Written by Marilie Vermeulen

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4 Apr, 2022

Capsule Wardrobe

A mindset switch that makes getting dressed and feeling confident a daily occurrence because the items of clothing you own have a purpose—and countless ways you can style them.

What is a Capsule Wardrobe?

A capsule wardrobe is a limited selection of interchangeable clothing pieces that compliment each other. These are often classic pieces that do not go out of style and are primarily composed of neutral colors. A capsule wardrobe allows you to create a variety of different outfits with a small selection of clothes.

History

In the 1970s, Susie Faux opened a boutique “Wardrobe” in London, where she used to sell minimalist-looking clothing that was versatile, high quality and that could be easily mixed and matched. Her goal was to help women gain confidence in how they dressed and looked. 

The concept of a capsule wardrobe then spread to the USA in 1985, when designer Donna Karan created her Seven Easy Pieces line. Her models were all dressed in bodysuits and showcased seven clothing pieces by creating various outfits with them. The fashion show was a success, and the idea of having an interchangeable minimalist wardrobe became popular. It is now trending again, probably because having a capsule wardrobe makes our lives so much easier and better! 

Why should you consider it?

I can think of a million reasons but let’s start with the most obvious:

  • Less Decision Fatigue: stop staring at a cluttered closet for hours and not feeling like anything in there. 
  • Stress Free: This saves you loads of time, not only deciding on what to wear but also shopping. Easy to choose and pack. Interchangeable items make getting dressed fun & creative.
  • Saves Money: In the long run this should save you loads. You purchase more expensive garments that will last you for many years to come but you’ll be spending nothing on fast fashion items that only last a season.

You should take serious note 

Fashion is one of the biggest polluters in the world. We need to become conscious consumers who choose to shop smarter, considering the environment and wellness of industry workers at all times. Less is more. 

The practical steps

I had a Style Script done to be sure what colors suited me best, what my body shape and silhouette is and I got rid of everything that did not compliment me. You can take the clothes that you don’t wear anymore to a charity of your choice, such as The Red Shelf or you can sell it on Facebook. There is a group on Facebook called moegvirmyklere.com which you can join to get a buck or three for your pre-loved items. 

Planning is essential, especially when it comes to getting dressed. 

  • Know your lifestyle. Are you a stay at home mom or do you work in a corporate job? Pick items that compliment your lifestyle. There is no need to wear 9inch stilettos if you milk cows all day long.
  • Have your Style Script in hand or choose a color palette that will compliment one another so it all becomes interchangeable. Accessories can be used as focal points rather than patterned clothing. 

Choose the fibers of your clothes wisely. For instance, I prefer natural fibers like linen and organic cotton because they are more sustainable and breathable.

Building blocks

Some good basic clothing pieces you may consider having in your capsule wardrobe are neutral-colored t-shirts, a pair of black pants, one or two pairs of jeans, a cardigan for layering, and a black dress that can be easily dressed up or dressed down. 

If you fancy it, you could add one or two patterned clothing items. But make sure these patterns are timeless and that they won’t become out of style in a few months. Stripes are a great example of this! 

Once you have all the clothes you need, do not forget your coats, shoes, and accessories! There you go! Your capsule wardrobe should be complete now! 

If you live in a four-season climate, I recommend you keep in your wardrobe only the clothes that are in season, and store away the others in a box out-of-sight. Doing this, you should have 4 different capsule wardrobes a year, with some clothing items that you will keep and use all year-round. You’ll find that as time goes on, you probably will need different pieces for different seasons of life, both literally and figuratively. The end goal is to have a capsule you can swap out each season or two smaller capsules that you need in your rotation (like one for the office and one for everyday life).

The swap to a capsule wardrobe doesn’t happen overnight. It’s going to require more thought, less impulse purchases, and just a little bit more strategy. But over time, your closet will turn into something that represents you, no matter what you pull out of it.

Here are a few examples: 

Notes:

Look up the Mari Kondo Method when decluttering and organizing your wardrobe.                                                                                                                        

Style Script is a 30-40 page document customized to you. The perfect and complimenting color chart for your skin, styles that suit your body-shop, silhouette, your style identity, hairstyle, color and cut that suits you and so much more! 

A Style Script takes 3-4weeks to compile and costs N$850pp. You can contact me on 0812393053 to start your journey. 

References:

https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/what-is-a-capsule-wardrobe

https://theeverygirl.com/how-to-create-a-capsule-wardrobe/

 

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