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Table of Contents Why a Smaller Wardrobe or Capsule? How to Minimize a Wardrobe & Develop a Capsule Collection Do Laundry & Take Inventory Analyze Current Wardrobe Categorize & Donate Test Updated Wardrobe Purchase Necessary Pieces Brands & Retailers […]
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When Wes and I found out we were pregnant with our third child we were so happy! And then immediately overwhelmed with our to-do list. Our third is due in June and I feel like there’s a million things to do before then. One of the things I’m overwhelmed with is my daily chores. This pregnancy has been my most tiring yet so my house feels chaotic and will feel the same way once we have a newborn. One way to cut down on the overwhelm for me is laundry which means to trim back the amount of clothing my kids have so I decided a capsule collection would be a great idea.
As we look to move up to the cottage for a month in the summer, I’m aiming for a travel capsule wardrobe for myself as well as my kids. Lux is also attending school part-time in the fall where she will be wearing a uniform so a smaller wardrobe makes sense for her. My strategy is to focus on summer clothing with transitional pieces like leggings, cardigans, and vests to make the outfits appropriate for the current spring weather and future fall weather.
My first step was to look at all the girls’ clothing, EVERYTHING. After doing all the laundry, I borrowed a tactic from Marie Kondo and removed all of the girls’ clothing from the girls rooms. I brought up the items I was saving in the basement to place it in a pile in my office to see ever piece of clothing we had. This part of the KonMari method shows you how much stuff you actually have and is a helpful way to realize that it may be too much. I also can’t easily organize in my head so seeing everything is very helpful.
Previously my shopping style was to grab what I could remember the girls needed but also whatever was cute! I could never remember their entire closet (it was so big) so I just figured I could put together outfits with whatever I bought. This led to so many items not being worn because nothing coordinated. Items like striped leggings were cute but didn’t go anything else in their wardrobe.
Another mistake I made with Lux was buying clothing too far in advance. I used to peruse the clearance items at big-box stores (it’s so hard to resist the sales) and bought clothing for Lux up to 9 months ahead of time. Last summer Lux announced that her favourite colours were “red and rainbow” so in the fall the pretty grey and neutral pieces I had gotten Lux nine months earlier went unworn. I still have a chance to pass things down to Poppy but I’ve learned my lesson when it comes to buying too far ahead.
My next step was to organize their existing clothing into categories. There are so many factors that go into planning their wardrobes. I removed what didn’t fit any more, what wouldn’t work for Poppy (the girls are born in different seasons), what did work for their upcoming baby brother, thrift store finds that were out of season or a size too big, what was uncomfortable and what the girls generally didn’t like wearing. I came up with the following categories:
Don’t feel pressured to buy something just because every other capsule list has one.
After washing, mending and donating the girls’ closet is now filled with items they like, wear, that made some cute outfits. It was still unclear what they wore the most so I put everything back into their closets with the hangers on the wrong way. If we used an item I would wash and return it to it’s hanger but turn the hanger around which shows me the items that we used the most. This helped me decide what to keep, store, donate, or hand-down for a phase 2 donation. It also helped me test if the numbers of items were correct ie. if I had enough shirts, and decide what we needed more of and what to fill-in with new pieces or thrift store finds.
I took note of “holes” in their wardrobe like what I would need to complete an outfit and took some time to put some looks together. Previously I’ve looked at their (and my) wardrobes to see what smart basics they may need and bought it without thinking about if they would actually like to wear it. I think this is an overlooked pitfall when purchasing items especially for capsule collections: Don’t feel pressured to buy something just because every other capsule list has one. For example buying a basic like black jeans might sound like a good idea but your kid may never wear them if they wear mostly dresses like my daughter.
Another goal of mine this season was to purchase from smaller retailers that were mainly Canadian and American and fill in with second-hand items. I decided to spend my money on core outfit pieces like sweet dresses, rompers, and blouses and then pair them with basics I could find from thrift stores and purchase the rest. For example, I got Poppy the gorgeous Lia romper from PonPonia in a smoky sage colour and bought a white t-shirt and floral blouse to go underneath until the weather warmed up and she could wear the romper on it’s own.
My strategy was to buy mainly summer clothing for March – September with transitional pieces like cardigans, vests, and leggings to make the outfits work for spring and hopefully fall. I felt like this strategy was the best because it was the best use of all of their clothing. The core summer pieces work well in the hottest weather but layer well for spring and fall. To make the layering pieces useful again for the fall weather I made sure to get them in a bigger size with good quality fabrics and construction. Currently this looks like cardigans with sleeves rolled up and leggings with extra fabric at the ankle.
The items I was looking for included:
SUMMER ITEMS
LAYERING PIECES
If you’re planning to do a true capsule wardrobe one of the biggest tips I can give you is to stick with a colour palette. This can be challenging considering the current colour trends and what your kid may actually wear but I think it’s the best way to stay cohesive. If I stuck to a colour palette for Lux it would be pink, white, and brown with a few pieces that included dark red or burgundy. See more capsule tips and a 12 piece capsule example here.
In doing my own capsule wardrobe experiments, one of the first things you notice is the quality of what you own. The more you wear something the faster it wears out. This is true for kid’s clothing too as they are very active and wear out their clothing faster.
For thrift store shopping you’ll see less clothing options for kids over 18 months old because this is the age they start running and playing. It takes a bit of searching for quality kids clothing in good condition but it’s out there. To make it an easier search shop curated selections at kid’s consignment stores such as Once Upon a Child which can be found in Canada and the United States. Look up what’s available in your city.
As for smaller brands, and handmade clothing I did a lot of research and ultimately bought what was beautiful and well-made according to reviews.
I took a couple weeks to see what I could find second hand which were a couple blouses and a few white long sleeve and short sleeve t-shirts. Then I purchased the remaining items from small brands and retailers.
NEST & NURTURE (Canadian!)
YEARLING KIDS BY DÔEN
PONPONIA
KNOTTED FERN
ADELISA & CO. (Canadian!)
FIN & VINCE
JAMIE KAY
PRAIRIE & PLAY
LITTLE STOCKING CO.
CHILDHOODS CLOTHING
PRIMARY
PETIT BATEAU
SALT WATER SANDALS
The spring items all started arriving online in February and early March so as they slowly arrived we tried everything! Lux loves to get dressed and enjoys putting outfits together so she had a great time creating new clothing combinations. Buying pinafores and layering pieces turned out to be a great idea and has fuelled her creativity- she has maybe worn the same outfit twice!
For Poppy I haven’t tested as many outfits as I wanted because she’s in the middle of potty-training. To avoid more laundry we are also avoiding pants so we are mostly wearing dresses. The Lace dress from Jamie Kay and Rainbow plaid dress from Dôen (Lux’s hand-me-down) are her current favourites! I can’t wait to get more rompers on her!
There’s a lot of learning when it comes to switching up a wardrobe so this step may seem repetitive but after testing and wearing a lot of your new and remaining clothing you’ll notice what works and what doesn’t. This doesn’t mean you need to donate and give away what doesn’t work if it’s perfectly good clothing but it’s a learning experience on what to phase out as we go into a new season.
A few items that I want to phase out are:
Black Leggings
As practical as they are I prefer my girls in light coloured leggings after buying these amazing ones from The Knotted Fern in the colours taupe and rose. They go with EVERYTHING and the girls love to wear them so it’s definitely a staple I will restock in the fall. I love how pastel-coloured tights add lightness and whimsy to an outfit. If you’re in the market for leggings and tights try: Jamie Kay’s ribbed tights. Petit Vilains is a Canadian company who carries the French brand Collégien which are apparently amazing quality tights and go up to size 10. Primary is another place for leggings and has brighter colours.
Open Cardigans
We have some cardigans that don’t have buttons on them and they fall off the girls’ shoulders all the time. It’s something that I didn’t realize until after they started wearing them. I have some hand-me-down cardigans from Lux for Poppy that I dislike for this reason. The new cardigans that I’ve bought all have buttons and Lux likes to have the top button done up which allows her to see the rest of her outfit.
These lists includes ALL clothing for Lux and Poppy- old, new and thrifted.
A Small Wardrobe for the Kid who loves Dresses (Size 5/6T)
Yes this is a lot of dresses. I found so many good ones this spring and summer for Lux and I could’ve definitely bought less but Lux doesn’t wear jeans so we need a few more dresses than the average wardrobe.
Stockings/Knee-high socks (6)
The cream or “vanilla” knee high stockings from Little Stocking Co. are the best and most worn. I got a baby pink colour and ruby colours which I don’t love as much because they don’t go with everything so I would definitely stick with just one colour for the future. These stockings wash really well. Lux has been spending her days outside getting hers dirty and they come out clean in the wash. They are also great quality.
Cardigans (5)
I love the Jamie Kay Cardigans. I bought the “simple” cardigan in brown for Lux and just bought one in navy for Poppy because it is so nice. Lux loves her cardigan which is amazing considering it’s the only brown thing she will wear (she loves pink and red colours) They are a straight neutral shape so suit both boys and girls which is modeled on their site so I will definitely get to hand these down to baby boy.
Leggings/Pants (6)*
This sounds like enough pants for Lux but doesn’t look like it when put in a tiny pile but Lux only wears dresses. For the past month while testing this capsule she has rotated between her pink and taupe ribbed leggings and 1 pair of black leggings so in reality she’s only wearing 4 pairs of leggings.
Long Sleeve Tops (6)
I love the white long sleeve tops from Primary. I always have a hard time transitioning from buying winter clothes to spring clothes because I forget how dirty spring can be! Lux has been doing some great testing these shirts by spilling food and washable markers on them. Every stain has come out easily. These tops wash well and are great quality.
Short Sleeve Tops (4)
I bought the short sleeve slim jersey top from Primary and LOVE it. It fits my thin toddler perfectly and because it’s more form fitting it’s great for layering underneath pinafores and tucking into bloomer shorts. It’s also great quality and not see-through.
Sleeveless Tops (1)
Again because Lux wears dresses I don’t have a lot of tops for her in general. She doesn’t have a lot of sleeveless tops because she has very fair skin so I keep her shoulders covered up. I also think it’s more comfortable for the girls to have more fabric between them and their car seat straps.
Spring Jackets
We got Lux’s raincoat in a bigger size last year so we didn’t have to buy anything new but if I saw these classic styles from Primary I would’ve gotten them in a heartbeat!
Shorts
My girls share the bloomers from The Knotted Fern which they’ve worn non-stop. Because I don’t have to worry about length with shorts and Lux is thin I got her and Poppy the 3t size to share which works perfectly for both girls! Lux likes to tuck her dresses into her bloomers which is a great way to change up an outfit. Second hand denim shorts are easy to find and we still have the ones from last summer as Lux seems to only grow lengthwise. If you’re in the market for some new shorts I’m in LOVE with the “shorties” from Childhood Clothing and will probably purchase those once Lux grows out of and is too old for bloomers which usually go up to size 3/4.
Under shorts! If your sweet kid loves to wear dresses like mine and are potty trained I suggest “under shorts” or “cartwheel shorts” for under the dresses to cover their underwear. They are short and comfortable- usually a spandex/cotton blend that don’t interfere with the look of their outfit. I have mine from the Gap but you can find them at Primary in more colours.
Other places to find shorts: Fin & Vince knit shorts goes up to size 6/7 | Childhood’s clothing goes up to size 8/9 | Primary
Shoes/Sandals (5)
In the past I’ve bought mostly second-hand shoes and while that works for runners and rubber boots I’ve found that second hand sandals and flats deteriorate so much more quickly. The flats we find for the girls at thrift stores are usually fast fashion and therefore not well made and though we can find good quality sandals (like stride rite) second hand, they wear out very easily because kids wear them in sand, dirt, mud, and through water. My buying strategy for spring and summer are to buy 1 new pair of dressy/casual flats and sandals.
For shoes I got 1 new pair for Lux. I decided to invest in a dressier pair of flats to go with all of her dresses but these will still work for her few casual outfits. I’ve recently discovered Adelisa & Co. a Canadian company who sells the most gorgeous flats, boots, and sandals for kids. It’s surprisingly difficult to find good flats that aren’t runners for Lux’s size (size 10). The Sol flats we bought for her are pretty and a neutral colour we plan to purchase different coloured laces to customize them. These are genuine leather and judging by their facebook group, are well-loved by children and last a long time. Join their private facebook group for early access to sales and releases (it sells out quickly!) and their Buy/Sell/Trade group to find their shoes at a discounted price.
For the past two summers we have fallen in love with Salt Water Sandals which is a Canadian company. They’re leather, durable, comfortable and waterproof the girls love wearing them and they’re always in amazing shape by the end of the summer. There’s Mama and me potential as Salt Water sandals come in adult sizes! You can find them on Amazon (US), Well.ca (CA) or check your local boutiques (go to Girl on the Wing if you’re from Hamilton).
Swimwear
I bought Lux swimsuits and rash guards last summer that were on clearance. Some of them are too big (never buy a year ahead) so I got her one new rainbow one this year from the Gap with a matching cover-up. I prefer to buy one-piece bathing suits for Lux for more coverage as she is so fair skinned and they function better for her thin frame. This is one category I haven’t bought from smaller brands and that’s partly because I’m trying to get all of their summer stuff now before our new baby and the smaller brands don’t have their summer lines out yet so her size isn’t really available.
Hats for Lux
The only thing on our list that’s left to buy for Lux are hats. I have bonnets for Poppy but Lux has outgrown that style and I cannot find anything beyond sun hats that will fall off or patterned ball caps which don’t go with the style of her clothes. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear!
This list includes ALL clothing for Poppy- old, new and thrifted.
The Smaller Wardrobe for the Toddler who isn’t picky (3t)
OUTFITS
Dresses (6)
One-pieces/Rompers (5)
Stockings/knee-high socks (4)
Leggings/Pants (10)
Shorts (8)*
Lux and Poppy can share some shorts even though Lux is a foot taller because they are a similar waist size. They share the gorgeous bloomers from Knotted Fern. Otherwise Poppy’s shorts from last summer still fit (bless the adjustable waistband!) and her cartwheel shorts are from the Gap but there are more colours available at Primary.
Spring Jackets (6)
The first four jackets are definitely enough for our spring weather but we have a couple extras from last spring and fall that still fit Poppy. We may transition them out as we see which ones get worn the most and if she has a growth spurt. If you’re in the market for a classic raincoat try Primary!
Shoes/Sandals (7)
This is the same amount of shoes for Poppy as we have for Lux with the exception of sandals which Poppy has more of because of hand-me-downs. Again I went with Adelisa & Co’s Sol flats for Poppy which have room to grow. I also have a “fun” pair of flats for Poppy so she can twin with Lux who has sparkly flats (and so she can stop stealing hers! Sisters!)
Hats (4)
Poppy still doesn’t like to wear hats so I have her in bonnets again for this summer. Last year I bought some locally from The Red Bow tie and this year I took advantage of Nest & Nurture’s build-your-own-bonnet and customized 2 for Poppy and 1 for baby boy. The bonnets are all reversible with a patterned fabric on one side and a solid on the other. They go with everything!
Lux wore size 4 bathing suits last summer which are too big for Poppy this year so I didn’t have as many hand-me-downs but hopefully I can find some new ones at a thrift store.
Still on our list for Poppy
I have a lot of bathing suits for the girls because I don’t like them to stay in them all day even though they love to be in them. Last year Lux got an infection after a cottage week spent swimming so I like to have a couple clean ones to put them in.
Your first minimal wardrobe is probably not going to be perfect. I got carried away with the pretty dresses I found for Lux so she has too many. She has worn all of them but I think we could’ve had less.
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