If you’ve been following my capsule wardrobe journey, then you’ll probably know that a little over a month ago, I decided to try something new, something I called the Fluid Capsule Wardrobe. Two weeks, fifteen pieces (including shoes – !!) to mix and match, which I’d then update with new additions or old favourites in a bid to keep things fresh.
I actually filmed a fun little video where I try everything on, plus show you the change between ‘cycles’ so you can get a sense for how a fluid capsule wardrobe might work in action. To me, it felt much more like a very tightly edited capsule, and not too dissimilar from what I had been doing before yet within a much shorter time frame.
When I think about the way I used to approach shopping (and my wardrobe) just a few short years ago, it was a completely different ball game. Outfit repeating was pretty much out of the question, and I feel like I was shopping faster than I could wear the clothing I was purchasing. It’s one of the many things that I’ve been so grateful for along this journey, even if I do feel as though the capsule wardrobe is no longer quite right for me anymore.
But before I get into that, I wanted to quickly talk through what I swapped out – and why – between the first and second cycle of this capsule wardrobe…
WHAT I SWAPPED OUT
Mostly, I switched up basics for more basics. For tops, I decided to give my striped long sleeve tee from Alexander Wang and my white pleated top from ASOS a rest. As much as I love a good stripe, every now and then I find myself wanted to reach for something different. I also decided to switch out my blazer from Helmut Lang; truth be told it could probably use a bit of a dry-clean to freshen it up, and it didn’t work as cohesively with the rest of the second ‘capsule’ as I’d hoped.
For bottoms, I decided to change up the skirts; for the last three months all I’d been wearing had been that black mini from Country Road, the charcoal a-line skirt from Dion Lee, and the navy drifter mini from Lover and they’d gotten to the point where they were starting to feel a little bit tired – one of the hazards of having a capsule wardrobe I guess!
Luckily, the weather in Sydney was pretty mild up until the last week of June, so I could get away with something light on bottom paired with a big snuggly knit on top… just the way I like it.
WHAT I ADDED IN
One of the things that I’d really wanted to do with this challenge was get some wear time out of my favourite, yet not necessarily always the most versatile wardrobe pieces. My grand sweater from Hope was a case in point, and I think I wore this more in the last three weeks than I had in the previous year. It helped that it’s just the right shade of peach, and I’ve been alllll for wearing nudes, blush pinks and winter whites this season. The other tops that I switched in were by black frill tee from Karen Walker – a perennial favourite of mine – and a long charcoal grey angora cardigan from Country Road which throws off some serious Acne Studios vibes.
As I mentioned earlier, I wanted to go for some lighter skirt options so I brought back out my white midi pleated skirt from ASOS, and a black fitted midi skirt from Country Road; the two sit at such opposite ends of the spectrum that I figured it would give me the options that I was looking for. Finally, I couldn’t resist pulling out my black backless dress from Karen Walker. This is great worn over a skivvy or a shirt (with a pair of tights when it’s cold!), and I still get compliments every time I wear this even though it’s definitely seen better days.
While it was fun to take on a new challenge (and you know how much I love a new challenge), one thing I have to – and hate to – admit is that my heart hasn’t really been in it anymore. I miss the feeling of waking up and wearing what I feel like on any given day, free from the self-imposed restrictions of a capsule wardrobe. Admittedly, my ultimate goal wasn’t to have a capsule wardrobe forever, but to create positive change and really see my wardrobe in a different light, two things that I’ve definitely benefitted from immensely throughout this experience.
With my holiday currently underway, I’ve been questioning whether it’s worth putting the pressure on myself to build a spring capsule wardrobe. For something that started off as a fun challenge that in all honesty, I never thought I’d manage to get through, that excitement which initially grabbed me is gone and I no longer have the motivations which once drove me to build a capsule wardrobe in the first place.
I’ve written a lot about my experiences with the capsule wardrobe on Mademoiselle; my thoughts on why you should build a capsule wardrobe and whether a capsule wardrobe is even right for you and I’m certainly beginning to find myself in that latter camp. Even though I try to keep my wardrobe heavily curated all year round, with, or without a capsule wardrobe there are always going to be those pieces that slip through the cracks; that you just forget to wear. Change can be uncomfortable, scary even, but it can also be exciting, and I’m looking forward to stumbling across the next fork in the road on my style journey…
lovely clothes <33