A Little Guide To Decluttering, A Capsule Wardrobe and Owning Less
A question that comes my way quite often is if I stick to the traditional rules of the capsule wardrobe and the answer is no, not in the slightest. Whilst I love decluttering, a well-considered wardrobe and owning a whole lot less I like to do those things without strict rules and regulations. Since challenging myself in July to wear something different every day it taught me a lot about all three of those subjects. And as the blogging world has taken a total U-turn from the gargantuan hauls it used to feature it's always an interesting conversation to dive into.
decluttering
Something that makes me, maybe a little too happy is decluttering. It's hands down one of my favourite things to do. And over the years, I've really honed in on my decluttering process as weirdly, there is an art to it. For me, decluttering is something that takes me a while and I really take my time over it because I've been all too hasty in the past and got rid of things that I've ended up regretting and had to buy again. Clothes and beauty items are the easiest items I find to declutter, when it comes to personal trinkets and books then I'm terrible as I typically have more of an emotional tie to them. The first rule of a declutter is getting it all out and laying it out, so you can see absolutely everything. Anything that you've not used or worn [seasonal items aside] in 6 months to a year should go as obviously they're not things you're going to reach for. Those items can be sorted into charity or for sale piles and then there is the maybe pile. Items that aren't quite tickling your fancy anymore but you're not 100% sure you're going to get rid of. Those items are typically something I put into storage and if I don't miss them within 30 days then they can go too.
When it comes to decluttering I think it's all too easy to presume that means throwing things away and creating a lot of waste and it doesn't have to. Anything that I get rid of is either sold, donated, passed along to someone else or kept for painting or DIY clothes. Beauty products can be a little bit more difficult as often those things cannot be sold or donated so I try really hard to keep things to a minimum so I can use everything as I hate the idea of anything going to waste. And that doesn't matter if it's a PR sample or something that I've bought with my own money, nothing should ever end up in the bin. Small tips for a declutter;
- Enlist help if you need it.
- Never get rid of anything you aren't quite sure about, give yourself time.
- Pick yourself a good soundtrack or YouTube video.
- Do it gradually, it's far too much all in one day.
capsule wardrobe
Everybody seemed to hop on the capsule wardrobe bandwagon when they first became common knowledge in the blogging world and it's such an interesting concept but it's certainly not for everybody. It's been a long time since my wardrobe has been bursting at the seams but I'm not sure I could ever stick to the certain amount of items and then shopping every season as it still seems like a lot of buying. However, something I have done is created my own way of having a capsule wardrobe and every season I always have less than 30 items, I think 20-25 is my happy place. And my rules for my own capsule wardrobe are very simple. The reason why I don't like to have a lot of items is that I am a big creature of habit and even when I have a large selection of items at my disposal I tend to stick to the same things so less is always more in my wardrobe. And my style in general now isn't really trend led and I go with the classic basics so simple knits and striped Bretons are what you'll usually find on my clothing rail at all times.
My guide to a well considered wardrobe
- No two items should be the same.
- Bretons must be different colours and slightly different cuts.
- Staples in my wardrobe at all times are; a breton, a midi dress, a jumper dress, a selection of knitted jumpers in different shades, a sweatshirt, a smart coat, a waterproof coat and a leather jacket.
- Items that are really worn or damaged have to be taken out of rotation to be either repaired or given a different use.
- If more than two items are purchased then something has to be removed.
- At the beginning of every season I write myself a list of things of what I would like to buy and attempt to stick to it.
- I try not to buy anything I've seen on a whim and not considered as it usually ends in regret.
It's personal
Whilst I've really come around to the idea of owning a lot less stuff, that isn't something that everyone else wants to do or has to do either. For me, a smaller wardrobe with less in it is something that helps me buy better quality pieces as I'm not buying in bulk and also really get a huge amount of use from what I'm owning. However, working from home makes this choice a lot easier as I'm not out and about in meetings or in a traditional work environment so realistically don't need a crazy amount of clothes. Everybody shops differently too, for example, somebody might own 60+ items but all of those things might be from charity shops or bought second hand and then somebody else might only have 20 items but they are all from ethical sources that they will keep for years. Our style and buying choices are all so personal and a capsule wardrobe definitely isn't for everybody.
do bloggers create a healthy relationship with clothing pieces?
A constant thought that comes into my mind is whether or not bloggers promote a healthy relationship with spending money and consumerism. Obviously, everybody has their own mind and are in control of their thoughts but when you admire someone's style it's all too easy to want to buy the same things that they buy. Although the blogging world certainly isn't as haul heavy as it used to be there are still people out there who seem to shop, declutter, shop, declutter and it's a weird cycle to be in. Added on top of the fact that a lot of people never seem to wear or photograph the same thing twice. And I get it, maybe it's not very exciting to photograph the same thing again but it's also weird seeing somebody say that they absolutely adore something and then never ever feature it again. Personally, for me and my lifestyle, I love seeing all the different ways an item can be worn and it helps me put more faith in their purchases if I see it more than once.
