This is wonderful on so many levels. Loving the limited silhouettes it does make everything so much simpler. And the way you have organized for the photos is so calm an soothing!

Tex, a pair of white shorts is on my list this year too. So hard to find a pair that don't need ironing, are opaque and fit and flatter!

Sara, I can't stand driving in a coat! It's so much easier to forego it for a short walk to/from the car. Plus, it's so rare that I can enjoy my heated seats without overheating...why screw that up by wearing a coat?

Thanks, Chris. I feel like my closet overall is much more calm and soothing than it once was. When I had so many different silhouettes and every color in the rainbow, my closet was loud and hectic. It's much more homogeneous now, which feels very right for me at the moment.

I LOVE capsule posts, sorry I don't mean to yell but I truly do love them and talk about capsules on my blog every now and then. You have a SUPERB capsule here, it is very inspirational, thanks for sharing! As for the capsule rules, I do agree that rules are meant to be broken and if you aren't a layering person, why bother right? And the endless outfit remixing ability, I think it's a joke, sure there is remixing going on for a capsule, but who really wants endless combinations anyway? I know I find my favorite one or two and just constantly rewear those instead.

I felt so serene looking at these photos. Wow! I will be returning to this thread, it's as if a lightbulb went off in my head. I haven't been so impressed by the wardrobe post since clearlyclaire's wardrobe photos.

And I must ask - what brand are the pointy black shoes at the lower left? They remind me of the style I had (Austrian brand hoegl), but I passed them to my sister as I bought 1/2 size too small. I've been staking the replacement everywhere, without luck. Those were by far the most elegant flats I ever had.

Thanks, Lisa! You do quite a fab job of formula dressing yourself. I binge on your blog often:-)

Thank you so much, Ornella! Clearly Claire's posts about her 10 item wardrobe were always so inspirational. I miss them!

The pointy toe flats are from a US store called J. Jill. They are my all-time favorite flat. This is my very last back-up pair in the black leather, and I'm starting to panic because they haven't been on the J. Jill website this year. The d'Orsay flats are there (like the front middle shoe), but not the skimmers. I'll come back with a find for the d'Orsay, but I'm not sure it will help you.

Hi Carter --

What a great distillation of your style.

I love capsules but agree individuals need to take a cold hard look at common rules and ignore as appropriate! This one is so perfect for your lifestyle, coloring, and temperatures.

Your "A top is a top, and a pant is a pant. There is no identity confusion" made me laugh. I'm totally a "shirtdress is a vest and a scarf is a top!" kind of person and take a lot of ribbing for it at home but appreciate the other side. I don't need a lot of silhouette variety at all (uniform dresser reporting for duty) but something about the multi-wear items calls loudly.

I have an invisipal who does what you did every season...then she packs away the unused items she still likes [GASP!] and doesn't bring them out til the next year, at which point she makes a new capsule with what appeals.

I sure don't have the discipline to copy her but I bet you could do something like that if desired!

Oh Carter, thanks so much for reading my blog, I'm delighted you enjoy the posts!

Vix, how funny! I've seen people do the scarf as a top thing, but I'm always expecting a Janet Jackson moment! Wow, your friend is hard core. I do put some things I still like away (which explains the stash of bootcuts I found a few weeks ago) just because I'm not feeling them that season. My cashmere sweaters haven't seen any play since 2014, and all the blazers and long coats I used to love are safely packed away. But the rest of my season-appropriate closet...not ready for that yet. I still want options, even though I tend choose my favorites over and over.

Lisa, wardrobe management/effectiveness/efficiency is my crack:-). Your blog is always good for a fix!

Thanks for the kind words. So glad to see you. You're doing wonderfully well with all your seasonal and downsizing planning. I found it interesting to hear about your evolving relationship with color...

Yes, powerpoint is in high gear and I'm trying to push thru the final stages of purge and then the next phase of outfit planning/styling which will require another level of effort. It's coming, just taking forever.

This is great, Carter! I'm not a big layer person, either, so I can really relate. Thanks for the great visuals. Love your blend of neutrals and colors.

Brilliant, Carter -- you put into words the reason I have always avoided putting together a capsule (without really thinking about it). Your rule-breaking plan is logical and practical, and your closet is a work of art. I am inspired!

My first thought was that all looks so cohesive and is a very defined style. I love it.
As for the rules... I am trying a capsule too, and I never even considered the everything goes with everything rule. Not gonna happen!

Well this is fascinating to me, and I obviously need to do more reading about capsule wardrobes. I like your style, Carter, all the time, and it's helped me refine my own wardrobe. I like three pieces at a time, max, and seeing what you're able to put together has inspired me a lot. I've invested in a work wardrobe this past year, and made a couple mistakes in the beginning (a dress that I can't wear a topper with, a skirt that still doesn't have the right top) but the simpler I keep things, the better luck I have putting together appropriate and (very important to me) comfortable outfits for all the things my life holds. I am buying more at J.Jill and less at any store in the mall. The only thing I've bought at the mall in many months is a cozy sweater from Zara that might not be the most flattering shape on me (it's oversized) but which is a color of green I've never seen before, and which makes my eyes pop; I'm fascinated by it and have worn it several times since October. I have navy pants, black pants, black skirts (two shapes, pencil and A-line), grey dresses/tops, navy print tops which are all longer than I used to wear, black and navy toppers of various kinds (long cardigan, short cardigan, fitted jacket, loosely structured jackets), and miscellaneous fuchsia, plum, eggplant and aqua shells/tops, and that's really all I wear anymore. I'm really about to get rid of everything else, although it will be a painful reminder of how much money I've spent over the years on things that weren't quite right. I like simple comfortable clothes that are easy to care for and which make me look current. That's very different from the old-prep classics I've been wearing and I really think it took your photos to help me see the difference. My work wardrobe and casual wardrobes don't look like they belong to two different people anymore, and I feel like I'm beginning to develop a grown-up style that I can enjoy no matter what my weight (which has been one of my biggest challenges - what my style was at 135 does not really work well at 165).

Thanks, Debora! I miss your WIW posts. Will we see more in 2017?

Thanks so much, Sylvie. Did I read elsewhere that you are also in Atlanta?

Chirico, you are wiser than I am! Why did it take me so long to figure out that some rules were meant to be broken?

Thirkellgirl, thank you so much! Regarding mistakes...I can't even tell you how many I have made while trying to update and find my style. I still make mistakes, although blessedly, I am getting a bit better at figuring them out before the return period expires. It sounds like you have truly built a fabulous wardrobe that suits you. I definitely understand the urge to get rid of everything else. I've been doing that for the past year. I think it's been the very best way to help me find what works for me and to mostly stop buying things that will end up purged sooner rather than later. I also totally support a comfortable-look-great-at-any-size wardrobe. I've done this too, and I think it has radically upped the joy factor for me. JJill has some great items that fit this criteria. Also, for pants in particular, I've had tremendous luck at Chico's and Costco in the past year. Surprising, but true:-)

I'm really late to this, but wow, what a terrifically cohesive and attractive result! I totally agree about ditching the "rules" that don't apply or appeal to you. I love your color palette. I'm not much of a "capsule" person even though I appreciate the concept...but my recent closet/holding zone project and clean-out has me feeling just a little different about how my wardrobe functions. I'm very much enjoying my thinned-out closet! I'm not being quick to purge things from the holding zone, but getting some of them out of my main space has helped me distance myself from those lesser-loved items. I suspect it may be easier to get rid of more things in the months to come.

Yes, I'm in Atlanta too (I live near Grant Park now and grew up on the northeast side). So I can totally relate to the abbreviated winter season ... like the sandal weather we're enjoying today.

Sylvie, so happy I'm not the only one wearing sandals in January! I'm on the NW side of town, near 285/75. Perhaps we'll put together another Atlanta meet up one day.