I am so excited to kick off the new year with one of my most fun (and, likely most challenging) projects to date: a capsule wardrobe. This is my first time doing a capsule wardrobe and thankfully I am not alone in my endeavor: Elsa and I are doing the January capsule project together!
For those who are not familiar, Elsa of Simply Elsa is my sister-in-law (we are married to brothers). I figured I’d get that out of the way since someone inevitably asks whenever we talk about each other! We share many a thing (we even used to share a blog) and before we created Purely Nora and Simply Elsa we actually used to do our very own wardrobe challenges via text! We’ve done no shop challenges and “wear something you haven’t worn recently” challenges and even “find something that still has tags on it” challenges (oof!). They all involved lots of mirror selfies texted back and forth, and we always finished them feeling inspired, encouraged and ready to purge our closets. Sounds like the perfect way to start a new year, amiright?
I’ve talked a bit about my approach to building a wardrobe that I love in this post. And while I’ve done my best to stay true to my three main principles (add intentionally, wear frequently, edit routinely) I definitely didn’t keep them at the forefront this past year. Summer was brutal on my bank account and while I’ve gotten much better about shopping in the second half of the year, the weirdness that was 2020 and my tendency to emotionally shop definitely got the better of me at points. The funny thing is, clutter and excess stuff really stress me out! So, getting back to basics is key both for my financial health and my mental health. Enter: the January capsule.
What is a capsule wardrobe? For our purposes, a capsule wardrobe is a limited selection of items that are worn for a certain (and definitive) period of time. In creating my capsule, I was forced to think about what I actually love and wear – what I simply cannot live without and what feels the most me.
Why a capsule wardrobe? Well, I’ve always wanted to do one and never made the effort so, no time like the present! 2020 helped me solidify that I’m really more comfortable with less when it comes to clothes – while I love them and use them as a way to express myself I truly don’t need much and really want to be better about cultivating my closet. I’ve always enjoyed creating multiple outfits from one piece (especially in the context of packing and travel) and am really excited to get creative with the items I already own. The closest I’ve ever come to doing a capsule was my trip to SF last January where I packed 9 items for 5 days – you can find more on that here.
What are the rules? We didn’t have a parameters as far as creating the capsule and how many items to include, but we both tried to be as lean as possible. My capsule consists of 7 sweaters, 5 tops, 1 dress, 5 bottoms (all pants), one vest and 6 pairs of shoes. The plan is to only wear the things listed for the entire month of January and, for me, not purchase anything new. We’ll share our OOTD every day and we’ll post a run down of what we wore and any thoughts on how the challenge is going at the end of each week! That way, we’ll stay accountable to ourselves, eachother and to you.
What do I hope to get out of this? I’ve touched on this a bit, but my hope is that I’ll better appreciate what I have, realize what I missed and be much more aware of what I don’t miss. Ultimately, my reflections will help me cultivate a wardrobe I really truly love and shop a whole lot less. By taking a pause from shopping for a month, I’ll be able to reflect on the gaps in the capsule and pinpoint what I want to intentionally add, whether that’s from my own wardrobe or something I don’t already have. I don’t think I’ll ever have a super lean wardrobe but I would love to love everything I have.
Now, without further ado – here is my January capsule! I will say, I really tried to stick to my winter wardrobe workhorses, keeping in mind realistically what I’m wearing these days. You are not going to see any skirts or many dresses here, since I rarely put either on. These days I’m most comfortable in cozy knits and neutrals, so you’ll see a lot of those included!
I also included links to as many items as I can, in case you’re interested in intentionally adding something that I have to your wardrobe as well! Since this is pretty much a list of my most favorite things and current wardrobe staples, some items are old and others are discontinued. I did my absolute best to find similar items where available, and included those in the shop round up for each section.
SWEATERS
Striped Pullover Sweater – This sweater! I am freaking obsessed with half zips and am loving that they are making a comeback in sweater form. Mine is cropped and will be so fun to style and layer – it’s super reminiscent of this La Ligne version but a lot more affordable.
Cream Sweater – Cream is my spirit animal and it was a situation to pick just one cream sweater for this capsule. I ended up going with a current staple that is so snuggly and the perfect winter knit.
Camel Sweater Blazer – I have this blazer in three colors and I am not sorry! It’s one of the most versatile pieces I own and can be dressed up or down. SO great for zoom calls too 😉
Camel Cardigan – THE cardigan! Sadly it is sold out in most colors and sizes, but any cardigan will do. I love that this one is slouchy and oversized because it will be so fun to style! I’m a well known cardigan addict – I firmly believe that you can (almost) never have too many in your closet (an attitude I may need to change!). More on that in this post and my HTS:CARDIGAN highlight!
Neutral Hoodie – I’m a big fan of the athleisure trend and will always have joggers and a sweatshirt in my rotation! That being said, I also think sets are clutch because they look and feel more put together than your average loungewear. I don’t have this exact combo but am obsessed with the style! Hoodies are so fun because you can totally dress them up and they look super chic layered under jackets (leather bombers and wool dress coats being my fave options).
Black Turtleneck – Ya cannot go wrong with a basic black turtle! I went back and forth between including a fitted option and an oversized option and ended up going the fitted route. Mine is Everlane and sold out, but the one I tagged is super similar – I also included a few faves in the carousel below.
Cashmere Crewneck – I have this sweater in three colors and it’s held up pretty well! It’s sort of fitted but not super fitted and still allows for layering – it’s also super soft. I brought this on my trip to SF last year – more on that here and styled it here.
Cream Puffer Vest – VESTS are the BEST! Such an essential layer for this time of year in the tri-state area – I throw mine on to run errands or even in the house when I’m chilly. Plus a good vest isn’t bulky and fits under coats! Mine is old but I am obsessed with this one.
SHOP MY SWEATERS
TOPS
Striped Tissue Turtleneck – Tissue turtlenecks are the best layering pieces! I chose a striped version for some variety – but may regret not going with plain white. Only time will tell 😉 My favorites are from J.Crew.
White Button Down – Had to! I wear a white button down in almost every style session I do because they go with everything and every mood! The boy style from J.Crew is a favorite because it’s not too fitted and can be tied at the waist. I also this one for a tunic version, which I always bring on trips because it can double as a cover up!
Striped Long Sleeved Shirt – A classic striped shirt – very French, oui? Another wardrobe workhouse that is multi-seasonal, easy to layer and fun to dress up or down. I tend to get mine from J.Crew or Old Navy, but have heard great things about Boden, too!
Striped Button Down – I have several striped button downs – I have one from Gap that I’ve had for YEARS! I also love an oversized or tunic option for versatility. I also like this one and this one
White T-Shirt – Gotta have a white t-shirt! I did a style sesh with my favorite here. Everlane is always my go-to for cotton layers – I size up in their fitted shirts though, otherwise they get too small with washing and drying!
SHOP MY TOPS
BOTTOMS + DRESS(ES)
Neutral Joggers – It took everything in my power not to include 5 pairs of joggers as my bottoms. I wish I was kidding! Again, keeping it as a set with the hoodie means that I can wear these so many chic ways, without them looking slouchy.
White Straight Leg Denim – THESE JEANS are my absolute favorite! They fit so well, hit me right where I want them to and are the perfect straight leg. Also I love winter white and cream monochromatic looks during all seasons, so these were a must for my list!
Black Straight Leg Denim – That perfect washed black is so hard to find but y’all – I FOUND IT! These are a new-ish pair of denim that I get asked about, without fail, every single time I wear them! I’d say they run tts for how I want them to fit, but they have a bit of a stretch so if you’re one of those people that likes fitted jeans then def size down.
Mom Jeans – I’ve had these for a couple years now and they are one of the only pairs of 100% cotton denim that I enjoy! They fit my body type well and are extremely high rise – I have a long torso with a high belly button so finding a proper high rise is hard for me. I love that they are comfy without being sloppy and really dig the versatile multi-seasonal light wash.
Black Leggings – Had to. I actually don’t wear leggings a ton, but since I don’t have any true black pants that fit me I wanted to include a sleeker black pant option. These leggings can be dressed up because they are a true black and don’t have seams on the sides!
Sweatshirt Dress – Okay honestly I have not been wearing dresses pretty much ever BUT this one is fun because it’s as cozy as a dress is gonna get 🙂 I kinda wish it was a maxi dress, but didn’t want to buy something new, so, mini sweatshirt dress it is! The color and style are great for layering.
SHOP MY BOTTOMS + DRESSES
SHOES
Beige Runners – Also known as my quarantine shoe! If I leave the house, there is a 99% chance I’m wearing these. I love Allbirds and when my wool runners finally were too worse for wear I replaced them with these tree runners in the best neutral beige. They aren’t as warm as the wool version but are very versatile and wearable in the summer too! I gotta say, I’m also a fan of the new Wool Pipers!
White Sneakers – You know I’m a sneaker gal, so I had to include my go-to white sneakers. To be fair, these veja ones are not super comfortable on long walks but they are great for day to day wear. They also take a bit to break in! I’m on the hunt for my next white sneaker – in the past I’ve owned and loved Stan Smiths, Converse and Tretorns too!
Slippers – Okay, maybe these are actually my quarantine shoe 😉 I used to be a big UGG slipper gal but found that LL Bean makes a better variety for a better price! Mine have lasted me a really long time considering how much I wear them.
Camel Flats – A pointy toe flat is a fantastic staple and my Margaux flats are the loveliest saddle color. Margaux flats are so well made and incredibly size inclusive with their varying widths. They use the best leather and are comparable, at least in look, to my Chanel flats.
Black Booties – We’ll see how much I actually end up wearing these but I wanted to include a winter shoe that’s a bit…dressier. Even if I don’t end up wearing them out and about it’ll be nice to see how I can dress looks up and down! I have a few pairs of black booties but find that a low heel and pointed toe is the most versatile of them all!
Black Loafers – One of my favorite investment pieces and debatably the most comfortable shoes I own! I think it’s important to clarify that the Brixton (soft leather) and Jordan (hard leather) are almost identical but the Brixton (the ones I have) are a softer more flexible leather that doesn’t have to be broken in. I’ve worn these allll over the city and never have trouble with my finicky feet! These are similar and more reasonably priced.
SHOP MY SHOES
