(Full capsule isn't shown in Finds--I edited down to the specific items I discuss in the post, but you can click through to see the whole thing.)

For the first time ever this year, I decided to define seasonal capsules and organize my closet accordingly. Honestly, given the size of my wardrobe (91 pieces, including scarves, shoes, and bags), it's not super-necessary, but I've been suffering pandemic-dressing fatigue and just wanted to try something different.

At this point, I only have about three weeks left of "winter". I'm defining the seasons by their calendar dates (the practical divisions are sort of an academic exercise here), so spring will begin on March 20. In the two months I've been dressing out of this winter capsule, daily highs have ranged from about 65°F to about 75°F (see this week’s forecast below). Often, it drops down as far as the upper 40s in the wee hours of the morning.

Here are some things I've learned:

1. A capsule can make me wear certain items more...but only to an extent. I included the two floral pieces below--the tunic top and dress--to see if I could up their wear counts. The tunic had developed a large tear near the bottom hem, and I'd meant to have it shortened into a blouse, but the pandemic interfered. It's thin enough to work fine tucked in, so that's what I intended to do with it. I've worn it that way a few times, but probably only once or twice more than I would have had I not had a capsule. I love the dress, but its fabric (a viscose mesh) shrinks up after each wash. It loosens back up with a simple steam, so I thought having it in a limited capsule would make me less likely to pass it by for being too lazy to steam, but...not really.

2. Retiring good capsule pieces is really sad. I wore through my wonderful mid-wash Universal Standard jeans (59 wears) and replaced them with a similar, but darker wash pair. In the meantime, I had to pull my light wash Warp&Weft jeans into service. When the dark wash jeans arrived, it became apparent that they didn't work quite right with the rest of the capsule. When I paired them with my Sundance floral thermal, for example, they made it look tired and faded, instead of just pleasantly worn-in, as it appears with the lighter jeans.

I also got a tear in my favorite favorite favorite Eileen Fisher silk blouse (73 wears). Seriously considering visibly mending it and going with that look, but I will miss its ability to singlehandedly add elegant edge. Mending won't change the perfect fit, but it'll give it a different vibe.

3. Last year was not a good barometer for what works this year. I included my burgundy faux-leather jacket and matching cashmere wrap because I remember absolutely loving them around this time last year. I haven't worn them at all. It's not my tastes that have changed so much as my activities (and, to a lesser extent, the weather). Last year, we did a lot of going out to eat, for a quick drink, to events, or to Disneyland in the evenings, when temperatures would be cooler for the duration of our time out. These days, our schedule looks very different, and, if we go out, we tend to do it before crowds in the early morning, or when we can grab a takeout lunch and eat it in the park.

4. I'm not feeling "well-dressed" right now. I don't know whether this is a state-of-mind thing or a state-of-wardrobe thing, but I'm not feeling pulled-together or inspired or energetic about my wardrobe at the moment.

Of course, the real advantage of this capsule plan should come when I rearrange my clothes for the next season and rediscover all the wonder in the other corner of the closet. Time will tell, but I still think I'm going to have to add a little refresher on top of that each season. I'm definitely wearing through my clothes at a rate where that won't be a problem.