CREATING A CAPSULE WARDROBE

As previously mentioned in another blog post, sustainability is a quickly growing facet of the fashion community. Big name fashion houses and brands are making eco-conscious moves when it comes to creating fresh fashion. That same sustainability trend has trickled down to us – the everyday clothes consumers. With that in mind, today, we’re exploring the trend of creating a capsule wardrobe – the challenges and ultimate freedom that come along with such an endeavor. 

Capsule Wardrobes, A History

To be clear, capsule wardrobes aren’t anything new. In the 1970s, Susie Faux, a London boutique owner, formulated the two-word phrase that we’ll be saying a lot in this post: capsule wardrobe. This type of wardrobe coincided with the opening of Faux’s minimalist store Wardrobe, which sought to encourage women to invest in a smaller number of essential, timeless pieces that could be augmented by seasonal staples. Then, in the 1980s, Donna Karan emphasized this concept by proving that you could create numerous outfits or looks with minimal pieces in her Seven Easy Pieces line.

Now, have we gotten off track in the decades since? A bit. Have closets of fictional characters – namely those of Clueless’ Cher Horowitz and Sex in the City’s Carrie Bradshaw – persuaded us into believing that more is always better? That we need to have as many clothing items as possible at our disposal at all times? Perhaps, for some of us. But, contrary to what the media has shown us and what we believe here at PEcado, more is not always better, and capsule wardrobes can actually provide some peace of mind – isn’t that something we all want more of? Thus, re-enter the capsule wardrobe state of mind.

Time to trim the trappings

Paring down to a capsule wardrobe is one significant way you can participate in the sustainability movement. And the key to curating this type of clothing collection is to invest in yourself – the knowledge – to be able to find or identify pieces that are functional and versatile, items that can easily mix and match and pair with several other pieces in your closet. As the old saying goes: it’s quality over quantity. It’s worth investing in timeless, high-quality clothing that comes with a slightly higher price tag because their longevity surpasses the fast and flashy trends in more ways than one.

Things to remember

• Timeless pieces don’t go out of style.
  
• The up-front cost of creating a capsule wardrobe may be a bit high. However, the process will save you in the long run when you don’t have to replace items as often.
  
• A capsule wardrobe provides a solution to decision fatigue. No more languishing over what to wear tomorrow or the next day. Less stress is so in right now!
  
• And you’re doing your part to help the planet, positively impacting the oceans, limiting landfill, and leaving a smaller carbon footprint. Your descendants will thank you!

Are you ready to declutter?

First up is purging your existing wardrobe. Let’s face it; there are a lot of pieces you probably haven’t worn in the last couple of years that have just been hanging in your closet, taking up physical and mental space. Find all the items you don’t love or haven’t worn in ages and recycle, donate, or give them away. This will free up valuable space and give you the capacity to think critically about the remaining pieces and what you need to add to your capsule.

What’s needed for a capsule wardrobe?

After removing dispensable items, review what you’ve kept – how versatile are these pieces? Will they pair well with other clothing items you have? Ideally, when all is said and done, you’ll have a collection of 30 – 50 items, counting shoes. With those items, you should be able to construct a minimum of 10 everyday outfits, which is your foundational capsule. For each season, you’ll have additional items, like a rain jacket, heavy sweaters, or winter boots, to round out your versatile collection.

What are some capsule wardrobe staples?

Since we’re in the summer season, let’s focus on staples for a summer capsule wardrobe. Items like classic tee shirts and tanks, different washes of denim in long and short lengths, some light cardigans and a jacket, trousers and button-down shirts or blouses, and of course, dresses. Sleeveless or short-sleeve dresses are your best buy because they can be used year-round with the art of layering. Having maxi or midi-length dresses in breathable materials like linen or cotton are great options for a summer capsule.

Shoes are another facet to consider. For summer, it’s good to have some everyday flats, plus flip flops and supportive sandals, but also a basic nude heel and a pair of sneakers wouldn’t go amiss.

Without question, there are other items you could add to your collection, including jumpsuits, light sweaters, skirts, denim jackets, and boots – it all depends on your personal vibe, style, and comfort level! Style is an expression of who you are and is totally individual. The many articles about capsule wardrobes don’t necessarily consider your unique approach and view on life, including fashion. So, don’t be afraid to explore and have fun with it. You’ll learn a lot about yourself this way if you have not yet! (Check out the mini PEcado capsule wardrobe we created in the video below.)

One final note on creating a capsule wardrobe

But the best rule of thumb when constructing a capsule wardrobe is to find great pieces in neutral tones – black, beige, cream, white, and gray – and make sure that the pieces you collect can be used in many ways to create several looks. Remember, these are the staples, don’t be afraid to introduce some color; you can’t go wrong with a signature color or a fun graphic tee to spice things up. That’s where your personal character & personality comes to play – through color, print, unique designs, cuts, and details.

Get ready to enjoy a more spacious closet and save time selecting your outfits – this is the capsule wardrobe way. And if you would like additional help, Alona offers various package services – image development, style strategy, closet editing, and wardrobe transformation – to make things easy and quick.

Written by Alex Dailey
Edited by Alona Kelly