From a more minimalist perspective, having a capsule wardrobe is all about streamlining your closet down to the bare essentials: a few pairs of pants, a good quality coat, a well-crafted pair of boots, all tied together with a consistent color palette for that mix and match effect. While this can be an effective and easy method of dressing, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
The minimal aesthetic isn’t for everyone, especially those of us who enjoy costume jewelry, or who yearn for a little more pattern and color in their life. If this sounds like you, this fresh approach to capsule dressing might just come in handy, offering it as a starting point for all your style adventures.
Decide What’s Essential
We’ve all heard about “must-have” and “essential” capsule items, but if it’s something you’re never likely to wear, is it worth it? Before you go shopping for all your capsule essentials (we love Grey state Apparel for their chic range of basics), consider the following factors:
Lifestyle
How you spend the majority of your days is an important deciding factor. For example, if you spend a lot of time on your feet, heels might look chic, but they won’t be the most comfortable option for you.
Comfort
Some people feel more confident in sharp, tailored outfits, while others prefer a comfier look. Do you run cold or hot? Which textiles make you feel itchy or uncomfortable? Decide what not only feels good, but looks good, too.
Wearability
How compatible are these pieces with the other items in your closet? The point of “investment pieces” is to have a few high-quality basics to hand that you can pair with a variety of other items in your closet, so consider what these might be.
Some stylists recommend keeping a spreadsheet of all your items and checking off each day you wear them, but if that seems too involved you can always take a photo of your outfits each day and scroll through them at the end of the month to see whether you notice any patterns in your clothing preferences.
Go Back to Basics
We’re not talking about capsule items here; in this context, “back to basics” is about getting inspired through rediscovering aesthetics and looks you’ve loved over the years. Put together a mood board of inspirational images, then stand back and see whether there are any recurring themes that influence your choice of capsule items. Figure out whether the overall look is classic, edgy, or perhaps more bohemian.
Putting Everything Together
Remember while doing this that fashion rules are made to be broken, so if you feel that your personal style spans one or more of these different aesthetics, why not combine them? One example might be a classic staple like a tailored blazer worn over a vintage slip dress with a pair of sneakers.
Layering your capsule items this way helps to add personality and visual interest to your outfits, and most of all, it’s a fun way to create outfits that look anything but basic.