The 30 Piece Fall Wardrobe for Every Occasion

Lately, I've been reading all these minimalist fashion blogs, and they're really inspiring.  While I'm not going to get rid of 90% of my clothing tomorrow, I am planning an experiment with a more limited wardrobe.  I definitely recognize that I have more clothes than any person could possibly need.  So as a precursor to this experiment, I decided to pick 30 Fall wardrobe staples, and mix and match them to my hearts content; consider this my 'background research'.  The results were pleasantly surprising, and I'm rather eager to put away most of my clothes and give it a go.  (I will however dearly miss my shoe selection.)  Once the weather cools off a little more, I'm committed to a 30 piece wardrobe for a month.

  

Follows are the items that made the 30 piece cut, cumulatively appropriate for any lifestyle and occasion.  Swaps can be made to tailor the selection more specifically to your lifestyle; for instance if you have a casual job or work at home, the black skinny pants and tan blazer can be swapped for some jewel tone jeans or skinny sweatpants, and a track jacket or draped cardigan.  On the flip side, if you wear business professional daily, trade the metallic pumps, flannel, and plaid button-up for black heels, a delicate silk blouse, and a second blazer.  Hate plaid?  Sub in a polka-dot button-up and a wine red popover.  You get the idea :)  

TOPS

Chambray   //   Flannel   //   Tee   //   Plaid button down

White blouse   //   Silk shell   //   Long sleeve cardigan   //   Sweater

BOTTOMS

Dark wash Jean   //   Light-medium wash boyfriend jeans   //   Above-the-knee skirt
Black skinny pants   //   Pencil dress

OUTERWEAR

Sweatshirt   //   Vest   (steal)   //   Blazer   //   Utility jacket

ACCESSORIES

Knit scarf   //    Basic stud earrings   //   Statement earrings   //   Watch   //   Nearly neutral bag      Lightweight woven scarf   //   Dressy clutch   //   Statement necklace

SHOES

Brown ankle boots   //   Black knee-high boots   //   Colorful sneakers
Metallic heels   //   Wine flats   //   Leopard flats   //   Red flats

There are a few tricks to stretching a limited wardrobe.  For instance, layering is key.  It creates interest, texture, and exponentially increases the number of possible combinations.  In order to make layering possible, ensure your capsule wardrobe is in a palette of complementary colors, consisting of a considerable amount of neutrals, or 'nearly neutrals' as I like to call them.  Olive, dark red, burnt orange, leopard, and metallics are all colors that play well with other colors, despite not being traditionally categorized as neutrals, hence the name 'nearly neutral'.  Below is the color palette that I utilized in this capsule wardrobe.  

Additionally, in order to maximize a limited number of items, stick to one metallic, either gold or silver.  Since you'll be wearing each item a lot of times, only buy/include items you love, fit properly, and suit your lifestyle.  

Below are a few of the outfits I came up with using the 30 pieces.  And, all those outfits are just the tip of the iceberg!  There were so many more combinations, especially for casual and business casual.  This 'exercise' has definitely served to make me recognize how much can be done with a few well-selected wardrobe staples, and I'm excited for the weather to cool off a little more so I can dive in to my experiment.

Think you could limit yourself to 30 pieces, or is that even a limit for most people?  Did I miss something you couldn't live without?  Has anyone else tried a challenge like this; was it hard?  Sound off below :)

linked up with 

What I Wore with The Pleated Poppy   //  Whatcha Wearing Wednesday with The Mummy Chronicles  //  Random Wednesday with Because Shanna Said So  //  What I Wore Wednesday with Cappuccino & Fashion  //  Stylish Tuesday with Life's a Party  //  Thursday Favorite Things with Katherine's Corner 

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