The Capsule Wardrobe Experiment: The Winter Capsule

It's done. My winter capsule wardrobe is complete. I started this journey in November, right on the edge of a-little-colder-than-typical-fall-weather-but-not-yet-full-blown-winter-weater, so it took me a little while just to figure out what season I should be building a wardrobe for, let alone what I should include in it. When the temperatures suddenly dropped, it became apparent that I didn't need so much a fall/winter hybrid wardrobe as much as an actual winter wardrobe. So I've spent the last month figuring out what I had from the fall that could transition to winter, and what I needed to buy to make sure I don't freeze (now that I live in the mountains and have a need to wear real sweaters again).

In my capsule:
Tops (12): Since these will almost exclusively be worn under other items, my main goal was making sure I had enough shirts to mix and match my sweaters. I feel like I came up with a nice variety of tops that are comfortable and can be dressed up or down. And they'll all transition nicely from fall or to spring - I've worn that chambray shirt for all 4 seasons now!

Off-white waffle knit tee (Target - similar) / Gray tunic tee (Loft) /White & black striped tee (Nordstrom) / White layering tee (Loft) / White & gray colorblock tee (Loft) / Graphic tee (Forever 21) / Black blouse (Forever 21) / Colorblock tee (Loft) / Burgundy striped tee (Nordstrom) / Polka dot blouse (J. Crew Factory) / Red and blue checked shirt (J. Crew - similar) / Chambray shirt (J. Crew Factory - similar)

Sweaters (12): Most of the sweaters I have are decently thick - perfect for the freezing (give or take) temps we usually experience during the winter. It's been 5 years since I last lived here, but those brutal winters aren't something one easily forgets. My sweaters are split about 50/50 between pullovers and cardigans, though almost all of them could be worn with something underneath. The American Apparel hoodie (my version of which is at least 7 years old) was a last-minute addition, but with the amount that I've been wearing it lately and the fact that sometimes I just need to be able to throw on a hoodie and go on with my day, I thought it was a solid decision. The bow sweater was another one I was on the fence about - I've had it in the back of my closet this whole time, trying to figure out if it made the cut or not - but after wearing it over the holidays I remembered how fun it is. I don't need a whole lot of fun in my wardrobe (in case all the black and gray didn't make that obvious), but I think it will be a nice touch every now and then.

Fairisle sweater (Loft) / Gray & white marled sweater (Loft) / Ivory turtleneck (Banana Republic - similar) / Oversized gray pullover (H&M) / Black marled pullover (Loft) / White & black bow sweater (J. Crew Factory) / Burgundy cardigan (Target - similar) / Red & ivory geo pattern cardigan (Nordstrom) / Black open cardigan (Target) / Off-white oversized cardigan (Target) / Jacquard cardigan (Loft) / Fleece zip hoodie (American Apparel)

Pants (5): I don't know if it's odd that I didn't throw in any bottoms other than pants, but I just don't wear skirts, leggings, etc. I have 3 pair of jeans in different styles and colors, 1 pair of black pants, and 1 pair of faux leather pants. I've already talked about my uncertainty about the latter pair, but I'm getting over it. Kind of like the bow sweater (just in a very different way), they're another fun item. They're also very warm so maybe I'll end up wearing them a good amount this winter after all. 

As for the jeans dilemma I was in…since the only pair of jeans I already owned that I actually loved were my straight leg Sevens, I bit the bullet and bought 2 more pair in a skinny cut. I did get them from a discount site so even though they were still expensive, together they set me back about the same as one pair from a department store would, so…silver lining. They fit perfectly, and another thing I really like about them is that they are ankle cut, but since I'm short they're just the right length for me (seriously, rolling up the bottom 5" of all my jeans was getting annoying).  That was definitely the biggest expenditure in all of this, but after trying several pair of cheaper jeans that just didn't fit quite right, I wish I had just spent the money in the first place on a brand I knew would work for me. Ideally I'd like another pair in a lighter wash, but I think I can get away with all the dark colors now and save that purchase for spring. 

Faux leather pants (H&M) / Dark wash skinny jeans (7 For All Mankind) / Black pants (H&M) / Gray skinny jeans (7 for All Mankind) / Dark wash straight leg jeans (7 for All Mankind)

Shoes (5): I've never really been a shoe girl, so limiting myself to only 5 pair really wasn't difficult. They're all pretty standard and pretty practical. I do wish I had a tall pair of black boots, but I'm out of money this go-around. If I find myself really missing them, I'll think about adding a pair next winter.

Black booties (Zappos) / Brown combat boots (Target) / Tan booties (Madden Girl) / Brown riding boots (Pink & Pepper - similar) / Tan oxfords (Steve Madden)

Outerwear (3): I've had the MK coat for several years and got the Zara puffer last year - both are warm, and since that's first priority, they were shoe-ins. The vest is a maybe a bit of an odd addition - it was a Christmas gift from Ben and is actually a running vest, but since I love it so much and never want to take it off, I counted it as part of my normal wardrobe (after a post-run wash, obviously). I don't know if I'll end up wearing it a lot, but for days when it's really nasty outside and all I want to do is cuddle up in a blanket all day instead of wearing real clothes, I think it will be a good alternative.

Black wool toggle coat (Michael Kors - similar) / Purple vest (Oiselle) / Black and tan puffer jacket (Zara - similar)

*there are no affiliate links in this post - just sharing in case you see something you like!

(Not included: camisoles, accessories, jewelry, workout clothes, or special occasion pieces)

Now that my capsule is complete, these are the items I'll be wearing…and re-wearing…and wearing some more until April. I'm not going to spend a single penny on clothes for the next 3 months. To get started, I'm challenging myself to a 30-day challenge to see what outfits I can come up with. I'll be instagramming them via #TT30days30outfits, starting Tuesday January 20th and ending Wednesday February 18th. If you want to join me, you've got 2 weeks to get your items together and start seeing what you can come up with!

Would you ever try a capsule wardrobe? How often do you buy new clothes?