creating a toddler boy fall/winter capsule wardrobe
I love capsule wardrobes! I find something so fun in finding the perfect pieces for Alden for the season. And a capsule wardrobe is so much easier to keep track of, is less laundry overall, and means that we are contributing to less consumer waste as a family.
Typically, I create two capsule wardrobes for Alden a year: spring/summer and fall/winter. We buy a few pieces outside of this if we need to (funerals and weddings, or a winter coat - things like that), but usually are able to just stick with what we have, which keeps things simple.
Personally, I looooove a mix of soft and rich tones that mix well together and I’m not a fan of bright colors, so generally that’s what Alden wears. What I love is that so many of the pieces I choose for him have a timeless quality and look to them, so we will be able to use them again for children in the future.
He normally dresses in nicer pieces - personally, I don’t like sweatpants and basketball shorts, and I make sure that the pieces I get fit him well. To me, that’s important. But we try to keep some fun dinosaur, train, or car related items in his clothing since he loves them! He plays a lot with friends and at church/the gym, so we keep some fun really casual pieces on hand for him that can get stained or messed up and I wouldn’t cry over it ;)
Here’s a little peek into Alden’s fall/winter capsule this year!
Hats:
deep blue - Zara Baby
rust - Old Navy/Gap
I’m going to snag one knit hat since the other two are warmer and I want something a little lighter for him. We’re getting that one from Childhoods Clothing!
Sweaters/Jackets:
gray sweater - Zara Baby (this one is so special to me, because he had this same style in a much smaller size and slightly different color when he was a baby! so sweet for me to see this and bring back all the baby memories!)
seafoam sweater - Zara Baby (this one is AMAZING quality! the side buttons make it easy to get on over his head and it is the softest knit! bonus - it’s 100% ecologically grown)
sunshine pullover - Target Art Class
gray zip-up - resale kids market (we love to buy second hand if we can find quality pieces in good condition! I’m all about reusing and caring for the environment by not creating unnecessary textile waste. This jacket is perfect for allllll our park dates!)
Shoes:
navy canvas slip-ons - Gap
boots - Gymboree
**pro tip on shoes: always buy them a season ahead! Right now, I’m buying Alden’s shoes for next spring/summer while they are on end-on-season clearance. I bought Alden’s current shoes last year. His boots were originally $40 and I was able to get them for $8. Kids shoes can get really pricey, so by shopping ahead and storing for the next year/season, you can save a lot of money.
Pajamas:
Safari animals - Gap Organic (these are 100% organic cotton)
monsters - Finn and Emma (100% organic cotton and such a cute timeless piece!)
Pants:
gray patterned joggers - Target Art Class
navy and white stripe leggings - Zara Baby (sooooo soft!)
gray joggers - Finn and Emma (100% organic cotton! so soft and cozy, but also look really cute and can be paired with most of his other clothing)
jeans - H&M (these have been the best fitting jeans for him! I’ve gotten all of his jeans from H&M since he was born. Plus, these have the adjustable waistband, which is AMAZING)
I’m going to be picking up one more pair of Forest green reinforced knee pants from Target for him next week - he loved these last winter and they have them again so I’ll be picking up another pair!
Shirts:
oatmeal long-sleeve thermal - Old Navy
navy long-sleeve thermal - Old Navy
forest green long-sleeve tee - Old Navy
oatmeal long-sleeve henley - Old Navy
Burgundy and white striped long-sleeve tee - Old Navy
light gray side-button long-sleeve tee - Zara Baby
cars print long-sleeve tee - Zara Baby
navy side-button long-sleeve tee - Zara Baby
let him be a little wild tee - Finn and Emma (100% organic cotton)
dream big, be brave and stay kind tee - Finn and Emma (100% organic cotton)
We are slowly trying to transition our capsule wardrobes to ethically made, fair trade clothing! Items from shops like Finn and Emma, Childhood’s Clothing and the sustainable brand from Zara are what we are going for. It’s a slow transition for sure, but one that is important to me and my husband that we make. So in future capsules, you’ll likely see more quality pieces like that :) but if you’re looking for clothes that you need today, then Target and Old Navy have been our go-tos :)
If you have favorite “slow clothing” (ethically, sustainably made clothing) shops, please share them!! I’m always looking for new places and more small businesses to support!