Hi,

For a recap of week 12, click here.

To read more about the challenge, including the rules, click here.

I've been continuing to chug along with the fall/winter side of my closet without any big changes lately, which has me starting to think about spring.

In my area we probably have another 4-6 weeks of winter weather but by the time spring really arrives, our stores will have moved on to summer items. With this in mind, I decided to prep the spring/summer side of my working closet. I previously planned out spring/summer clothes back in week 6, but now I have more time doing the DH closet challenge under my belt, and I had also done a recent closet purge including items from the pre-planned spring/summer side, so I figured it was a good time to reassess what’s in the closet and adjust accordingly.

Pre-planning

I’ve had a few items on my wish list for spring/summer and run on team always cold. So those mid weight spring pieces in the stores now are perfect as summer pieces for me when I am in a/c (which is most of the time). I also want to make sure I carry over at least a few items from my fall/winter closet. If a piece is a
seasonless item, why not make it work year round right?

Start with Building Bottoms

To begin I used my current numbers/categories from my fall/winter wardrobe as a starting point. Bottoms are my rate limiting item in my wardrobe so I began there. I have 7 total bottoms in my working closet right now; 6 daily and 1 gear pair. Most of these are skinny jeans in darker washes/colors and I’m weary of them right now,
so I’m only carrying over 3 pairs of jeans (leopard print, camo print, bootcut). This leaves me with 4 additional pairs I can add. I shopped the boutique first, and added two pairs, a BF jean, and a white bootcut jean, as well as my shorts (2 pairs).

Then I shopped the brick and mortar stores using my wish list, and found another white jean (finally a straight leg) and a beige colored trouser. I got a little too excited and also added a teal pair as well. I’m a bit over my goal total (I have 10 bottoms and the goal was 7). However, I’m going to give this number a try. Shorts are weekend only wear for me, and only on our hottest summer days. Most days I am in jeans. The trousers are (hopefully) a much needed break from jeans (I’m not a skirt or dress gal) and I figure white bottoms are often in the wash anyway, so doubling up there should work out ok. We shall see.

Continue with Building Toppers

I consider toppers pullover sweaters, blazers and cardigans. I also have been sporting hoodies a lot lately, which often serve as a topper or as a layer. For fall/winter I had 12 toppers and 3 hoodies. So my spring/summer goal is 13
toppers and I’ll carry over 2 hoodies into the layering category below. Again to begin I carried over items first. I think a denim jacket and a black blazer are
year round workhorses so I added them first. I also have one printed cardigan that can work layered with a t-shirt for spring/summer so that went in too. And I have 1 hoodie that is too cold on it’s own now, but will work well for a cool spring day, so in that went. That leaves me with 9 items to choose as toppers. Again I shopped the boutique first, and added my seasonal items (white blazer) and other items that should work well with my chosen bottoms (4 additional blazers/cardigans). This left room to once again shop brick and mortar stores for one new item (another blazer).

Finish with Layering Items

Layering items are knits, shirts, and LS T’s. These items can be worn alone on a really hot day, but are most often paired with a topper, especially blazers in the summer months. I had 11 for fall/winter. I only carried over the white shirt into
spring/summer since many of these layering items are a bit heavy in weight for
spring/summer weather. Again I shopped the boutique first and added an additional 8 items, which left room for 2 additions from the brick and mortar stores.

For the hottest months, I’ll still want to layer, but it will have to be short sleeves, so I’ll add short sleeve tops and t-shirts at a later date. I have plenty of time to
shop for these items.

Updating gear and workout wear will also happen at a later date, when the weather truly starts to warm up enough for these capsules to need a refresh.

To begin the DH challenge again for spring/summer, I’m going to once again start with an empty closet rod and slowly add items as I sport them.

Last push of winter

Despite my best shopping efforts, spending time in the stores means my eye will wander and I added a bright red pullover. I guess I have Valentine’s day on my mind. Fortunately, it’s a jumper I first noticed during Christmas shopping, but did not add at the time. I figured it was still available, now on sale, and it’s still cold enough to sport it, so here it is. To compensate for the addition, a lighter weight hoodie that is just not working as a layering item right now (it’s too thin) was moved to the spring/summer side of the closet.

Photo 1-Revised spring/summer working closet.

Photo 2-Swap red hoodie into spring closet, red jumper new for fall/winter.

Photo 3-From one of our many snowfalls this season!

Starting week 14, I had 52 items for fall/winter [and 2 items for spring/summer; spring items already worn in brackets]

6 bottoms (no change)

2 hoodies (one was moved to spring/summer)

12 toppers (this includes: pullover sweaters, blazers and cardigans; added
one jumper for fall/winter) [worn one blazer from spring]

7 knits (no change)

4 gear items (no change: 2 toppers, 1 layering knit and 1 bottom)

1 shirt (for layering; no change)

3 LS T’s (for layering; no change)

4 tanks (for layering; no change)

6 thermal layers (no change)

5 scarves (5 for fall/winter) [1 scarf worn for spring]

2 workout outfits (top and bottom; no change)

I'll start a new list of spring items after I've worn a few pieces. After 14 weeks, I think my fall/winter wardrobe is pretty much set for the rest of this season.

Thanks for reading!