simple wardrobe :: plan

so you've got the desire for a simple wardrobe?  yay!  i thought i'd share the way i like to make it work- whether i'm considering my closet or julia's.  i do this each season- for me that is mostly cold weather and warm weather.  the in-between times can pull a bit from both seasons and get the job done just right.    here's what i did for this warm weather season.

focus::  i think carefully through the way i want to dress.  
-what clothes i actually wear (i mostly wear casual comfortable clothing)
-what fits my lifestyle (i used to wear a lot of dresses, but then i started babysitting a little one and spent so much time on the floor that i knew i would wear shorts most often)
-my style- i have the most fun with this!  i collect thoughts and inspiration on pintrest, so when it comes time to wardrobe plan, i know what i like.  i cull my collections and try to see the patterns of what i like, so i don't feel too scattered about my style.  i think about the silhouettes i like and narrow down a color palette (see lists below). (if you like lots of color, your color palette could be something like dark denim + bright color.  the idea is just focus with a simple wardrobe.)
-mixability-you know what i mean.  (i don't have as much an issue with it in the summer…denim shorts pretty much go with any top and dresses, well…they match my sandals.)  :)

sort::   i always sort our clothing by season.  at the end of each season i pack up everything i want to keep for the next season.  (we pack our out of season clothing in our carry-on suitcases, since we don't use them often).  
-first i need to see what i have.  i get it all out and look at every item one by one. 
-make piles…keep and donate/sell 
there are different guidelines for letting it go…like... if you haven't worn it in a certain period of time, if there are still tags attached, if it's not flattering, not the right size, doesn't fit into your newly focused style- you decide.  i would say, at this point, don't use this as an excuse to get rid of everything and buy a whole new wardrobe... because then you aren't breaking your buying cycle at all.  do what you need to do, but just know... you are still going to have to deal with everything you keep.  it's not just going back in the closet yet.   

list::  so now we've got our keep pile.  i like lists.  i use my lists as a sort of worksheet/record for the entire season.  here are my summer lists…(i underlined them so you can pick them all out.)
categories:
-tops
-dresses
-shorts
-pants
-shoes
-sweaters
i write every item i have in each of these categories.  now i can see where i'm heavy and where i'm light.  you might realize you don't need 24 shirts, so you can add some to the donate/sell pile.  just don't start shopping yet!  

silhouettes:
-shift dress + sandals
-loose top + shorts + sandals

color palette:
-denim
-white/cream
-tan
-touches of mexican color (because i like vintage mexican tops and dresses)

once i know how i want to dress, i can go back to my itemized list to see where i might need something and where some other things might be unnecessary (i move those to the donate/sell pile).  in order to keep my wardrobe simple, i like to think about my perfect number of items in each category.  considering my laundry schedule and because i've been doing this for a few summers, i know that i like to have around: 
8-10 tops
2-3 shorts
2-3 dresses
i don't really wear pants in the summer
shoes- sandals, flipflops, athletic shoes
a sweater and a sweatshirt
i also bought a sunhat and a skirt this summer, so i added those.

shopping you can feel good about::  i spend time thinking about what things i might need and list them under the...
maybe list:  
-hat (got this one)
-silk pants (didn't buy these)
-2 dresses (found these)
hopefully that list isn't too big, so i can be mindful in my choices of what to buy.  since i only need a few items i can spend a little more money to support an independent maker or a little more time to make something myself.    

i'm also interested in keeping track of my spending, so i keep a list.  all season i try to keep my lists up to date.  i cross things off my lists if i return them, find a new home for them or change my mind about something.  at the end of the season i like to go through one more time and make sure everything is accurate and also decide what my ideal (least amount, for me) number of items in each category would be.  now i can use these lists next year as a starting point.

my simple wardrobe is a small set of clothing that fits me, my style and my life.  i really like everything in it and love the feeling of enough!

for further inspiration:  project 333

hope this helps! 
                                           
i'd love to hear about your simple wardrobe plans and experiences!
 
love, jane