“Capsules” By Cladwell – My Winter Capsule Wardrobe

I can’t begin to count the hours I spend in the morning trying on outfits, and endlessly thinking”I have nothing to wear.” Things no longer felt new, exciting, or challenging in my closet, and there was almost TOO MUCH to choose from (!!GASP!! That’s right, I said it!). I love the idea of having less to choose from, but also filling my closet with only pieces that I truly love and that make me happy while wearing them! I feel like I really found a groove and an inspiration for a modern and minimalistic lifestyle and achieving it started with simply ELIMINATING. I also love being inspired by simplicity, and found that was my biggest motivation for this project! 

I started by creating an account on the Capsules by Cladwell site. I love that this app really walked me through the process of going through my closet and really pairing everything down to the essentials.From creating mood boards, to step-by-step instructions for emptying my closet, and separating out seasonal pieces, this app is the real deal when it comes to giving you a clear and concise direction for where you want to take your closet!

I had to really step back and assess just how important having a personal style is to my every day life, and just how I was going to accomplish a streamlined wardrobe. I started following the directions from Capsules by Cladwell, and took out every single piece of clothing from my closet. I had piles upon piles to sift through, but I sorted them all into two piles: the pieces I loved and wanted to hold on to and then the pieces that could go and not be missed. Surprisingly the pile of GO’s was bigger than the pile of KEEP’s. I then relocated the GO pile in another space to focus on the selection process. Having laid out every single piece I own all at once made it so much easier for me to find a clear direction and pick out key pieces and supporting pieces to bring into my Capsule.

I then followed the app’s instructions of eliminating seasonal pieces that wouldn’t be relevant in the winter, and folded them up to be placed out of sight until spring. Placing all of my remaining pieces on the closet rack, I really felt accomplished with what simplicity I had just created; A sense  of peace washed over me. **Of course I panicked and immediately after finishing I FaceTime’d my BFF Jenna to express my loneliness, and whine about whether I was doing the right thing. She was wholeheartedly supportive and I instantly felt better about the whole thing, and in fact felt like I had a whole new closet full of pieces i couldn’t WAIT to style! She is the best!

After finally selecting your capsule pieces, you can plug in information about the color palate you selected, your daily activities from work to date night and everything in between, and what types of clothes you wear.  Capsules will then help you develop a list of the types of pieces that would be ideal for your lifestyle. You can plug in information about the pieces you already have, and learn more about the pieces they suggest. by checking Yes/No if you own the piece they suggest, it will create a list of items that you can use to create a shopping list. I LOVE how far Capsules goes to help make your capsule wardrobe the most efficient and exciting new way to view your closet!

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

I really wish I could  have selected a few less pieces, but I love layering, and having any less than one sweater for every day of the week wasn’t going to work for my thin blood in this winter weather! I really hope to learn, now with even less choice, which pieces I continue to love, and which ones I can further do without.

What I love about this app is that it is completely unique to you and your lifestyle, just as it is today. The challenge is simply to  beat fast fashion and re-think your closet. I found that every visit to the mall had me itching to swipe my card, never leaving empty handed. While I believe that retail therapy is absolutely a REAL form of release, I was tired of succumbing to the act of selfish shopping. I hope that at the end of this project, I can really think long and hard before bringing new pieces home, and that I can begin shopping with purpose, intention, and only for pieces that bring JOY and cohesiveness to my personal style! 

MORE ABOUT CAPSULES BY CLADWELL

As a solution to fast fashion, we built a site that generates a simple wardrobe by focusing on your personal preferences and the activities in your life. Users check-off the items you own, and only buy what you need. So you can clear out the clutter and get on with what really matters in life.

See we believe that sometimes we buy clothes just because they’re cheap or new. Over time, this creates clutter in our homes, hearts and minds. At Capsules, we want to make lives better and we believe we can do that by helping you own less while loving it more.