Summer to Fall Closet: A procrastinator's closet clean out

This is how my fall closet looked all week while my piles of summer and upcoming winter clothes sat nearby. You probably know by now I don't do many things quickly and my closet is no exception. I wasn't ready to commit to the switch but as Midwesterners, we know it has to happen at some point, right?!

“Procrastination may be the enemy of productivity but it can be a resource for creativity.”

If there was ever a doubt I needed to speed my process along, this quote from The Originals by Adam M. Grant completely helped me rationalize my pause. Yes, yes, it's for "creative purposes" that my clothes are taking up our bed for days on end.

Summer to Fall Closet: A procrastinator's closet clean out | Emily Bode blog

Fall 2018. Winter wardrobe on the left, summer on the right.
134 items in my closet total!

I don't have enough room in my closet for both warm and cold weather items in the same space. Each Fall and Spring I have to transition my closet for the seasons when the weather starts to change. I was surprised to find that my box in the basement, where I store my off-season clothes, wasn't full. My closet of summer clothes wasn't either. Makes sense; I only have 134 items including shoes, outerwear, and activewear.

I'm down 46 items since 2016 when I had 180 items total.

This is nuts! Especially when you consider I was the girl in high school who you couldn't see over a pile of Forever21 clothes. They don't have an item limit in their dressing rooms and I took full advantage.

Getting down to under 150 items for a 4-season closet was no easy feat. It's been 4 years in the making. In 2014 I took stock of everything I owned and started my first capsule planner in an effort to discover my true personal style.

There are a lot of eye rolls about capsule wardrobes right now because so many people are doing it but it led me to my personal style and I'm so grateful for that. I'm also lazy and don't want to spend valuable time in a day getting ready. A capsule helped me pair things together in less time, allowing me to focus on my creative work and still appear like a sane person out in public. So a capsule was a no-brainer for me. I don't keep one as disciplined anymore but the intentionality behind my closet is the same.

Why I love the 10x10 challenge

The 10x10 challenges [Winter, Spring, and Summer] this year have helped immensely, as well. They allowed me to get creative with items I already have and mix in a few new items. Each season I donate items that aren't appealing to me anymore. The pile I donate is getting smaller and smaller because I'm consuming less = my version of poor girl's slow fashion. I mentioned in my Spring 10x10 that a lot of my whites were feeling tired so those will be rags soon, like my Happy Camper tee sadly! We had a good 2-year run but the poor pits are donezo. I definitely got my wear out of my favorite graphic tee though.

Summer to Fall Closet: A procrastinator's closet clean out | Emily Bode blog | Image via Pinterest — Fall closet inspiration

Onward to my Fall/Winter closet! I can already tell I'll need a couple of pairs of shoes and some lighter-toned blouses to liven up my style a bit. I discovered in my Summer 10x10 that I want more color, relaxed silhouettes, and classic cuts than I currently have. Skinnies and button-ups have been my go-to and while I love them, I'm looking for something fun to add.

Check out my capsule-inspired Pinterest board [here] for more & stay tuned for an exciting Fall 10x10 challenge I have coming up on October 22nd! I can't wait to share with you.

May your Fall be cozy, knitted, and offer a warm glow. xo, Em

Why I love the 10x10 challenge

My 5 year blogaversary!

September | Life Lately