A Spring/Summer Capsule Wardrobe

[images via Pinterest]

Something has changed in me over this last year. Maybe it's just the recent lack of bedroom storage, but I suddenly cannot stand stuff. So, in the spirit of Spring cleaning, last week I unpacked my Summer clothes and began a much needed cull.

Creating a capsule wardrobe for Winter was helpful on so many levels. I'm the complete opposite of a morning person, so anything that makes getting out of pajamas a little easier is a very good thing. The Summer version has been a bit more difficult, but I'm pretty pleased with where I'm at. As usual, all images and their sources can be found on my Pinterest board.

My Summer style can be broken down into two basic recipes:
1. Loose top + comfortable pants + flats.
2. Loose top + high waist skirt + flats.

From these two recipes I can create at least four silhouettes, just by swapping out the jeans for shorts, or the mini for a maxi skirt.

If you're interested in this exercise, you can read more about proportions and silhouettes here and here :)

The result is a capsule wardrobe of 20 items, excluding accessories like belts, etc. I used Polyvore to create a basic outline of the items - mostly based on clothes I already own, and items I'm planning to make. Neither of my capsule wardrobes contain dresses - but not because I don't wear them! I want to give myself room for experimentation, especially when it comes to sewing. There are so many shapes and lengths that I feel comfortable wearing in different situations, so it would be silly to limit myself strictly to two or three styles! Heather of Closet Case Files wrote a great post a while back on a similar topic - dressing for multiple identities/situations - definitely worth a read!

I'm super excited to get started on some warm weather sewing projects. A floaty button-down is currently in progress, and my stash has grown significantly larger (and prettier!) after a massive fabric sale last week... So much for having less stuff!

Hope everyone has been having a lovely Spring/Fall! Have you been making any sewing or wardrobe plans for the new season? I'd love to hear about them!

A Winter Capsule Wardrobe

This is my third Armidale Winter, yet it's the first that I have felt the cold quite so deeply. 

To any readers living in snowy climates (or even local Armidaleans), I sure sound like a lightweight. Where I grew up on the coast, Winter is just a chance to rest and recuperate before another intense Summer. When it comes to temperature in the negatives, a lightweight is exactly what I am! 

Living in an old, drafty, ground-level house has forced me to realise that my "Winter Wardrobe" is non-existent. When I need to function like a normal person, an overflowing drawer of pajama pants just doesn't cut it. So, in an attempt to make cold mornings a little less grueling, I have been working away on a capsule wardrobe for the season.

Above is a moodboard that I created (because who doesn't love a moodboard) to focus on my favourite Winter silhouettes. All image sources can be found via my Pinterest board.

My Winter style revolves around 2 fairly similar silhouettes:

1. Loose shirt/sweater + skinny pants + boots.

2. Loose shirt/sweater + short skirt with tights + flats. 

If you're interested in this exercise, you can read about silhouettes and proportions here and here.

I used Polyvore to create a basic capsule wardrobe of 24 items. Pretty much all elements of my two silhouettes are interchangeable, as well as being perfect for layering.

Most of these items are based on things I already own and wear a lot (boots, pants, shirts, etc.). I am in no position, financial or ethical, to go on a shopping spree for new clothes. With the exception of a quality, fleece-lined parka and some grey flats, I plan to make the rest.

My fabric stash currently contains the supplies for an olive-green suede bomber jacket, a grey boiled-wool coat, plus whatever I can cobble together to make a few skirts. Totally set for Sally's Summer Stashbust challenge!

By the time this whole process is complete, I'll likely have to pack away my new creations and start again for warmer weather. This time next year, I'll be toasty. For now, I'll continue to fall asleep dreaming of over-sized wool sweaters.

Have you been working through the Wardrobe Architect series? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

PS: While writing this post, I was overcome by a strange need to justify spending this much time talking about my "wardrobe" (does blogging ever make you feel like a total narcissist?). Keep an eye out for an eventual fashion-related opinion piece...

My Core Style - Wardrobe Architect

Over the past few weeks, I have been following along with Sarai's Wardrobe Architect Series over at Coletterie. The aim of the series is to help each person develop a totally functional wardrobe that reflects their own personal style. By defining which colours, patterns and shapes make us feel certain things, we should be able to create a wardrobe filled with functional quality pieces, and prevent all of those future dollars and hours wasted making or buying items that are never worn.

I have enjoyed reading about everyone's different styles and colour palettes, so I thought I'd share a little of where I'm at so far. Putting together a style board was very helpful. You can see the full board on my Pinterest, here. There should really be a third collage that covers Summer/festivals, as that's a huge part of how my love of colour and fashion really developed. Right now, though, it's way too cold to be thinking of such things.

So far, I would describe my style as: warm, saturated, cute (but not cutesie) and, most importantly, comfortable.

My colour palette came as no real surprise: mostly saturated, warm-spectrum colours. Dark neutrals with lots of grey, very few pastels, and none of this coral, camel or beige stuff that everyone else seems to love so much :P

If you're interested in refining your own wardrobe, and don't have the time or effort for style boards, a simple colour scheme really is worthwhile. Already it has prevented me from several bad fabric purchases! 

Has anyone else been following this series, or going through a similar process on their own? I'd love to hear about your discoveries!