The Capsule Wardrobe Experiment: Fall Capsule Preview & Inspiration

I'm long overdue for a capsule wardrobe update. The short version of the "why" is this: I've been feeling pretty uninspired. Between a spring capsule that wasn't a great fit, and a summer that I spent mostly looking like this

I've had a hard time figuring out where this capsule thing is going. Truthfully, the past few months I haven't had a strong need (because work) or want (because hot weather) for a full seasonal capsule. For a while I seriously considered the idea of either taking this capsule thing a little further, or simplifying it even further, depending on how you look at it, by scrapping the seasonal capsules and going for an all-seasons capsule. 

At first, it made sense: I've now completed about 3.5 seasons worth of capsules at this point, and while I really love the general concept and lifestyle change that's come with them, I haven't loved every season in practice. When I started last fall, I was hesitant to buy too many new things; I got off to a good start but still had some things to get rid of and some work to do to figure out my style. I feel like I really nailed winter, which isn't surprising since layering is my favorite way to dress and that's pretty much a requirement for winter. Then spring came and I thought I had put together a really great set of pieces - and I was right, but in hindsight they didn't really fit my style. And, aside from our California trip, summer pretty much looked like what you see above. I thought it would be easier to create a slightly larger but all-weather appropriate (depending on how I mix and match, of course) wardrobe.

So I tried it. I found that I was able to pull together about 70 items that I already own that I could make work for various seasons. I even had a spreadsheet that detailed which items could be worn in different types of weather, just to make sure I had enough balance. In theory, it was perfect. In practice, I found myself in the same predicament I had pre-capsule: staring at a closet full of clothes, I had no idea what to wear. Even though I finally love nearly everything in my closet, I found that that can't even combat the indecision that comes with having too many choices. I started my capsule wardrobe experiment as a way to finally toss the items I don't love and only see the things I do love when I open my closet, but along the way I found that I also love the simplification that comes with living with a limited wardrobe.

After I had that realization, I thought I could pull together a fall capsule in a snap. I technically started this experiment in the last month of fall last year, and I already own lots of fall clothes. Plus, I love fall clothes! So I pulled out all my favorite cardigans and jeans and booties and was ready to call it a day. But every time I went to put it all together in a collage (I'm a very visual person so this is a necessity for me), I found my choices to be more lackluster than they were in my head. 

And, the really sad part, I felt no desire to share what I came up with. I've been trying to pull together a fall capsule update for a few weeks now, but I just haven't figured out my own thoughts enough for a post. I don't know if it was my birthday on Friday (forever my signal that fall is finally *really* here) or the temperature drop into the 50s we had on Saturday and Sunday, but this weekend I finally felt ready to go back to the drawing board and put together a fall capsule. 

Since I clearly wasn't equipped on my own, I had to call in the big guns: Pinterest. I have a really bad habit of using Pinterest approximately once every few months to create boards, pin things, and then never look at my pins again. But once I started browsing my boards, light bulb! Here are all the great fall outfits I wanted to wear 3 months ago when it was 100 degrees outside! Of course!

Once I had my inspiration, I needed some extra guidance. I turned to Karin at Truncation, who seriously has the cutest style and best things to say about capsule life. You may remember that I have previously used worksheets from Caroline at Unfancy (who stopped blogging earlier this year for personal reasons), and they definitely helped me form more of a vision for my own wardrobe. I don't know why I thought I could just wing a fall capsule without any thought, but that wasn't the case. I liked Karin's capsule planner a little bit better, mainly because she has a flow chart for what items go with what (I'm very visual, remember?!). So, I took inventory of what I had, consulted Pinterest for outfits I could make with those items, and finally identified some items I wanted to have.

And finally, I shopped. It may seem confusing to some that I'm still shopping while living la vida capsule, but here's my thinking on that: my goal is to build seasonal wardrobes that I can wear, put away for a year, then pull out and repeat. I didn't get a chance to fully build my fall capsule last year because I was just getting started and it was almost winter (for the record, I foresee almost no changes to my winter capsule this year and I'm already giddy about how easy it will be to transition from fall to winter). And another reason I shopped this season in particular: after browsing Pinterest, I realized I wanted more variety in my closet. I could easily wear jeans, at shirt, and a cardigan every day of my life, but that wouldn't necessarily make me feel my best. So I ordered a few items that, I hope, will help me round out the fall capsule I started last year so that I'll have a fall wardrobe I can at least enjoy again next season.

My picks centered around items I already own (chambray shirt, plaid shirt, utility vest, booties, etc.), and I added in a few extras that were a little outside my comfort zone (skirts and dresses) but that I wanted to push myself to try. I haven't completely narrowed down my picks into an official fall capsule yet, but I hope to share them soon. I've missed sharing this journey with you all, so in the meantime, here are my inspirations for my fall capsule:

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I might have gone a little overboard. I just love fall clothes! I hope to update with some "Pin to Present" action in the near future!