|

|

Join My 30-Day Shop Your Closet/Capsule Wardrobe Challenge

Yesterday I shared a post about how to create a capsule wardrobe, and today I’m going to tell you how it went when I tried putting my winter capsule wardrobe together.

Side note: You’re invited to join me on this capsule wardrobe challenge!! I’m officially going to start on January 15th, but I’m taking some time to live with my new minimalist wardrobe so I can tweak my capsule before we get started.

capsule wardrobe challenge

Let me first say, I am a very impulsive person. I’m sure you’re shocked!! I was planning to start building my capsule wardrobe after the holidays, but I started reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up last week, and I was only about one chapter in when I went upstairs and emptied out my closet and started sorting. I couldn’t wait another second to get started.

You have to understand, I actually prefer to keep a minimalist wardrobe, and my recent foray into fashion blogging has taken its toll on my closet. I was so ready to do this. I just needed permission.

Marie’s advice dovetails nicely with a capsule wardrobe. Both are basically suggesting you go through your closet ruthlessly and only keep the things you absolutely love. Marie actually has you hold each piece of clothing and ask yourself, “Does it spark joy?” If not, it goes.

The only major divergence in the two philosophies is that the capsule wardrobe insists you only have one season of clothes in your closet, and Marie advises you to keep your entire wardrobe in your closet year-round. She makes two good points: 1) when things are packed away, you forget what you have and are more likely to buy things you don’t need, and 2) weather is unpredictable, and a lot of clothing can be worn year-round. (This was certainly true for us this year!!)

Now that I’ve purged so thoroughly, I have the room to keep my entire wardrobe in my closet, but I am choosing not to. I’m already in the habit of putting things away twice a year, so doing it four times a year isn’t a huge stretch. Plus, I really enjoyed putting away some of the jackets, sweaters, and shoes I only wear in the fall, and I think I will enjoy them more next fall if I haven’t been staring at them all year long. Maybe I’ll change my mind, but for now, I only have my winter wardrobe in my closet.

If you recall, there are four steps to the process: Empty your closet, sort your clothes into four piles, assess your remaining wardrobe, and shop to fill in and complete your capsule. Then you live with your capsule wardrobe for three months. No new purchases until two weeks before the next capsule starts. Here’s how it went down.

Steps 1 & 2: Purging and Sorting

I started by emptying out my closet, and I sorted by category of clothing as Marie suggests in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Because my summer clothes are all packed away, I didn’t tackle those clothes. I’ll do that when I switch my closet over for spring.

9 Pants and Skirts

I started with 16 jeans, 2 pants, 3 leggings, and 5 skirts. I hung 11 back in my closet — 1 legging, 1 black pant, and 9 jeans. I stored 11 as “maybes” and I put 2 in my “out of season” bin. I donated 2 skirts and a pair of jeans.

My finished piles are pictured below. The bottom two piles went back in my closet. The top left is “maybe” and the top middle went to “seasonal” and the top right went to “donate”.

bottoms

Because I purged not too long ago, I already got rid of a lot of things I didn’t really want. I knew I was keeping too many maybes, but I didn’t save anything that I haven’t worn this season.

I saved 11 bottoms, not 9, and none are skirts, but I really do wear all these, so I decided to live with them for a while. I can reduce more before I officially start living with my capsule wardrobe.

4 Dresses and Jackets (cocktail attire not included)

For some reason, I have no pictures of this. I kept a total of 6 — 2 sweater dresses, 2 printed shift dresses, my black moto jacket, and a black dressy jacket. I also have 2 special occasion dresses, but they don’t count towards the capsule because they’re not part of my daily outfits. And I’m not counting winter coats and raincoats — just jackets I consider part of my outfits.

I put several dresses away in the seasonal bin and gave away a few that I was keeping “just in case.” I also put my denim jacket in the “seasonal” bin. It will definitely go back into my closet for spring.

15 Tops

This is where I got really stumped. You’re supposed to have 15 tops, according to C’s method. No matter what I did, I could not pare down to 15 tops. Take a look at the pile of tops I started with. I am truly embarrassed to admit that I had this much stuff, but anyway, here goes. (I included my vests in here, rather than putting them with the jackets/dresses.)

tops

About 20 tops went in my “maybe” bin, several went into “seasonal,” and I gave 2 paper grocery bags away, but no matter how many times I went through the rest, I couldn’t get my “LOVE IT” pile under 25.

Some are basic foundation layering pieces that I don’t ever wear alone, and I can’t say I’m excited about them, but I do need them to go under the ponchos and sweaters I kept. (I made sure to keep ONLY the foundation pieces that I need to go under the clothes in my capsule.)

I started to get really frustrated, and that’s when I decided I was getting bogged down trying to obey the letter of the law rather than living in the spirit of the law. 

I came to the conclusion that it defeats the purpose of the challenge to get rid of things I truly love just for the sake of getting down to an arbitrary number. A capsule wardrobe is defined as “a mini wardrobe made up of really versatile pieces that you completely LOVE to wear.” The number is just a guide.

I decided to put all 25 tops back in my closet and live with them for a while. I can pare down further when I finalize my capsule.

Here’s what went back in my closet: 2 ponchos, 5 turtleneck sweaters, 2 quilted vests, 4 crew-neck/v-neck sweaters, 3 cardigans, 2 dressy tops, 1 chambray tunic, and 6 layering tees. Oh, and then there are those 4 tank tops I didn’t even count. I started with 20 (yes, really!) so I consider the fact that I only have 4 now a real feat.

tops

9 Pairs of Shoes

I went through my shoes, and I ended up keeping 20. So sue me!! I still feel like I downsized a lot.

shoe shelves top

I know I could reduce more and still have plenty to wear, but I am not getting rid of brand new shoes I love just to get the number down to 9. Again, the reason I have so many newish shoes is due to my job. I work with quite a few shoe companies who have sent me gorgeous shoes I wouldn’t otherwise buy myself. I don’t NEED them, but I do wear them and enjoy them.

Most importantly, I have empty spaces on my shoe shelves. It feels minimal to me because of the space I have, so for now, they stay.

Step 3: Assessing What’s Left

Here’s the interesting part. Now that I’m living with my new closet, I don’t think I’m going to worry about paring down much more. When I finalize my capsule, I’m sure I’ll tweak it a bit, but I LOVE my closet the way it is now. It feels so spacious, and when I look in there, I love everything I see. I have to say, it might even spark a bit of joy.

closet

A capsule wardrobe doesn’t have to be 37 pieces. Amy follows the Project 333 project. Her capsule has 33 pieces, not including pajamas, workout gear, undergarments, or shoes. That makes me feel a little better about the amount of shoes I saved. If I don’t count my shoes, my total number of pieces right now is around 40 — so that’s not much more than her 33.

If you’re joining me in this challenge, it is fine to figure out the number that works for you. Don’t feel obligated to get down to 37 pieces. Considering what I started with, I think paring my closet down to 40 pieces of clothing and 20 pairs of shoes is pretty good.

Step 4: Shop and Fill In

Most people will probably need to add a few versatile pieces to round out their wardrobes, but I think it’s clear by my inability to reduce my closet to the recommended size that I probably don’t need to shop for anything. I’ve made notes about a few pieces I’d like to add, but I’m not in any rush to get them. I’m waiting to see if I feel I need them after living with my current wardrobe for a while.

I will finalize my capsule and post it on January 15th. After that, I’m committed to not buying any new clothes, shoes, accessories, or handbags for at least 30 days. I’m going to create as many outfits as possible from what’s in my closet, and I’ll share them here on the blog.

The reason I’m not doing this for 3 months is because I will need to start showing the spring trends in March, and I know I’ll need to shop for that. I’m hoping by then, I’ll have more clarity about what I actually need and what works best for my personal style. I’ve learned a lot already just by what I got rid of. I know inherently what looks best on me, but I’ve been trying out a lot of the oversized looks that are trending right now, and they were the first things to go.

Who knows, I may like living with a capsule wardrobe so much that I’ll do another one for spring! But this is just an experiment at this point.

My Closet Reveal

Side note: after I did mine, I convinced my husband to go through his clothing as well. We share a closet, and when his side is a mess, it makes my side feel less organized. He likes to keep things tidy, but he just doesn’t have the tidy gene, so we went through his stuff together.

It was interesting, actually, to help someone else with the process. I can see why people hire people like Marie. He started the process himself, and he got really overwhelmed about a quarter of the way in. I stepped in and walked him through it, holding up every single item of clothing, gauging his reaction, and tossing it in the proper pile. By working through it together, his side is now as beautiful as mine! Take a look.

his side

By the way, our closet organization was done by EasyClosets. I actually WON a closet makeover. I KNOW. It felt too good to be true! You can see my post all about it here: Master Bedroom Closet Makeover with EasyClosets.

When you walk into our closet, this is what you see. The drawers house my unmentionables. The shelves are my sweaters and sweater dresses, and the top shelf has my clothes and crossbody bags. On the very top is my yoga mat and a bin of tablecloths that I use for special occasions. Oh, yeah, and I stuck my iron on a shelf cuz there’s room now.

sweater shelves

Looking to the left, the top rack is tops and jackets, and the bottom rack is pants and skirts. In my case, just pants.

closet

On the far left are my dresses, scarves, and handbags. The handbags look messy, but they are all lined up with shelf dividers helping them stand upright. I tried to follow Marie’s advice to store some bags inside of others, but mine are all too close to the same size, and that didn’t work for me. That bin on the floor houses my “maybes” — clothes I wasn’t ready to part with but didn’t make the capsule. If I don’t miss them before the winter season is up, they’ll go to the thrift store.

closet 2

My shoes and ankle boots are on shelves in my closet. I couldn’t get back far enough to get them all in one shot, so I did a top and a bottom.

shoe shelves top

I clearly have more running shoes than I need, but they don’t count, so HA!!

shoe shelves bottom

My tall boots are on a bookshelf in the corner of my bedroom.

boot shelf

Pay no mind to the ugly floral hatbox and the white bin. Those house some mementos we haven’t gone through yet. Marie says to wait until the end of the organizing process to go through memorabilia because you will get bogged down and lost momentum. I will tackle those once I get through everything else on my list — namely my kitchen, the laundry room, and my linen closet. The attic can wait until spring.

Wanna Join Me!?

If you want to try the capsule wardrobe challenge, be sure to sign up to receive my daily emails for tips and accountability. Then start going through your existing wardrobe, following the four steps listed in my post on how to create a capsule wardrobe. We will get started on January 15th!!

If you’re not already a part of our Fashion Over 40 Facebook Group, it has become a great community of women sharing our style and encouraging one another. I have shared a bit about the process of building my capsule wardrobe in there already. Cyndi and I run the group, and she is not going to be doing a capsule wardrobe, so it definitely is not a requirement in order to be part of it. But if you are planning to try the capsule wardrobe, it is a great place to get ideas and accountability.

If you’d like to join our Fashion Over 40 Facebook Group, send me a friend request here and then please leave a comment on this post or send me a Facebook private message so I know you want me to add you to the group.

After you’re added, you can “unfriend” me if you want. (Or we can stay friends. That’s cool too!) I set everyone I don’t know in real life to Acquaintances on Facebook, so if I do want to post personal information to close friends, that is easy to do.

I will set aside a time each day to go through the requests and add new members to the group, so it might not go through right away, but it shouldn’t take more than 24 hours.

P.S. YOU DO NOT have to be 40 and over to join our group. There are plenty of young’uns in our group. The more the merrier!!!

In Conclusion

So far, I am LOVING my “new” closet. I already find myself wearing clothes I forgot I had and things that kept getting pushed to the back as I brought in new stuff. I am looking forward to paring down a bit more and putting together my final capsule. It’s a fun challenge to find new combinations to put together, and I feel like I have plenty to wear.

Getting dressed is something we all have to do every morning, and that decision can affect our mood and general outlook for the entire day. Clearing out the clutter and making your closet a place that is serene and inviting is a great first step towards simplifying your life and living intentionally. I bet you’ll be surprised how this one project will affect the rest of your home.

Once my closet was decluttered and organized, I was eager to move on to the other areas of my home. I’m not done yet, but I’ve made a lot of headway, and I am excited to see it all come together. Marie swears that people who finish her course don’t regress because they love their new simplified home so much they don’t want to go back to the clutter and chaos. Only time will tell if that’s true for us, but I hope she’s right.

Even if you don’t join our capsule wardrobe challenge, consider taking an evening or a Saturday and go through these four steps to put your closet in order. I promise, you will love the results!!

Join The Conversation

148 Responses

  1. Hi, sent you a friend request and want to join the Over 40 group! I love your posts – As a wardrobe stylist with Ruby Ribbon, I have so many great pieces but as we have new collections 4 times a year, I need to pare down so your article is inspiring me to begin! Thanks for sharing!

  2. This is something I’ve always done with my wardrobe, so it’s fun to see how other people adapt it to their lifestyle. I hate to say I did it before it was ‘cool’, but I did. LOL

    I just don’t like a lot of clutter in my closet and purge about every other month. It makes getting dressed for any occasion so simple, and I don’t waste money on things I don’t need.

    Also since I was a stay at home mom and now I work from home my needs are very limited anyhow.

    I’m not 40 just yet (that happens in July!) but would love to join the group.

  3. Love this post! Am in the process of reading the Marie Kondo book. Just sent you a friend request on FB. Thanks!

  4. I read the book last Thursday. And as of yesterday, have gone through every single room in my house. We rented a dumpster (that we’ve filled twice so far) and donated two truckloads of stuff. And to think, I’m a neat freak. What in the world! That woman really knows how to move you into action.

    1. TWO DUMPSTERS!? That is CRAZY! You go. I am tempted to rent one. I was talking to a friend about it. Our garage looks like the city dump right now. We are putting stuff out gradually so the trash collectors don’t start skipping our house, lol.

      1. It’s worse than crazy. It’s downright embarrassing. I was afraid our garage would turn into a dump and we need all of it for vehicles and enclosed trailers. So. It’s complete.

  5. I am going to send you a friend request. My phone is being difficult though!

    I just want to say that I really love that you didn’t follow the ‘rules!’ I think that is where some people may get discouraged & not even try to do a capsule. I am working on mine & can’t get my total tops to 15 either! Who cares? It’s better than not trying at all!

    1. So true! I teach high school and have many layering shirts that I won’t get rid of….not washing everyday! No point in tossing if in good condition, just stay organized! Everything is in closet according to color, I can dress with lights off, almost!

  6. Hi Jo-Lynn, I just started following your blog a couple of months ago and love it! Your style is very similar to mine and I really enjoyed your fashion posts! I am so going to read “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”…..my house and closet are in a state of chaos and need decluttering! I love the idea of a wardrobe capsule and am considering the challenge. Thanks for your inspiration and guidance! I also want to join the Over 40 Group and sent you a friend request!

  7. Love your philosophy on this and how you rationalized what you kept. I was so skeptical at first, but the more I’ve read about your process, the more intrigued I am. I know this will feel liberating, so I’m thinking I will try to tackle mine as well! I will likely have a similar mindset and keep what I love regardless of the number, but there are so many things that can still go. I see my problem will be letting go of jeans and shoes! Thanks for sharing and breaking this down so thoroughly.

  8. How do you organize when you have “work” clothes as well as “casual” clothes. I try to purchase items that work for both, but sometimes I like having items that are not work appropriate for the weekends. I work in a law office so most of my clothes are traditional but a lot of us now wear more trendy items (tunics, leggings) to work at times. I guess I could do a work capsule and a casual capsule?

    1. That’s a really good question. Perhaps someone who has professional work attire can answer? I would probably start by just going thru everything and putting back only the things you love. Then see where you are. You can fill in with what you need. I’m guessing some stuff overlaps anyway, right? I am really convinced, after doing this myself, that the best approach is not to get bogged down in a number or in trying to make sure everything works together. The first step is figuring out the stuff you love and want to keep. Then you can live with it and fill in as necessary.

  9. Love your blog! Sent you a friend request and would like to be added to the Fashion Over 40 Facebook group. Thank you ☺️

  10. I feel like I’m getting rid of pieces but I’m not buying any :(. I’m having a horrible time finding clothes I like right now. Curious to see how you create outfits shopping your own closet.

  11. Hi Jo-Lynne, loved your post. So interesting to see how someone does this process in real life. It was very reassuring to read that you made your own rules in terms of numbers of pieces. I think I’ve been going wrong in this respect, reading about other people’s capsules and wanting to recreate them, even though they have a different fashion and life style. So in the end I sort of gave up AND felt like I’d failed. Your post inspires me to do it again but adapt numbers and types of items to my needs. Thank you! Now I just need both my baby girls to nap simultaneously so I can empty my closet ????

  12. Just sent you a friend request. Great blog! I discovered it mid last year and loving the emails, etc! I’m leaving my 40’s later this year but still plan to follow;)

  13. I have sent you a friend request and would love to join the over 40 group, thank you. I have started on my closet and I already feel better about it. So glad to read you eased the numbers on tops and shoes! I am pleased to discover that I do actually have clothes that “spark joy’.

  14. I know I have way too much clothing I don’t wear right now. I have to dig through it all the time to find something I want to wear. I’m not working right now, so I should probably just move those clothes to the guest room… Anyone have suggestions on how to sort through your wardrobe with a 2 year old helper? Ha!

  15. would you please add me to the Fashion over 40 facebook page. I love both your and Cyndi’s blog. Thank you for all you do.

  16. hi Jo-Lynne – Please add me to your Fashion Over 40 Facebook Group. It’s kind of spooky but I read Marie Kondo’s book last summer and started learning about capsule wardrobes a few days ago. I’m thrilled that you’re covering two fav topics! I’m a big fan and you and Cyndi.

    BTW: I have the opposite problem of most people. I’ve worked out of my home for over 30 years and have pared down to the extent that I have an almost empty closet. I want to build a small, fabulous wardrobe that reflects my personality and meets my needs. Not easy to do!

  17. Another great post. I’ve purged and organized my closet recently, but I still have WAY more clothes than you kept in your closet. Maybe time to pare down again. I don’t think I’ll go as far as the capsule wardrobe, but I really should reevaluate whether I love something or am just keeping a bunch of “maybes”. Good food for thought.

  18. Hi Jo-Lynne, I already get your weekly emails, but wanted to make sure that I get your capsule challenge emails, so I signed up again 🙂

    Glad it’s starting in a couple of weeks, gives me time to get ready! Already donated some cardigans this morning, but that was to make room for 2 new ones ….

  19. I sent you a FB friend request. I am ordering a copy of Marie’s book today! I am always looking for new ways to organize and declutter and I love the idea of a capsule wardrobe so I will be doing it along with you. It was very interesting to see how my initial pare down differed from yours – my entire “bottom” wardrobe consists of skirts and 2 jeans, no pants! I live in Southern California where the seasons don’t change much so I will be keeping my entire wardrobe in my closet year-round. Today it is raining and 54 degrees and I am dressed in my warmest clothes! I really enjoy your blog and I am excited for this 30 day challenge.

  20. You have really struck a chord with this topic!
    To me, the number of clothes isn’t important, as long as I know what I have (it’s not hidden and forgotten), love what I have, and wear what I have. The last one has been hardest.
    I used to save my favorite things and wait (sometimes forever) for the perfect occasion to wear them. I’ve decided that everyday life is special enough. Now my motto is “If you love it, wear it!”

  21. All I can say is that its about time! I have read your blog for ages but as a person who has done 2 years of capsule wardrobes and lives pretty minimalistic in the last 4 months I have deleted you from bookmarks only to re add you again and again. You were driving me crazy! All I wanted to do was shop!
    Just so you know I enjoyed your recipe posts as I am celiac, hearing about your foot issues as I suffer too(the result of being celiac) and your fashion posts. Now if you could shop ethically I would be even happier!
    Good luck with your wardrobe. I am looking forward to future posts.

  22. Sent you a friend request and am so excited to try the capsule wardrobe – sooooo need to get things in order and simplify!

  23. I just sent you a friend request. I’m looking forward to the project having just bought the Kondo book myself!

  24. I love your style, but I’ve found that many of your sweaters and tops, in particular, are from the Junior department. As an over 40+ woman , size 12/14 and 5’8″ tall, I haven’t shopped Juniors in years. First, the styles seem way under 40 to me and sizes are cut differently and skimpier. I tried the Nordstrom Lush tunic in an Xl and it was too tight; when usually a Large from the Gap or Misses department fits fine. Could you specify Junior if it is such — and as a rule do you prefer those sizes? I enjoy your blog , yet I need Misses sizes. Happy New Year!

    1. Hi Fran, this is fantastic feedback, thank you. I do not typically shop juniors, but I have found the price point on these items to be lower than most Misses, and I have had people asking for lower price points. I found some of these tops and sweaters by following other fashion bloggers, and I like some of the styles, but the quality and fit is not always up to my standards. All that to say, I hear ya! 🙂 I will definitely specify in the future when sharing from Juniors. 🙂

  25. Hi Jo-Lynne and other brave ladies!! We can do this!!

    For the record, I believe that black, white and gray tees don’t really count in the total tops, especially in the winter.

  26. I did the Marie Kondo method last year and couldn’t believe how much clothing I got rid of. At least 7 trash bags full. And I previously purged at least 4x a year!

    However, your advice to purge one season at a time is a good one, as I learned the hard way. I purged in spring and .now that it’s winter, I keep looking for things I got rid of in my frenzy…like my rain boots that I rarely wore, but now we have a freakish rain streak going on in So. Calif.; a scarf I couldn’t imagine ever needing when it was 85 degrees out…

    I’ve ended up replacing a bunch of winter things that, had I purged in winter, I would have kept, and it’s so annoying. Lesson learned, purge seasonally!

  27. Hi Jo-Lynne,
    I love the idea of the capsules closet. I started following you and Cyndi a few months ago and kinda went crazy on the outfits. I wear uniforms to work every day and it has literally been years since I bought anything new. Recently my husband and I stated going to church and I had nothing to wear….every outfit you or Cyndi wore. ..I was like, “got to have it!”…lol…now I’m looking back thinking I should have put a little more thought into it…but the good thing is I can definitely “shop” my closet because I now have one. So excited to do this and be a little more organized and deliberate about my purchases. Thanks so much for sharing your “joys” with the rest of us…I look forward to your posts each day.

  28. Hi Jo-Lynne! Please sign me up for the challenge. I will send you a FB request when I’m on my home computer. I deleted FB from my phone!

  29. Hi JoLynne,

    I am new to reading your blog and love it! I am tempted to join your wardrobe challenge but haven’t totally committed yet.

  30. Hi, I sent a friend request a week or 2 ago, but I would like to join the fashion over 40 group. Love you posts!
    Thanks,
    Monica

  31. I’ve been hearing so many great things about creating a capsule collection, it makes perfect sense and is a great way to start the new year on a clean slate! I’d love to have you join my fashion link-up: bit.ly/1muMV0V

    Hope to see you there!

    xx,

    Kelly

  32. I have sent you a friend request on Facebook. After my cast is removed from my left arm next week, I am going to work on my closet. . My biggest challenge is that my weight keeps fluctuating enough to impact what I can wear. Every time I start exercising and eating like I should, something happens forcing me to stop, so the inches and pounds return. And I honestly believe that my weight is always going to fluctuate enough to affect what size I need. So, I need to keep more than one size of tops and bottoms. But, I know that a lot of pieces don’t give me “Joy,” so they need to be removed.
    God bless!

    1. I totally get the weight fluctuation thing. From what you’ve shared before, I think you’ll still be happy to pare down your overall wardrobe, even if you don’t get anywhere near the “capsule” number. 🙂

      1. Thank you Jo-Lynne! I agree with you and can’t wait to do it. I sure wish we lived close to one another than in PA &. GA.

        Have a blessed day!

  33. I love that you are doing a capsule wardrobe! I pared down my wardrobe a while ago and it really does simplify life. I can’t wait to see the outfits that you are going to put together.

    Thanks for a great blog.

    Beth

  34. Hi Jo-Lynne. I just sent you a friend request. You’ve put a lot of work into this. Thanks for making it happen.

  35. Hi Jo-Lynne! I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now and enjoying it. I love the new pink Tory bag you purchased! I want it in the french grey but need to wait for it to come down in price. It may be a bit too big for me, as I carry small purses all the time.
    Anyway, I’m not on Facebook any longer so I can’t join your group there but wanted you to know that after your first post about the Marie Kondo book, I actually hit my closets hard and cleaned out. I’m pretty good at keeping them clean but my shape has recently changed (a tiny bit smaller – Yay!) so I actually had quite a few dress/work pants to discard and some other items. I made two trips to Clothes Mentor. It always feels good to get a little cash for clothes that are in great shape. What they didn’t take will be donated.
    Enjoyed this piece on capsule wardrobe. While I paired down a lot, I am in same boat as other reader in that I have a work wardrobe and weekend one. I do think I could go through more and likely will this weekend. Thanks for the inspiration!!!

  36. Hi Jo-Lynne! I just sent you a friend request to join your group! I am SO looking forward to less in my closet!

  37. Sent you a friend request – I would love to join the Facebook group! Thanks for the motivation. 🙂

  38. I’m in – let the purging begin. I too am reading Marie Kondo’s book so my drawers are neatly folded and organized I have been able to maintain this system easily. As a shoe-a-holic I cannot guarantee I’ll get the number down but I will donate what don’t wear or isn’t comfortable. Another purge is my cosmetics – I have way to much that I just don’t use and its time to say good bye! I’m not 40 (passed that a while ago) but I love fashion and keeping up with trends and how to style looks. I’m a sewer and plan to sew some of my needed items each season.

  39. Hi Jo-Lynne,

    I just started reading your blog (literally days ago!) and I’m loving it! Thanks for all the great advice and pics. I’m so tempted to try this capsule wardrobe challenge, but my fear is I’ll empty out my closet full of clothes I hate and have nothing left. Then I won’t know what to do! That’s my problem – I can’t figure out what I like which is what led me to your blog. Whatever the opposite of a shopaholic is – that’s me. I don’t shop much because I can’t seem to figure it all out. I guess I have to start somewhere though! Maybe an empty closet is just what I need.

    1. Hm, that is an interesting conundrum. Maybe emptying your closet and putting back only things you like will help you SEE what you like? If you’re not sure, what about having a friend go into your closet with you and pull out things SHE thinks look particularly good on you… just a thought! Hopefully as I chronicle this process, it will help. 🙂

  40. Friend request sent. I really love the sound of a capsule wardrobe but it makes me nervous to think about it in reality!

  41. Can you show us the clothes you kept as lounging around the house clothes? I feel like I keep “regular” clothes I’m not really crazy about around to wear around the house, because I’m not sure what else to use as lounge wear and it doesn’t really seem like something worth spending money on? I often end up wearing what should be layer tees around the house too. I’m finding I dont have enough warm, long sleeve options for around the house.

  42. Your closet looks amazing. 🙂 I’m impressed. I’ve never read “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” but have read other things with similar concepts. It’s such a good feeling to me when I go through and declutter & purge. It’s made me more careful about what I get- except books, they don’t count, right?

  43. HI! I enjoy your blog very much. I sent you a FB friend request and would like to be added to the FB fashion group. Thanks!

  44. I’ve been reading your blog for a few years now and am loving the focus on fashion. I’d like to join the fb page but when I click on your link I get a ‘can’t connect’ message. Maybe it’s just something funky going on right now. Will try again later.

    1. Hey Tiffany. That’s b/c it is a Secret Group so the link doesn’t work unless you’re a member. If you want to send me a friend request, I can add you. You can always unfriend me after, and it won’t remove you from the group. Sorry, it’s sort of a clunky method.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *