Something you need to know about me – I’m good at messing things up. I break stuff. I try something and do it wrong. Barry calls me “Grace.”
But, the great news is…when I mess up, I can learn and do better the next time. Right?! I’m hoping yes…otherwise, I’m in super big trouble. *Insert scared face here*
When I found out what a capsule wardrobe was, and I planned mine out and got all my clothes ready, I was so excited!!!!!
And then…and then…two weeks later, I was like, “Ummm, something is wrong here.”
I was literally wearing the same two dresses over and over again. Yes, it was because I loved those dresses, but mainly it was because my capsule was all wrong!!!!
My friend Erinn had helped me plan it, and I knew the outfits were great…but something just wasn’t right. So, I did some thinking and I figured out what was wrong.
I didn’t plan a capsule wardrobe for Stacy Myers in Southwest Virginia in the summer.
I planned a capsule wardrobe for someone living in Alaska in January who likes jeans and wears scarves in the summer around their neck. Who is this person?!
I tried to make what I had left after KonMari work for my first capsule, when what I really needed what to just start over. Yes. Start over.
6 Things Wrong With My Summer Capsule Wardrobe:
It’s hot here, y’all.
Really. I planned with too much HOT stuff. A full-sleeved jean jacket. Multiple cardigans. A wool cardigan. Jeans. Scarves. I’m sweating like a pig on slaughter day just typing that out! HOT FLASH!
It’s hot in the mountains in the summer – at least here. I need short sleeves, sleeveless, and skirts. Maybe one or two cardigans for cooler nights or when I’m going to be in air conditioning.
The Fix: plan for the weather and the season you’re in. Don’t plan wool for the summer. Don’t plan jeans if you are prone to having hot flashes and feel like you might need to strip down in the middle of Target. Shorts. Skirts. Knit. Sleeveless. Yes.
Where’s the elastic!?
I love elastic. I love elastic so much it makes my heart want to sing. Elastic lets me breathe! I feel FREE! I can sit down without tons of dunlap (belly done lap over your belt) which is a happy thing.
I had things that were not elastic. I feel confined in skirts and pants that are just a normal waist band. I feel like I can’t move freely or breathe. I feel like I’m wearing someone else’s clothing.
The Fix: BUY ELASTIC WAIST BOTTOMS!!! Do I really need to say any more than that? No. The end. Embrace elastic, y’all.
I hate jeans
I really did try to like jeans. I got cute jeans. Skinny Jeans from Levi. And I just don’t like them. Maybe it’s because they currently make my butt sweat because it’s hot, y’all…have I said that? Maybe I’ll like them when it cools down…because, you know – they do have elastic.
The Fix: Don’t try to wear what you don’t like! If you don’t like dresses, don’t plan lots of dresses in your capsule. How does that make any sense? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!
I Didn’t Embrace My Style
I tried to be someone else. I didn’t know what looked good on me or what I was comfortable in. So, it was like I was in someone else’s closet. I know what I like now, after two months of wearing stuff I didn’t really care for.
The Fix: Buy dresses. Buy skirts. I looooooooooooooove stripes! And black. I used to be ashamed that 3/4 of my closet was black. Now, I think “Who cares?!” I like black! BOOM.
Knit is the stuff, man
Certain fabrics are just not for me. Fleece for one – I hate fleece. It’s like a static electricity convention. Also, I don’t really love wool. Or polyester. Polyester sounds like the name of a cat.
Knit. It’s for me. It’s cool. It’s comfy. It’s easy to find. It works good as a child’s napkin.
The Fix: Buy knit. Just do it. Who cares if silk is in? Silk does not make a happy child’s napkin.
Bye, bye, Iron…sniff, sniff!
If you know me, you know I love to iron. I love seeing those little wrinkles disappear before my very eyes. But, something happened…I had three kids. Suddenly, my time disappeared. WHO HAS TIME TO IRON NOW?! I have found that I now dress my kids in shirts that might have wrinkles and I cringe…but, I’m growing in to it. I sacrificed that ironing time for other pursuits.
The Fix: I got rid of EVERYTHING that needed to be ironed to be worn. That doesn’t include stuff that gets wrinkly…anything can get wrinkly. I try to hang it asap so that the wrinkles just come out. But if it’s an outfit that must be ironed to be worn? Adios, amigo. From hence forth, they shall not be allowed on the premises…until I’m an empty nester.
How Did I Salvage my Summer Capsule?
I moved several things to the back of my closet to reconsider for the Fall capsule (I will blog and video that as well).
I chose a few things to hold me over from Thred Up. Including: two knit skirts, two knit dresses, and THREE short sleeve shirts to add. And it was like the doors of heaven open up and I heard the Knit Angels sing.
So, now that I’ve learned what to do wrong, I feel pretty confident that my Fall capsule is going to rock the house. And sometimes I like to say things the cool kids say…like, rock the house. Wait – do cool kids still say that?
Have you ever bombed your Capsule Wardrobe?
This is so funny! I laughed out loud. You are very funny. I am thinking about a clothes capsule, but I am trying to be true to myself, and not add anything that isn’t me. Thanks for the laughs.
Isn’t Stacy a riot?! Yes, capsule wardrobe never works if you aren’t actually choosing for you that’s for sure. Thanks for your sweet comment, Nancy!
Julie, Humorous Homemaking Team
I know this post is not new. However, I just ran across it today. Love it!!! And I totally get it…I live in the deep South…we’re talking “South of New Orleans, LA” deep south. And Honey, it’s got nothing but heat & humidity! As far as “seasonal wardrobes” go, the only rules there are is 1) you don’t wear white shoes between Labor Day & Easter and 2) for “seasonal” attire you might add an extra swimsuit (+ your white sandals) in the summer or a sweater in the winter! So when it came to trying to create a Capsule Wardrobe, I was lost!! Thanks for your post. Of course, this lead to the “Internet Hole of no return” for several hours. Totally enjoyed reading all your other posts.
-Diane
You’re so sweet to comment, Diane! Thanks for your deep south capsule wardrobe tips 🙂 And we’re so thankful you found the blog – I hope you subscribe or check us out on Facebook and enjoy all the fun that is Humorous Homemaking!
Julie, Humorous Homemaking Team
I went back to work 10yrs ago after being home for 8 yrs and had absolutely nothing that would work for the office except a few church dresses (dress code at my church is casual, most of us wear jeans to service). Back then I’d never heard of a capsule wardrobe, but I guess I just instinctively did it because we were poor and I was starting from scratch. I went to several of my favorite local consignment shops and bought 2 pairs each of black, grey and kaki slacks. Then I bought 2 tops that would go with each color. It was summer so this was all short sleeved. Then I bought a pair of black loafers and a pair of brown loafers. When fall came around I went back to the consignment shop and started working on long sleeved stuff. My rule is- “If you buy something it must go with the above mentioned items”. I don’t do dresses at work, even though I love them, because I have to climb up and down a short ladder several times a day and I always step on my hem and pull it out. I have more than 33 items in my closet, but a few years ago I did start the “one in, one out” rule and that has kept my closet from getting out of hand. I have always loved clothes, but I just didn’t have the time anymore to indulge hour long outfit planning, after I went back to work.
I love the “one in, one out” rule for toys!
Girl, you made me giggle audibly (I hate that lol thing!).
I have ten, yes ten, children and am tired of walking on clothes. I am researching capsule wardrobes and stumbled across this post of yours. I will try not to make those same mistakes.
P.S. I too love elastic and black!
Elastic is my FAVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVORITE!!!!
Hi Stacy just loved your humour about your first capsule wardrobe. I just love all the boots, winter woolies etc bit live in an extremely hot, humid climate 10 months of the year and have a lovely wardrobe of cuddly stuff jist look at LOL. And no cool comfy outfits, spend most of my time at home enjoying crafts. Should be cotton only but eeuw i dont do ironing.Any ideas
Suggestions about ironing?
Yes! I love and wear mostly cotton and rayon in the summer, but never use my iron. How? I discovered the spray bottle. I hang the wrinkled item on a hanger over the shower curtain rod and quickly mist the entire thing while brusquely and firmly brushing my hand down the fabric as I’m misting. Heavier wrinkles even disappear with heavier misting and a little tugging on the wet fabric. Essentially, I’m ironing the item with my hand and spray bottle. Let it hang to air dry. Quick and perfect for me. I hate the crisp ironed look of traditional ironing anyway.
Throw the item you want to wear into the dryer, grab a wash cloth and wet it with water, throw that in dryer with item you want to wear, 15 20 min later, you got a wrinkle free clothing! I dont iron but I do this method quite often. Goodluck!!!
Just a wet wash clothing? Wow – I will be trying that for sure! Thanks for commenting, April.
Julie, Humorous Homemaking Team
you made me laugh! gosh do i love when reading makes me laugh!! …and for ONCE shared the not-so-glamorous-possible-outcome of what is deemed “easy” and “helpful.” I’ve been reading into creating my first capsule – and since the sales come at the end of the season I’m going backwards. (yes im investing a year of planning… and purchasing… and no wearing) but at least im making changes to my system! and now that i know its ok to mess up – because clearly you showed how one can learn so much from it I’m ready to go shopping with my lady friends tomorrow on pay day 😀 thank you again!! xxoo -Laura
Good luck and godspeed! 🙂
Ok, I seriously almost spit out my tea when I got to Polyester the Cat. Dying over here.
I tried out a capsule this fall/winter and feel like I messed up big. I didn’t have the basics, rule number one, and am still trying to gather them every chance I get. I also shopped online, another big no-no. This next season, I am forcing myself to try on every single purchase and only buy accessories online. That way I’ll have a 100 percent chance that my money is going toward something I love and fits me, rather than a 50%. I wasted at least 200 dollars, I’m sure.
See, the issue for me was freaking out in the store dressing room and coming home with a single pair of jeans I didn’t even up liking! 🙂 LOL That’s why I like Thred Up because I can try on things at home and return for free.
I’ve looked at Thred Up. They have some great stuff! I had no idea they had free returns! Score!
I don’t know what I did before Thred Up.
I got a pair of jeans on Black Friday from target that were skinny jeans but have an elastic waste…. They are amazing as I still have baby wait clinging to me as I continue to nurse. They were by denizen. Highly recommend
Are those the ones they call “jeggings?”
I just looked at the waste band the cut is called modern skinny 98% cotton and 1% elastic
I’m not sure if they are labeled as jeggings but they are jeans. With true back pockets and jean fabric.
Thanks!
I totally blew up my capsule wardrobe when a nearby church had a fill-a-bag for a dollar rummage sale. They had great clothes and I bought 15 pieces that matched nothing I have but look great. It is what it is!
I totally get the jeans in summer issue. I am currently 21 weeks into a surprise pregnancy. We were done. Last year, I sold/donated all of my maternity clothes. All. Of. Them. A few weeks ago, I went to a resale shop to cobble together a few outfits and decided against denim capris in favor of jeans since I wanted to get more bang for my buck. I’ve been so hot! I’m just gonna suck it up for a few more weeks and pray that fall completely descends on Ohio soon. Very soon. Ugh.
I really want to do a capsule wardrobe. But for now, I’m just doing a modified maternity version. I’ll get to it maybe in the spring. In about 3 weeks, I’m gutting all the clothes stored in our closets and attic. Soon to be 5 kids and tons and tons of hand me downs. BTW-I’ve bookmarked your post on the kids’ closets!
A maternity wardrobe is a great way to learn to capsule! Because it only lasts 9 months, plus afterwards. It’s good to learn how to vary your wardrobes based on the current season and size. 🙂
Oh, and congratulations! 🙂 🙂
I hate jeans too! Just plain uncomfortable. I can usually keep warm in the winter by layering with leggings and keep cool in the summer in my skirts and sooo much more comfortable. I hate shorts too but I wear the men’s baggy ones for exercise (we call them basketball shorts). I love clothes too much to capsule so I usually wear things till I either wear them out (the stuff I love) or I get tired of them and sell them. I only yard sale and clearance shop so I don’t have much tied up in any one item. When I had saw what you were building your wardrobe capsule around, I honestly thought “what the what?” but then, some people stay chilly even in summer or they keep their homes very cool. I also thought of some friends of mine from West VA who told me that summer where they come from had NO humidity…they didn’t even know what humidity felt like until they moved here. So I wondered if perhaps you were one of those lucky ones. Round here, it’s just nasty sticky hot in summer!
Humidity is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad thing. Yuck. And yes, I adore leggings!
I don’t do the capsule wardrobe thing, I have my own simplification system. Spring, summer and fall I wear dresses almost exclusively. No matching tops and bottoms, no dunlap, no fuss and you always look nice. Plus with most dresses if you gain or lose 5-10lbs you don’t get the same change in the look and fit that you do with denim. I have a fair number of cute, but simple cotton dresses are are plenty comfortable for cleaning or even taking a brisk walk. I even wear dresses to the local water/amusement park, camping, biking (you do have to be careful with that one). Although some of my dresses are clearly summer only most can be worn 3 seasons with the right jacket or cardigan and over leggings or tights. I also have a few sweater dresses that are mostly winter but can go into cooler spring and fall days. Not everyone loves dresses, but since going to this wardrobe my am life is so much simpler. Take out a dress, pull over hear, viola! There is a lot less trying on multiple outfits and digging through drawers since they are all hung nicely together. Plus I’m not tied a wardrobe made up of a single color scheme. I can wear a wide range of colors and simplify the accessories such as jackets and cardigans in basic colors that match most of my dresses. I have a few pairs of black pants and sweaters for the coldest winter days. In the end I think it is also more economical too since it is one peice instead of two. I do have a lot of dresses, but I just pick up a couple every year. When I had my son I had several cotton empire waist dresses I wore through most of my pregnancy.
I adore all my dresses. I wear them over and over. And sometimes I can slip a shirt over a dress and it looks like a skirt! 🙂
Dunlap. Are you orginally from the south? You must have southern roots…right? Thanks for making me smile today..I needed it.
Yup! Southern born and bred. 🙂 Southwest Virginia.
You may know some of my family. They own the Oakey Funeral Home 🙂
I don’t know them directly. 🙂
I’m glad I’m not the only one who HATES jeans! ?looking forward to the video… I want to do this but not sure I understand
I posted the video earlier this week. It should be the post right before this one if you’re on the main page of the blog. 🙂
Amen! Elastic…cool…knit… Everything but the stripes and black. I become invisible in black, and my husband is anti-stripe. : ) UNLESS -as he has very recently discovered- they are diagonal. Sometimes that’s OK. Since he has to see me, and I don’t (unless there’s a mirror around), I skip the stripes. I’m fine with that. Reduces the overwhelming numbers of options. : )
LOL A husband approved wardrobe is the best one!
Ooh, give the jeans a chance in the cold weather! They’re so much warmer than skirts, I find. But I almost NEVER wear jeans in the summer. Way too hot.
I like to wear leggings under my skirts. But yes, I will give them another try. 🙂
I’m with you on the elastic bottoms! It only took me one baby to figure that out. Thankfully elastic seems to be in style these days. We don’t have to settle for the elastic our grandmothers wore!
It’s just sooooooooooooooo comfy!!!!
I love this idea. I need to try this. I also love that you talk with my accent. I’m an east Tennessean, so it is very close to mine.
🙂 I live in Southwest Virginia – so similar area.
I read the magic of tidying book and that’s really helped me slim down my clothes for my own capsule wardrobe. Thanks for suggesting it!
I’m super glad to hear that!