It’s a strange thing to be writing about clothes in a time like this. I had been a bit hesitant to put up videos about capsule wardrobes since it felt a bit tone-deaf to do so during a time when our lives changed into something so unrecognizable. My capsules are usually put together taking into account all the places I need to go, all the people I plan to see. This Spring shaped up to be something completely different than normal.

Upon closer look, I realized that I have been (as I always do) relying on the clothes that I put on every morning to help me get in the right mindset to get through my day. Before, a fun party dress would get me in the mood to go out when I was exhausted, or a great blazer would get me in the mood to get stuff done and feel like a boss. These days, the effects I’m seeking are much more subtle. I put on some of my favorite pieces every day to lift my spirits, give me a sense of continuing my normal routine, and help me feel like I am still a person with obligations, things to get done, and places to go.

It occurred to me recently that there was a capsule wardrobe to be put together during, and specifically for, these times. One of the things I enjoy the most about capsule wardrobes is that they can be tailored to be not only reflective, but functional, in any season of our lives. As unique as this particular season is, there was still a capsule to be put together for it.

I usually like to begin putting together my capsules by thinking of the circumstances that I need to be ready for. In this case, I was building around the following circumstances:

I am leaving my house very little, save for short walks with Buttercup on a daily basis. Therefore, the wardrobe must be comfortable.
Even though I am not leaving the house much, I still want the pieces to feel like ‘outside clothes’ to give me a sense of structure and differentiate from my house clothes.
I still needed to be covered for the drastic changes in temperature of the season. The early spring is incredibly cold and rainy, while the late Spring has hot, practically summer temperatures.
Because of the pandemic, I was having difficulty buying anything new, and I could not get anything tailored. I had to mostly shop my own wardrobe.

Because of the restrictions I had to work with, I had to deviate from my preferred capsule wardrobe formula. Somehow I still ended up with something that made me excited to get dressed in the morning and helped bring a little bit of joy to my day. Here are the items that made it in:

Black Knit Long-Sleeve Top*
Grey off-the-shoulder Knit Top.
Abstract Printed Halter Top, Thrifted.
Olive Green Tank Top, gifted.
Black Embellished Tank Top.
Blue Skinny Jeans.*
Blue Pleated Midi Skit.*
White Wide-leg Pants.
Denim Jacket.
Green Moto Jacket.
Chunky Knit Cardigan.*
Waterproof Snake-Print Booties.*
White Converse Sneakers.
Grey Animal Print Pointy Flats.
Pink Trench Coat.

*Indicates the item was included in my Winter capsule wardrobe.

I have to admit that I thought this wardrobe may be a bit weak when I was putting it together, but seeing it on camera changed that. I really love how it turned out, and I’m exited to dress from it for the rest of this season.

I hope this video inspired you to put together your own, strange-circumstance capsule. If you would like to see an outfit combinations video for this capsule, let me know in the comments below! As always, thank you so much for watching!

15 Piece Capsule Wardrobe: Spring 2020