers that will pair with pants, skirts or dresses, so I don't really need a suit anymore. And I got 4 sweater-dresses instead of the 1 I planned to get, so I decided I didn't need as many pullovers as originally planned. I did decide to get 3 pairs of warm tights since I have so many dresses and skirts and it's a fall/winter wardrobe.
October 1st, 2015 at 09:53 pm 1443736412
I've managed to assemble existing shoes and boot styles of needed colors and heel types that will suffice but expect to buy another pair of practical, suede-like, slouch boots with fuzzy interiors and adjustable sides. I don't change handbags a lot but having seen some terrific, look-like-new, fabric totes at GW, I see them as viable to carry lunch, packages, shoes etc. Vinyl or fake leather cracks and splits in the cold.
Pearls are touted as a major accessory and I'd planned to make some larger [shawl-like] scarves which are so useful given our crazy winter weather. A few years ago I bought a box of 'fashion' watches at a yard sale for a couple of dollars. All they needed was a new battery, cheap and easy DIY to replace. I notice they're on sale on Amazon for $ 2.50 ea. Is headgear like double beanies, newsboy, crochet baggie beanie or knit beret important in MN? Do you wear hair accessories like clips, barrette or headband gizmos?
We are warned to expect snow on Saturday. I'm off to dig out box of gloves..