genevieve.malarkey During my time abroad, it seemed to me that there were two avenues for clothing shopping in France: very inexpensive and thus, cheap, or very expensive and constraining on a college girl’s non-existent budget. There did not seem to be much middle ground.
Quality clothing is expensive anywhere, and this definitely holds true in France. And because the French love quality over quantity (God bless them), they own less garments but wear them in many different combinations to keep them fresh looking. People often call this a “capsule wardrobe.” If you’ve never heard the term, a quick search on Pinterest will make the concept clear. According to Who What Wear, a capsule wardrobe is “a smaller collection of items you already own and absolutely love to wear, along with new quality items you shop for once a season.”
The benefits of doing so, aside from having less “stuff,” which can be reason enough for some, is that the decision of what to wear each day will be much easier when there are less options in front of you, and you love each and every item you own. Though the items you have are higher quality, you save money each season because you are not spending money on items just because they are on a great sale but wouldn’t necessarily choose them day after day (guilty).
I experimented with a capsule wardrobe when packing for my trip to Paris, and was pretty happy with the pieces I chose to bring with me. The process of packing fewer items that I still adored and would wear in different combinations was a big stress relief when considering what I would wear each day on my trip – I knew I loved all the pieces I chose, and I knew the decision of what to wear for a day in Paris would be much easier.
So now I want to experiment with it in my everyday life. Can I have a French-inspired wardrobe, by creating a capsule collection?
This is a big deal for me, and let me explain why. I am an online shopping, clothes collecting extraordinaire. I have some high standards when it comes to quality in clothing, and while my budget doesn’t always reflect my ability to buy such items, I take pride in spotting amazing sales or promotions that allow me to both purchase high-end items and stay within a reasonable budget. When I told my husband of my capsule wardrobe plan, his eyes grew large and a look of comedic doubt crept across his face. Which only made me want to do it more. Ha!
So where does one start? Are you interested in becoming more minimalistic like the French, and do you want a closet full of high quality items you love to wear with less decisions to make? Then follow these steps below along with me to get started on your French-inspired capsule wardrobe.
– Think seasonally. You don’t need to throw out your sweaters when it’s July and you won’t be wearing them for the next four months. Only worry about the items you wear in the current season, unless you know for sure you won’t be wearing a certain item come the next season. It’s hard to say what you will want to wear in December if it’s June, so this process is done best as a seasonal exercise.
– Pick your key pieces. These pieces are classic, timeless items you would wear year-round. A denim jacket, a white tank top, your favorite jeans, your go-to casual dress, your best pair of flats, that cardigan you can’t live without. These items should coordinate easily with multiple items (solid, neutral colors or repetitive prints like stripes work best). Identify whatever these items are in your closet, and set them aside as the basis of your capsule. These are the pieces you will augment with season-appropriate pieces.
Un-fancy.com suggests as a general rule of thumb is to keep around 37 pieces total, NOT including “workout clothes, jewelry, accessories, purses, swimsuits, pajamas/loungewear, underwear, and the jeans you wear when you paint your living room.”
– Before actually throwing anything out, place your unwanted items in a box for the next three months. If you don’t think about or miss these items at all over the next ninety days, it’s safe to say you don’t wear them regularly, or even like them that much. After the three month period is over, consign or donate them! I plan to use ThredUP.
– Eliminate any items you know you didn’t wear this time last year. If you have some tops in your closet that have been there for a couple of years, and you know you didn’t wear them even once over the last year, it’s safe to eliminate them from your wardrobe. I am a total cardigan hoarder and I have several I think are cute but I almost never wear them (in favor of my always-reliable cardis). Into the box they go.
– Don’t forget shoes! I definitely have more shoes than I wear regularly. Of course, some are for special occasions (I’m not one to wear stilettos on a daily basis), and those would definitely need to remain a part of your wardrobe for when the occasion strikes. But do you need eight pairs of leather sandals, and do you wear each of them regularly (if the answer is yes, no judgment here!)? Identify the shoes you can’t live without, and put the pairs you haven’t worn in the last six-twelve months in that box with your other items for safe keeping, until you are confident you won’t miss them. Again, think of keeping the pairs in neutral materials and colors, like black and brown leathers, white sneakers, etc. as a baseline, but don’t forget to have fun by mixing in colorful seasonal flats, sandals, or whatever.
In the end we should be left with around 37 pieces of clothing, some of which take you through the entire year, and others which are seasonally appropriate. All of them should coordinate together in some way, and choosing what to wear on a daily basis will be a snap!
Now the work begins. I will be following up this post with how I fared in the process I’ve laid out, and whether I think I’ll be able to live with a more minimalistic closet (I’ll sure miss all those online sales).
Are you brave enough to try this too? Do you have any added tips for this process? I’d love to hear your advice. Cheers to a happier, less cluttered lifestyle!
À la prochaine–
geneviève
