Weight fluctuation makes it difficult to maintain a functional wardrobe. I became inspired by minimalist capsule wardrobes when I was approaching full-term pregnancy. A second-time mother knows a bump lingers longer than the delivery room.
I radically purged my closet. I recalled the stress of having nothing that fits post-partum and decided to lessen the torment by reducing the hunt. Whatever your reason for weight fluctuation, your wardrobe directly impacts your mental and physical comfort.
Minimalist Wardrobe Decluttering
Wardrobe decluttering will streamline anyone’s daily dressing, reducing stress and decision fatigue.
If you are wardrobe decluttering because of a changing body shape, as I was, envision an honest version of a future self and set a deadline. In my case, I figured baby weight takes almost a year to gain, so at least a year to reduce. Think about your own realistic goal.
I asked myself: Will I still want these clothing items in a year? Do I love them enough to store them, unworn, in my small closet for a whole year? If you’ve experienced your own fluctuations in body shape, Ask yourself:
- How long is it since this garment fit?
- Should I lose closet space to a piece that hasn’t fit in ages?
- Is it still in style?
- Is it likely to be in style when it fits again?
- Does seeing the garment in your closet bring negative feelings?
Be kind to yourself and let those goading garments go. Make space to celebrate the pieces that you can wear today.
Creating a Capsule Wardrobe Through Weight Fluctuation
After thorough wardrobe decluttering has taken place, it should be clear to see items in your wardrobe that you love, are comfortable in, and serve your lifestyle well. This is the basis for creating a capsule wardrobe that saves you time, effort, and stress every day.
To Make a Capsule Wardrobe, select what you need for the coming season, around 30-40 pieces. Project 333 describes a system of 33 items for 3 months, with exceptions such as gym clothing and home leisure wear.
In my case, I created a short-term capsule wardrobe on one side of my closet, housing only what I needed for the coming month (taking me to my baby’s due date). The other side held a practical selection of staple clothing I believed I’d slowly fit in the coming year of shedding the baby-weight.
Flipping through the hangers of my short-term capsule wardrobe, I knew everything was useful. Every item fit my current body shape and was my current style. Getting dressed each day took a fraction of the time because each outfit was tried, tested, liked, and relevant.
Would each item in your wardrobe tick these boxes?
✔️ Fits me NOW
✔️ Is my style NOW
If not, there is more to purge from your closet.
The Best Wardrobes Come in Small Packages
My temporary capsule wardrobe worked great for newborn mothering. I had practical outfits ready without having to engage my sleep-deprived brain. The second side of my wardrobe slowly filtered into my main capsule during those months, as and when they mercifully squeezed over my newfound curves.
With a capsule wardrobe, you don’t introduce additional pieces until the current season has expired. Because of my massive fluctuations in body shape this scenario was unavoidable but the effects of a broken capsule were the same:
The visual noise returned to my closet. ‘Throw-on” items I collected lacked stylish cohesion. Getting dressed each morning became a war once more. The battleground (my bed) was littered with the aftermath of a clothing explosion. Every piece tried on and discarded.
My extended wardrobe collection reached its messy peak when it was time to venture back into the real world. School runs, parent meetings, playgroups, and interaction with new mammy friends. Beyond nursing and nappy changing, my wardrobe didn’t work and I struggled more and more. I needed to assemble outfits that made me both physically comfortable and socially confident.
When a big change occurs, whether it’s body shape or lifestyle, reevaluate your collection.
Recognise the Need for Change
I grew tired of trying on numerous unsuitable outfits day in and day out. I was tired of putting them all away again. I’d reached the point of dressing-myself-dread that I’d hoped to avoid. All because I’d forgotten that a capsule wardrobe is intentionally seasonal, and that I had reached the end of mine.
The chaos from losing grip on my capsule wardrobe proved to me once more that a capsule was the way forward; it was just time for the next one. Start your journey with How to Make a Capsule Wardrobe [Without Overwhelm].
