The capsule wardrobe has had a modern update. It’s no longer about owning several timeless pieces such as a white shirt, black trousers, a navy belted coat, etc etc, a capsule wardrobe for now is just a regular wardrobe of perfectly interchangeable pieces that work for you. The number of pieces in your capsule wardrobe is dependant on your style, what your lifestyle is and whether you have a need for variety or don’t mind repeating outfits relatively frequently. There is no perfect number, but using clothes from your entire wardrobe rather than just seasonal opens up more outfit possibilities.
The reason the idea of a capsule wardrobe is current again is down to sustainability being at the forefront of fashion right now. More and more we are becoming conscious of what we are consuming, what we are spending our money on and where the product comes from. In 2020 it’s not #vintage that is the most buzzed about hashtag, now you’re more likely to see #preloved #reusedfashion #sustainablefashion #notbuyingnew and with fashion and style Instagram accounts leaning towards not buying anything new, it has become the most desirable fashion trend this year so far.
Project333 is a great example of this change in trends, Courtney Carver has written a book that is out this week outlining her minimalist fashion challenge that proves less really is so much more. "Be more with less’ is her over-riding message. Wearing just 33 items for 3 months is her challenge to the world, she has taken this simplistic approach to living and never looked back. She believes by stripping back your wardrobe, focusing on the core 33 pieces you will find joy that you have been missing. Read more and buy the book here.
The attitude to fast fashion is changing, outfit repeating is currently a badge of honour with finding new and inspiring ways to wear items of clothing is becoming the most coveted fashion idea to date. But in the real world, away from social media inspiration, is the capsule wardrobe actual attainable? Why build a capsule wardrobe and can we retrain our brain to not constantly seek something new to make us feel better about ourselves?
The benefits of a capsule wardrobe underpins all that I do as a personal stylist, I just talk about it as a ‘working wardrobe’ when chatting to clients and perspective clients. Building your own capsule wardrobe is a great way to become a smarter and more thoughtful shopper. If you have a wardrobe full of pieces that all work well together, then this will curb your impulse to constantly buy. As it’s your wardrobe you need to take a look inside it and see what works for you; what do you wear the most, what do you love wearing and what suits you the best?
You will find your own capsule wardrobe in amongst the stuff crammed into your wardrobe, and I bet you only wear 20% of what you have. That 20% is what you need to base your capsule wardrobe and your style on. It’s items you can rely on to make you look and feel good with minimal amount of effort and stress. The blazer is a building block for my wardrobe, something I can wear and rely on time and time again. I can put it with skirts, dresses, trousers and even joggers and the blazer instantly pulls the outfit together.
Pieces I find that work the best have minimal amount of fuss, can make a statement but are not trend driven and are versatile between my smarter work commitments and my casual weekend laid back styling. By identifying these pieces in your wardrobe you might start to see a pattern emerging within your choices, the things you like and what you wear the most. You now need to be able to jigsaw these pieces together to work as a versatile capsule wardrobe. The more carefully you plan your capsule and select your pieces, the better.
With sustainability non-negotiable, we who love fashion are trying to find ways to tease our passion apart from over-consumption. In 2020 capsule dressing looks cooler than ever, a streamlined wardrobe frees a little more of your time and your sanity and you might just find your happy place too. To get me putting this into practice more I am giving up shopping for Lent. Today, 26th March marks the start of 40 days of breaking the habits of consumerism and spending money on things I don’t possibly need.
Join me in this challenge, I will be showing you my daily styles over on my Instagram page and tag me using the hashtag #edits40dayschallenge and let’s inspire each other to shop our wardrobe for 40 days without adding anything new. I have a great modern capsule wardrobe and I will be showcasing my styling, giving you tips and inspiration for you to dig out pieces in your wardrobe that you might not of worn in ages. With £140 million (&rising) of clothing ending up in landfill every year it’s time to break those buying habits and appreciate what we already have.
