Creating a capsule wardrobe is something that a lot of us mean to do and never quite get round to. The fact is that it isn’t always easy. So many different things collide to make the creation of a capsule wardrobe a difficult task. Today I created a reel for Instagram featuring some of my capsule wardrobe must-haves for a summer to autumn transitional capsule wardrobe that is utterly timeless thanks to its neutral tones. You can see that reel by clicking here and check out the carousel below for the capsule wardrobe must-haves that I included in my reel. However, if you want to learn more about how to actually start building a capsule wardrobe read on.
What makes creating a capsule wardrobe difficult?
The weatherman…yes, seriously!
Here in the UK, seasonal weather is so difficult to predict and it can be quite normal to see the weather change from 30 degree sunshine one week to 10 degree rain the next. This makes it incredibly difficult to invest in seasonal items for your wardrobe that can be dressed for the varying weather conditions.
You and your body
Another aspect of life that makes it difficult to manage the creation of a capsule wardrobe is how different you, your body and your life can be from one season or year to the next. 2 years ago I was a size 10, pregnant, and working in a casual office environment. Roll on 2 years and I am a size 14, working in a corporate office and commuting long distances. Pre-children I would have worn mid-rise jeans and never been without my push up bra. Now I like high rise because of my c-section scar and wireless for my ever-changing boob size.
Changing styles and fashions
Like it or not we can be knowingly or unknowingly influenced by print and media, social content, advertising etc all of which are designed to make us want something we don’t yet have. There are styles and trends we might never have thought of and yet once we become introduced to them we realise that we like them, that we want to incorporate them into our wardrobes. Some of them suit and some of them dont, and it can take time, trial and error to discover what changing and developing trend are right for us, our bodies, our lives and our budgets.
How can you create a capsule wardrobe?
Start small. There is absolutely no reason why you should all of a sudden start to fling out all of your clothes and leave yourself with a dozen items left behind. Consider starting with one element of your wardrobe and take it from there.
Consider starting your capsule wardrobe with your jeans
Take your jeans for example. Ask yourself these questions:
- How many pairs do I own?
- How many pairs do I wear?
- How many pairs do I feel comfortable in?
- What colours are they?
- How many pairs do I have in the same shade?
- What shape are they?
- How many pairs do I have in the same shape?
- How many pairs fit well?
- How many pairs/shapes suit me?
- How many pairs do I have that are casual/smart/dressy/loungey?
- Where do I wear my jeans?
- How often do I wear my jeans?
Doing this with your jeans is an ideal place to start because I can pretty confidently state that most of us have multiple pairs of jeans that don’t fit, don’t suit, and don’t get worn. If you can work out WHY they don’t fit, don’t suit and don’t get worn then you can begin to make some decisions on what sort of denim you SHOULD be wearing and why, and what sort of denim you may want to consider adding to your collection.
These high waisted skinny jeans are one of my favourites 
These high waisted mom jeans are my other go to pair
And, if you think that they simply don’t fit because you are too big/too small, then you are wrong. The fit of a pair of jeans refers to the way they fit round your bum, how much waistband gaps at the back, how much pull there is on the button or fly, how much overflow/muffin top there is, etc. Don’t ever assume that the size tag on the label is an indication of how well your jeans fit.
Always be sure to consider what you actually do and how you actually wear your jeans and not what you could or even wish you could do or how you wish you could wear your jeans. For example, I had a pair of jeans that were embellished at the front with subtle and beautiful pearls. God, I loved them. They were the perfect colour of blue denim, they were a nice stretch which made them comfy. BUT, and this is the important bit, they were low rise which didn’t suit me after I had my daughter, AND after I had my daughter I couldn’t wear those jeans day-to-day because they were completely impractical for rolling around the floor or carrying her without damaging the embellishment. And I hardly ever went on nights out, and, even if I did go on nights out the chances of me wearing a pair of jeans were low, I would make the most of it and wear a beautiful dress.
A seasonal capsule wardrobe
Your next perfect option for building a capsule wardrobe is to wait until the turn of the season. This is the ideal time to consider what items you are going to be needing in the months to come and you will likely already be beginning to wrap up your items from the previous season.
- Consider what can be still be worn but styled differently
- What skirts look as good with flip flops as they do with tights?
- What dresses suit being paired with boots as much as with sandals?
- What tops that you previously wore alone can be teamed with knitwear?
The other thing to think about as the season turns is what items have you got in your wardrobe that you have barely had on your back this year? And what items are the ones you have worn to death? If you can begin to identify those things that you love and those that you want to love you can start to understand the shapes and styles that will likely begin to form the foundation of your forever-wardrobe going forward.
My Summer-Autumn Capsule Wardrobe
Guys, I’m not going to begin to pretend that I am a capsule wardrobe convert. I might actually be a little addicted to online shopping. However, what I am doing is ensuring that when I am buying I am being totally strict about making sure my purchase:
- suits me. And I mean REALLY suits me.
- fits me. And I mean REALLY fits me.
- matches me. And I mean REALLY matches me (ie I will actually wear it).
This year I have invested in a few items that I know I am going to get so much wear out of and that will see me through from summer to autumn and I want to share them with you.
I created a reel on Instagram today that shows how many different ways these key focus items can be worn, and just a small selection of the combinations that you can make by pairing different items with others to have so many varying looks for the season…some perfect for warmer days, and others perfect for cooler days, some for wearing with sandals, and others with boots. You can see that reel here. Check out below some of the items I included in my reel and that I recommend for considering for inclusion in your transitional wardrobe:
My recommendations for including in your wardrobe are:
- a well-fitting pair of jeans (see above points)
- a pair of neutral chinos
- a pleated skirt
- a few basic tees with interest, eg ribbed detail, padded shoulders etc. Choose in a few tonal colours.
- a denim shirt
- a cream jumper (See my post here for my recommended neutral knitwear)
- a neutral-toned cardi
- a tan belt
And guys, that’s it. Ok, so you will need a jacket and coat, some footwear and underwear. However, you can begin to build so many simple, easy and timeless outfits just by investing in some well-fitting, neutral based, key items such as these.
All of the links I have included in my capsule wardrobe recommendations are from Mango because I think it is one of the best high street stores for sourcing neutral classic items that you can wear again and again. Their simple shapes and styles never go out of fashion. Check them out and let me know how you get on.