Is it just me or does anyone else find a true capsule wardrobe incredibly limiting?
Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a nice idea, romantic even. However while owning less than 40 items seems to work for a lot of minimalists on YouTube, the reality is, that it’s not the most practical wardrobe management concept for everyday life.
Years ago, after drowning under a the weight of my wardrobe that was full of sample sale items and trend led pieces that I had acquired through my job in buying, I made the conscious decision to stop filling my life with so many disposable items.
Inspired by Harper and Harley, I stripped back my wardrobe and too a long hard look at my basics and where I needed to invest to build a more robust and versatile wardrobe.
I opted for the capsule wardrobe model but as a fashion person, quickly grew bored over the lack of personality in my wardrobe. I was craving more flexibility to introduce some more exciting pieces which would be congruent with my new less is more, and long term view strategy I was adopting.
After much trial and error over the years I have found what works in my closet and has also worked in my clients and I am here to share it with you.
The truth is you need three capsule wardrobes. Here’s why:
Seasonless Wardrobe Staples
These are the true capsule wardrobe items. The ride or die, bread and butter pieces in your wardrobe. Think the white tee, the crisp white shirt, the black pant and killer denim. These are basic core pieces in your wardrobe that are the foundations of every outfit you create year round.
I have titled this seasonless, as the pieces in this capsule can be adapted and layered for year round wear.
This is the area I would invest the most money into, as you really wan these pieces to stand the test of time and be worn year in, year out.
The Winter Capsule
Next we layer in seasonal capsules. These pieces are also classic items, but they pertain to a particular season and are not appropriate for wearing all year. You might even put your seasonal capsules in storage when they are off season, so that they remain fresh and new to you year after year.
In my winter capsule I have things like a great camel coat, the perfect black ankle boot and cashmere knitwear.
Again, these are silhouettes which are timeless and fit you perfectly. You want to be able to unpack this capsule year after year and the pieces still be in perfect condition
Its important to do your research and be patient in hunting down the perfect pieces which suit your lifestyle, budget, body shape and personal style. I am using arbitrary language on purpose, as recommending a specific style of ankle boot would be irrelevant. The ankle boot could be a heeled boot, sock boot, chelsea boot, biker boot, round toe, pointed toe, almond toe…see what I mean?
The beauty of these capsules is that it’s not the cookie cutter method we have seen Pinterest flooded with. Its taking back control and really reviewing what the perfect pieces for you are, and making sure thats congruent with your personal style and make you feel your best.
The Summer Capsule
You guessed it, these are the specific summer pieces that you layer into your wardrobe to inject personality into your wardrobe foundations.
Think bleached denim, white cotton dresses, linen, espadrilles and slides.
What About Trends?
What about trend pieces? While I am all for trends, I think it’s important to approach them with intention. Trends are not the devil some social media accounts would have you believe. In fact, trends are great to experiment with your style and elevate your outfits even further The trick here is to approach with a clear mind and a strong idea of your personal style and what you feel you need this season.
My recommendation for trends is to sit on them for a while before purchasing. Even though it’s technically a trend, you need to be sure that its aligned with your personal style and that you can realistically see yourself wearing it all season long, and for many seasons to come. Just because its a trend, does not automatically mean it’s a disposable one time wear.
An example I have for this is coords- you know, matching skirts and crop tops that are all over instagram. I love this look and think its really fun, but I know that this look doesn’t suit me. While I might purchase it and wear it to a lunch with friends, I will not feel like myself and therefore I will not reach for it again. Everything you wear needs to make you fee great and make you feel like YOU. Don’t forget that.
Instead, tailoring is very much part of my personal style, and tailored pants and shorts are gaining momentum. I might choose to spend my money on a few different pieces from this category to give my wardrobe variety. I am still on trend, and still expressing my personal style, but doing it in an authentic way that makes me feel amazing.
So there you have it. My personal approach to wardrobe building that I utilise both on myself and my clients.
If you are interested in working with a professional to help build your wardrobe capsules I offer a virtual package called Wardrobe Curation specifically for this purpose. We will go into detail reviewing your wardrobe staples and identify the areas where you might need to fill in gaps to give you the most versatile wardrobe ever! Book a no obligation free Discovery Call to find out more
Stay tuned for my next post, where I will go into the specific ratios each capsule should take up in your wardrobe.
If you prefer to watch videos, I also have an IGTV where I chat through this concept further. Click here to access.
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