Wardrobe Rehab : Session 1, Cleaning Out Your Closet

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Summer is coming to an end and that means it's time to put away our warm weather clothes and transition our closets for cooler temps. We still have some time in NYC until it is actually cold (the heat wave going on now is in the 90s), but the present is a great time to assess what you have in your wardrobe and what you may need to purchase for the upcoming season. Having an early plan for shopping means you can take your time and find exactly what you want, while paying a price you are comfortable with.

I love closet and wardrobe cleaning, editting and building, so I decided to do a three part series, one post on each of these topics. With a new season comes a fresh opportunity to clean out your closet, re-think your style and add some new pieces to bring your current items to life again. So let’s jump right in, shall we?

New To Try : Capsule Wardrobe Take 2

When I decided to embark on the capsule wardrobe conquest, (and let's be real I am not there yet, still working myself up to it) I did some inspiration research on what a closet of my dreams would look like, since that is what the capsule wardrobe should be, a closet full only of items you love. I have included some of the images I found below, all reflect similar things:

Classic Neutral Colors

Mixed Textures and Fabrics

Stripes

Neatly Spaced Hangers

These are the types of garments I reach for time and time again, I might as well have a closet full of them. Basics, yes, but they are well loved for a good reason- they always look stylish when in a good fit and fabric. Call me basic, I don't care! Although, you won't see me with a PSL anytime soon.

SO, I took a first stab at a Capsule Wardrobe and let me tell you, it was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I had a strong start pulling out a bunch of pieces that I knew I could live without for the next month or so. It was those in the middle-of-the-pack garments that were hardest to get rid of. I find that for me, these clothes usually hold some backstory/personal attachment - maybe it's tied to a memory or time in my life, or I paid a decent amount of money for it and have hardly worn it at all or sometimes I just believe there will be that one perfect day when I need a baggy, unflattering peasant top from Sandro and I'll have the perfect thing to wear. Maybe that's just me...

New To Try : Capsule Wardrobe

I love the idea of a minimalist wardrobe filled with closest staples. Only selected colors, fabrics and styles that all cohesively look like a well-curated boutique. But when the time comes to pare down my wardrobe I always wimp out. I recently stumbled upon the blog of Vivianna Does Makeup (go check it out!) who introduced me to the blog Un-Fancy. Immediately upon coming to Un-Fancy I was in love - Caroline, (Un-Fancy Blogger) had the exact style I find myself drawn to - simple, basic and modernly on trend. But instead of tons of clothing items, her looks are created with just a few. The concept of her blog is about creating a Capsule Wardrobe, I’ll let her describe-

Every three months, I create a capsule wardrobe — a mini wardrobe of versatile pieces that I absolutely love. Then, I blog outfits — real, everyday, unfancy outfits — using only clothes from my current capsule wardrobe. And along the way I share how I make minimalism work for my closet.

Image via un-fancy.com

I have read in many magazines about how weeding items you don’t love out of your closet actually makes you feel like you have more clothes and are better able to make interesting outfits with the articles you never wear out of the way. I was so inspired by Un-Fancy and Vivianna’s turn at Capsule Wardrobes (check out her Autumn Wardrobe here) I am challenging myself to try this as well. While I’m not sure I can commit to a full season, I am going to start with a Capsule Month and see how the results turn out. Stay tuned for my initial selection and the following results!