Capsule Wardrobe Transition Tips For A New Season

It just took a little thought, but I figured out how to effectively transition clothes for each season.

Seasonal Capsules And Repeat Styles

Introducing a four-part blog series about wardrobe essentials worth splurging on, sustainable garments, and functional wardrobe capsules.

It's time for me to break out my seasonal wardrobe capsule and my essential layers.

Follow me as I enjoy my favorite activities and figure out how to enjoy a small but mighty capsule wardrobe.

• My 1-Week Challenge Experience
• My Autumn Capsule Wardrobe
• Capsules Don’t Have To Be Boring
• New Season, New Capsule

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My wardrobe changes on a quarterly basis. I’m used to saying goodbye to my winter parka to welcome my spring florals and summer breezy clothes.

The seasonal changes between winter, spring, and summer are my favorite. Everything outside comes back to life, and I start planning fun weekend adventures with my friends.

For me, summer represents a fresh start to the year. When I was still growing like a weed,  it also meant a whole new closet full of clothes.

But as I stopped growing, I found myself needing new clothes less and less each year. Even though I technically didn't need new clothes, the desire to get something new never really went away.

With the changing of seasons, I still find myself gravitating to the mall in search of new clothes.

While I see nothing wrong with the odd shopping trip here and there, I know that it’s not sustainable for my pockets or the environment.

Over the past couple years, I've tried to put a stop to this pattern of buying fast fashion by adopting a more minimalist capsule wardrobe.

It just took a little thought, but I figured out how to effectively transition clothes for each season.

I've been doing it in a way where I feel I have everything I need without the mental and physical clutter.

Capsule Wardrobes Start With Basics

The first thing I do when summer comes around is go through my closet to examine the condition of my basics.

Basics can be viewed as the backbone of your wardrobe. They are the pieces that make up your favorite, most repeated outfits.

Make sure you love all of the basics you own to avoid the guilt of spotting a lonely garment that’s been sitting in the corner of your closet for years.

This year, my favorite basics include my solid long sleeve shirt, my mom jeans, my corduroy pants, my small collection of camisoles, and my Oliver Charles sweater.

I find that most of the outfits I’ve been wearing this spring involve and repeat these staples in one way or another.

They’re all high-quality, in good condition, comfortable, and great layering pieces.

If you find your closet full of basics that you find yourself ignoring repeatedly, it might be time for a good old closet clearout. What do you do with pieces you no longer want?

Yak Wool Sweaters Are Perfect Everyday Layers

In the transitional seasons especially, layering is your best friend. Layering is done best with high-quality basics that are in good condition so you feel stylish, comfortable, and confident.

Not only is layering a simple, convenient way to maintain a comfortable temperature but layering is also a fun way to add interest to your style.

I find layering to be most effective when I combine individually thin and breathable pieces.

I’ll wear a white shirt under my Oliver Charles sweater, which is thin, breathable, and perfect for layering.

I took the 1 Week Sweater Challenge in it a few months ago and it's the perfect combination of characteristics for a lasting favorite.

It’s made from yak wool, which is soft and more breathable than cashmere.

Capsule Wardrobes Reduce Fast Fashion

My knee-jerk response to the change of seasons is to run to the mall or my favorite thrift store to replace my clothes whether I need to or not.

But one of my new shopping habits that keeps me out of the fast fashion cycle is focusing on fun accessories.

When I know that I have all the clothing I need at home, I use accessories to add some fun and color to my otherwise simple everyday outfits.

There are so many ways to achieve the sort of look you want with just a few details like a seasonal-toned scarf, a bold hat, or a fun pair of socks.

Don’t forget about jewelry and shoes. There are truly so many different ways to express yourself through fashion apart from clothing.

I know it sounds like I’ve just encouraged you to buy all the accessories your heart desires but it’s wise to exercise mindfulness and moderation when it comes to buying them as well.

Think of the longevity of each item in your closet and how much you actually see yourself wearing it.

How will it fit into your personal uniform?

Is the material high-quality?

Do you already have something just like it at home?

These are all questions you might hate to ask when you meet a sexy new number at the store but you’ll thank yourself when it comes time to transition your wardrobe for the next season.

If you believe that every good wardrobe starts with owning less and owning better, consider buying yourself an OLIVER CHARLES sweater.