A Capsule Wardrobe – Would you? Should you?

The fabled capsule wardrobe is an ideal many aspire to.  The thought of getting up in the morning to be greeted by a sleek selection of just the right clothes really is appealing.  Once and for all, our wardrobe frustrations could be solved: No more ‘I’ve got nothing to wear’ days.  However, many have tried but few have succeeded in creating a capsule wardrobe. 

The concept of the capsule wardrobe was created in the 70s by Susie Faux, owner of a London boutique (so says Wikipedia).  The principle of the capsule wardrobe is that a person should have a curated collection of clothing staples that rise above the whims of fashion.  These provide the foundation of a wardrobe, on top of which of-the-moment styles can be added.  The staples remain for years, allowing you to limit the amount of clothing you own.  A few deftly chosen additions each season prevent boredom and keep the wearer in fashion. 

It really is a great theory.  But rarely is this the reality.  The Netflix series ‘Tidying Up with Marie Kondo’ offers a window into the frighteningly crowded wardrobes and drawers of normal people.  Achieving a capsule wardrobe is difficult; so many influences encourage us to accumulate big collections of clothes.  It was Black Friday two days ago, and who can resist those bargains?  The concept of two seasons – autumn/winter and spring/summer – has been replaced by weekly new store drops.  There’s always something new to tempt us. 

If you do want to achieve a capsule wardrobe, some tactics that could help are:

• Think about the essence of your own style, and choose pieces to reflect that.  (See this post on identifying your signature style – https://rewearitwell.com/2020/11/02/do-you-need-a-signature-style/ )
• Ignore prescriptions for what should be in your capsule wardrobe.  Many recommend a blazer and a white shirt.  I own a white shirt but hardly ever wear it, partly because I hate ironing.  Blazers aren’t my thing – I like cardigans.  Your version capsule wardrobe might include skinny jeans in blue, black and grey. 
• Focus on quality fabrics such as cotton, wool and Tencel because they’ll look good for years.  On the other hand, synthetic fabrics can bobble and show wear very quickly. 

Below – some of my staples. The coral cardigan shows that a capsule collection doesn’t have to be neutral colours

A capsule wardrobe is more sustainable.  Buying less and wearing more is much greener.   And the joy of a pared down wardrobe is real.  Getting dressed this way is much easier and less stressful. 

#30wears #ethicalfashion #sustainablefashion #capsulewardrobe