The Capsule Closet Project: Simplify Your Closet {Series}

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If you’re sitting there thinking to yourself, “I have no idea what a capsule closet is,” trust me, you’re not alone sister. Three months ago, the concept was completely foreign to me also. Then an invitation for a capsule closet seminar came to my inbox. It promised to simplify my life, which as the mother of a toddler, I feel like I am constantly seeking. Plus they promised wine… So I went.

capsule-closet-iconThe seminar was taught by a member of my community, Nessa Bixler, who specializes in helping others to capsule their closet (for more info., see bottom of article). The capsule closet concept centers on minimizing your wardrobe so that the only things hanging in your closet are things that fit, that you wear regularly, and that make you feel like yourself. For most people that’s about 30-40 items per season. Now, I’m going to be real with you. When she said that, I almost excused myself to go to the bathroom and never came back. Out of curiosity, I counted the items in my own closet. 96. And that doesn’t include all the clothes folded in my drawer or stuffed into bins in my basement.

Before you stop reading and assume that this isn’t for you, know that I felt the exact same way. But the more I listened, the more I realized that this had the potential to eliminate most of my morning stress. Every morning, I try on at least 5 or 6 things before I give up. Outfits that look good in my head end up being fussy, uncomfortable, or just don’t work. I’ve come to realize that there are 3 major reasons why I have so many clothes, but nothing to wear (sound familiar?):

  1. I attach sentimental value to my clothing. Even though I haven’t worn it in years, I can’t part with it because I wore it on my first date with my husband or I landed my first job in it.
  2. I’m a serial bargain shopper. There are so many pieces of clothing in my closet that either don’t fit correctly, aren’t really me, or are separates without a mate because they were too good of a deal to pass up.
  3. My body has changed. Even though the scale tells me I’m about the same weight I was before I had a baby, my body tells a different story. My body is different, but my wardrobe is the same.

And so, as a leap of faith and a desperate desire to eliminate the dreaded “what am I going to wear today” battle, I’ve decided to take the capsule closet challenge. If you’re like me and find that you’re wearing only about 25% of what you own and that what you’re seeking from your closet each morning is not what you’re finding, then come along with me! The rest of the article is going to explain the first step of the process (it’s not scary and does not involve trash bags, I promise).

Phase One: Figuring out where you are and what you want

Don’t worry, I’m not going to start by telling you to go into your closet wielding a sword and getting rid of everything you own. The first step is simple, but perhaps the most important. It begins with reflecting on what roles you play on a daily/weekly basis and what kinds of clothing you need for each role. For me, I work part-time in a professional office. When I’m not working, I’m home with a toddler. I also try to make time each month to go out with either friends or my husband without the little one. What I’ve discovered is that in all three settings, while my clothing needs differ, I have three basic “must-haves.” I need clothing that is:

  1. Comfortable
  2. Versatile (I love it if I can wear it to work and the playground.)
  3. Modest (not in a Dugger way, but more in a “30 year olds shouldn’t wear crop tops” and “I need to be able to play in the sandbox” sort of way).

Your list might be different than mine, and that’s great! Understanding what’s important to you and your closet is the first part of phase one. The next part is taking notes (mentally or physically) as you wear your clothing over the next month or so. Try answering some of the following questions throughout each day:

  • Does this outfit fit the way I want it to?
  • Are there things about it that bother me? Could those things be easily fixed?
  • Do I have certain outfits I wear regularly? What do I love about those clothes?
  • Do I love certain fabrics or styles?
  • Are there certain colors that I’m attracted to or stay away from?
  • Do I have pieces I love, but nothing to wear them with?
  • Do I feel like myself when I wear it?

These are just examples of the questions you might ask yourself throughout the day, and your thoughts may change as the day goes on. I have a great shirt that I bought last season. It’s navy blue with beautiful eyelet details on the bell sleeves. I put it on regularly, but I always take it off because I don’t have any pants or skirts that I like to wear it with. I also get cold at work, and if I put a sweater on over the sleeves, it loses all of its charm and it’s just a plain blue shirt. These are the kinds of mental notes that are helping me to process what’s in my closet. If I love it, I make a note about why I love it. If I don’t, I make a note about why not. I’m recording my notes in my cell phone because I almost always have it on me. I’m also taking pictures of myself in the clothes to help me to remember what I’m wearing.

And that’s it for phase one! (easy enough, right?)



Stay tuned for phase two. For more information about Nessa Bixler and her services, you can email her here: [email protected]

2 COMMENTS

  1. Love this blog post, Meghan! Nessa helped me create a wardrobe capsule last spring and I will NEVER go back to a closet full of nothing to wear! Can’t wait to read the rest of the series and hear how you fare on this journey…. 🙂

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