The idea of a capsule wardrobe may not be anything new in the blog world, but even so, I always love following along with people who give them a go. My fingers are crossed that y’all feel the same way, because I’m excited to be planning a capsule wardrobe for this fall and to share about it here! But let’s back up a little, shall we?

What it is: There are a few variations on what a capsule wardrobe is exactly, and I don’t think the specifics matter much, but the general principle is this: a closet made up of a select group of versatile, seasonal items, all of which you really love. A closet consisting ONLY of pieces that you love (and that fit perfectly) simplifies your life, pushes you to mix/match/accessorize creatively, and let’s be honest, many of us already go to our full wardrobes every day, only to spend ten minutes sifting through them and ending up in one of our favorite shirts again (guilty–hello, chambray button-down). I’m following Caroline of Unfancy’s plan most closely, which you can read more about here.

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Why I’m trying it: There are a few reasons! 1. As I mentioned, I’ve been so intrigued over the past year or two by the idea of a simpler, more specific wardrobe–I followed along with it on Unfancy since day one, and also really enjoyed reading Cuyana‘s series on the Lean Closet Movement. 2. Every season, I try to shop intentionally by making a specific list of things I want to add to my closet, and then sticking to that list when considering buying something new. However, now that I’m married and do my best to love Dave through respecting our budget (the best motivation!), I knew it was time to take things a step further and cut out shopping for awhile. If for nothing else, I hope this gets me out of the habit of thinking I need things, when honestly and truly, I have so much more than I could ever need. 3. It’s a fun challenge! I love outfit planning and have always thought fall was the most fun season to dress for. I’m excited to get outside of my comfort zone a little and wear things from my capsule wardrobe in new ways.

When: I’m planning to use my capsule wardrobe from September 8 (right after Labor Day) until November 30, with a few intentionally planned exceptions (namely, work events that require a specific outfit that doesn’t fit into the rest of my wardrobe).

How: Now for the fun part! I started on Pinterest–I have a board for fall and winter fashion, so I went through it and re-pinned my favorite looks for this coming fall in a separate secret board (sneak peek below). After gathering that initial inspiration, I went to my closet and pulled out anything I know I want to wear this fall–my field jacket, trench coat, gingham button down, and beloved chambray shirt, to name a few. I was pleased to have a pretty solid start after that step! Next, I worked my way through the Unfancy Capsule Wardrobe Planner, referring to my Pinterest board for textures, colors, and styles I was particularly drawn to, and combining that with the pieces I had. I ended up deciding to only purchase two new things to round out my fall wardrobe, making my fall shopping total $115–surely much less than if I were to make smaller, more frequent purchases throughout the season. Altogether, I decided on 18 shirts, seven bottoms, three dresses, four jackets/cardigans, and eight pairs of shoes, for a total of 40 pieces. (Note: accessories, jewelry, workout clothes, and cocktail attire don’t count toward that total.)

Now I’d love to know–what would you be most interested in reading as I try this out? Regular outfit round-ups? My favorite looks? Any pros and cons that arise? I’ll be sharing my 40 final pieces next week, and other than that, I’m totally open, so let me know!