Have you heard of the 10 item wardrobe? How about the capsule wardrobe? The minimalist wardrobe? What about the “uniform”? There are a lot of different names out there and different approaches to building a wardrobe. Some want to shift their focus from the clothes they wear to free up more mental room for decision making (uniform, minimalism). Some want to save space or save money (capsule, minimalism). Some want to focus on quality over quantity (10 item wardrobe). And others, myself included, just want to figure out what their style really is, what they feel comfortable and confident in, and what they will love wearing for a long time (really some combination of all those mentioned above). For the purpose of giving this project a name, I’m going with the 10 item wardrobe approach, which you can read more about on The Daily Connoisseur’s blog. I may not follow it to the letter, and I may incorporate some of the other methods, but ultimately my goal is to experiment with my clothing, to find what makes me feel like me, which will help guide future purchases, and save me money in the long run.
I’ll give you a brief run down of the 10 item wardrobe. The concept is quality over quantity, and purchasing items that can be mixed and matched in a variety of ways. It’s called the 10 item wardrobe, but the number 10 really refers to core pieces, there’s some room other items as well. For example, the 10 items might be a pair of jeans, a pair of black pants, a skirt, a dress, a blazer, 2 button up shirts, and 3 blouses. These are all items that could be considered investment pieces, or pieces that you might spend more money on, that you really love and can wear over and over again. That number does not include T-shirts, other layering pieces like tank tops, or items specific to the season. Like spring and summer dresses or jackets and coats for colder months. It also does not include accessories like scarves and hats. However, if you have a drawer of 30 T-shirts and closet stuffed with 10 dresses and 8 skirts, you are probably not in the “spirit” of the 10 item wardrobe. Again, quality items that you love wearing over and over versus a hundred options that you don’t really feel that strongly about.
I did not go out and buy anything new my experiment with the 10 item wardrobe, but I did go shopping just for fun, without any agenda or need to buy a specific item. I did purposely hunt down some items that a blogger I love posted about, and that she looks amazing in. After trying them on, I decided the items definitely were not me. In the past, I probably would have left the store feeling defeated, feeling bad about myself, and feeling that I just don’t know how to find clothes. What I’ve been learning though is that shopping for clothing (and for your home!!) is a process of learning your style, being patient, and trying a lot of different things (and sizes!!) to find what makes you feel great. I left 3 out of 4 stores empty handed. In the past, that would have felt like defeat, but today I knew I had successfully narrowed down some styles that I just do not like on myself. In case you are curious, I really can’t wear boho, flowy, asymmetrical tops and dresses. Sorry Anthro, I have tried and tried. I feel pregnant in flowy and I am a little too OCD to have uneven hemlines. I also can’t wear the extreme opposite of really strait lines and stiff collars buttoned to my neck. Until recently, I didn’t wear collars at all, but I really wanted a chambray shirt and now I find that collars aren’t so bad after all.
So my first step in assessing my current wardrobe was to pull everything out of my closet and arrange it in loose categories on my bed. This wasn’t a hard step for me because I purge my closet regularly and I only have my current season clothing hanging in my closet. If you aren’t obsessed with closet organization like I am, this could take you a little more time. I would suggest that you start by purging what you don’t like and what doesn’t fit anymore before you start putting together outfits. Why keep what you don’t wear? I find that I am less overwhelmed with my options when only my current season clothing is hanging up, and I’m more likely to wear all of my clothing because I can easily see everything. The categories I started with were dresses, pants, skirts, white tops, patterned tops/jackets and solid tops/jackets. I started out thinking about how I could put the items together to make outfits, which is why I wanted an idea of how many solid options and patterned options I had.
As you can see, not much progress on the Master Bedroom update yet, but I will keep you posted!
Then I decided I wanted to look at what I had in a way that I could see layers, so I separated out the button ups, jackets and cardigans into one pile, and tops into another. I also separated the tops further by sorting them into patterned and solid. Then I felt ready to put together some outfits.
My goal from the start was to put items together that I hadn’t worn together before. Having everything laid out really helped because when it’s hanging in my closet, for some reason I usually just put the same outfits together all the time. I don’t plan to take everything out of my closet weekly to create new outfits, but it was helpful this time. Here is the breakdown of what I have to work with:6 pairs of pants (3 pairs of jeans, 1 jogger pant, 1 ankle pant, & 1 white pant). 1 dress. 2 skirts, 1 floral and one striped. 3 solid T- shirts, 4 white shirts (tanks, tees, long sleeve tees), 3 button ups, 2 boyfriend cardigans, 4 jackets, 3 patterned tops. Which equals…28 pieces total. I only own 28 pieces of spring season clothing. I can’t even believe that. It’s certainly more than 10 items, but it’s everything I have right now.It doesn’t seem like much to work with, does it? We’ll see how this goes…
Pictured above is the first 6 outfits that I came up with, all but one of which I have never worn in this combination before. And now I have my outfits planned for the next 6 days or so. I say “or so” because frequently on days that I go to the gym I stay in my gym clothes until I shower in the evening.
I clearly got over my thing with collars…
My goal is to plan my outfits for the next 4 weeks. I’ll share them here on the blog and on Instagram if you’d like to follow along! I would love it if you’d like to play too! Use the hashtag #hmhstyle to share what you’re wearing!
****UPDATE**** If you would like to see how the challenge turned out, you can read the conclusion, 10 Lessons I Learned from the 10 Item Wardrobe. You can also read each weeks breakdown: Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3.
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Allow me to dive into the intricacies of wardrobe minimalism and the 10 item wardrobe approach. My expertise in this realm stems from a deep understanding of fashion psychology, sustainable practices, and the psychology of decision-making in personal style. Over the years, I've explored various wardrobe concepts and experimented with different approaches to curate a closet that reflects both personal style and practicality.
The 10 item wardrobe concept is a fascinating exploration of quality over quantity. The essence lies in selecting core pieces that can be mixed and matched, promoting versatility and longevity in one's wardrobe. While the term "10 items" is somewhat misleading, as it primarily refers to essential or core pieces, there's flexibility to incorporate other items like T-shirts, layering pieces, and seasonal attire.
This approach encourages investment in timeless, high-quality garments that resonate with personal style. The list of core items typically includes versatile pieces such as jeans, pants, skirts, dresses, blazers, and a selection of tops. These are not just clothes; they are considered as investment pieces, carefully chosen for their durability and ability to stand the test of time.
It's crucial to note that the 10 item wardrobe doesn't account for seasonal or specialized items, like jackets for colder months or summer dresses. Accessories such as scarves and hats are also excluded from the count. The underlying principle is to foster a sense of intentional and mindful consumption, steering away from excess and focusing on items that bring joy and confidence when worn.
The journey to discovering one's style is a key aspect of this approach. It involves a conscious effort to experiment with different styles, be patient, and embrace the process of self-discovery. A thoughtful closet purge, categorization, and strategic planning of outfits are integral steps in this transformative process.
The article emphasizes the importance of learning from shopping experiences, noting that the process involves trying different styles and sizes to identify what truly resonates. It highlights the evolution of personal preferences, from avoiding certain styles to eventually embracing them, demonstrating the dynamic nature of personal style.
As the author shares her experience of assembling outfits from a limited wardrobe, it provides a tangible example of how a curated collection can yield a surprising variety of combinations. This challenges the common misconception that a minimalist wardrobe limits creativity and style expression.
In conclusion, the 10 item wardrobe is not just a practical approach to clothing but a lifestyle shift towards mindful consumption and intentional living. It's a dynamic and personal journey that goes beyond fashion, influencing one's mindset and relationship with material possessions.
