Category Archives: capsule closet project

flowing not forcing

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Miss L and I have spent the last couple of weeks immersed in Girl Scout cookie sales, which means cookie booths and many last-minute trips to Fearless Scout Leader’s house to pick up final orders. Miss L always unabashedly gives me a lot of credit for her sales, and when we delivered cookie orders to Widget Central she told both the CEO and a VP that I essentially sold all her cookies for her. I’m also in the initial throes of chairing the elementary school Book Fair at the end of the month and wondering why the hell I get myself into these positions. I just got the class Valentine’s Day party out of the way.  Don’t I know that I’m an introvert?!

I kid. I am trying to ramp up my involvement in school activities because I’ve realized that she only has a year left of elementary, and then everything will change. I’m not ready for middle school and high school and I want to keep her at this stage- enjoying school dances without stress, exchanging Valentines and selling Girl Scout cookies and letting me be involved in her friends and classroom and life – as long as I can.

We got hit with a first-of-March snowstorm that dumped several inches of heavy wet snow and left many people without power – I’m blessed to say that my power stayed ON despite my fear that I would experience a repeat of last year’s almost-72 hours without it during an unexpected March storm.

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I head to Iowa next weekend for a few-day visit with B. In preparation, my taxes are done, I spent an inordinate amount of money at the Subaru dealership for Finn’s 30k check (only to be told that he’s in tip top shape which did not seem to result in any kind of good-health discount) and I’ve ordered a new pair of boots that were on my Amazon wish list for a long time, waiting for just the right time to splurge. Since I started my capsule closet project, I’ve reduced my wardrobe considerably, and although it’s not a capsule by any means, I am much more aware of what I have, what I wear, and what I need. Most of what I buy is replacement work clothes – it’s very rare nowadays that I buy something just for fun, that I can wear out on a date or casually – mostly I recycle old work clothes that aren’t really suitable for work anymore (I get my own hand-me-downs, so to speak). And I when I do replace, often times it’s ThredUp gently used items – and it’s always high-quality. I like to think I’m done with reams of trendy, ill-fitting clothes that I can get for low prices, in favor of well-made items that are classic and will serve me for years.

But I really needed a pair of casual, well-built boots and these Taos Ringer were just what I wanted. I’m pleased with my purchase and can’t wait to break them in next weekend tromping around the University of Iowa campus with my friend.

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I’m always behind in laundry, but at least I have a faithful companion who thinks being helpful at folding laundry is ALMOST as fun as being helpful with making beds.

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I hope you are all well this first week of March, 2018. xo

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weekend and Capsule Closet Project: 1

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Miss L & I are both fighting off colds and spent the dreadful Daylight Savings weekend being quiet. (This was perfect for me but less than exciting for her.) We fetched a soup bone from the local ham shop (yes, HAM SHOP, we live in a beautiful world) to make bean soup and stayed up late fast-forwarding through the scarier bits of the Hobbit films. (Again, I have to ask – why did the filmmakers find it necessary to add a completely fictitious ROMANCE?! I am still offended by their need to alter the perfect source material. If they wanted to make it a love story, go fangirl in a separate movie with a stubbly Kili and elfish vixen.) Ahem. Anyway.

I also had a tree guy come look at some of my greenery; I made a running schedule for early summer; and, of the greatest interest to this post, I did some work in my closet. I have been reading about capsule wardrobes lately and there are a lot of things that appeal to me about it.

  • I tend to wear the same items over and over again anyway, leaving probably 75% of my closet untouched.
  • I like the idea of buying classic, well-made pieces that will last a long time rather than a multitude of less expensive items that wear out quickly, don’t fit as well, aren’t quite right, or aren’t on-trend next season.
  • In my old age I am becoming ever more frugal.
  • I like the idea of simplifying, decluttering, and becoming more organized and streamlined.

I have no interest in paying $20 for a course on how to create a capsule wardrobe, and I’m not sure I can go as few as 10 items, but in my own way, I’ve started identifying and segregating what I actually wear from what I don’t. I think this will be a long process. At the end, I’ll be able to identify what I have and also what I need, and start filling in the gaps with some good pieces.

I’ve already identified a few things that I know I need – mostly shoes at this point. I need a pair of fashionable sneakers for work travel. Comfort is key, since I can’t hobble around airports in heels, and yet I always feel bad clomping around in my running shoes. Black suede Pumas are the ticket. I made a count and can donate at least 5 pairs of cheap, old summer sandals and flip-flops in exchange for 1 quality pair of comfortable, well-made sandals – I am thinking about a pair of Birks. Maybe these. And ballet flats – I have two pairs of old or not-quite-right ballet flats that I could get rid of in exchange for one pair of Tieks.

I have some loose, self-imposed rules for this little challenge.

  • For everything new that I buy, I have to be able to get rid of at least 2 items from my closet. So new pieces have to be considered and researched and I have to show myself a space-and-use advantage to acquiring the new item. This will be my most rigorously enforced rule for the length of this project. It allows for splurges, but if I slip up and come home with a shopping bag from Old Navy, I’d better be prepared to roll up my sleeves and get rid of things.
  • Where possible, I would like to buy a gently used piece from a site like Thred Up rather than buying new. If I’m buying a quality item, it will be less expensive and most of my experiences with those items are very good. People take care of their more expensive things and honestly, it makes more sense to me to buy used. I know this gives a lot of people the heebie-jeebies but I have absolutely no squeamishness or snobbery about buying something from a consignment shop or the Salvos, if I can find it there. It just makes sense to me. For example, I know I will need a black skirt for work since my old one is almost worn to bits. I could go and buy one new, but I can look at Thred Up and find six pages of designer black skirts for $10-$15 or less, in every cut and style possible. What’s not to love about that?
  • Lastly, I would like to almost entirely fund my new purchases with money made from selling my old brand-name items. I have tons of things that I’ve barely worn but paid a lot of money for and have already started selling a few items online and salting the money away in my Paypal account. The Pumas were an exception, but I used a gift certificate from my mom for those so I feel okay with that.
  • Workout clothes, pajamas, undergarments don’t count. If I need a new pair of running shoes because I’ve hit the miles in my old Brooks, I will buy them. I’m not interested in getting another stress fracture or injury because of this project.
  • Obviously this project is only ongoing in *my* closet – not Miss L’s. I’ll continue to buy for her the same as I always do – mostly new, less expensive things every few months due to wear and tear / growth rate / seasons / activities.

I could afford to go out and spend money at the mall, stocking my closet, but that feels lazy and overconsumptive and illogical to me. And it would be at the expense of other things that I find more financially important and motivational – like home improvements, savings accounts, retirement funds, paying off my house early, and saving for a new (probably used) car since my Camry isn’t going to last forever.

I like this idea and am having fun with it and overall I think it makes a lot of sense for me, my value system, and my lifestyle. I expect this whole process to take at least a year – decisions made in every season. I look forward to keeping tabs on myself via this online journal so if this bores you to tears, skip posts titled “Capsule Closet”.