Creating your Capsule Wardrobe

Creating your Capsule Wardrobe

Do you have a lot of clothes but never seem to have anything to wear? I believe that most of all the girls have the same problem. I can admit, I have this problem as well. While welcoming autumn and cleaning my wardrobe, I realized that I need something new (again!!!). 
I started to browse for a new fashion ideas and seems that I have found solution to my dilemma.

I have never read books on dressing, usually it is just a fashion magazines so I have never heard about a capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe consists of basic clothes you can wear year after year and are the foundation on which you build the rest of your wardrobe. For me now it is a great solution as I'm trying to save some money, so buying few things following special criteria I can completely change in a way of dressing.

Steps to create your own capsule wardrobe:

First you need to pick a neutral color which looks good on you, such as black, charcoal grey, chocolate brown, tan, navy, ivory, or cream. The most popular colors for a capsule wardrobe are black, chocolate brown, or charcoal grey.

Let's build a capsule wardrobe. First I will choose a color--black.

   The Basics Checklist

• Black three piece suit--blazer, pants, skirt.
• Black cardigan
• button-up blouse in white or off-white, depending on your skin tone
• black camisole
• black opaque tights
• dark denim jeans--the most versatile would be boot-cut.
• little black dress

Once all of the aforementioned items are crossed off your list, then, if you want, you can buy the items you bought in black in a new core colour such as brown, then charcoal grey and so forth.

Following the example above, I decided to create something similar. So my set will be created for autumn and dedicated specifically for work. I picked up 3 color: black, brown and red

• autumn/winter brown coat;
• brown suit: jacket
• with mid-length skirt ;
• black suit: jacket
• with mid-length skirt;
• white classic shirts;
• black leather trousers (wanna get one pair of suit trousers and one pair of warm tights/leggings);
•  brown mid length cardigan and grey short cardigan (old ones, for the next year need to get new one black);
•  grey sweater (next year need to get black one, V-neck);
• jeans (have a blue one, could get some darker.

In this example blues and purples were chosen.

   Add-on Checklist

• Blue and purple printed dress (my example has black in it as well)
• Solid purple dress 
• Printed skirt with purple on it
• Purple blazer
• Purple cardigan
• Printed or solid blouse in blue and purple
• Solid tanks in secondary colors--purple and blue

A good rule of thumb is to spend less on patterns than solids, because patterned clothing has fewer mix-and-match possibilities than solids.

For my own example I have chosen:

• red dress;
• grey short but warm dress;
• red classic shirts;
• one black shirt with white spots on it;
• red top with high neck;
• red blouse or skirt (need to buy one maybe next year);
• red or black cardigan (need to buy one);
• red (more pink) and white sweater;
• tanks in primary and secondary colors--red (more pink), white and black (need to buy a white/black/red bodies - wanna get at least 2 this year, one for everyday and one a sexy one).

And don't forget shoes and accessories! In example it was used black as the core color.

   Basic Shoe Checklist

• Black high heels
• Black flats
• Nude heels
• Black boots (flat or heeled)
• Black booties
• Walkable black flats (canvas sneakers, sandals, or slip-ons)

And last but not least, please make sure you buy some good underwear. A piece of underwear can make or break an outfit.

For my own example i have these shoes:

• Black high heels (have few, but need one classic pair; need red high heels this year);
• Black flats (ones got destroyed after 2 years of wearing; need to buy new ones);
• Nude heels (love my current ones, they fit 100% with my brown suit and coat:) )
• Black boots (flat or heeled - have both)
• Black booties;
• brown boots (need to buy: flat or heeled).     

 Accessories:

• red and white scarfes (light ones);
• light brown scarf (with a little bit of green color);
• warm black, brown and colorful scarves;
• classic black bag (need one!!, wanna get one nude as well);
• have one red and many black/grey necklaces;
• have many different earrings (need to buy 2 black and one red this year);
• have many different belts (need red one);
• new tights (need new ones, white and ones with red input)

   Basic Underwear Checklist

• Seamless bra and underwear to match your skin tone
• Seamless strapless bra to match your skin tone
• Black seamless bra and underwear
• At least one set of matching bra and underwear in a fun color (I love leopard print!)
• Foundation shorts for tummy control under tight dresses
• Half-slip to wear under skirts
• A full slip to wear under dresses

 

For myself I have these ones:

•  Seamless bra and underwear to match my skin tone (could buy one, preferably nude or black);
• Black bra and underwear;
• At least one set of matching bra and underwear in a fun color (I have a blue one);
• Half-slip to wear under skirts (need to buy one);
• A full slip to wear under dresses (need one);
• and of course 2 bodies as mentioned above (need them!)

Hope this helps you to start having something great to wear each day!

As for me, this capsule wardrobe is super useful. Instead of buying lots of colorful things and something that looks great at that moment, I will buy less things, but those which will be with me for a whole autumn!

As a fan of colorful things, i will share my scarves with Mom. Moreover, I will save some money, as things listed in blue could be bought next year, or maybe I will not need them at that time anymore. So now a shopping list to complete for this autumn (things listed in bold are more preferable):

1.  wanna get one pair of suit trousers or /and one pair of warm tights/leggings);
2. red or black cardigan;
3. red high heels this year);
4. brown boots (flat or heeled);
5. classic black bag;
6. to buy 2 black and one pair of red earrings this year;
7. new red belt;
8. new tights (white ones and black ones with red input)
9. to buy a white/nude/ black/red bodies - wanna get at least 2 this year, one for everyday and one a sexy one;
10. maybe a red skirt?

Let's meet at the beginning of winter!