We live in a pretty good sized 1 bedroom apartment with a pretty tiny closet.
It’s a “walk in” closet; there’s quotations because it’s not really maneuverable.
The long end of the L is only about an inch longer than a hanger jutting out, so when there are clothes there, it is a jungle trying to find an aricle.
Also, I am an impulse buyer, emotional buyer, and just love clothes in general. That being said, my lifestyle has changed. COVID aside, in Florida people get super dressed up for just about anything, in Colorado it seems as though the definition is jeans and a black shirt.
I also have put on a little weight and really needed to stop pretending I’d get back down to a 26″ waist; and to stop hanging on to all the clothes that made me feel like I was too big.
I am not too big. My clothes are too small.
No, really. I’m 5’0″ with 32-32.5″ hips and weight about 135 lbs. Am I bigger than I used to be, yes. Am I bigger than I am happy with, no. I am healthy according to the doctors and do I like the way I look in the mirror, yes.
Obligatory “Not A Doctor” Notice.
This will be some research as well as some info about me. The information about me and/or discussed with my doctor are unique to me and should not be assumed to work for anyone who is not me. That being said:
I am not a doctor or medical professional. None of my “research” is clinical or medically viable. Do not make any diet, exercise, medication, or lifestyle changes without first consulting a medical professional.
Moving right along: A wardrobe for normal people
I admit, I have had too many clothes. I recently got rid of six garbage bags stuffed with clothing. No, I am not exaggerating. I got rid of about half of each article of clothing (pants 30->15, shirts innumerable->bearable, workout leggings 20->1, etc.).
I thought I still had too many clothes, so I took to researching capsules. Capsule, as a term, has become fairly misconstrued. Originally, a [c]apsule wardrobe [was] a term used in American publications as early as the 1940s to denote a small collection of garments designed to be worn together which harmonized in color and line” while now, it seems to be what people think they are doing when they create “a mini wardrobe made up of really versatile pieces that you totally LOVE to wear”. It is vastly different to KonMari Method™ your wardrobe and keep your favorite items, which is what I had done, versus whittling down to an exceptionally minimalist capsule which is meant to be comprised of fifty or fewer items in total, only discluding undergarments.
An example of a capsule that I had pulled is the five piece French wardrobe. “[T]he premise that once you have a core capsule wardrobe of basic, versatile clothing, you then purchase 5 or less trendy items per season to keep your wardrobe fun and up to date. Simple, really. Your core basics can amount to any number, but I would recommend keeping it between 30-50. The seasons are spring/summer and fall/winter, so you would end up purchasing about 10 new pieces a year, not 5 for each of the four seasons. Spring and fall are considered transitional seasons, so that’s why the seasons are grouped into two.”
Considering things will get worn out, you’ll also get rid of a few items each year, Ideally keeping tops, bottoms, layering, dresses, jewelery, and footwear constantly under 75 items.
That being said, none of these capsules are fully converible, There are summer capsule that include bathing suits, shorts, and other items rendered completely useless in the Colorado winter.
I ended up combining a bunch of capsule lists and tried to whittle down to the ideal wardrobe. This was not an easy task as some had short sleeve shirts and long sleeve shirts while others specified blouses, a henley, button downs, and so forth. This carried over into every aspect from bottoms to dresses, some even including overalls and jumpsuits.
The final list, therefore, is imperfect. Totaling 146 items, which does not include heavy winter coats, special occasion dresses, bathing suits, or accessories and undergarments. I decided to round down to 135. Here’s my work, linking the capsules I referenced.
I have yet to count my items to do this all again, but since we’re buying out first house this yea, hopefully in July, I plan to get this done by May.
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