Building a Minimalist Closet: Essential Steps for Streamlined Fashion

In a bid to offer a fresh perspective on one's wardrobe, the concept of a capsule wardrobe has gained popularity. This approach, which consists of 37 carefully selected pieces, is designed to simplify your closet and promote a more mindful approach to fashion.

The suggested capsule wardrobe includes tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, and shoes, with each piece chosen to complement the others. The number 37 was selected because it allows for 9 pairs of shoes, 9 bottoms, and 15 tops, with the remaining pieces allocated for 2 dresses and 2 jackets or coats.

To begin the process of paring down your closet, Step 1 involves emptying it completely and laying all items on your bed. Next, in Step 2, items are sorted into four piles: LOVE IT AND WOULD WEAR IT RIGHT NOW!!, MAYBE, NOPE, and SEASONAL. Items in the NOPE pile are to be donated, swapped with a friend, or sold, while those in the MAYBE pile are kept in a box and stored in the garage, with the expectation that if they are still in the box at the end of the season, they should be discarded.

The goal is to have 37 season-appropriate items in your closet after assessing what's left in Step 3. SEASONAL items are stored under the bed when not in season, to be used in the capsule wardrobe when the appropriate season arrives.

It's important to note that the capsule wardrobe does not include workout clothes, jewelry, accessories, purses, swimsuits, pajamas/loungewear, underwear, and the jeans used for specific tasks. Shopping is not allowed during the 3-month season, except for during the last week or two when planning and shopping for the next season's capsule wardrobe is permitted.

The author suggests a duration of 3 months, or a season, for the wearing of the capsule wardrobe. The seasons are defined as Winter (Jan-March), Spring (April-June), Summer (July-September), and Fall (October-December). Rule #5 suggests that less is more when choosing new pieces for each new season, with the author typically getting between 4-8 new pieces.

The capsule wardrobe is not about becoming obsessed with a number, but rather about offering a new approach to one's current closet situation. The author encourages readers to leave a comment to receive support and encouragement throughout the process.