I finally mastered the capsule wardrobe

But not on purpose.

Photo by Weston Wells

I’ve had the phrase “the endless allure of a capsule wardrobe” on my list of possible topics to explore on Living Small since Day One because the idea of a capsule wardrobe is endlessly appealing (at least to me). A closet of clothes that you like, that fit you well, and that all coordinate with one another–ideally all hanging with lots of breathing room on matching hangers–who wouldn’t want that?

However, despite my minimalist-ish leanings, I have never achieved anything close to a capsule wardrobe. (Perhaps in part because I wasn’t willing to buy all new clothes to achieve this pared-back nirvana?) My closet is still filled with clothes I feel “meh” about and I have a hard time donating or tossing the things I still wear once in a while. I also don’t love all the rules and virtue signaling of the various capsule wardrobe challenges. (Virginia Sole-Smith wrote a great essay exploring the connection betwee diet culture and capsule wardrobes.)

But this summer I accidentally achieved capsule wardrobe-dom. 

When my family went to Santa Fe in June, I packed my bag for a five-day trip. Then when we got home, I didn’t even bother unpacking during our brief sojourn in New York City before heading to my parents’ home in Connecticut (I did add a few things to my bag, including duplicates of some stuff I’d packed). When my dad ended up in the hospital in early July, I ended up staying in my home state. (A perk of being self-employed is that I could be with my parents as they’ve dealt with his health.) My husband brought me an extra swimsuit, a pair of jeans, and some canvas sneakers from our apartment, but for the most part, I have worn only those clothes I packed for a short vacation. 

When I realized I’d been inadvertently dressing in a “capsule” wardrobe, I tried to ascertain if I felt differently about getting dressed this last month, but I honestly haven’t thought too much about my clothes, which is perhaps the whole idea of a capsule wardrobe? Had I been freed from the decision fatigue of getting dressed? I’m not so sure. One thing I do think I’ll change when I get back to all my clothes: I’ll finally donate some of those less-loved things I was hanging onto just because but didn’t miss at all. And I’m buying a second color of a shirt that turned out to be the MVP of summer.

So what did I wear? Below is a list of everything I wore this summer, with as many links and photos as I could give you (of course, some of these clothes are things I have owned for years and therefore no longer available).