You can see how the weather changed over the course of April just by looking at my capsule wardrobe outfits. We started with chilly days and rain, but by the Easter weekend my ankle grazing jeans and short sleeves were only just about cool enough.



It didn't take long for the cooler weather to return, and it was back to jeans and jumpers, but wasn't it glorious while it lasted? Thank you, more please.

Jeans and long sleeves dominated my current outfits until yesterday, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for more sunshine and warmth. All this rain is great for crops, gardens and filling water butts but it's not good for my soul. I'm at my happiest when the sun is shining and I can feel it's warmth on my skin.

In previous spring seasons I've found it hard to put a capsule together because the weather can be so unpredictable. This spring I decided to tweak it every month, hoping that I'd be adding more summery clothes each time.
I have 24 items in this capsule, six fewer than in April, which is more than enough to see me through the month. Twelve items remain from the April capsule, with twelve added, and only seven items are brand new, 76% is pre-loved - a statistic that brings a smile to my face.

April was a mix of cold days and delightfully warm days, my capsule served me well, but I did wish I'd added more lighter tops and fewer jumpers (why did I think I'd need ten jumpers?!). I've redressed the balance for May, and dared to hope that I'll be in need of a pair of shorts.

I wanted to add some rarely worn items to my May capsule. I do have a habit of reaching for my favourite items which leaves things languishing in my wardrobe, forgotten and unappreciated. I've sidelined my trusty navy jumpers for now. I feel little bereft at not having either of them in this capsule, they're usually to hand, season after season. But not having them will make me wear other things, and it's likely I'll find other outfit options that I like because of it.

In addition to trying to wear my less worn items I've also had a really thorough wardrobe clear out and listed a lot of items on ebay. I feel there's little point in having a capsule wardrobe if I'm constantly adding more and hardly wearing the vast majority of it. Better to sell it and hope someone else will make good use of it.

The point of having a capsule was to limit my spending and to make the most of the items I already own. I enjoy having the capsules, and I do feel like I wear more of my wardrobe because of them but it's failed in curbing my spending, I'm still adding too many items.
I now have, what I hope will proved to be, a wardrobe of clothes that work well together and are a joy to wear, making putting together capsules much easier, and easing my guilt at having clothes I simply do not wear.

I have that wonderfully refreshed feeling you get after decluttering. I don't intend to buy any clothes in May, possibly even June too. The shopper in me is going to have to take a little holiday.

Come on May, let's see what you've got.

Having just 30 items in my winter capsule was more than enough to see me through the season. In fact I had two items that didn't get worn - red shirt, khaki mini skirt. I am a creature of habit though and I tend to reach for my favourite items over and over again. You can probably guess... red floral skirt, mustard jumper, blue skinny jeans, long winter coat (which wasn't actually in the capsule to begin with, but I swapped it with my short grey winter coat - it was a bargain charity shop find and I wanted to wear it!).

Roughly 43% of my capsule was pre-loved this time around, with the new stuff being staple items - jeans, navy / black jumpers, stripe tees - that will be worn time and time again. I did donate three items to charity as I'm trying to whittle down my wardrobe to pieces I adore. Reasons for donating can be filed under 'it doesn't sit quite right', and 'it left fluff on everything'. Despite liking these items these reasons are enough for me to pick something else to wear instead, I figured they're not worth keeping and someone else might get more wear out of them, that's the hope anyway.


What are the reasons that make you part with clothing? What's the weirdest reason you've parted with an item?

Ah spring, it's almost here at last! The warm interlude in February awakened my love of bright sunny days that are warm enough to leave the house without a coat. I'm hoping that the sun will be back with us sooner rather than later.

The improving weather turned my thoughts to my spring capsule, I'm looking forward to wearing some recent purchases, mixing them with older items to create new outfit combinations. My cropped jeans are making a reappearance, and my cropped dungarees their first. And the green skirt is back now that it's been mended and is wearable once again.

I've decided to make my spring capsule monthly, just like I did in the summer. It allows me to wear more of my wardrobe, and it lets me tweak the capsule depending on the weather. Spring and autumn are always tricky to get right as the weather is difficult to predict.

This is what I'll be wearing in April.
I've got plenty of things for cooler days, but have enough for days when the sun comes out.

Happy spring!