I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone the other day, and blurted out to her, “I hate capsule wardrobes!”
I didn’t mean for it to come off as harshly as it did, but my reaction was definitely a little bit justified (at least in my eyes). For the last handful of years, we’ve been pushed the idea that capsule wardrobes and minimalism were the best thing for your wardrobe, wallet, mental health, etc. and now we’re starting to see that shift into a carefully curated, yet ‘tastefully eclectic’ closet with not too many pieces.
Insert mini-rant here: My disdain for the idea of a capsule wardrobe stems from the idea of a “perfect piece.” Being 5’3 and fairly straight and muscular, I don’t exactly fit the model standard when I walk in a store— my proportions are such that I sometimes need petite sizing and sometimes don’t. So when I would see these flatlays of outfits with oversized button down shirts and rigid denim meant to drape just so, I felt like I would never have a wardrobe that worked for me. The concept of a capsule wardrobe that would work for you and your lifestyle, based on unique parameters of each individual’s life became associated online/in influencer circles with minimalism and a very specific, curated aesthetic. From there, it only developed even more into blatant consumerism as we tried to create the perfect capsule wardrobes we’d seen another person post.
When we talk about capsule wardrobes, we shouldn’t be programed to think of a specific look, but rather understanding the underlying objective, which is to create a concise, curated selection of clothing that fits your lifestyle and needs. I will scream this from the rooftops, because it’s what all of the Substack fashion girlies and stylists like Allison Bornstein (I love her perspective) keep telling us: look first at what you’re always wearing and go from there.
So I was telling my friend that really what capsule wardrobes should be are foundations— building blocks— to your closet as a whole. They don’t have to be, nor should they be, restrictive lists or rules that dictate to you how many pieces can be in your closet at any one time— if we allow ourselves to enjoy new experiences and different things based on our environments and mood, why can’t our clothes mirror that?
My best advice for creating a real capsule wardrobe that truly works for you is to start by looking at what you wear every day: are you always in jeans? Maybe you like to wear dresses with tights and boots. Do you like a thick, oversized sweater? Or perhaps you prefer tight-fitting knit tops. No matter what, defining what you gravitate towards in your day-to-day, what you love and what makes you feel confident, will make that foundation come to life.
Capsule wardrobes were created as a way to make getting dressed simpler, more efficient, and less stressful; they weren’t created to prescribe what you should be wearing!
So I’ve put together a couple of outfits using my tried-and-true pieces that feel like the foundation of my style. These are silhouettes and pieces I wear every day, know I feel good in and enhance the quality of my life because I feel like the best version of myself in them! If you tried this exercise yourself and thought about your foundation wardrobe, what would those outfits look like?
This is a go-to outfit for me when I want to feel a little more sophisticated, but also comfortable. Heels elevate the outfit, but the slouchiness of the blazer keeps it toned down and won’t look to formal. This Longchamp dupe bag has been my ride-or-die for the last 6-7 years, and I’m due to replace it (I really don’t want to though); I genuinely cannot recommend it enough! I wish it was still sold on Amazon! I really love this formulaic outfit because it’s simple but works in a variety of occasions and environments: dress it up with heels, down with flats or sneakers… add a sweater under the blazer for warmth, add a fun pop of color, etc.!
This silhouette is one that’s perfect for going from office to date night, and pretty much everything in-between! It’s not particularly fussy because of the sweater, but the pointed flats give it a little zhuzh. A pointed flat will always be a winner in my book for how elegant it makes the foot (a relatively un-elegant part of the body), as well as elongating the leg! These jeans are my absolute favorites, and I wear them on constant repeat.
If you’re like me, you’re not a boot person. That doesn’t exactly bode well for me considering I live on the East Coast and winters can be chilly. Even when I’m going casual, I like to wear something that plays on the feminine form, so a cropped cardigan tucked into jeans with a little shape to me is so chic! As is, I love how it looks for a casual dinner date or watching a football game at a bar. If I wanted to dress this up a little bit, I’d add pearl earrings and ballet flats.
Happy hunting xx
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