Capsule
Wardrobes:
You may have heard of them, but what are they? And can they really help our mental health as well as the planet...
So what is a capsule wardrobe? In simple terms it’s a curated wardrobe consisting of pieces that all interchangeable and can be styled with each other. They typically don’t hold more than 40 pieces and can transcend seasons.
Now, it’s important to understand that going from your current wardrobe straight to a capsule one is a big jump and will certainly not work for everyone. That’s not what this post is about. It’s to show you that they are a great base and there are a lot of key points to take away from them, especially in terms of overconsuming. They can help you steer away from those impulse buys and end up with a wardrobe full of clothes that you don’t wear.
For the images accompanying this post I experimented with only using 10 items and challenged myself to see how many ways I could style them. I managed to create 30 looks, that’s a whole month of outfits! The full lookbook will be at the bottom of this post for you to have a browse through for some inspiration. I used a pair of blue jeans, a black pair of trousers, a pair of trainers, a trench coat, a neutral blazer, a green jumper, a white short sleeve t-shirt, a black short sleeve t-shirt, a grey long sleeve, and a grey crop top. To accessorise I used the same sunglasses and bag throughout.
Okay so have you heard of decision fatigue? When researching for this post I found out that we as humans can only make a certain number of decisions a day before we get fatigued by them. For example, if you are standing in front of your wardrobe for 10 minutes every morning stressed out about having nothing to wear, you are using up a chunk of your decision-making power for the day on something kind of pointless. This is where the premise of having a simplified and curated wardrobe with pieces that can be easily styled comes into play. It can actually help you mentally as well as helping the planet.
Blue Jeans
I am very aware that there is a big phenomenon around at the moment of only wearing an outfit once and then getting rid of it. I’ve fallen prey to it in the past, but when you actually think about it it’s ridiculous. It is a privilege that we need to address more seriously as a society. It’s been hugely fuelled by social media, and we all know just how fake that is. I think we need to make outfit repeating cute and cool, and yes I’m looking at you Lizzy McGuire. To (quite frankly get over myself) I tend to think of it as why would I spend that much money on a piece of clothing to only wear it once?
Anyway rant over. When looking at ‘core’ pieces in your wardrobe they need to be core to you. Core pieces tend to consist of T-Shirts, blue jeans, vest tops, and jumpers, but they don’t have to be in the typical minimalist style you see a lot when it comes to capsule wardrobes. Colour wise yes, they may be in your neutrals and your greys and blacks, but the style and fit of them is completely up to you and what you like or what suits you. For example, a scoop neck might flatter you the most, or you like the oversized look, or a halter neck is your go to. Whatever it is, find that out first before you dive in to investing in multiple of those pieces. Part of executing a capsule wardrobe is first finding out and cementing your own style. So, try on your clothes and really figure out what works best for you. Our 31 day card challenge is full of prompts that will help you achieve this.
Colour does play a big role in capsule wardrobes. They tend to be mainly in neutrals because they are easy to style, but you can have a couple of pieces that stand out. You need to have a bit of excitement in your wardrobe, otherwise you’ll end up getting bored of it and not wanting to wear any of it. Don’t shy away from prints as they can still be easily styled. Blue pin stripe trousers will still go with an array of different tops, it’s about being creative and harnessing your own style. If this is something that doesn’t come second nature to you, then just copy someone else’s. Hop on to Pinterest and search some outfits that you like. You can always go into shops and try on similar pieces without actually buying them. That way you will get a better idea of how it looks on you.
Black Trousers
Of course, your style will change over time, as will other factors, but this is more about learning about yourself and what you like. You can then be more considerate in your future purchases as you will know what is in your wardrobe and what you reach for the most. The aim is buying less, and this is a great place to start.