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,

Summer Capsule Wardrobe

It's summer in the city!  Ever since I returned from the Disney Wonder, Toronto has been seriously hot.  I had planned to continue wearing my cruise capsule for another month or so, but it's too warm out for that by far!  As you know, my cruise capsule wardrobe was about 50% clothing for the heat of Mexico and the Bahamas, and 50% clothing for around the ship (a highly air conditioned environment).  At this point I'm in need of a 100% warm weather wardrobe, stat!  

I'm jumping into my Summer Capsule Wardrobe which I plan to wear for June, July, and August of this year.  Let's get into it!

Summers in Toronto can range from mild sunny days to extreme heat and humidity, usually averaging about 25 degrees celsius (but regularly creeping over 40).

I need a wardrobe made up of lighter weight fabrics to keep me cool and pieces that work for me time as well as work in a casual retail environment.

As always, I stuck with 40 pieces total...

You may recognize some pieces from my fall, winter, and cruise capsule wardrobes in here, but I also picked up a couple fun new items!

As always, my wardrobe is almost entirely void of colour.  I like dressing in black, white, and gray for the versatility and how classy it makes me feel!  The one struggle I foresee is a lack of sandals...  I might end up replacing a pair of docs with a strappy pair if the summer gets any hotter.  I also felt the need to include a couple colder weather pieces, just in case the heat is a bit of a fluke and we go back to spring temperatures for a while.  I've been loving high waisted bottoms with crop tops lately, and you can definitely see that reflected in my capsule!  

I feel like this iteration of my capsule is a good mix of old and new with 8 new pieces and 32 standbys from my wardrobe.  For anyone interested in the pieces featured, the following is a list of exact or similar items:

TOPS (22)

1. white snap crop
2. white fringe crop tank
3. white lace up tank
4. white v neck tee
5. off-white knit cropped tank
6. beige tank
7. grey cropped tank
8. grey lace up tank
9. eat fruit not friends tank
10. grey crop tee
11. grey tee
12. long grey tee with slits
13. long grey cardigan
14. black crop henley tank
15. black lace up tank
16. black & grey reversible cami
17. black sleeveless v-neck blouse
18. black tank
19. beatles tank
20. black cropped tee
21. black deep v neck tee
22. black t-shirt

BOTTOMS (9)

1. black maxi skirt
2. black jeans
3. black leggings
4. black high waisted shorts
5. high waisted black jean shorts
6. high waisted light wash jeans
7. high waisted jean shorts
8. light wash denim shorts
9. ripped jeans

DRESSES (1)

1. white lace backless dress

SHOES (5)

1. white eyelet chucks
2. white floral docs
3. black and white dotted sneakers
4. black vegan docs
5. black flip flops

OUTERWEAR (3)

1. beige trench
2. beige vest
3. olive jacket

See my capsule in action in my Summer Capsule Wardrobe Lookbook!

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Want to make your own capsule?  Check out my post on How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe and download the free capsule planning worksheet!

What are you excited to wear this summer?  Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time,

Cruise Capsule Wardrobe

Last year I spent 8 months working for the mouse.  Mickey Mouse, that is!  I completed a contract as a performer on the Disney Wonder and had a ball of a time.

The only problem?  I packed WAY too much.  To my credit, I had no idea what one should pack for 6 months at sea… but a guitar, a backpack, and two huge suitcases weighing in at over 70 lbs each?  Just a little bit of overkill.  (I did eventually get the suitcases down to under 60 lbs each, but it was painful.  And believe me, lugging those babies around in the bowels of a ship was NOT a cake-walk).

So as I prepare for my second contract, a quick month, I know I can do better.  I am a minimalist now, after all.  I have Marie Kondo on my side.  I have KonMari in my blood.  Ok, maybe I’ve taken this a bit too far…  Anyway, I am definitely better equipped this time around to pack minimally for maximal impact. 

As I still vividly remember how painful it was trying to decide what to bring and what to leave behind last fall, I thought I would take you along for the ride in the hopes that you can learn from my mistakes and be ready for any opportunity that comes your way!

My Top 3 Tips for Practical Packing

Packing sucks.  

The majority of the population (including myself) hates doing it.  I know quite a few people who would rather trash all of their worldly belongings and start again rather than pack for a move.  But what about when your packing for a trip?  You’re going somewhere potentially unfamiliar, where you may be unable to purchase necessities (especially if you live an ethical lifestyle).  You need to bring the basics with you, at the very least.

So how can we make packing more palatable?  With my top 3 tips for practical packing, of course!  (Can you tell I love alliteration?  I thought so.)

I also created a Packing Checklist to help you remember every important item!  

Building a Capsule Wardrobe

A capsule wardrobe is a small, intentional, daily wardrobe made up of pieces you love, fit you and your lifestyle, and all work together.  

I wrote a detailed post explaining the capsule concept as well as a thorough how-to for building your own, go read it HERE, get familiar, then come back and read on!

If you’re already on the capsule wardrobe train (Hi, my name’s Elizabeth.  Let’s be best friends.) I’ll get right into my streamlined capsule process!

To begin the curation process for my third capsule wardrobe I sat down, asked myself a few simple questions, and put pen to paper.  Here are the 7 questions and my responses to help you get a fuller picture of the process:

1. How long will I wear this capsule? One month.
2. What will the weather be like?  Temperatures ranging from 20-30 degrees celsius, mostly sunny, possible rain.
3. What will my typical day look like? (Consider formality, dress codes, activity level and type)  Exercise and rehearsals (requiring active wear), time spent in crew areas and in my cabin, time spent in guest areas (comply to dress code), time spent at the beach and swimming, time spent in port.
4. What types of special events and activities will I be participating in? Crew events, special events in guest areas.
5. 3 words that describe my ideal style: Minimal, Neutral, Light
6. What kind of outfits do I love/inspire me?  Pin em! Capsule and Style Pinterest boards
7. What is my colour palette? Black, white, grey, and beige (neutrals) with a few pops of colour and pattern

Want to use these questions to build your next capsule?  Use the form below to join the Plant Based Bride community and get your download link for the free printable!

Once I answered these questions, it was time to shop my closet!

The Cruise Capsule

You may recognize some pieces from my fall and winter capsule wardrobes in here, but there are also some exciting new items!

With warm weather on the horizon, I turned my focus to lighter pieces - both in weight and colour.  While black is and always will be a staple colour in my wardrobe, white, grey, and shades of beige have made their mark on this capsule.  I also brought back a touch of colour and pattern that was completely lacking from my winter collection as statement pieces that stand out on the backdrop of neutrality.

As you saw in my answers to the planning questions, I was hoping for a minimalist, neutral, and light feel in my capsule.  Flowy fabrics, long cuts, draping, and soft tailoring pull everything together for me.

For anyone interested in the pieces featured, the following is a list of exact or similar items:

TOPS (16)

1. white tee - aritzia
2. white v neck tee - urban outfitters
3. white button down - anthropologie
4. beige trench - similar
5. beige vest - similar
6. long grey cardigan - similar
7. grey cropped tank - brandy melville
8. long grey tee with slits - similar
9. grey tee - aritzia
10. black & grey reversible cami - similar
11. black sleeveless swing blouse - zara
12. black sleeveless v neck blouse - aritzia
13. black deep v neck tee - similar
14. black t-shirt - aritzia
15. black blazer - similar
16. black cropped tee - similar

BOTTOMS (5)

1. black track pants - gap 
2. black maxi skirt - brandy melville
3. a-line skirt - american apparel
4. high waisted jeans - urban outfitters
5. high waisted shorts - similar

DRESSES (2)

1. blue maxi dress - similar
2. tropical purple dress with jacket - similar

SHOES (6)

1. white sneakers - vans
2. beige heels - similar
3. beige flats - similar
4. black and white dotted sneakers - native shoes
5. black oxfords - aldo
6. black flip flops - havaianas

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I have to say that I am absolutely LOVING building and wearing capsule wardrobes.  This is becoming a way of life.  I’m hoping to progress to the point where I can let go of everything not including in the past 4 capsules (not worn in a year) and reduce my entire wardrobe to under 175 pieces total!  (That may sound like a lot to you, but to me that’s TINY!  I started out with over 500 EASY before my KonMari purge!)

I am so excited to try out the capsule model while working at sea, it feels like the perfect time to utilize this kind of dressing as you’re already limited by what you can fit in your luggage.

Well, my bags are packed.  I have a backpack, my guitar, and one suitcase weighing 57 lbs (darn having to pack enough vegan and cruelty-free skin care, hair care, and body care for a month!) and I have to say I am very pleased.  I don't claim to be the perfect minimalist.  I definitely don't have it yet.  But it feels so good to be on my way!

What would are the three words you would use to describe your ideal wardrobe?

Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time,

If you enjoy the free content I create for you, please consider supporting me on PATREON!  You can pledge as little as one dollar a month.  Go check it out here!

How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe

Have you ever woken up, looked at your closet full to bursting and thought: "I have absolutely nothing to wear."?  Me too.  How is it that you can own so many pieces and still feel this way?  Maybe you're like me, surrounding yourself with mediocre pieces and wearing your few favourites over and over again while avoiding the rest.  Well, enough is enough!  I am finally creating a capsule wardrobe and I couldn't be more excited to share my journey with you (and hopefully inspire you to follow suit).  Read on to learn how you can create the perfect, concise, wardrobe; full of clothing you love and want to wear every single day!

What is a capsule wardrobe?

A capsule wardrobe is a small, intentional, daily wardrobe made up of pieces you love, fit you and your lifestyle, and all work together.  For me it is comprised of 40 pieces (but you can pick whatever number works for you!) including tops, bottoms, dresses, rompers, shoes and outerwear.  It does not include workout clothing, audition and special occasion wear, accessories, and loungewear for around the house.  A capsule wardrobe is intended for a specific season (like fall) and is worn for 3 months, without any new clothing purchases!

The idea behind a capsule wardrobe is to...

• Simplify your life.
• Reduce the amount of time spent deciding what to wear and increase the time available for doing the things you truly love.  
• Cut down on spending and get the full value out of your clothes.  
• Find your style and revel in it.

Sound good?  Then keep reading to learn how to create yours!

How to create a capsule wardrobe of your own.

ONE Get inspired.

Head over to your style board on Pinterest (I know you have one!) and take a look at the pins.  Is there a style that sticks out at you?  Which are your favourite looks?  What pieces show up again and again?  As you scroll through and analyze you will begin to get a sense of what your style aesthetic is.  It may be far from how you dress right now, or look exactly like your current wardrobe.  Either way, this is the style you're drawn to and what you should base your capsule wardrobe on, just so long as it fits your lifestyle!  You could even start a new board and pin all of your absolute favourite that fit the season you're working on to have all of your inspiration in one, easy to find, place.

Don't have a style board?  Feel free to look through mine!

Follow Plant Based Bride's board Style on Pinterest.

Also feel free to take a look at my Fall and Winter capsule wardrobes!

TWO Come up with 3 words that describe your style.

Or five, or twelve.  The number of words isn't important.  What is important is that you can describe your ideal style in a clear and concise way.  This will only help you as you build your capsule!  Try looking at the list below for some inspiration:

Now get out a pen and some paper and write down the words that describe your dream (yet practical) style.  Seriously, do it!  

THREE 'Tis the season.

Think about the season you're building your wardrobe for.  Is it winter in Canada?  Then you probably won't need any shorts.  Think about temperatures, weather like rain or snow, and the colours that you like to wear during that season.  Keep these things in mind as you choose your pieces!

FOUR Pick a number.

Next you want to pick your number of pieces.  I decided to go with 40.  This breaks down to:

• 17 tops;
• 9 bottoms;
• 3 dresses and rompers;
• 7 pairs of shoes, and;
• 4 pieces of outerwear.

Your numbers don't have to be the same as mine, and they may change slightly as you go, but I find it really helps to have a structure to work in while selecting your pieces. 

FIVE Go through your wardrobe.

Now it's time to go through the clothes you already own and make 5 piles:

• Capsule (love it, in season);
• Seasonal (love it, out of season);
• Maybe (unsure due to style, fit, cost, etc.);
• Donate or Sell (don't love it or wear it), and;
• Trash (too worn to be donated).

Go ahead and throw out your trash pile, separate your donate and sell pile, and store your seasonal clothing in a box under the bed or in a closet.  Then, collect your capsule pile and write down what you have by category.  How many items do you have?  What are you missing?  Is there something you need for your capsule hiding in your maybe pile that could do the trick?  If not, add the item to your shopping list.

Need more help sorting through your clothes?  Check out Marie Kondo's book on decluttering your life! (Click on the book cover to buy it on Amazon! This is an affiliate link.)

SIX Plan your capsule.

As you go through your items think about the overall cohesiveness of your wardrobe.  The aim is to have items that work with as many other pieces in your wardrobe as possible.  This can be achieved through colour palette or style.  I like to keep the majority of my wardrobe neutral, consisting of black and white, to allow for easier mix and matching.  Analyze your items for holes:  is there a sweater you need to pull together multiple outfits?  What about a pair of shoes that would make that dress and those jeans really pop?  Continue adding to your shopping list until you reach your golden number and have each piece you need to make your wardrobe work.  This step requires a bit of shuffling around to find the perfect combination of items that gives you the most bang (and outfits) for your buck!

SEVEN Shop.

Once you're happy with your list, it's time to shop!  Make a budget before you go to ensure well thought out purchases.  You're looking for items that are high quality, fit well, and radiate the style you're going for with your capsule.  Bring inspiration images with you and remind yourself of your style words each time you pick up an item.  Does it say what you want it to say?  Will it merge seamlessly with the wardrobe you're building?  Will it last through repeated wear for at least the next 3 months?

EIGHT Wear.

Hang up your capsule wardrobe and get the rest of your clothing out of sight.  You will feel a calmness descend over you (I guarantee it!).  Welcome to your new life!  Now comes the fun part: styling outfits!  You can take photos of the items you chose for reference or to upload to apps like stylebook to help with outfit building, or just wing it.  You can also take photos of each outfit you build to keep track of the ones you really love for reference as you build next season's wardrobe.  Enjoy your pieces for the next 3 months, then start planning for capsule #2 in the last couple weeks of the third month.

Be sure to check back to see my fall capsule wardrobe on the blog next week!

Until next time,

How do you feel about capsule wardrobes?  Would you ever try one?

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