Attempting to have slow, intentional days during my last semester in graduate school has been a challenge. I found myself thinking about all that I had to do and then doing nothing because it was all just a bit too much. But since we can’t sit and do nothing forever I looked again at all of my “stuff” and decided to give myself a little extra time and space by taking a month break from blogging.
I can’t talk about slow and simple living without actually living slowly and simply.
I like to think I am someone who has life figured out; I have all parts of my life in carefully filled, carefully organized containers.
But sometimes, something comes along and bumps our containers. Spilling their contents and causing us to rethink, reorganize, repack, redo.
Life isn’t a set of perfectly organized containers. There will always be things that come along and bump us, shake us, wake us up. And that’s okay. We just need to remember that one bump, or a few bumps, don’t mean that we should throw out our containers.
So I’m back. Feeling refreshed and excited to accomplish lots of wonderful things in the next few months.
First up? My spring capsule wardrobe!
I am so ready for a little change. Having a capsule wardrobe has so many benefits (less time, less stress, more money) but wearing the same 37 pieces for 3 or 4 months can get a little stale.
I thought I would share with you how I am planning for my spring capsule wardrobe. Whether you’re attempting a capsule wardrobe for the first time or if you’re a seasoned pro, I hope knowing my process may somehow help you!
Intentional planning is the first and most important step to creating a capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe differs from a traditional wardrobe not only because of the small number of pieces, but because it has thought and purpose behind it.
You will no longer spend money during random shopping sprees on clothes that don’t absolutely thrill you. Instead, you shop for what you need. For more on what exactly a capsule wardrobe is check out Unfancy (she’s my inspiration)!
So, without further adieu, how I plan for my capsule wardrobe!
1) Find a planner that suits you.
I personally use Caroline’s capsule wardrobe planner from Unfancy. It’s free, it’s simple, and it’s brilliant. There are definitely other ones out there so find the one that works best for you. Find one that makes you excited to get started!
2) Think about your lifestyle, brands you love, colors that you gravitate toward, and pieces you wear most often.
Caroline’s planner is so great because it allows you to really think about what you want and need from your clothes. Think about where you spend most of your time. Work? School? Outdoors? Then consider the brands that make the clothing pieces you always reach for. For example, I always reach for my high waisted jeans from H&M and I love everything from Madewell (even though they can be pricey.) Next, brainstorm your go to outfits and pieces. What items do you reach for most or need more of? Try to spend a good bit of time on this part. It will help you so much as you move on to your next step.
3) Create a shopping list.
Think about the items you need for your closet. Are there items you’ve really been missing? For me, there were some obvious holes in my winter wardrobe. I missed comfy flannels and I forgot to include a nice warm cardigan! But remember that you’re also planning for a new season. Keep in mind pieces you will need for next winter, but plan and shop for spring.
4) Set a budget! A capsule wardrobe is meant to save you money because you are shopping less and more intentionally. It may help to do some online shopping to see how much items cost before you buy. You can also sell or ThreadUp the clothing you no longer love to fund your new capsule!
5) Go shopping! I am going shopping tomorrow with my bestie. I will have my list in hand and my budget in mind. Make sure if you go shopping with someone that they are the right someone. We all have that friend that can talk us into buying just about anything. My bestie is the perfect shopping partner because not only does she love and understand minimalism and capsule wardrobes, she is also kind, thoughtful, and has great personal style. She always gives honest feedback full of love-that’s the kind of person you want to go shopping with.
Most importantly? Have fun! This isn’t something else to add to your to do list. This is a time to be creative! If you want to completely change up your style- do it! Look at different fashion icons that you admire and take inspiration from them! I have numerous Pinterest boards dedicated to helping me find and perfect my personal style. Don’t limit yourself.
I hope this helps!
I’ll be back soon with my new, spring capsule wardrobe!
simple days with bonnie rae 
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