I Tried The 10x10 Capsule Wardrobe Challenge and Here's How I Did...

Toronto, Canada: Fashion Revolution week this April 2017 marked the fourth year since the Rana Plaza factory collapse (the largest garment factory collapse in history, unfortunately taking the lives of over 1,100 people). It’s inspiring to see how far we’ve come as consumers challenging brands to be more transparent and asking #whomademyclothes?

Along with questioning fast fashion brands, this year my fashion experiment was a 10×10 capsule challenge organized by Fashion Takes Action. The concept is simple: 10 pieces of fashion to create 10 outfits (for 10 days straight). It was the first time I had heard of such a small capsule, a micro-capsule really, so I thought I’d try it out since I never had.

I was actually surprised with what I learned from this experiment: I am more creative than I give myself credit for!

With only 10 items to work with, I was encouraged to try new styles and create looks with the same 10 pieces: wearing different accessories (mainly CMC), trying out different hair styles and bags helped to make each outfit look entirely unique. It was actually a huge juxtaposition – I truly felt more connected to my wardrobe with only 10 items than I ever had with my entire non-minimalist closet.

I also noticed that by the end of the 10 days, I still hadn’t even worn all the outfit options that were possible to create with my 10 carefully selected items. It left me excited and curious to experiment with a micro-capsule wardrobe again.

So, in August, when I travelled to Italy I decided to try a travelling capsule closet. This capsule was fit for a hot climate, where I packed just 18 items for 21 days. It felt liberating and I enjoyed the experience even more. And when you feel a sense of achievement, you keep going right?

So, here I am; it’s October and I’ve decided to commit three entire months to my very first seasonal capsule wardrobe of 33 items most commonly known as Project 333.

The Project 333 Capsule Challenge

Inspired by several great capsule bloggers, such as Unfancy, Be More With Less and The Every Girl (I encourage reading these resourceful sites if you are planning to to try a capsule yourself!).

So this is what I’ve included in my fall/winter capsule:

4 jackets (including a winter jacket)
3 pairs of shoes
5 sweaters (pullovers, zip-ups, hoodies)
2 button-up shirts
2 vests
2 pairs of leggings
1 pair of jeans
2 trousers
10 tops
1 dress
1 skirt

And it’s funny, but when I look at the collection of 33 fashion items, I still I feel that I have so much more than I need! What a warm feeling to get to this realisation!

5 Key Benefits of Capsule Wardrobes

1. It’s planet-friendly.

We humans purchase about 73 million tons of textiles a year and yet only 20% get recycled. And in Canada that’s even less, just 15% is recycled or reused, which means 85% is ending up in landfill! According to The Balance, Canadians also throw By reducing our consumption, we are reducing the amount of textiles discarded.

Living with such a small wardrobe makes you really conscious of what you need and encourages you to buy less. It brings more awareness of your shopping habits and brings more thought and mindfulness when you make purchases.

2. You can make more of a fashion statement.

Most women love looking stylish and we love talking about our outfits. A capsule wardrobe isn’t about taking that away. In fact, it’s about enhancing this feeling, being more creative and adventurous with your outfits, and making your wardrobe a real talking point. Seriously, who wouldn’t be intrigued about a capsule outfit?

Showing of your sense of style with so little says so much, and it’s more impactful. Take a look at the video below of a girl who wore the exact same dress for an entire year and still managed to remain incredibly fashion forward:

3. Less stress, more time and space.

This is not some empty platitude. Life really is more fulfilling with less. There’s so much evidence now that more stuff doesn’t make us happier once we hit a certain point of creature comforts. One extra pair of jeans when we have 15 isn’t going to make us more happy even if we think it will.

Earlier in the year, I tested this theory and it was true for me. I noticed how living with less clothes takes up less room (physically and mentally) and gives space to really life. That means more time and energy for tasks and activities that give our lives more joy and meaning.

4. You learn abundance.

Media, advertisers, businesses, society tell us that we never have enough. That we need more. We need the latest X. Or the newest Y. Or the trendiest Z. Living in this state of mind makes you think that you are lacking, leaves you in a state of lack. I have noticed that the capsule clothing experiment has encouraged me to shift my mindset to one of ABUNDANCE. Why? Because even with only 33 items, I feel like I have more than I really need. And living life in this state of mind is absolute bliss.

5. It’s super fun.

It’s actually fun and exciting to embark on this clothing challenge. Creating a capsule isn’t about restricting oneself. It’s about thinking differently, and seeing your clothes differently. You can still enjoy life with less garments. It really comes down to enjoying the process of being creative

If you’re curious about this challenge, but think only 33 items would make you feel like incredibly limited then try whatever feels right for you and enjoy the journey! Start with 50 items if you think that’s more do-able or more. Give it a go and let us know how you go!

Ever tried a capsule wardrobe challenge? Share your experiences below and let’s compare x

Here are the sites I recommend for further reading:

Unfancy: http://www.un-fancy.com/capsule-experiment/

The EveryGirl: http://theeverygirl.com/how-to-create-a-capsule-wardrobe/

Be More With Less: http://theeverygirl.com/how-to-create-a-capsule-wardrobe/

The Balance: www.thebalance.com/textile-recycling-facts-and-figures-2878122

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I Tried The 10×10 Capsule Wardrobe Challenge and Here’s How I Did…

The Project 333 Capsule Challenge