Autumn has arrived in the Pacific Northwest! Leaves are turning vibrant shades of orange and gold, the night air is chilly, and pumpkins are everywhere. Sweater weather is most definitely here, and that can only mean one thing—it’s finally time to share Jack’s toddler boy fall capsule wardrobe with you!
It’s been almost a year since I wrote about why creating a capsule wardrobe for your child is life-changing, and I’m still in love!
When a new season approaches, I find myself really looking forward to curating Jack’s next capsule wardrobe! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I enjoy buying clothes for Jack more than I enjoy buying clothes for myself.
I curate his wardrobe to save money, to make my life easier, and because I thoroughly enjoy dressing him in cute outfits!
NOTE: If you’re curious about the process I use to create Jack’s wardrobes, I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to create a capsule wardrobe for kids.
What Do I Spend?
Since Jack is our firstborn, he doesn’t receive any hand-me-downs. That means I’m always starting from scratch with each new size and season.
Because of this, I’ve learned to make each piece I buy count.
Jack’s capsule wardrobes last through 2 seasons: fall and winter, and spring and summer. I tend to spend around $125 for each of these “double seasons”, which I’m happy with right now.
I mainly shop deeply discounted sales, clearance racks, and thrift stores. Occasionally, I’ll splurge on really nice pieces! 🙂
When we move to the south where thrift store clothing is more reasonably priced, I’ll probably be able to lower that number. Currently, I often pay less for new clothing than what I’d pay for used clothing here in Vancouver. I have had my share of thrift store finds, though, especially on higher end items.
Jack’s 2018 Toddler Boy Fall Capsule Wardrobe
Here are some of the specs for Jack’s fall capsule wardrobe this year…
AGE: 21 months
SIZE: 18-24 months (still fits some 12-18 month clothing)
STYLE: classic, boyish
COLOR PALLETE:
- Primary Colors: navy, camel, red
- Neutral Colors: grey, ivory, black
- Accent Colors: olive green, gold, red-orange
TOPS:
- 5 long-sleeved shirts
- 3 flannel button-up shirts
- 1 cotton button-up shirt
- 3 hooded fleece rompers
BOTTOMS:
- 3 pairs leggings
- 1 pair denim jeans
- 1 pair jersey-lined roll-up pants
- 2 pairs chinos
- 1 pair dark denim overalls
CHURCH CLOTHES:
- 3 dress shirts
- 1 vest
- 2 pairs suspenders
- 1 pair dress pants
OUTERWEAR + SWEATERS:
- 4 pullovers
- 1 cardigan
- 1 cold-weather jacket
SHOES:
- brown shoes
- black church shoes
All told, Jack’s fall capsule wardrobe has 36 pieces, including shoes and accessories (not including pajamas or socks).
(Two pieces I would still like to add in—if I can find them for a good price—are a pair of boots, and an outerwear vest.)
Tips for a Cohesive Fall Capsule Wardrobe
I touch on these tips in my step-by-step guide on how to create a capsule wardrobe for kids, but I’ll share a bit more here.
1. Stick to a Color Palette
A cohesive color palette is one of the foundational elements of a capsule wardrobe! Some of my favorite colors for a toddler boy fall capsule wardrobe are burgundy, camel, navy and gold.
Choose a color palette that works well with the season you’re in, and stick to it as much as possible. Otherwise, it will be far more difficult to mix and match outfits.
Resist the urge to buy pieces that don’t fit in—even if they’re “super cute”, or “an amazing deal”. You know what I’m talking about. 😉
As always, the goal is versatility. Make each piece count.
2. Order From 1-2 Stores
Now, if you’re trying to save extra money by only garage sale and thrift store shopping, this tip might not work for you. But placing orders with 1-2 stores helps me to keep the overall clothing styles and colors cohesive.
For instance, when Old Navy is running a crazy sale (40% off, anyone?), I’ll place a big order. Then, I’ll mix and match pieces together, seeing which styles and colors work best together.
In my most recent Old Navy order, I was able to get Jack leggings for $3.00 each, and long-sleeved shirts for $3.60 each. I also found him the most adorable green sweater for $6.00!
And I was able to make sure these pieces all worked together before deciding to keep them. I like to see how many bottoms and sweaters a top will match up with. If it works with only one or two, I’ll usually take it back and opt for something more versatile.
3. Enough is Enough
I find it tempting to continue adding to Jack’s capsule, even when I know he has enough for the upcoming season. So far, I’ve over-bought by a few pieces here and there with each of his capsule wardrobes.
But having the self-discipline to say “enough is enough” is something I’m working on! And I know our budget appreciates that. I’d rather have to buy an extra shirt later on, than to realize I purchased several shirts he barely even wore (it’s happened)!
Plus, this strategy helps me to focus on quality over quantity, something not to be undervalued with clothing, in my opinion.
Your favorites will always win anyway, so why not only buy those and leave the rest for someone else?
4. Try Trello
Trello is a free online software that is an awesome—and very customizable—tool with many uses. I’ve started using for putting together capsule wardrobes because it keeps everything organized and easy to review at a glance.
In my Trello board, I make 4 lists…
- Details (size, color palette, etc.)
- Master List
- Still Need
- Already Own
Within “lists”, you create “cards”, which can be easily moved around in between lists. In each card, you’re able to add a description, photos, a checklist, and color-coded labels, and more.
I would simply move “cards” from the “Master List” to either the “Still Need” or “Already Own” to help me see what I still needed to buy.
Here’s a screenshot I took while I was working on Jack’s fall capsule wardrobe. It gives you a better idea of how I set things up.
Getting Started with Your Toddler’s Fall Capsule Wardrobe
If you’re nervous about putting together your first capsule wardrobe—don’t be! It’s easier than you might think, and pretty hard to mess up. 😉 I’d recommend just going for it!
If you have any questions about getting started, just leave me a comment down below, or shoot me a message on Instagram. I’m more than happy to chat!
Happy FALL!
