Fall Capsule Wardrobe Lookbook 2016

I'm beginning my second year of capsule wardrobes with another Fall Capsule Wardrobe!  Come along and take a look at a couple outfits pulled from this season's capsule - from casual to business to date night!

Watch here or on YouTube, and don't forget to subscribe to my channel!

Want more?

See my full Fall Capsule here, along with a recap of my first year of capsules!

Or, watch my YouTube video where I walk you through my process of building a capsule and talk about each piece included this time around.

Until next time,

Fall Capsule Wardrobe 2016 + One Year Capsule Update!

I can’t believe I’ve completed a full year of capsule wardrobes!  This year has been so eye-opening and life-changing - I honestly can’t believe I ever handled my closet any other way.  I’m excited to share all about my fall capsule wardrobe for this year and to chat with you about my experience doing capsule wardrobes for a whole year!

On Monday I posted a video talking through my process of building a capsule and talking about each piece I included through this time around and why I chose it!  Watch it here or on YouTube for a more in depth look at my method!

Here’s a list of each piece I included and where you can buy it (whether it be the exact piece or something similar!)

TOPS (22)

1. White Flowy Cami (Aritzia) 
2. White V Neck Muscle Tee (Aritzia)
3. White Button Down With Pockets (Zara)
4. White Button Down (Zara)
5. Beige Trench Coat (Forever 21)
6. Long Line Grey Cardigan (Forever 21)
7. Knit Cropped Tank (Brandy Melville)
8. Oversized Denim Shirt (Zara)
9. Grey Lace Up Tank (Urban Outfitters)
10. Deep V Crop Grey (Aritzia)
11. Grey Pocket Tee (Aritzia)
12. Dark Grey Tee (Aritzia)
13. Black Lace Up Tank (Urban Outfitters)
14. Black Cami (Aritzia)
15. Deep V Crop Black (Aritzia)
16. Black Sleeveless High Neck Blouse (Aritzia)
17. Black Sleeveless V Neck Blouse (Aritzia)
18. V Neck Black Tee (Urban Outfitters)
19. Black Pocket Tee (Aritzia)
20. Black Long Sleeve Top (Aritzia)
21. Black Henley (Urban Outfitters)
22. Black V Neck Pullover (Aritzia)

BOTTOMS (9)

1. High Waisted Denim Shorts (Urban Outfitters)
2. Low Rise Distressed Jeans (Hollister)
3. Black Dress Shorts (Club Monaco)
4. High Waisted Black Jean Shorts (Lulu's)
5. High Waisted Blue Jeans (Urban Outfitters)
6. Black Skinny Jeans (American Eagle)
7. Cropped Dress Pants (Zara)
8. Black Zipper Leggings (Zara)
9. Dress Pants Yoga Pants (Betabrand)

DRESSES (2)

1. Black Deep V Dress (Lulu's)
2. Black Jumpsuit (Lulu's)

OUTERWEAR (3)

1. Black Blazer (Zara)
2. Black Vegan Leather Moto Jacket (Lulu's)
3. Black Coat (Aritzia)

SHOES (7)

1. Vegan Doc Martens (Doc Martens)
2. Vegan Leather Black and Nude Pumps (Call It Spring)
3. Dotted Apollo Sneakers (Native Shoes)
4. Vegan Leather Oxfords (Aldo)
5. Black High Top Chucks (Converse)
6. Two-Tone Flats (Melissa)

You may have noticed that I surpassed my usual maximum limit of 40 items this time around… don’t worry, it’s not a mistake!  After the difficulty I had last year trying to put together a wardrobe that could carry me from almost 30 degree weather in September all the way to snow and freezing temperatures in November, I decided to give myself a couple extra items to improve my chances of being covered no matter the circumstance.

As you can see, my neutral wardrobe is here to stay for another season.  Until I began my capsule wardrobe project I didn’t realize how wonderful it would be to remove colour from my closet!  I was always a big fan of all black outfits and neutrals, but it wasn’t all I wore by any means.  The freedom and satisfaction I feel while rocking a colour-less outfit is so worth it that I pretty much have no colourful pieces left!

Don’t forget to watch my YouTube video to get more details on each piece and why I chose them as well as my lookbook video!

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A Recap Of My Full Year Of Capsules

As you may recall, this past year I've had four capsules:

Fall Capsule Wardrobe

Winter Capsule Wardrobe

Cruise Capsule Wardrobe (+ Cruise Capsule Lookbook)

Summer Capsule Wardrobe (+ Summer Capsule Lookbook)

The verdict?

I would say my capsule project has turned out to be a roaring success!

I was pretty wary of the whole thing at the beginning, to be fully honest.  I didn’t think I would be able to stop shopping constantly, or be happy wearing the same pieces and outfits over and over.  But I have, and I am!  I feel as though such a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, as dramatic as that sounds.

I spoke about this briefly in my One Year Of Minimalism Update video, but I was a serious shopaholic for several years.  Shopping gave me a rush that helped me forget my problems and combat my developing depression.  The idea of removing my self-prescribed antidepressant from my life was terrifying.  But I honestly feel that taking that shot of endorphins away has allowed me to look deeper and to begin to work through my problems, rather than run away from them.

Capsules have cut my morning routine in half.  I don't spend time walking from the closet to the dresser, trying to decide what to wear.  I check the weather, grab some bottoms, grab a top, and go.  Everything is on the same small rack, easy to find and organized.

I feel like my style is more consistent and I feel more put together no matter how recently I rolled out of bed.  Which is definitely a bonus considering how much I love to sleep!

I have realized through the capsule process that the vast majority of my wardrobe no longer fits my style, and have donated far more pieces than I ever would have thought possible a year ago.  I've even sold some pieces, making some extra cash on the side!

Planning and doing a small amount of shopping for each new capsule has become something I really look forward to.  I find myself barely going into shops, and when I do I can easily stick to window shopping rather than giving in and buying things.  (This is a seriously big deal for me!)

I have saved hundreds of dollars that I surely would have spent on pointless clothing pieces had I not been doing capsule wardrobes.  With a wedding to pay for, this was so important!

So many people are curious about my capsules and want to learn more.  I often get asked whether or not I'll go back to the standard way of dressing.  

The answer?  

I really can't see why I would ever want to.

Capsule wardrobes were my gateway drug for minimalism, and baby I ain't ever going back!

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Have you tried capsules yet?  If not, what are you waiting for!

Use these to get started...

How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe (blog post)

Free Downloadable Capsule Planning Worksheet

How I Plan My Capsule Wardrobes (video)

Until next time,

Build My Fall Capsule Wardrobe With Me!

I have now completed a full year of capsules!  What an amazing year this has been.  I'm going to do a complete recap in my next blog post, but for today I wanted to invite you into my home to see first hand how I put my 2016 fall capsule wardrobe together!

Watch it here or on YouTube, and don't forget to subscribe!

Relevant links to today's video...

Capsule Wardrobe Planning Worksheet (Free Download)

How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe

My Style Pinterest Board

Until next time,

My Dream Closet

I love Instagram and Pinterest.  They allow me to live vicariously through those living the lifestyle I aspire to.  A minimal home, financial security, and great style are all things I hope to someday lay claim to.

When I recently came across MakeSpace and their new "dream closet" idea, I was really excited to make a vision board of sorts for my very own minimal and beautiful closet!

Why don't you come along for a virtual tour?

Colour Scheme

You know me, black and white all the way.  White walls, an industrial concrete floor, and a plain white rug set the stage for my closet dream.

I don't dream of a massive space - a medium size room will do nicely.

High ceilings and a wall of windows along with some vintage lightbulbs bring the industrial minimalism together.

image from who what wear

Of course, I always love a little hint of life - so a large plant or two bring in that tiny touch of colour which is otherwise absent.

And an oversized mirror leans on one wall, reflecting the space.

image from who what wear

Storage

I love to look at my clothes.  I spend the time curating my capsule wardrobes and they become an external representation of where I am in my life.  The clothes I wear on a day to day basis would be displayed on two simple clothing racks, in a gradient from light to dark.  

image from remodelista

A simple chest holds my off season clothing, and a small modern chest of drawers holds my undergarments and accessories.

A small white vanity by the window displays my favourite makeup and jewellery pieces and is the perfect place to get ready in the morning.

Wardrobe

My clothing pieces are all ethically sourced and vegan, from fair trade factories and made with sustainable materials.  They are made to last.

Simple cuts in black, white, and gray are matched in infinite combinations.

A classic white tee.  Black skinny jeans.  A chunky grey sweater.  White sneakers.

A black pencil skirt, a white blouse, and black pumps.

View fullsize

Pieces are timeless, with an Audrey Hepburn feel, yet somehow current.

Equally feminine and masculine, the clothes are structured and soft, form fitting and relaxed.

Want to see more of my favourite outfit inspiration?  All of these outfit shots come from my 'Style' Pinterest board!

Vibe

High quality speakers play my favourite music (the beatles, the beachboys, hamilton the musical) while I get ready under the watchful eyes of my two kittens.

My fiance sits at the small chair and table where I did my morning pages and drinks his coffee as we chat about the day ahead.

A green smoothie in hand, I pick out my outfit for the day and touch up my lipstick.

I get my man to take a couple shots of my outfit with our Fuji for my Instagram, and head out the door to take on the day.

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Now, I realize that this minimalist lifestyle doesn't work for everyone.  I mean, even I still have trouble parting with more colourful clothing that I just don't wear anymore!  An awesome option for that is to store your off-season clothing (or clothing you're just not too sure about anymore, but aren't ready to donate) off-site with a storage company like MakeSpace.  They're a new full-service storage facility that can be managed from your phone!  (So much more convenient than storage companies I've dealt with in the past.)  They make it super easy to have your items picked up, stored, or delivered back to you, with just a couple of taps.  Check out their self storage locations here!

I hope you enjoyed today's post and I would LOVE to hear about your dream closet in the comments below!

Until next time,