Blue January: A Cozy Calm to Begin the Year Anew

caring for yourself:

Happy New Year! Do you remember when I wrote to you about creating a festive wardrobe that would carry you through all of December’s holidays; both Christmas and New Year? If not, I’ll post the link at the end of this blog. I like to carry this practice into my new year as well, creating a color palette and wardrobe for January, and then again in February and March. Often by the time April rolls around, it’s spring again and the cute spring and summer clothes come out of hiding. But for the colder dreary months of the new year, I like to create a fun wardrobe for those first few months. And so today, I want to share with you my Blue January Capsule Wardrobe! Curious? Let’s take a peak inside…

Why?

I find my reason for participating in such a practice very invigorating. My wardrobe generally consists of neutrals; grays, blacks, creams and camels, blues, and whites. But there are a few times during the year when color seems more than appropriate. January happens to be one of those times.

After the color drenched holidays, I long for a calm but cozy color palette. That’s why I deem January, a Blue January. I just feel as if January is blue. Not in a sad kind of way, but in a soft, cozy, snuggly sort of way. But unlike the brighter festive colors of December, blue has a way of calming the nervous system. It brings a touch of color different from the holidays, but still cozy and comforting, as well.

When February rolls around, I will swap out all of my blues for pinks and reds in honor of Valentine’s Day. It’s just a fun way to pay homage to the season without having to buy holiday-specific items.

Hidden benefit…

One of the hidden benefits of a January capsule wardrobe is the money saving aspect. One thing I diligently practice is the storing of ‘out-of-season’ clothes. That doesn’t simply mean I’m storing my shorts and t-shirts away for winter, and my sweaters and wool trousers away for spring and summer. In fact, I rather like to store my ‘out-of-season’ clothes away by what the coming month has to offer.

For instance, December brings out all of the tartan plaids, velvets, and anything that sparkles. January brings out the blues, creams, and camel colors. February brings out the pinks and reds. Whatever the coming month has to celebrate, I try to pull items from my closet the represent that occasion.

However, the biggest hidden benefit is that because I don’t see all of my clothes all year through, each month is like a treasure hunt. I find items I had forgotten and items I can swap in and out according to any upcoming festivities. In fact, as I tucked all of my Christmas dresses, sweaters, and tartan skirts away this morning, I found a couple of pink blouses I put away when fall rolled through last year. It had never occurred to me to reincorporate them into my wardrobe in the middle of February.

Storing items away and reinventing your wardrobe each month (or so) gives new life to your clothing, and I dare say, will save you money over all throughout the year. Everything old is new again.

Blue January

For my blue January capsule wardrobe, I first chose the core pieces I knew I would wear throughout the season. This includes all of my staple piece like the satin slip skirts, jeans, and black bottom pieces. They stay in my closet throughout the year because I wear them every single month. They go with everything, and can be dressed up or down as needed.

Bottom staples:

For. my bottom core pieces I have selected a pair of cream slacks, a pair of cropped cream wide leg jeans, and a cream satin slip skirt. I contrast these with a black midi leather skirt, black trousers, and a black satin slip skirt.

Then come the blues for a Blue January capsule. The blue bottoms consist of a pair of straight leg Levi’s jeans, an A-line midi denim skirt (that looks GREAT with boots by the way), and a pair of lighter blue cropped wide leg jeans (they also look amazing with boots). To pair in a couple of slack, I added in a pair of blue cigarette pants and a pair of blue and white print cigarette pants.

Top staples:

I also like to factor in basics and core pieces for the tops as well. These can be layering pieces like blouses, t-shirts, collared shirts, or sweaters.

For the top staple pieces, again I went with a few tried and true singles that carry me throughout almost every month. They are a lambs wool embroidered cardigan and a black sweater vest with black bows, a camel colored cardigan, and a roll neck sweater. The white staples include a white crew neck t-shirt, a white lace blouse, a cream collared blouse, and a white sleeveless collared blouse. I add to that a white cropped linen lady jacket, and a white cardigan sweater. (There is also another white lace blouse, but it’s omitted from the photos while it’s at the dry cleaners.)

These piece can be layered for warmth, and go with each of the bottom pieces above.

dresses for the season:

I like to include a couple of dresses for each season, as well. You never know when you may need something a little…more. For Blue January, I pulled out of my spring wardrobe bin a blue animal print dress (which looks amazing with the cropped lady jacket), and a blue and white shirt dress. These look amazing with camel or cream and are ultra comfortable with a pair of boots and a cute jacket or cardigan.

Blue January:

For the pieces that inspire “Blue January” I have quite a few (and a couple more on my wishlist). They are pieces I’ve had in my wardrobe for the last few years, but decided to collect them to be worn throughout the month of January as part of a color palette for the season. (I’ll try to link the items I can below. Many are several years old and are no longer available.)

They include: A light wash denim jacket, a blue roll-neck sweater, a blue crew neck sweater, a blue/gray ruffled cardigan sweater. It also includes a striped J Crew button down shirt, a blue striped short sleeve shirt, a long blue cardigan, and a navy blue cardigan.

Accessories to finish off the look:

I like to add in a few well-chosen accessories that coordinate well with the look I’m trying to achieve for the month. This includes shoes, boots, purses, belts, and scarves. Here’s what I’ve chosen for January: There is a gray handbag, a camel handbag, a cream shoulder bag, a black shoulder bag, and a brown top-handle bucket bag.

These pair with the brown boots, the black ankle boots, the camel ankle boots, the taupe suede wedge boots, and the cream suede boots.

For scarves and belts I’ve selected a brown, black, and camel colored belts. And for flats (when weather permits) I’ve chosen gold Mary Jane flats, black quilted flats, animal print flats, camel flats, cream suede loafers, and navy Vivaia flats.

The simplicity is worth the effort…

While it may take me a few minutes to store away one set of clothes and unpack another, the simplicity this practice affords me is beyond words. Now, when I look at my closet, I see all of the top pieces and bottom pieces, all that coordinate with each other and can be mixed and matched well. The shoes go with the purses and handbags, the bottoms and tops can be dressed up or down as the occasion dictates, and I know that I have everything I need for the (near) perfect Blue January capsule wardrobe.

If one of your resolutions this year was to save money, or if you’re planning to practice a no-spend January, I highly encourage you to try this little wardrobe practice. I believe you’ll see your clothes in a new light, find inspiration in what you already own, and maybe come up with a really great wardrobe in the process!

A blue January capsule wardrobe…give it a try and let me know how you like it.