Ever heard the term “capsule wardrobe” and thought, what on
earth is that and how can I get one? Here’s a little lesson 101 on what a
capsule wardrobe is, why so many are opting for this approach and how you can
create one for yourself.
A capsule wardrobe is a rather small, yet functional wardrobe made up of quality
clothing that you love wearing and versatile enough to be teamed
together to create several different looks. It's all about having quality over quantity but with pieces that can be mixed and matched together to create a multitude of looks!
What are the benefits?
A capsule wardrobe can save you a serious amount of cash.
We have all bought items that we think we like however once we hang them
up we either forget about them or resort to the items in our wardrobe we wear
repeatedly. A capsule wardrobe helps alleviate these instances and leaves you money
for more important things like a luxury holiday you’ve been dreaming about.
It can save you time! We all live very busy lives
today which means our time poverty leaves us little opportunity for shopping.
Well, instead of shopping for clothes that could potentially do nothing but
clutter up your wardrobe, you could be doing something more valuable with the
extra time you have.
A capsule wardrobe helps you identify your own personal
sense of style. A few years ago I worked with a girl who always looked so polished.
She was the envy of many girls, myself included. She earned an average income
and lived on her own with rent to pay so money wasn’t always at her dispense. In
addition to that, she lived in a small apartment with limited storage space. Owning
a capsule wardrobe was her only option. She had a sense of style that was
consistent and she mixed her limited pieces together to create different
ensembles daily. Another example is Sienna Miller. While she does have the
funds for a wardrobe as long as the Great Wall of China, her look is
consistent. She is arguably the “queen of boho”. Who doesn’t want that
reputation?!
So how do you build this so-called “capsule wardrobe”?
First you need to define your lifestyle. Are you a
stay-at-home mum who needs a wardrobe filled with casual clothing
or are you a corporate worker who needs to concentrate more on business attire?
Perhaps you need both? Either way, identifying your lifestyle is your first
step.
Then there’s the pieces that every woman should own because
they are versatile, trans-seasonal and timeless. These pieces are:
Jeans, little black dress (LBD), white shirt, white t-shirt, black tailored pants, coat, pencil skirt and black blazer.
Next, allocate an amount of pieces for each clothing type. For
example, 4 pairs pants, 4 skirts, 4 dresses, 2 jackets and 12 tops.
Once you’re ready to start buying, keep in mind that you are
reducing the size of your wardrobe so it is really important to buy quality
items that you truly love, feel fabulous in and wear the first opportunity you
get. I have spoken about cost-per-wear in previous blogs. Think about how much
you will be wearing these items. Over the course of a year, they will have cost
you very little so don’t be afraid to spend up to get good quality.
Now, let’s talk about the process of de-cluttering your
existing wardrobe. To keep it simple create 3 piles labelled “YES”, “NO” and “MAYBE”.
In the “YES” pile place the items you love and cannot live
without (it might be a good idea to gain the opinion of a close friend on this
one because, believe it or not, we do grow an emotional attachment to some of
our clothes… even the ill-fitting ones!).
Fill the “NO” pile with items you don’t like, are tired, know
you won’t wear again or don’t fit. One of the biggest mistakes I have seen
people make is keeping clothes that are too small in the hope that one day they
will fit back into them again. It's time to embrace your body for what it is and dress it
accordingly.
That leaves the “MAYBE” pile. This one is specifically for
items that you love but are not sure you’ll ever wear or have the opportunity
to wear again.
In this whole process, one thing is certain, you must love
every item hanging in your wardrobe!
Everything that is in your “YES” pile is hung back up. Before
you have time to revert back to old habits, donate your “NO” pile to goodwill
and place your “MAYBE” pile in a bag to store somewhere out of sight. The
idea is that if you don’t go searching for and wear a piece from your “MAYBE”
pile within 6 months, then it’s time to part with it.
Now, check off what you have hanging against your allocated
number for each clothing type to help you identify any gaps that need to be
filled. Remember, you may need more than one capsule wardrobe. Someone who
works may need a capsule wardrobe for work and a separate one for leisure.
Expect to make mistakes so don’t beat yourself up if you do.
This is simply a learning opportunity that will get easier in time. Alternatively, you can always call on me to assist with the process.
Enjoy the cleansing experience!
MM
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Got a question? Email me at maimmelbourne@gmail.com