Color Palette Challenge: Self Reflection While Building A Capsule Wardrobe

Reflecting upon my journey and reconnecting with my style with a color palette.

Sustainable Style For Any Journey

This is the fourth blog in my 4-part series, where I test out my All-Season Quarter Zip Sweater on the road and share how it supported me throughout my travels as a digital nomad.

From keeping me warm in unpredictable climates to supporting a simplified packing process, follow along to see how sustainable fashion can support any traveler.

This blog is about taking my color palette challenge. As a digital nomad and therapist, I have previously written about how minimalism can help us to align with our values.

Going into my Color Palette Challenge, I wanted to consider the impact of my travel on how I present my style and how this impacts my sense of self.

• My Wedding Weekend Wardrobe
• Perfect Sweater For A Road Trip
• Digital Nomads' Guide To Moving
• Color Palette Challenge

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A Color Palette Challenge can be about more than just aesthetics, it invites us to consider how the colors we wear impact our mood and bring back memories.

It can also offer an opportunity to change our perspective, to look at something familiar and see it in a new light.

Read on to find out how you can use a color palette to reflect upon your journey, reconnect with your style, and align your wardrobe with yourself.

Using A Color Palette Challenge To Reflect

To start my color palette challenge, I decided to look outside of my closet.

I scrolled through photos from my travels since beginning life as a digital nomad, which offered me an opportunity to reflect on the memories these moments held.

It also allowed me to see how my style, and so much about myself, has changed over time.

I chose shots from the Pacific Northwest, midcoast Maine, and my recent trip to Alberta, Canada, where my partner and I got married and tried them all in Adobe’s color theme generator.

From there, I was able to choose the color scheme that best reflects who I am today.

My photo from a sunset on the Oregon Coast generated my perfect palette, which was filled with neutral colors that complement the natural beauty of my surroundings.

Creating My Capsule Wardrobe

Once my color palette was established, I moved to my closet and began to pull items that matched my color scheme and fit with the quickly changing fall weather.

This doubled as a perfect time to take stock of my capsule wardrobe and to identify many items that I have been neglecting and items I no longer needed.

I, of course, pulled my Oliver Charles Quarter Zip along with my All-Season Sweater. Both fit perfectly into my palette and my preferred neutral base colors.

I then considered how I could best pair the pieces in my closet together to make several unique combinations in the settings I find myself in most frequently.

Outfit 1: Therapist Dress Code

As a virtual worker, choosing an outfit that is comfortable enough to work from home in while maintaining professionalism for my work as a therapist was important.

I chose my Oliver Charles Every Day Sweater for a professional look and paired it with a simple pair of joggers for maximum comfort on a long day with clients.

Since I work virtually, I can take advantage of only a part of my outfit being on screen, but I could easily swap the joggers for a pair of dress pants to be in person, ready.

Outfit 2: Coffee Shop Modern Workwear

When I have trouble focusing on work at home, I will often pack up to work at a coffee shop for the afternoon.

I love that I can change locations and keep my everyday sweater on, just swapping my comfy pants for something a bit more elevated, like these suede pants.

Switching to a smart-casual look helps me to stay focused and power through my notes while enjoying a hot Americano.

Outfit 3: Date Night

I once again pulled on my everyday sweater for a nice dinner out. The neutral tone allows this sweater to pair with almost anything, but for a date night, I chose white pants and a simple belt to elevate my outfit.

This felt like the perfect outfit for a nice dinner or date night. The sweater helped me to feel dressed up while staying warm.

Outfit 4: Mountain Town

With my base being in Colorado, trips to mountain towns are frequent.

My Oliver Charles Quarter Zip is the perfect option for any mountain town stop after a morning hike or for an afternoon of shopping and a bite to eat.

It is easy to pull over to add extra warmth if the wind picks up and offers the ultimate laid back but stylish option, when paired with jeans.

Outfit 5: To Travel

As a digital nomad, long travel days are not uncommon. When I know I will have a long journey, I love to wear my Quarter Zip with a comfy pair of pants.

I can stay comfortable throughout the day while being stylish enough to be ready for any unexpected adventures along the way. On every road trip, my Quarter Zip is a part of my standard uniform.

Reflecting On My Wardrobe With A Color Palette

Taking the color palette challenge gave me the perfect opportunity to reflect on my capsule wardrobe and how it fits into my current minimalist lifestyle.

I appreciated the time to consider how my wardrobe continued to fit into my lifestyle and to identify what was no longer serving me. It also gave me some ideas for new pieces that might complement what I have.

When starting the challenge, I worried that my minimalist lifestyle would limit my ability to put together enough full outfits to complete the challenge.

I was excited to find out that I not only had some perfect pairings, but that my Oliver Charles sweaters fit with almost every piece in my wardrobe.

For me, the color palette challenge was not just about fashion. It offered a fun and creative way to connect with myself.

By specifically choosing colors that reflect my journey and my style, I was able to develop a capsule wardrobe that aligns more deeply with my lifestyle and who I am.

In the end, this challenge is really an exercise in mindfulness. Taking the time to slow down and consider your wardrobe and what your style means to you is a powerful way to connect with yourself.

Whether you are looking to build a capsule wardrobe, seeking outfit inspiration, or hoping to find something deeper, taking a color palette challenge can help!

If you believe that every good wardrobe starts with owning less and owning better, consider buying yourself an OLIVER CHARLES sweater.