I follow Courtney Carver's rules of Project 333 for my seasonal capsules. With this capsule system, I select 33 pieces of clothing for the next three months while storing all other items away until I create my next capsule.
I started my capsule wardrobe in the fall of 2015, and I will keep at it for the foreseeable future since I have continued to learn with each season.
This time, on cue, just as I collected the items for my winter capsule, the weather took a dramatic turn and it is now quite miserable out there.
On most days it is too cold and windy to spend time outside ☹️
The days are short and dark ☹️
And wearing lots of layers is often more comical than fashionable. Oh, I do hate winter. Let's be snowbirds next year.
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📷 Spencer Estabrook |
While I'm NOT excited for winter and bundling myself in heavy layers of warm clothes does not excite me, I still think this winter capsule will be a successful one and a growing experience as all my seasonal capsules are.
With last years winter capsule I learned that I like the look of RED and therefore I own quite a few red things. But I don't love red things in my home or wearing red clothes. So with heavy heart I gave all my beautiful red things away because every time I wore something red, I would change soon after because I did not feel good in the color. My face would look all white and ashy and overall I look more unwell then I'm actually am with my chronic asthma and allergies.
So I recognized red clothing is a no go for me.
I also have some takeaways from this past fall capsule that followed a year of not making purchases because I did not feel comfortable going to a thrift store during a pandemic.
I learned, while second hand shopping is the best choice sustainably, all additions to the capsule should be done when needed and intentionally. In previous years, browsing a thrift store once per season for a few new things was a casual adventure. I never knew what I would find and bring home into my closet. $20 could result in a wash basket full of thrift store finds. Once I bought an all over sequence party dress that reflects light like a rainbow disco ball because it fit perfectly and because it was only $1.
When thrifting clothes by the arm load, if I tire of the things, I donate them back to the thrift store. But I have not been to any stores this year and have made purchases directly from stores or I bought gently used pieces from Poshmark sellers. Curiously, this meant that I was much more thoughtful about my purchases. I only bought an item when I needed to replace something that broke or to fill a need. I also have not tired of the items I purchased this year, bagging them up for a trip to the thrift store. In fact, the few pieces that I did purchase this year have been some of my favourite things to wear.
I understand that it might not be the same for everyone. In fact most people tend to buy and spend more online where they don't have to physically fork over money. But to me buying things online places some sort of mental block in place that makes me contemplate every purchase. Is this really what I want? How practical is it long term? Is it worth the cost? Is it worth the whole effort of shipping and packaging? Let's buy for keeps so that I don't have to consider the hassle of a return. Basically, if I order an item I will make it work. A return is not a casual option unless there is a catastrophic defect that can't be repaired.
Overall, these past capsules have really showed me how to have a long lasting, practical and pretty clothing and what I need to do to stop cycling through so many clothes all the time. Just because they are second hand does not make it okay. It's me that needs to change the habits that really don't align with my values.
Slow living does.
And slow living comes with it comes slower consumption of goods.
Another thing I started doing this year is setting intentions at the start of each new capsule. So far, I have not shared these on the blog. Here they are for this season.
C A P S U L E I N T E N T I O N S
- create a closet inventory (almost there)
- closet declutter and reorganization ✓
I generally snap a quick photo when I organize because it's interesting to look back on, but I never share these pictures. A pile of clothes helps me organize what I have and take inventory, but it just isn't the prettiest sight.
2 0 2 0 W I N T E R C A P S U L E W A R D R O B E
(I mark 'new' additions to my capsule with a * and new second hand pieces with **. I don't count accessories towards the 33 pieces of my capsule, but I will list them here anyways.)
J A C K E T S
T O P S
- white camisole- white/blue striped t-shirt
- olive green graphic tee
- black linen tunic
- white adventure top
L O N G S L E E V E T O P S
- white sweater cardigan*- light pink sweater
- cream braided sweater
- black sweater
- tan sweater
- white henley
D R E S S E S + S K I R T S + J U M P S U I T S
B O T T O M S
- cream checked pants*- mid wash high waisted jeans
- black pants
- tan heeled boots
- black boots
- tan winter boots
- brown riding boot
A C C E S S O R I E S
- everyday jewelry- white scarf
- sunglasses
- teal handbag
- black gloves
- black, brown and woven brown belt
- black beanie
And that's it for my 2020 winter capsule. It's what I will be wearing hibernating and self-isolating in the bitter cold Jersey winter months. Hopefully, with the next capsule, dressing for Spring 2021 will also mean dressing to emerge from the pandemic isolation. Here is to hoping for that and to staying warm and safe this winter season.
Thanks for reading and a very happy and healthy new year to you!
♡ Nina
Love it Nina! I agree - here’s to hoping to a bright, cheery, and SAFE spring! And face it - we are old enough to realize it is better to be warm than look cute! Lots of jackets in my winter capsule as well 😆
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