And so it begins. I'm going in the order I wrote in my journal - this is in no way a list of importance.

I would like to create a 'capsule wardrobe'.

This is a term and an idea I first discovered while reading 'Lessons From Madame Chic' by Jennifer Scott (she also has a blog www.thedailyconnoisseur.com). It was a book that was recommended when I bought 'Bringing Up Bebe' and I figured "why not?" and added it to my cart.

At first the idea of having an extremely limited wardrobe was...well it seemed impossible. My closet isn't overflowing and I think I have always been pretty good at getting rid of things that looked worn, didn't suit or that didn't flatter so I didn't really see the benefit. Until I sat in the closet for 30 minutes trying to put together an outfit for a party which I thought looked good until I saw the pictures from the party and...ugh. How much nicer it would have been to just have something I KNEW looked good on me and that I could have slipped on quickly and easily.

This didn't lead me to exactly gut my wardrobe but I did clear out items that I was on the fence about and I'm paring down more weekly. I know I won't get myself down to 10 items but I can probably do 15-20 things that really flatter me. I don't want anything in my closet that doesn't make me feel...good.

I'm a stay at home mom so my days are pretty much playdates, errands and hanging out at home. I'm not going to be wearing silk shirts and pant suits - those days are over for me - but I'm also not going to dress like a schlub. I want casual clothes, ones that fit, that flatter and that make me feel pretty when I put them on. I want to look like I made an effort even if that effort was effortless. There is a lot to be said for looking good - I think it's a sign of respect for yourself and those around you. So that's a goal for this upcoming year - get this so ingrained into me that the idea of throwing on an old t-shirt and sweat pants never even occurs to me. In fact I won't even own an old t-shirt and sweatpants.

Confession time - there a couple of clothing companies that I love, Boden and Indigenous Designs  (Indigenous in particular is wonderful because they're an organic, fair-trade company). While I don't always get the perfect fit, their clothes are pretty and tend to look good on me. They're also not so fancy that I worry about wearing them every day. So, um, knowing that a part of my goals for next year includes The Compact and only buying necessities (which does NOT include new clothes from my favorite companies) I bought clothes from both companies before the end of the year. I used a severely critical eye as to whether or not they will fulfill my desire to only wear flattering clothes and I am pretty sure I succeeded. At least I hope I did. I could have made do with what I had in my closet but...things I had thought looked good on me suddenly just felt meh. I should have been buying quality instead of quantity all these years.

This is, admittedly, a rather simple goal but it's one that will reduce stress and unhappiness in my life and so it's something that I definitely need to work on.