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Capsule Wardrobe Update

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I finally feel like my capsule wardrobe is SET.  Here’s what I ended up with:

two pair of jeans
six pair of jeggings
six pair of jean shorts
six pair of capri leggings in black and charcoal gray
four pair of workout crops in black and charcoal gray
eight sleeveless tops in dark plum, black, dark gray, burgundry and dark blue
two black dressy tops
three black dresses
one burgundy dress
one black sweatshirt, a burgundy cardigan, a black cardigan
two black bike shorts (two of the dresses are above-the-knee and when it’s windy…)
tall black biker boots
four dark colored bras
one black cami
24 black or burgundy comfy underwear
12 of my older t-shirts, for cleaning/crafting/painting/cleaning/DIY’ing since my other tops are all nice and I don’t want them ruined…all dark colors

As you can see, all the colors are similar enough that I can wash them without worrying about sorting.   I can get everything done in two large laundry loads, so washing and putting away isn’t stressful at all, yet I still have enough clothing that I don’t have to wash more than every weelk to ten days, and I often wear two outfits per day!  It’s been great!  I wash the denims together with the blacks, and do another load for colors.  I can get both loads put away in about 10 minutes.  I highly recommend it.  Next time I have everything clean, I’ll snap some pics or do a video!

Weight Reduction + Wardrobe Reduction = Less Laundry?

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My clothes are a little tricky as a no-spend item, because I’ve recently lost 40+ pounds and hope to continue to lose through 2012.  I DO NEED CLOTHES right now however.  My pants finally are to the point where I can’t keep them up without constantly hitching them (which looks so attractive, I’m sure) so I broke down and decided I have to get something to wear.  I didn’t want this whole “getting a new wardrobe” thing to be a $500+ expense as it would have been during our not-so-frugal years.  I had several great coupon codes to combine with after-Christmas sales, so it seemed like a good time, even though I’m planning a no-spend year, as much as possible.

Normally I feel like I have to have at least a dozen pair of pants.  I know that’s probably crazy-extravagant.  It’s the way I was raised…have enough clothes so you hardly ever have to wash them! 😉  That strategy backfires, really, because once everything IS dirty, and you multiply that by six people, then you have something like 55 loads of laundry to get caught up (true story!).

Currently I have 14 denim capris, eight jeans and 8 denim shorts.  Oy vey!  But as I’ve been saying, my new rule of thumb is LESS IS MORE.  I ordered four pair of jeans (two dark, two medium) and two pair of jeggings ($80 after coupon and free shipping).  I ordered a pair of black slacks, a black dress that I can wear year-round and a black skirt (all three knit material so I sized down–they’ll last me a long while – $60 after coupon and free shipping) and I also splurged on a sweatshirt (I only have one and when it’s dirty, I freeze – $24) and a nicer top ($16 after coupon + free shipping).

So my new “works for everything” wardrobe, including what I already have replaced:

four jeans
two jeggings
three black skirts (I already had two)
two black dresses (I already had one)
one black slacks (to replace black capris that aren’t flattering)
two sweatshirts (casual, zip-front)
a couple crocheted sweaters (already owned) whose purpose is to wear over camisoles and make me look thinner 😉
8 Old Navy ruched tees that are my new staple with jeans and skirts (often these are on sale for ~$8 each with a coupon, so that’s when I buy and I have quite a few now)
2 “fancy” tops, plus the one on the way

for exercise:

8 yoga pants (getting too large but holding off on replacing…will replace with fewer)
8 Old Navy t-shirts (already owned and getting worn out, but holding of)

I spent around $200 on the new items I had to order, and I don’t think that’s bad at all for all new clothing that with what I already had makes a compact but versatile wardrobe that should last me the year.

It’s about 1/4 of what I’ve normally had at any one time over the years.  And it feels REALLY good.

I have to attack the kids’ closets next…