How To Create Your Capsule Wardrobe

If you often find that you’ve got a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear as nothing seems to go with anything else, it sounds like you seriously need to rethink your wardrobe to make it work for your lifestyle! Where to start? Building a good capsule wardrobe might be the answer!

That of the Capsule Wardrobe is a genius concept if you ask me. It is what is guaranteed to save you from your style dilemmas in times of crises. It is what’s left when you downsize your closet to the bare essentials. It is the actual backbone of your wardrobe and as such should work with everything. For that very reason it must be based on timeless, best-quality items (think cotton, cashmere, silk) with the most flattering cuts. Think of it as a style investment as these pieces will transcend fashion trends, year in year out. Finally your Capsule Wardrobe will be built around key pieces in neutral colours that suit your natural colouring. Of course, I’d advise you stay away from black if it is not in your colour palette (a lot of people make the mistake to wear black nearer the face when all it does is accentuate shadows on their face or make them look washed out).

According to Susie Faux, who came up with the concept in the 1970s, the ideal capsule wardrobe consists of two pairs of tailored trousers, a dress or a skirt for more formal occasions, a well-fitting jacket, a coat, and a casual jacket or smart cardie. As for the shoes, we ladies ought to have one pair of flats and one with a little heel (such as kitten-heels), and two kinds of bags - a small formal one and a larger bag for every day use.

To complete the above I would suggest you consider the following trend-defying items: a cashmere shawl, a trench coat, 2 pairs of bootcut jeans – one to pair with flats, the other that looks good in heels -, a turtleneck jumper, a classic fitted shirt, some layering t-shirts/vests, a pair of leather boots as well as a pair of high heels…

As far as your basic dress is concerned, I’d recommend the Little Dark Dress (remember what I said in a previous post about black not being everybody’s best friend?), which you can dress up or down depending on the occasion.

Is there such a thing as a perfect capsule wardrobe? You may actually find you need different capsule wardrobes for different seasons or occasions: summer/winter, business travel, holiday… It will all depend on your lifestyle and personality.

The bottom line is: invest in classic pieces that are both essential and versatile, and add on to your basic wardrobe with pieces that are unique to you.