One of my readers recently e-mailed me asking for advice on making her wardrobe more wearable. She tends to gravitate towards trendy pieces so she is in need of more basic pieces that can transcend seasons. I’m advising her to create a ‘capsule wardrobe’ which, according to Wiki, is ‘
a set of clothing, normally around 24 items, which can be mixed and matched to create a wide variety of outfits. The idea is aimed at people who want to make the most of a small clothing budget, or people who find that they spend a lot of money on clothes that they never wear.’ As I’ve mentioned before, I try to purchase pieces that can go from season to season and can be worn with at least three things that are already in my closet. So here are 15 items that make up my capsule wardrobe—these are my essentials, the things that are on heavy rotation in my wardrobe. I mix them, I match them, I dress them up, I dress them down. In other words, I consider these things to be the foundation of my wardrobe.
1.
Denim and chambray. Although I love denim jeans, it took an insanely long time to find a flattering pair that actually fit my waist, hips, thighs, and rear. When I did, I wore them at least once a week; sometimes I dressed them up with a blouse and sometimes I dressed them down with a tee shirt. A dark wash is best because it’s appropriate for a several occassions, from Date Night to Casual Friday to Girls Night Out.
2.
White button-front dress shirt. Whether you call them button-ups, button-downs, button-fronts, or dress shirts (I’ve called them all of the above), they’re a necessity in my wardrobe. I’ve paired them with everything from skirts to jeans to shorts. They’re classic, easy to accessorize, and colored button-front dress shirts can even be
layered under dresses and
tees.
3.
Cardigan. For the longest, I steered clear of cardigans because I didn’t think they meshed with my personal style. I was so wrong. Cardigans are ideal for layering and can be embellished with brooches and pins. I have cardigans made of thin, lightweight material for warmer months and heavier cardigans for cooler weather.
4.
Striped tee. These are perfect for wearing alone or
layering under outerwear. You can give stripes a dressy vibe by pairing them with a skirt or go casual and couple it with shorts. They’re also perfect for mixing with other prints.
5.
Blazer. Despite my belief that blazers are an essential addition to any wardrobe, I don't have near as many as I wish I did. Blazers are the epitome of versatility and can instantly add sophistication to your look.
6.
Pussybow blouse. One of my blogger friends (Ty over at
Shop Now Save Later—love her
and her blog!) recently commented that pussybow blouses and dresses that tie at the neck are part of my signature style. I can’t disagree—they exude femininity and elegance that I can’t get enough of. Plus, I love the way they look under cardigans and sweaters.
7.
Trench. Whether it’s a coat or a dress, a trench is a classic piece that is practical and fashionable. My wardrobe consists of a few trench coats, a few trench dresses, and a recently-purchased sleeveless trench, and I manage to wear them year-round by layering them over tees and turtlenecks.
8.
Faux leather. While faux leather isn’t really weather-appropriate for summer in Texas, it’s an essential part of my wardrobe. I don’t have a ton of it, but will admit that I like the edge that it can give an outfit.
9. Printed dress. I’m the ultimate girly-girl, so my wardrobe wouldn’t be complete without printed dresses. They make getting dressed in the summer effortless, can go from day to night, and can be paired with patterned shoes if you want to try your hand at print-mixing.
10.
Accessories. I often refer to my accessories
the supporting cast. Adding the right accessories is an inexpensive way to take an outfit to the next level and create an entirely different look. I have a ton of rings and bracelets and necklaces and earrings and handbags and shoes, but I tend to go through phases where I wear the same jewelry every day.
11.
Tee shirts. Solid. Graphic. Short-sleeved. Long-sleeved. Tees can be a lightweight layering piece or they can be
paired with a skirt for a casual yet polished look.
12.
Anything leopard (or cheetah) print. If you’re a long-time reader of my blog, you’re familiar with my love affair with leopard print. From shoes to handbags to cardigans, it can add feistiness to the simplest of outfits so it’s a must-have in my wardrobe.
13.
Statement piece. My statement pieces are often bold, bright conversation-starters. For example, my red Brahmin handbag and my cobalt blue stilettos are both pieces that can liven up a plain outfit.
14.
Skirts. Skirts are a major staple in my wardrobe—midi for work, mini for play, printed for mixing, solid for matching—because unlike dresses, you can pair them with different tops to create different looks.
15.
Something trendy. Your capsule wardrobe doesn’t have to be completely trend-free. There are plenty of retailers (and thrift stores) that sell trendy pieces on the cheap. I had been on the hunt for a fur vest for a while last year, and finally found an inexpensive one at a local thrift store. And when I wanted to try the socks-with-heels trend, I headed to Walmart for a cheap pair of socks.
So there you have it: my fab 15. The list above is more of a guide, instead of a hard-and-fast rule; these are the things that are essential for me because of their ability to be mixed, matched, and layered through the seasons. When it comes to creating a capsule wardrobe, versatility is the name of the game, but don’t think that you have to sacrifice your personal sense of style. For example, if your style is girly and feminine, a ruffled dress shirt might suit you better than a plain white collared button-front dress shirt.
The premise of capsule wardrobes is quality over quantity; the idea is to create several outfit combinations using a small number of high-quality pieces. I have far more than 24 pieces of clothing in my closet (and they’re definitely not high-quality), but I try really hard to remix what I have (as evidenced by
this and
this). You should be able to mix and match these pieces to create different looks for different occasions. For example, in the pictures above, you’ll see that I’ve mixed many of the pieces. I’ve paired my faux leather jacket with a skirt and mixed my leopard print skirt with a cardigan (twice).
So tell me: What are your thoughts on the concept of capsule wardrobes? (It kind reminds me of the 30-for-30 challenge that's oh-so-popular among bloggers.) Thoughts?
