Capsule 01. Sweater Weather
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Hello! Writing to you with a fresh heap of inspiration regarding a new little experiment I’d like to try…documenting a capsule wardrobe, curated by yours truly. I want to see how feasible, affordable and effective it is — and I wanted to bring you along the journey, too!
I am sharing some pieces that will hopefully take me into the winter months of 2023. Forever inspired by the versatility of neutrals, I wanted to focus on muted sweaters with quality textures like bouclé and soft yarn. I shopped some sales and Black Friday deals for most of these looks, and other staple pieces are olds that I continue to wear from a few seasons ago. The challenge here is to lengthen my attention span with clothes…workwear and everyday. The allure of fast fashion and new trends is intoxicating, but I am actively trying to pull myself away from that! You’ll be seeing me in comfy, affordable, yet quality pieces. I’ll pretty much just admit here that if it’s not comfortable or simple, I won’t be wearing it.
Sources: Target, J. Crew Factory, Loft, Nordstrom, DSW and Old Navy
This capsule is priced at around $500
I also will be mixing in pieces and accessories I already own from my closet
Capsule 1 Reflection: An Addendum
January 26, 2023
I wanted to reflect on the actual process of designing this capsule, and how it came to integrate into my wardrobe! Now that I have done one, I am hoping that I will improve over time and streamline the process. I definitely made a few mistakes, and I think my definition/concept of a “capsule” has definitely changed through this process.
By the way, I 10/10 recommend evaluating and editing your closet. Actually keeping tabs on what you wear, whether its through a journal, or social media, or even a tally chart, is so helpful in determining what is truly essential. It also helps inform what meaningful additions and purchases are necessary!
Anyway…here is my reflection!
HONORABLE MENTION
I think shoes were a huge part of this capsule. It’s winter and the weather not only gets extreme, but the variety and options are a little overwhelming. I ended up being really pleased with all of my shoe choices in this capsule. It’s hard to narrow down the best, but I’d have to say that my Vince Camuto booties and the black Nordstrom mules were very meaningful wardrobe additions. Comfort, looks, and versatility are all off the charts.
THE WORKHORSE
In a perfect world I would get a nice storage bin, label it “Capsule 1: Winter” and tuck it away for the year. But that isn’t the point, is it? Some of these pieces will undoubtedly take me into early spring. The piece that worked the hardest for me was my beige J.Crew Factory soft yarn sweater. So versatile, so flattering, and so soft! Rarely a week went by without me wearing it!
LESSONS LEARNED
The mistake I made in this capsule? I went too far into holiday mode with the plaid leggings. They were great for Christmas, but shortly after the holidays passed my urge to wear them dwindled. A capsule should be about classic pieces. For example, I personally love neutrals, so next time I would probably pick a solid pair of black or navy leggings and leave my accessories to do the talking (i.e. a plaid scarf). Also, I didn’t wear the butterscotch colored work pants nearly as much as I thought I would! Black pants, both skinny and wide leg, dominated my wardrobe this winter.