Capsule Concept (And How to Curate a Closet!)
You’re going to look classy . . . but it’s going to cost you. Not more than wasting money on clothes you don’t wear, though!
So what is a Capsule Wardrobe, anyway? Capsule wardrobes are not a fashion craze. The idea has been around forever—and it’s here to stay. Capsule wardrobes make getting dressed a cinch. And really, isn’t that what we all want? A wardrobe styled with mix and match in mind, making throwing together an outfit a breeze. Whether it’s fancy or poolside, keeping capsules in mind while shopping will make your life simpler and stylish.
Forgot those images of all earth tones, solids, and grays . . . capsules are meant to be easy but also capture what’s unique about you. So throw in some patterns and some stripes; you don’t have to sacrifice bold colors and patterns to become a capsule convert. Just start one piece at a time and build as you go. Seasonal capsule wardrobes, on average, have 22-35 pieces, and a yearly capsule wardrobe has 50-65 pieces. You like to shop, so you’ll probably have more! Overall, though, a capsule wardrobe is a small and clutter-free wardrobe. It is a small collection of clothes you LOVE, that look and feel great on and that can mix and match to make many outfit combinations. Most capsule wardrobes are seasonal, meaning you rotate some or all of the items each season. You can also have a year round capsule wardrobe, where you have a set number of items in your closet that you wear throughout the year.
There are many benefits of a capsule wardrobe, including:
Your closet is neat and organized and easy to maintain.
It’s easier to decide what to wear because you have less items to choose from.
There is virtually no stress or decision fatigue about what you’ll wear.
You have confidence knowing everything in your wardrobe is comfortable and looks great on you.
You spend less time and money buying new clothes because you commit to owning fewer pieces
Invest In Your Core Closet Essentials
What are “core closet essentials”? They are clothes that are solid, neutral colors, in basic styles that never go out of style are “basic essentials”. They make up the core of our closet and are the foundation upon which we build a wardrobe. If you have your core closet essentials, then you can create your capsule wardrobe each season! Examples include, black pants, a white tee, a black blazer, blue skinny jeans, white blouse, black skirt, etc.
Start With All Neutral Colors
If you are just starting your first capsule wardrobe, include clothes with just neutral, solid colors (no patterns), like black (or navy), gray, white, ivory, tan, brown or camel. Neutral colors coordinate well with each other almost 100% of the time, so regardless of what top or bottom you pair up together, they will coordinate. When it’s time to create your next capsule, you can add a couple of clothes in an accent color in solids or patterns or stay with just neutrals.
So what do I need to do to get started on MY capsule?
The Cruel and Ruthless Closet Cleanout is the Step One. Assess from there! After that, a list will be compiled in this section, and then the fun begins — shopping! For ideas and examples of how a capsule wardrobe works (and what you’ll want to buy), click the below buttons to see specific guides that create dozens of outfits with just a few choice pieces. But because the answer depends so much on lifestyle and the image you’re looking to project (with everyone’s unique body shape thrown in for good measure!) there’s just no set primer for the 43 year old hourglass/rectangle fashionista who wants to look like Kate Middleton meets Audrey Hepburn and sometimes also Marilyn Monroe. But these are the looks I admire, because they’re clean, and classic, and I’m beginning to suspect, because these women all have elements of my own body shape or style: Kate Middleton’s fashion is absolutely impeccable, Audrey Hepburn is petite and timeless, and Marilyn Monroe was a size 8/10, just like me.