I know what you're thinking....spring has been in full force for well over a month now and I haven't shared my spring wardrobe yet? I'm sure you've all been on the edge of your seats waiting for me to unveil my closet all this time, right? ;)

I'm nothing if not dedicated, but I decided to share my capsule a bit late this season for several reasons.

The first is this: midwest springs are equivalent to winter for the most part, so i wanted to wait until spring at least tried to make an appearance before I broke out the blush tones and shorts.

Secondly, I had a few big goals for this capsule and I wanted to feel like I had actually accomplished them before sharing.

And third, because this is going to be my last capsule for a while.

I've been using capsule wardrobes every season for almost two years (this fall will be two complete years). You can look back at my first one — and please proceed with caution — and even my second and third ones, and I'm amazed at how things have changed (but don't even talk about those photos, please.)

By the first year mark, I felt like I had gotten a better handle on what clothes I actually enjoy wearing (most of that capsule is part of my current wardrobe.)

And my capsules since then have been great — simple, small, with an increasing number of ethically made items.

And this for this spring, as I was putting together my spring capsule, it felt almost too easy. Not that I had "arrived" or mastered the art of capsuling, because I definitely haven't. My capsules are far from the perfect curated lists of "must haves" you see circulating Pinterest. But I look at my closet this spring and I feel content and I feel like myself. Both of which are HUGE goals of creating capsules in the first place.

I talked about a few goals I had for my capsule this season earlier on in the year and I'll reiterate them now, so you have a better idea of what I was trying to accomplish with this capsule:

I wanted to push my boundaries with a few pieces (namely my jumpsuit and the addition of actual patterns...a shock to basic-loving-Olivia's system, I assure you. ;)
I wanted an incredibly cohesive color palette
I wanted my wardrobe to feel complete, with all the "gaps" filled as much as possible.

And although I'm not entirely sure how achievable the last goal really is, I love how well this capsule flows together. I love how each piece pairs easily with the rest (even though many of them were gifted by brands or part of campaigns I've worked on over this year — they're denoted with an asterisk). I love how each of them fit practically into my lifestyle. No more "just in case" pieces or items I'll never wear while being a mom/freelancer/blogger.

After I put this capsule together, I realized that I had learned many of the lessons that I had set out to learn two years ago when I started downsizing my closet. Needless consumption, a closet full of clothes I never wear/don't love, and constant caving to the pressure to follow current trends were all things I struggled with and now, it feels natural to do the opposite.

Each piece I own, whether gifted or purchased, is acquired with intention (especially, now, in regards to the ethics behind the piece). I know what I will wear and what I won't — trends don't seem as "trendy" now.

However, I've struggled with my "role" as an influencer in the ethical fashion world clashing with the rigid structure of a capsule wardrobe, and so I've decided to move away from that term. In no way will I be promoting unnecessary consumption, even of ethically made items, but I don't want to have to turn away an ethical brand from a collaboration because I'm worried my capsule will be too big. The balance between being a publication promoting goods (which SL&Co. technically is) and a real person trying not to consume too much is tricky, and I don't want to battle with unnecessary guilt over creating capsules that might be too big or too varied. My wardrobe is still smaller and far more intentional than it's ever been, and I don't plan on changing that.

And so, instead of creating a capsule wardrobe each season, I'm going to transition into using a "curated wardrobe" or simply put, a minimal wardrobe. I'm planning to keep the same principles in place that I've learned with my capsules, but I'm not going to keep a strict number anymore (all of my capsules have been less than 30 pieces).

I'm going to add, when I need to, with intention, and ensure each piece in my closet is one that will last a long time. I'm gravitating towards an all-season wardrobe, with the specifically seasonal pieces (like heavy sweaters or coats) being stored in a tote in my closet. I also have a hanging shoe divider for things like pajamas, and lounge wear and make sure I don't go overboard in that area as well.

One thing I've learned on this "capsuling" journey is that each person's ideal wardrobe is vastly different from one to the next. Some people put numbers on their closets, other's use capsules as a way to define their style, other's use it as a way to curb the desire to constantly buy clothes. But whatever your goal is in capsule-making, it doesn't have to be stagnant. Closets, much like the rest of life, evolve right along with you.

So, without further ado, let me introduce my last official capsule (for the time being anyway) and the beginning of my curated closet: