We just wrapped up the #ItsFromMyCloset20x20 capsule challenge hosted by Sarah, Mary Ann, Monelle, and Rachel. This Instagram style challenge prompted participants to restyle clothes that they already owned in hopes to inspire the sustainable fashion community to start 2020 off with buying less and styling more.

The Premise:

Pick 20 different garments from your existing to style 20 different outfits over the course of 20 days.

Here’s How It Went For Me:

Because the hosts didn’t have any additional ground rules for this challenge, I decided that I would pick my pieces as the days went along. This would allow for more flexibility to adapt according to the weather, as well as spice things up with new pieces if I felt myself getting bored. I also didn’t include outerwear, shoes, or accessories in my final count.

Ultimately, I ended up with only 13 garments--7 tops, 4 bottoms, and 2 dresses. I just didn’t notice that I hadn’t hit the 20 allotted pieces. 😅

What I learned:

• Colors and prints are integral to creating a refreshing capsule closet. I think if I had chosen more solids and neutrals, I probably would’ve gotten frustrated with the challenge and quit. 

  • A common tip that you’ll get about capsule closets (especially for ones that span the entire season) is that you should pick one or two key colors. In this case, the burgundy red pulled a lot of my pieces together.

  • The biggest lesson that I learned in this challenge was that the tone of the garments mattered more than the actual color of the clothes. I had a really challenging time styling the forest green top because it simply wasn’t vibrant enough (or pastel enough) to pair with any of the other pieces. 

• Skirts and dresses are a godsend! They’re just so versatile! They layer well and you can always wear leggings underneath on cold winter days!

• If your blouse comes with a detachable pussy bow, use it as a belt!

Outfit Recap:

Did you participate in this 20x20 capsule closet challenge? What did you learn? Which challenges did you come across? Do you think you’d be able to implement a seasonal capsule closet?

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