How to create your own capsule wardrobe
Capsule wardrobe – the crème de la crème of wardrobes. The definition of having your act together… Something we all aspire to have but don’t quite understand what they are or how to do them, we just know that our lives will be complete with one right?!
Now I have (hopefully) inspired you to edit your wardrobe with my previous blog and video (Link here if not) The next step is to pull together your own dream capsule wardrobe.
My clients come to me either asking me for a capsule wardrobe or describe one without knowing what it is or understanding they are asking for one. Once we are finished curating the capsule wardrobe its such an exiting eureka moment! So, Id like to now let you into the secrets of designing one that’s bespoke to you, reflects your personality and suits your lifestyle.
The original definition is by Susie Faux in the 70s. She says that It refers to a collection of 30-40 practical and versatile pieces of clothing put together to create an entire wardrobe for a season. My version is…
‘A small and curated collection of pieces which all harmoniously work together, creating endless variations of looks that can be dressed up or down with no stress involved whatsoever’
And for you more logical ladies it looks a bit like this….
10 tops, 5 Trousers, 4 skirts, 4 dresses, 2 jumpsuits, 3 jackets and 8 pairs of shoes and boots, 2 belts and two headbands and awesome colourful accessories in your fave accent colours.
Simple right?!
If you’re suddenly starting to panic and feel like you cant handle making these decisions – don’t worry I’m now going to break it down for you… OR if you’re thinking ‘I have or want way more than that’, or ‘I don’t have a single jumpsuit and don’t plan to’ and ‘I hate skirts but want more than 4 dresses…’ etc this is where the beauty of making it bespoke to you comes in... follow my blog as a guide and enjoy exploring your wardrobe and making it your own! Plus…if you have bits missing, e.g. accessories and a lack of tops, your guilt free shopping can commence! Winning!
Let’s talk Tops
In an ideal world all of your tops will work with all of your bottoms, they will if you love to clash prints but I know its not for everyone. When putting tops into your capsule wardrobe, or purchasing a new top, try to keep to the rule of them working with over half of your bottoms. For example, 3 of your trousers and 2 of your skirts. This will make your life so much easier and stop you buying tops you never wear.
First up you’ll need a good quality plain basic Ts, in your best neutral and favourite colour. I can’t recommend Jigsaw scoop necks enough. They wash like a dream too. Hobbs and whistles also do great Ts
Turtlenecks are great for layering under dresses in winter, grab one in a block colour of your choice as well as an animal print
Silky Camis are great with jeans for day, cute with skirts and super sexy for date night with leather
Printed Blouses are so easy to throw on with trousers and skirts for all kinds of occasions. Look for vintage styles to add some unique style and to be more conscious.
We all need a crisp white shirt – make sure it has a contemporary twist thought to avoid the schoolgirl white shirt!
One cosy Knit in a bright colour to wear with jeans or over skirts and dresses
A Contemporary cardi – wear with nothing underneath or just a turtleneck if very cold.
A logo or colourful sweatshirt to dress down your skirts or to wear with jeans on Sundays.
One high fashion top – to change with each season. Spend less on this as it will be changed more regularly
A selection of bodysuits, plain, printed and lacy to ensure the perfect tucking in to bottoms
Trousers
Love them or hate them, there are bottoms for everyone and they really do make our lives easier. There are trousers for everything from head turning to lazy hazy summer days. Here are my five go to options for your capsule wardrobe…
We all need a decent pair of high waist black jeans, these will go with ALL of your tops, jackets and shoes, they can ooze sex appeal and be cool as hell for brunch days etc.
Everyone needs a pair of go to jeans, I’d choose a lighter or white pair for summer (if unlike me, you can be trusted with wine and coffee) and a darker pair for winter (style will vary according to your body shape)
I recommend a wide trouser leg to dress up or down, the width depends on your taste and height – you can’t go wrong with a paper bag style to cinch in that waist of yours. If you are new to wide leg trousers, opt for a classic colour to start with so you can easily style them. Choose your tighter fitting tops to wear with them, unless your tall then you can do a double floaty look.
A culotte can be worn all year round, now with a sandal and in winter with tights and boots, they are super sophisticated and can easily be dressed up or down too. Quite underrated and hugely game changing when you give them a try!
A jacquard or a printed trouser is also a must, these are great to show off your unique style and have lots of fun with – easily worn with your basic Ts and accessories OR dressed up with a body and heels.
Skirts
Skirts are so versatile; you can dress them to be super feminine or be edgy and cool. If in doubt… wear a skirt
Midi skirts are super-hot right now and I don’t see them going anywhere. They also suit most of us and are comforting to those who may feel leg conscious. Plus who doesn’t want a pleated skirt in their life?! If you are petite don’t go for mega floaty midis because you don’t want to drown in fabric. If you fancy getting a couple of midis I say go for one in a block colour – in a metallic or bright and one in a print that you adore. They look fab with trainers and a T or with a heel and statement fashion blouse.
A leather/pleather skirt – a huge investment but one you will have for yonks. You can go for a funky pencil shape or classic mini depending on your own preference. Wear biker boots, cool tights and a turtleneck for casual or metallic ankle boots and a bodysuit to elevate the look. I like them in the summer with bare legs and printed boots too, just don’t sit in a park having a picnic in it – you will melt!
A denim skirt – an underrated classic! Treat it as you would treat your jeans and remember there’s a reason they have been around for so long. There are some amazing A-line shapes on trend at the mo – they modernize the look which I fully support.
The wrap skirt is wonderfully easy to wear. Great for BBQs and when you need to loosen the waist belt! The shape will suit pretty much everyone, I recommend choosing one with an asymmetric hemline and print just to make it look more interesting. I wear wrap skirts with sandals and a denim jacket or metallic boots and suede jacket for a chic and edgy look.
Dresses
I adore wearing a dress – I define both dresses and jumpsuits as a one stop look’ meaning its just one thing to throw on and feel fabulous in. Its perfect for days when you are in a mega rush or have meetings where you don’t want to have to worry about if your tops tucked in properly etc. All dresses can be worn with ANY shoe, trainers, sandals and mules for casual daytime style and metallic ankle boots, heels and mules for easy evening style.
I adore a long maxi and a midi – I feel put together and elegant when I am wearing one. There isn’t an occasion when wearing a mixi/midi isn’t acceptable. Petite ladies- wear a midi for a maxi and taller ladies a maxi for a midi – as long as the waist and shoulders work its an easy style hack for you. If you love colour and print this is where I think you can really go for it!
A denim dress – I’m obsessed with denim dresses and think they are the perfect dress if you don’t want to feel too ‘showy’. They are practical and classic, easy to throw on and accessories. Denim is such a neutral blue that it can be worn with any colour or print, so layer over a turtleneck of your choice when its cold, or under your cosy knit jumper. You can get amazing trend focused pieces too, for example big sleeves and statement necklines if you want to move your denim dress style forward. Throw on a patterned or block colour jacket for warmth!
A little mini dress – my choice for date night or cocktails with my girls. I can’t quite put my finger on why I love them so much, but they are my answer to the – ‘I haven’t got anything to wear tonight’ panic. Throw on your trainers and earrings in the day and then ankle boots or heels and a headband for nighttime!
The shirt dress is the perfect answer for the occasions where you want to feel more put together in an effortless way. The collar adds sophisticated structure, the look of ‘I know what I’m talking about’ and the waist usually has a tie that brings you in, highlighting your narrow silhouette. You can get A line or straighter hem lines depending on which suits your shape, remember to choose the style that glides with you and doesn’t fight against you. You can add a waist belt and printed shoes/ jacket to modernize the look.
Jumpsuits
A word feared by so many of clients and always the biggest revelation to them! The biggest worry is about having to undo them when you need the loo… yes BUT they look and feel fantastic and you get an extra 30 seconds of time out from whatever you are doing so, it’s a win win! Just promise me not to wear them at a festival!
I see them as cross between a suit and a dress = strong yet feminine one stop look, what’s not to love? There are SO many varying styles out there for you to choose from and all you have to do is pull over a jacket and add any pair of shoes. They are perfect for first dates – they show you are unique and confident with a flirty edge. If you are brave go all out with colour and print, if it’s a first for you, go for denim, neutral hue or block colour.
Jackets
Absolute essentials. You only need 4 and they will fit under your thick winter and classic trench coats so can be worn ALL year round. I tend to get clients to choose a size down from what they would usually as they always give slightly. The thing to look for in jacket sizing it snug fit on the shoulder and not to loose your waists shape behind baggy jackets, you want them to follow your shape. If you can get shorter jackets that fit on or above the hips that’s even better as they help make your legs look even longer and attract peoples attention to your waist which is naturally slimmer than your hips.
A leather jacket will be a big investment so try and utilize the sales for this purchase. I can’t not recommend All saints enough for them. The quality is the best and they have so many styles to choose from there’s something for everyone. This is the only time Id recommend black. It will go with anything and everything in your capsule wardrobe, its just a matter of getting the right one for you.
A suede jacket is better for a softer look and if you are wearing a leather dress or bottoms - too much leather can look OTT and suede mixes the textures so the look is neutralised. I would opt for a tan/camel colour as the contrast will be more gentle with colour and prints of feminine and floaty dresses. Its also a better hue to wear in the sunshine. Again, this will work with all the pieces in your wardrobe.
Denim jackets trades the summer cardis into a trendy look by adding structure and a casual texture, again denim goes over any colour and print and look incredible with metallics. You can always do the double denim look too, but again; it depends on your personal style.
The printed or block colour jacket is perhaps the least essential of the four jackets I suggest, but they really make you stand out from the crowd if that’s something you want to achieve. A vintage jacket will do this perfectly but they are harder to come by. Choose a block colour that features the most in your wardrobe. For example, I have a red jacket that pulls looks together by highlighting my red accessories and the red within the prints. Printed jackets (perhaps a bomber style) will elevate your plain or block colour outfits by adding more interest.
Shoes
Almost another language in style. They throw us all – so many of my clients love something new I get them to try on but then look up in a panic and ask about what shoes would work with it. That’s why we need a capsule shoe collection! I bet you all have way more than 8 pairs of shoes in your cupboard but you only wear 2 or 3 pairs… Use this as a guide and buy pairs that will fit with your capsule wardrobe.
Metallic trainer and or a Classic white leather trainer – there’s nothing they won’t go with.
Ankle boots – metallic or printed and a black pair (I prefer suede) Again, wear these with ANYTHING.
Knee boots – super sexy, can be worn under dresses, skirts and culottes and over jeans and skinnys – jaw dropping!
Mules are the only replacement for bloomin ballet pumps. Choose a neutral (metallic, tan or black) that can be easy daytime shoes and a bright accent colour for evening and weekend style.
Sandals – opt for a plain tan or metallic if possible. I avoid black sandals as they are too high contrasting to most skin tones and stop a beautiful summer look from flowing head to toe. If you can choose a metallic and print that is also useful too.
A Heeled sandal – I say go for a statement vibe here, perhaps to enhance a plain dress or denim jean.
Heels – comfort is key, LK Bennets are the comfiest hell out there and will last you AGES. Pointy shoes elongate your legs so choose wisely.
Finally
5 key accessories so that you can complete and elevate all your outfits quick as a flash.
Nude Cami top – in case you have some sheer tops where parts of your body you may not want to be exposed are covered and for warmth in winter
Metallic waist belt, metallics work with anything and are a move on from classic black or tan
Printed waist belt to make your plainer outfits pop
Plain and printed headbands – headbands are a super easy way to add a pop of colour and interest to your look. They also immediately transform your outfit from day to night.
Earrings – for earrings that will work with any outfit, choose tortoiseshell, woods and metallics. Hoops will always be in style. Then choose colours that feature heavily in your capsule wardrobe for your statement costume jewelry. It will polish and complete your look.
I hope you found my capsule wardrobe blog super beneficial, do get in touch if you have any questions. If you are feeling unsure, I offer a free style session too! My next blog will be on the best online shopping platforms so you can purchase the missing pieces to complete your capsule wardrobe!
Stylish wishes and stay safe,
Sian x