When I described how I use core neutral capsules to keep my wardrobe functional/avoid orphans, one of the wardrobe planning links I mentioned was a sewing idea: seasonal six piece collections. While that link is to the blogger's original rules, each season the blogger starts a thread in a sewing forum that shows how a variety of sewists interpret the plans for them. You can see them on this board if you're curious. In the comments, Claire wondered how I use them when I don't care for column of colour dressing, and I said I'd put together a hypothetical wardrobe following the guidelines (so, 24 items). Then I got sick, so this is a bit delayed, but here we go!

First of all, I could only do by reminding myself that I'm not actually limited to those items. Otherwise, I was desperately trying to fit all of my favourites in. If having a 24 piece wardrobe created world peace or ended poverty, this would work well for that; otherwise, I'll happily keep my big wardrobe, thank you very much. I picked items one season at a time, but my goal was always to be able to wear items from different seasons together. I essentially chose pieces for a mild 4 season climate, similar enough to my current Texan one, except with the temperatures evenly distributed instead of the endless summer we really have. And I indulged myself with my favourite coat, so am clearly imagining a cooler winter than we have here. Accessories aren't part of the plan, but I can add a photo of what I envision if it'll help. I wanted to use items currently in my closet, instead of some ideal version I might find on the internet.

I ended up opting for all grey bottoms: I think it's easiest to make a mix & match wardrobe if all of the bottoms are the same. That way, you have more options for tops and toppers. Other than that, I used different neutrals and colours at whim, although following the guidelines. I know it looks like I chose blue-green as my accent colour; in fact, I was looking for certain fits/fabrics/formality levels and it just so happened the right ones were often a version of blue-green!

Formality was a big issue for me: if I want a versatile closet, I need it to be casual enough for everyday wear, but nice enough to go smart casual/casually dressy if necessary. So I mainly opted for fabrics & finishes that were in the middle of the dressy/casual continuum.

Now for the choices: I'll share the guidelines, then my interpretation.

SPRING

• Skirt or trousers (neutral): I chose my new slim grey trousers (pic 1).
• 3 blouses/tops (1 to match, 2 to complement): I chose 3 that 'go with' the trousers: a sleeveless cotton teal top (casual), sleeveless silk navy blue blouse (dressier), and a silk/cotton blend grey light blue jumper (medium) (pic 2).
• 1 Layering top/cardigan (to match skirt/trousers): I opted for a seafoam green silk/cotton blend cardigan, so it could be dressed up. I felt that colour would work with both sleeveless tops (I enjoy tonal mixing) (pic 3).
• Jacket (co-ordinating neutral): I chose my Gap cotton taupe one, since taupe goes with everything in my closet. It's a more casual option, but the cardigan's dressier fabric meant I didn't need to worry about that (pic 3).

• Dress: I chose this patterned dress because it's light enough for a sundress but looks dressier than my other cotton sundresses. I also felt that the colour would let it work into fall & winter, with appropriate layering. It seemed like a fairly versatile choice, although sadly the neckline doesn't lend itself to be layering over blouses, pinafore style (pic 4).
• Skirt (accent colour): I changed this to shorts, as it's too hot here in the summer for my preferred waist defining skirts. And since I wear shorts a lot, I opted for grey ones so it wouldn't be obvious how much I was wearing them (pic 5).
• 3 blouses/tops (1 to match skirt, 2 to complement): Once again, I chose 3 that go with the shorts, as well as the spring trousers for when I want more leg coverage. I got a bit of pattern in with the silk floral blouse (that also happens to have cream, taupe, and navy blue in it), a new colour in the pink silk/cotton blend blouse, and a soft white cotton one that feels very summery. I made sure all 3 also went with both of my spring toppers (pic 6).
• 1 light layering top/cardigan: This was tricky, but I ended up opting for my navy blue cardigan with cream ribbon detailing. I like that I can wear it buttoned up on its own as well as layered over the blouses, and it went with all of them. Plus, it seemed like it would work well with the other seasons' capsules. I think it would go with the dress too, despite them both having patterns (pic 7).

AUTUMN

• Skirt or trousers (neutral): I chose a skirt, since I already had trousers from the spring collection. Another grey piece (pic 8)!
• 3 blouses/tops (1 to match, 2 to complement): I chose 1 fancier silk blouse that can be worn over trousers or tucked into a skirt, for maximum versatility (and oh look, it's teal, hehe). Then I opted for a casual long sleeve tee, a favourite cooler weather look of mine: after some debating, I choose a light grey/white striped one (difficult to tell from the photo) for a bit of extra pattern. Finally, I finished things off with a lightweight navy blue wool jumper that looks classy in a variety of situations (pic 9).
• 1 Layering top/cardigan (to match skirt/trousers): This blue-grey wool cardigan is one of my very favourites; it's cropped for wearing with the skirt and I love the colour. I thought it would go very nicely with all of the tops from my spring & summer capsules, letting them continue to be worn, as well as with the dress (pic 10).
• Jacket (co-ordinating neutral): I couldn't resist adding a bit of velvet, and this cocoa brown one echoes the brown buttons on the skirt, as well as being cropped enough to work well with skirts and dresses. Since it's a neutral, it goes with all of the blouses, jumpers, and cardigans I've already chosen too, allowing for maximum versatility (pic 10).

WINTER

• Trousers (dark neutral): if I had slim wool trousers, they'd be here. But I don't, so I used my corduroy skinnies instead (pic 11).
• 2 Tops (1 to match, 1 to complement): I chose a cream silk collared blouse, because I can wear it on its own or layered under any of the knitwear in my closet. The muted teal cashmere jumper is super cosy, and I like it with both trousers and skirts, so I can keep the autumn skirt in rotation. It's fitted enough that I can layer over it too (pic 12).
• 2 layering tops/cardigans/jackets (1 to match, 1 to complement): This was a tricky category for me too. I knew I wanted a wool jacket, and finally decided this pattern taupe/navy one would work best (it goes with the skirt even though it's longer, because it has a lot of waist definition). Then I decided to add one more wool cardigan, since I like how cardigans can be worn on their own or as toppers. I chose a grey one, in a different shade than all of my grey bottoms, because it gave me a dressier topper option (pic 13).
• Coat (dark neutral): I got this coat off Ebay in February, and it is my favourite wardrobe item ever. It's mint condition vintage, 100% Loden wool, fits me like a glove, and comes with a detachable cape and hood. I want to live in it forever and ever. It's a bit heavier than the rest of the climate I put the capsule together for, but at least if there's a cold snap I won't be cold. Plus, it's hypothetical, so I don't need to be entirely practical (pic 14)!

Whew. That's a lot of typing, I'm sorry. Because everything coordinates, in various layering combinations, I determined these 24 items can give me 62 warm weather options and 156 cool weather ones (I didn't include the coat in those combinations since it's strictly outerwear). That's before taking any accessories into consideration. I haven't tried them all on, so there might be a few duds, and personally even if they were in different combinations I know I'd get tired of wearing the same pieces over and over, but it is impressive. I admire the plan's focus on tops & toppers that all mix & match; assuming your bottoms don't wear out, it seems sensible to me, as most people are looking at your face so notice the top half of your outfit more. And of course, the plan is meant to provide you with a strong backbone to your closet, not to be the entire thing!

I hope that was helpful! It was a fun exercise for me. If you want, I'll try to do a lookbook of potential outfit combinations a la Ingrid, but it'll take at least another week to sort out.