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Thanks for the link @delight: ! I like her style too but its just not realistic for my lifestyle. I could definitely pull pieces and ideas from her but with a business casual 9-5 job I need more work stuff and less cute/fun stuff!

I did some reading last night and general consensus is you should not repeat an outfit in a two week span (for day jobs)...so minimum would be 10 outfits...I think 15-20 is better. This should be easily accomplished with 15 articles of clothing.

For my lifestyle...I need 2 casual outfits a week (Saturday & Sunday) plus a "date night" outfit a week - which is more than we do date night but anyways. Half the time my date night outfits could really be combos of work items.

I think my number will be 40-ish...depending on where I land with shoes. While I love shoes...I am not a crazy shoe person...so I think 4 work and 4 non work is totally doable.

I am also hoping by taking this approach I can focus on investing in nicer pieces - and/or not feeling guilty about splurging on a shirt that I love or fits my style perfectly!

@ValentineMommy: I am trying...slowly but surely...I am 8.5 months preggo so that's my big snag right now! Here's where I am:

1) Started weeding through my secondary closet (the place where things go to die) - I have it trimmed pretty low and donated a ton. Its separated into "fat clothes" which I will need immediately PP and then "non fat clothes"...these will be tried on a few months PP.

2) Started making lists of what I "NEED" in my capsule collection. I basically took the mindset of "If I could build my dream wardrobe what would it be". Taking hints from capsule posts/blogs (i.e. tops should go with every pair of bottoms, etc). I started with Summer and Winter, Work and Casual. (I live in Michigan - so our seasons have distinctly different clothes). I started building what pieces I envisions and started pinning inspiration to help. I have these two "dream wardrobes" planned out...21 pieces for work, 20 pieces for casual - including shoes.

3) Items I am excluding pajamas (but limiting to 3 bottoms and 3 tops), basic tee's/cami's/long sleeves (these are layering pieces - again limiting to 3 of each...should only be 6 per season), workout clothes (limited to 2 tops/2 bottoms at a given time ie season). I also excluded non fashion shoes - workout shoes, plain rubber flip flops, winter boots and rain boots).

Here is what I have found so far: I own many of the shoes I need which is great because shoes can be significant price wise. I basically have a statement (i.e. colored) pair of shoes to buy for each season once I sort out the tops. Many of the items I would call investment staples I also own - i.e. my Navy Schoolboy Blazer, denim and some of my suiting dresses for work. I am shocked how many outfits you can build from 14-16 pieces of work clothing and 14-16 pieces of casual clothing. Mixing and matching is huge.

Here is my plan for next steps...this will happen as I get back to my PP (and hopefully 'happy' weight):

1) Go through existing pieces. Items will fall into 1 of 3 categories. Love it/its on the wardrobe list, not on the list but love it, not on the list/looks bad/doesnt fit. If I love it and its an item on my capsule list it goes straight to the master closet - cross it off the "to buy" list! If I love it but its not on the list - or am not sure but cant part - it will stay in the guest bedroom (see more below). The last category is getting donated immediately.

2) I will have only 40 pieces (probably less) in my master closet to "start". Once I am at a Happy weight I will start filling in the holes from what I own - depending on where I am in my weightloss journey I may not fully invest in some of the work items (suiting) as those are expensive pieces.

3) Ongoing evaluation - if an item is in the guest closet and I wear it I will replace it to my master closet. If I do this before I have a fully loaded 40 pieces it can stay free of charge. If this is after I have "completed" the wardrobe process - it will only get added at the expense of another item (1 in 1 out). When the "season" ends...any pieces still in the guest closet and not worn are gone (if I havent worn it in 4 months I dont need it).

4) Special Occasion Items - I have been struggling with these. I have 3 prom/homecoming dresses - I am donating 2 and keeping 1 (for DDs to play with some day). I have 8-10 cocktail dresses (bridesmaid dresses from JCrew, other fancy dresses) - I am going to keep these for now but only if they fit (PP/Happy Weight). I am going to buy a covered hanger for them...as they get worn - they come out of the covered hanger...to be evaluated after 1 year.

@ValentineMommy: That was my issue for the last two years...I knew I was 1) not at a happy weight and 2) going to get preggo again sooner than later.

I started PP at a size 14 (when I made myself put away maternity clothes)...I was a freak of nature that lost ZERO weight while nursing. I finally got to a size 10 before getting pregnant this second time but really my happy weight is a comfy size 8 (some size 6s). My tops are always L/M depending on the cut bc I am busty.

I basically allowed myself to keep everything - especially bottoms since those fluxed a ton. The good news is that most of my tops from my pre-baby days are a style that is not "me" anymore so I have had not many issues pitching them to start over.

I think pieces you "know" are not your style anymore you could get rid of now. But I would allow yourself to hang on to the pieces that will help you transition after baby #2. You can also start building your dream idea of a wardrobe now and buy some of the tops since you dont have issues there as much?!

@ValentineMommy: yes - my goal is to completely get my clothes (minus seasonal items) out of the guest closet. I think I'll have a decent amount to buy if I do get down to my goal weight - if not then I think I probably have 75% of the pieces already. I have a solid 25% that will work no matter what - just might take some tailoring.

For me - I had a f*ck it moment two weeks ago. I was livid with the state of my organization. I am still kind of in it. When I was making my "dream" list...I was kinda pricing things out...in reality if it makes me happy and feel good (not to mention reduces my stress level in the morning) I can afford to just do it and I know that...when I had that f*ck it moment, combined with the knowledge of what my ideal new wardrobe would cost it made it easy to just pitch pitch pitch...

@ValentineMommy: I will definitely post pics from my stylebook when I am done!!!

And ya, if I truly get to where I plan to get to I should be able to keep all pieces in my master closet and still not have it look the mess it looks now!!! Pictures for sure!

@brownepiano: Great site! Thanks for the link! I totally agree that working with certain colors is really key.

For my work wardrobe - my staple pieces are black (all year), grey (fall-spring), khaki (summer) and Navy (summer). This includes most bottoms (pants/skirts) and most outer layer tops (jackets, blazers, cardigans). I take my color cues from blouses/scarves...same with patterns. I keep most of it very basic - which allows me to pick a statement piece here and there and be able to mix it in.

My two chosen colors seem to be red/blue...with some more pink/turquoise in the summer. Its great because these colors all play nicely together.

I think if you try to have too many different colors in a capsule it is a nightmare to stick within your numbers. If you limit it to two colors (that play nicely together) it is so much easier to mix n match. Plus you can always add other colors through accessories (jewelry scarves purses)...

So...I bought my first two pieces of my "new" collection. I am SO excited.

1) LulaRoe dress...I cannot tell you ladies how good it felt to have a vision of an outfit...notice I was repeatedly pinning the same style...hunt down the right piece...do a quick check that it fit well in collection and was versatile enough - then have absolutely zero issues spending $60 on it knowing how much use I would get. I'll attach a picture below. This piece falls into both work and casual. I can wear it alone, with a cardigan (I'll have at least 2 solids) or with my navy blazer. I have 3 pairs of shoes that it goes with, endless jewelry items and plan to add a "statement" color belt to my collection which will also pair nicely with it.

2) Casual Outerwear Piece: I noticed I was pinning lots of simple jeans/tshirt looks...and I decided I needed a nice light weight coat to complete that look for a 7-9 mos out of the year look here in Michigan. At first I was going to do Khaki - then I realized I wont be able to wear it with Khaki's. I decided if I do the green I can wear it with khakis (chino's and shorts), jeans and the pink chino ankle pants I plan to complete my summer look with. It also will work fine with my yoga pants. Its a more classic style - and will go with my nude toned fashion shoes as well as my casual shoes. Again...seeing how easily it fit into my plan made it not so bad to stomach $88...

http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=5739&vid=1&pid=177698002