So, have you heard about the “capsule wardrobe thing” yet? I’ve been seeing lots of buzz about it on blogs and social media, and I bet you know someone who’s dappled in this growing trend.

If you’re wondering what it’s about, basically it’s a seasonal, minimalist collection of clothing pieces — so that instead of being greeted by a closet overflowing with things you wear only about 23% of, your getting-dressed-in-the-morning can be quick, fun, and easy. Also, excess isn’t cool! The clean, empty space left after saying goodbye to things I don’t need is one of my Very Favorite Things.

My sister-in-law Rosina, who is always turning me onto the Coolest Things On The Internet, sent me a link to Caroline Rector’s fabulous blog, Un-fancy, last October or thereabouts. At first, my impression was that this 37-pieces idea was a little extreme, only slightly appealing, and definitely “not for me.” But, the more I read, and the more I thought about it for a few days afterwards, the more intrigued I was and inspired to give it a try.

On a whim, I tackled my closet. (The first step is paring down!) I pulled everything off hangers that I didn’t love, whether due to color, fit, style, comfort, or practicality. This might not be the fun part for everyone, but I had a blast. (See above, about my love for creating empty spaces.) What made it even more fun, then, was that over the next few months, I hauled multiple boxes and bins off to the consignment shop, and was rewarded for my efforts, over time, by a couple hundred dollars!

I’m nearing the end of my third season now, so once I’ve got my summer wardrobe finalized, I’ll have completed an entire year of planning! I’ve learned so, so much about my personal style, fashion in general, and making the most of my clothing budget. I’ll talk more about all of this in future posts, and I’m also pretty excited to share my summer wardrobe in a couple weeks, but for now I’m going to try to whet your appetite for this closetal phenomenon 😉 by sharing three of my most versatile, oft-worn spring pieces.

{left} The Corner Office Dress from Downeast Basics (no longer available – similar here)   >> This striped little number is probably the top most versatile item in my entire closet. Not only is it super cute by itself, but it works great for layering. I’ve even worn this quite a few times with a shirt over top, and it totally passes for a skirt! There’s no color or pattern that clashes with it, and it can be dressed up or down in no time flat. Also, it wears really well…I’ve washed it dozens of times and it still looks brand new. That alone gets huge bonus points with me!

{center} Hi-Lo Patterned Top from Old Navy   >> This top is surprisingly versatile as well. It’s a busy pattern, but there are a lot of different colors in it, so most nail colors, etc. totally work with it. And it looks great with a pencil skirt (or the dress I just talked about!), dark or light skinny jeans, a maxi skirt, AND shorts. Its flowy shape is both comfortable and forgiving, and the lightweight cotton is the most comfortable fabric for summer’s heat.

{right} Mossimo Supply Co. Lakitia Sandal from Target (no longer available – similar here)   >> Ahh, these sandals. I have lived in them pretty much every warm day since I bought them last summer. I have one other pair of sandals — with chunky heels — in my capsule but these are all I need. They literally go with every single possible outfit combination in my closet, and they’re dressy enough for everything yet not too dressy for anything.

Needless to say, all three will be staying in my capsule for summer.

What do you think of the capsule trend? (Definitely check out Caroline’s blog, if you haven’t already — I learned so much from her.) And whether your closet is “minimalist” or not, I’d love to hear about the winning pieces in it! What’s something you find yourself reaching for over and over again right now?

If you have questions about how I work the capsule wardrobe process, please ask away! I’ll either reply in the comments or address them in future posts.