https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33 Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:30:59 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1014088 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 17:55:38 +0000 Cindy 1014088@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am considering the 33 items challenge after reading thevivienefiles but haven't yet gotten around to it.&nbsp;<br />I run screaming from spreadsheets! LOL I do have the Stylebook app but found it way too tedious trying to get good images so I gave up. What is working for me is simply taking a quick snapshot of my pieces and uploading them to private Flickr folders so that I can browse the images rather than digging through my closet when deciding what to wear or what I need to shop for.<br />For those of you who like a challenge- I ran across an interesting concept on Pinterest last week. The woman had done a Soduko (or whatever it's called LOL) grid for her capsules so that each line down or across made a complete outfit including shoes, a bottom, a top, and a topper!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1014061 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 17:22:06 +0000 Adelfa 1014061@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gabrielle, hooray for spreadsheets full of clothes!</p> <p>Elly, I'm actually trying to work on smaller tighter capsules--I think I could improve my outfit composition that way. </p> <p>Beth Ann, DD loves spreadsheets, but maybe that's the difference between a bassoonist and a singer!</p> <p>Lisa, I totally agree, a spreadsheet makes it much easier to purge!</p> <p>Of course, Rachy, that's awful!</p> <p>Cheryl, mine makes me happy too!</p> <p>Ruth, definitely we don't want column overkill! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1014058 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 17:20:04 +0000 Susie 1014058@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh I can see how that would be helpful; thanks for adding that! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1014050 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 17:14:51 +0000 Adelfa 1014050@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Susie, you've got a lot going on there! I love the idea of tracking musings! I also love the idea of a planned mid-season refresher. </p> <p>For you and anyone else considering a 33, building it confused me till I adopted Janice's structure of 4 neutral, 4 second neutral, 8 bridge (go w/ both neutrals), 4 favorite accent color, 8 tops, 4 to fill in.... Something like that... It gave me structure. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1014045 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 17:08:13 +0000 rachylou 1014045@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like spreadsheets, I've tried them, but they haven't worked for me on the wardrobe front. Too much work and upkeep. I'm working on pairing down, but am way over 33. I love my clothes and get very sad when they're in heavy rotation and wear out. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1014003 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:31:41 +0000 Susie 1014003@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Meant to add....</p> <p>I've thought about the 33 project. I might try it for 3 months for fall/early winter (mid Sept - mid Dec)&nbsp;but with my own rules For instance, I am not counting shoes, belts, scarves or purses- just main clothing items. And I would allow myself to choose from other things for weekend wear.&nbsp;</p> <p>I think mine might look something like this in terms of quantity:</p> <p><span>6 pants<br />2 jeans<br />1 skirt<br />1 dress<br />12 tops (sweaters or shirts)<br />5-6 layering pieces- tees or tanks<br />5-6 toppers&nbsp;</p> <p></span>By choosing these, and then a somewhat different set for the Dec- Mar season (I'm sure there would be overlap),&nbsp;it would help prevent the boredom that can set in during the end of the season.&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm going to ponder this some more. Thanks for helping me think of it again!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013981 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:22:54 +0000 Anonymous 1013981@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I absolutely love spreadsheets. &nbsp;My entire wardrobe is contained in a spreadsheet. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013976 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:18:59 +0000 Susie 1013976@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I keep all sorts of lists about my wardrobe in Evernote. I've considered using a spreadsheet too but I thought that might be overkill :)</p> <p>I have separate notes of weekly WIW's since April. There are lists by categories- tops, bottoms, dresses, shoes etc but I haven't kept up with these very well.&nbsp;I keep a running list of items I've purchased and make notes on the success of each. I have a to do page that includes&nbsp;things to shop for and&nbsp;alterations needed. And I also have a page for "musings"- what I like and don't like, things I want to try, why items I've purchased didn't work, etc.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013973 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:15:11 +0000 Adelfa 1013973@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Beth Ann, that's a good idea to spread out the picture taking. I'm just not sure anyone wants to see that many iPhone selfies! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013958 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 15:55:24 +0000 Lisa 1013958@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I use a spreadsheet to track how often I wear clothing items and the cost per wear of each item.&nbsp; I also keep track of favorite outfit combinations.&nbsp; I don't think I have 33 items for a season, probably a bit more than this, but I'm still under 150 items for my 4 season climate.&nbsp; What I find most helpful with the speadsheet is, I can see how often I am sporting an item in a given month, since we have 4 seasons I only get 3 months to wear season specific items.&nbsp; If an item is not worn at least once by the halfway mark, I purge it.&nbsp; I've found purging a LOT easier since I started a spreadsheet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013957 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 15:55:23 +0000 cheryl 1013957@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love spreadsheets and have a clothing inventory spreadsheet that I use every day. It makes me happy. I don't track outfits just pieces. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013904 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 14:41:22 +0000 Anonymous 1013904@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My eyes glaze over whenever I see a spreadsheet. Maybe it's because I'm a bookkeeper and get tired of seeing columns, lol. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013902 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 14:38:35 +0000 Elly 1013902@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting-- I'm taking a grad course and my first assignment tossed me to both the statistics and computer science wolves, so today I am anti-spreadsheet. </p> <p>I do enjoy reading about others' capsules though. Your capsule wardrobe sounds great, and I think I could imagine the 33 working in real life for someone for the first time. </p> <p>I have a similar number of pieces, but mostly work with a series of smaller capsules or individual outfits, not all of which mix and match. A lot of my work clothes are gear, yet I still have to have a career-wear capsule, plus my everyday street clothes which are both casual and smart casual. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013888 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 14:20:29 +0000 amiable 1013888@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Adelfa - my winters are definitely longer than yours by that definition &nbsp;Let's see - I'm guessing that the high temp below 60 is right about half of the year.&nbsp;</p> <p>(Looking up the data - I see that I'm right - about 5.5 months below 60, 3-4 months between 60 and 80, and 3 months above 80 for the average high temps.) &nbsp;So maybe I'm not too skewed toward winter. &nbsp;We'll see how much wear everything gets. &nbsp;And I have a pile in my "mending" bin that will be added back in as I go, and a few things on my "wants" list that I might find.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013881 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 14:03:22 +0000 Beth Ann 1013881@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Um.&nbsp; I'd put my wardrobe into a song --- have to be on of those "Edmund Fitzgerald" ballads with a happy ending, or into a fast-cut music video.&nbsp; Never, ever a spreadsheet.&nbsp; Musicians are allergic to spreadsheets.&nbsp; It reminds us of temp jobs, and we all did temp jobs.&nbsp; lol.&nbsp; </p> <p>Seriously, I think your spreadsheet activity is a sign of your creativity and ingenuity, and I'm glad I live in a world where there are people who love spreadsheets!&nbsp; </p> <p>Your wardrobe has always struck me as extremely mixable, with more color and interest than should be possible in a small number of items.&nbsp; It's clearly working well for you.</p> <p>It'd be fun, and instructive, to see you post kind of like Ingunn does - with many items remixed into lots of outfits.&nbsp; You could take the WIW photos over a several week period, or in one long Sunday afternoon playing in your closet.&nbsp; But then.....you'd have to get photos into your spreadsheets!</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013848 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 13:32:06 +0000 Adelfa 1013848@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz, yes, definitely! I'm getting a little tired of my work tops because I can wear them all year. Also, I used to only wear dress pants in fall/winter but my needs changed and I had to wear them all year, which meant I needed more so I wouldn't die of boredom. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013845 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 13:29:14 +0000 Suz 1013845@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I worked it out a while ago, Jody -- well after the fact. But it turned out I'd amassed a little more for late/ fall - winter (my longest season) -- I think it was around 40 -- and fewer for high summer (more like 30). With somewhere around 33-36 for the others. It makes sense I would need more during my longest season. Winter seems interminable here, and a person craves the injection of new items at some point.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013836 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 13:15:54 +0000 Adelfa 1013836@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Deb, apparently there is a way to put pics in Excel! We'll have to try it!&nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.wikihow.com/Add-Images-in-Excel">http://www.wikihow.com/Add-Images-in-Excel</a></p> <p>Angela, I can visualize an item from a text label, but probably not all of the relevant features of an outfit.</p> <p>Suz, I didn't know you were about at 33 for each of your 6 seasons! I have a lot of overlap too. In fact my work tops go 4 seasons.</p> <p>Mona, me too--I've been planning to try Evernote following Ingunn's example.</p> <p>Ami, that's a great list. Your winters are long, though, right? Mine are about six weeks! (Winter defined as temps in the 50s or lower during the day.)</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013802 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 12:11:00 +0000 amiable 1013802@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm slowly becoming a speadsheet convert. &nbsp;This weekend I cataloged my entire wardrobe (all seasons) into a google spreadsheet (I love google drive).</p> <p>I have about 160 pieces total. &nbsp;(I was surprised, I expected to have more than that - but I didn't count underclothes, pjs, workout clothes or coats). &nbsp;</p> <p>53 tops (tee shirts, both long and short sleeved, tanks and button downs included)<br />30 pullover sweaters<br />10 cardigans<br />9 vests<br />16 jackets<br />15 pants (jeans and dress pants both included)<br />12 shorts (includes everything shorter than full length pants)<br />10 skirts<br />4 dresses</p> <p>I think I'm too skewed toward tops and too skewed toward winter (sweaters + cardigans + vests + jackets = 65 items that are winter).</p> <p>&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013794 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 11:54:04 +0000 Mona 1013794@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love spreadsheets. I work with them a lot at work and have a few at home too but i don't have any for my wardrobe. I have been planning to try Evernote like Ingunn does but haven't gotten around to it yet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013785 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 11:28:34 +0000 Suz 1013785@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Spreadsheets make me run and scream! And I have thought about Stylebook or Evernote, but confess I have yet to get around to it. In the meantime, I just use a notepad and scribble things down, and then play around with the actual clothes and take pictures. This has been really helpful.&nbsp;</p> <p>I also like the 33 number. In my case, I never really established a cap, but that is more or less the number of items I've ended up with for each season. But my seasons are divided into more (I set them at 6). There is crossover of many&nbsp;items between seasons, but not so much for toppers, I notice.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013753 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 06:21:59 +0000 Angela 1013753@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dear Adelfa,<br /> I love spreadsheets! I once had a collleague who used to swear by your philosophy of making new spreadsheets in an emergency! That did make me chuckle! I am using the Stylebook app like Caro which is a wonderful visual clothing database but I think for a relatively small wardrobe it may be overkill. Is the text label enough for you to be able to visualise the outfit?<br /> Angela </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013747 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 05:20:50 +0000 deb 1013747@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love spread sheets and data tables (Access). I wish there was a way to put the pictures into a spreadsheet. Do you do this?&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013740 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 04:43:00 +0000 Adelfa 1013740@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Firecracker, I'm only doing what comes naturally. At work if I get stressed out I make a new spreadsheet.</p> <p>Caro, I'll have to check out that app. I think what Beth Ann said about herself recently is also true of me: I'm not as visual as most people. I process in terms of words and sounds. And, I guess, grids and numbers. This fashion stuff is an effort for me because it's about what you see. Angie puts things in words and that's super helpful to me.</p> <p>Deborah, reporting to the government is never fun.... I do that too!</p> <p>Boata, I'm glad.</p> <p>Pawprints, let me know how your 33 works! I hope it helps you as much as mine has helped me!</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013733 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 04:08:53 +0000 Pawprints 1013733@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like spreadsheets. For my wardrobe I just use lists in a note on my phone. </p> <p>I was already working on my rest-of-summer capsule. Inspired by your post, I pared it down to 33, easily done since I already had everything listed in color capsules. </p> <p>I've long wanted to do a 33 a la Janice. Now I've done it we'll see how it works. </p> <p>My numbers weren't as magical as yours, and they are the full 33. (I love your reason for 32 and your uncanny symmetry.)</p> <p>10 navy &amp; blue denim<br /> 5 grey<br /> 5 cocoa<br /> 10 wine<br /> 3 prints </p> <p>aka:<br /> 14 bottoms including dresses<br /> 6 toppers<br /> 13 tops </p> <p>Fun. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013731 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 04:05:12 +0000 Boata 1013731@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you for this. Your point about having to figure out what will work with that one pair of khakis was a total "a-ha" moment for me. Now I get what Angie means when she talks about seeing the wardrobe as a whole. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013726 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 03:52:38 +0000 Deborah 1013726@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am scared of spreadsheets lol!&nbsp; I manage a particular spreadsheet at work that contains information we report back to a government department... the resposibility weighs so heavily that there is no way I am going to be spreadsheeting anything in my off work hours lol! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013725 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 03:49:53 +0000 Caro in Oz 1013725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been taking photos of my wardrobe items&nbsp;&amp; also my outfits &amp; putting them in Stylebook (an iOs app). I can add a comment if I want to, but mostly the photos are plently organised for me </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013722 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 03:42:27 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 1013722@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Spreadsheet is a funny sounding name, but I think it's something I put on my bed?<br />(Yes, I think I'm in the "spreadsheets make me run and scream" camp.)<br />But I applaud your organization about your wardrobe! Wow. I'm a little in awe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/semi-minimalist-fall-capsule-33#post-1013708 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 03:01:23 +0000 Adelfa 1013708@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like to think of myself as craving minimalism in terms of wardrobe size. But for a year now I have been doing a "33" (which is really a 32 because 33 doesn't make a nice box in Excel. But I still call it a 33.) The basic outline for a 33 came from Janice Riggs of theviviennefiles blog.</p> <p>Having 32 pieces of clothes per season doesn't seem minimal to me when I think of a 10-item wardrobe. However, it does take a certain amount of discipline for me to keep it there.</p> <p>I have done it five times, Fall of '12, and Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall of '13. The 33 excludes anything leather, scarves, and jewelry. Also outerwear and gear. Also layering pieces. The 33 is basically my clothes for work (business casual) and smart casual.</p> <p>My 33 for Fall&nbsp;is: 4 black, 4 navy, 4 gray, 4 cobalt,&nbsp;4 patterned tops, 4 solid accent tops, 4 denim,&nbsp;and 4 print skirts/dresses. </p> <p>I just realized that the *same 33* is also 4 dress&nbsp;pants, 4 skirts, 4 dresses, 4 blazers, 4 other toppers, 4 silk shirts, 4 casual tops, and 4 casual pants. I didn't plan it that way.</p> <p>I find that doing this has really helped how I think about my wardrobe. Identifying key neutrals and my favorite accent color greatly enhanced the mix-and-matchability of my wardrobe. Also, when I pick accent colors and&nbsp;prints (which are&nbsp;a new thing for me) I am reminded to pick them to go with my neutral pieces.</p> <p>An example of how this works is that this summer, I couldn't make khaki pants fit into my 33. So for the first time in years, I wasn't trying to find tops and toppers to go with them that didn't go with anything else. Not to mention accessories.&nbsp;</p> <p>I do find that when I do WIWs, I go through most of my wardrobe fairly quickly (because I wear several pieces at a time, especially when it's colder).</p> <p>When I lay it all out like this it makes me laugh because I'm not actually hyper-organized or anything. I just love spreadsheets. I also love the feeling of knowing what I have and how it all works together. I love dropping the items I already have into a little 4x8 piece of Excel and then figuring out patterns and what items would complete the columns.</p> <p>Do spreadsheets make you scream, or groan, or run away?&nbsp;<br />Do you utilize spreadsheets for wardrobe planning and if so how?<br />Have you ever tried a 33, and how did you like it? </p>