I've always grown up in a world of 'fast fashion', where clothes have been considered 'disposable'. I remember when I was younger, I would buy something and think it was OK if it didn't last because it was cheap and I'd be able to go out and buy another when it fell apart. I didn't really care or think about the ethics of how garments were being produced. Especially how they were being produced at such a low price.
As a student who studied fashion design having the latest trends was important to me regardless of whether I'd be wearing it in two months let alone 2 years. I found I was wasting so much money on clothes because
1I was buying it because it was 'on trend' at the time,
2I wasn't 100% sure about it but bought it anyway and
3I was buying it regardless of whether it complimented me or not. This often resulted in many items of clothes that went unworn and slowly made there was to the back of my wardrobe. Thinking back over the years I have wasted so much money on clothes and can't help thinking of how that money could have been put to better use.
With sustainability becoming more and more important in today's society, I made a decision to start becoming more mindful about what I was buying. I'm not saying I don't treat myself now and again, because I do! I'm not a shopaholic but going into stores can be very tempting and are designed to real you in so you end up wanting pretty much everything in the shop. I wanted to start building up a capsule wardrobe of pieces that were 100% my style and investing in garments that would last longer than a few months.
What is a capsule wardrobe and why is it important?
The concept of a capsule wardrobe started in the 1970s by London boutique owner
Susie Faux. The idea is to build a collection of 30-40 items that won't date and go out of style. These are 'essential' items that can be adapted to any season. In today's society where clothes shopping has become excessive, we now use the concept of a
capsule wardrobe as a guide to minimising the amount of items we are buying.
I'm still building my capsule wardrobe, it's a work in progress....do we ever stop? However, there are some easy steps I've taken to help create a wardrobe that works for me. Here's the steps I've taken to building a wardrobe that works for me.
Growing up we all go through phases of wearing things that aren't really us or we bought because it looked good on someone else. Defining our own style can seem difficult at first but trust your instincts. Every day look at what you're wearing and ask yourself some questions. Think about whether you like what you're wearing. Does it look good on you? Why? Why not? What would work better with that outfit?
Creating a board on Pinterest is a great way to help you define your style. You will soon build up a collection of images that will show your particular tastes and what you would wear. I did this and noticed and instantly noticed a pattern with the looks I was pinning. I was then able to think about items of clothing that I already had and what I would like to have in my wardrobe. You can then start to think about what you want as your "key" or "staple" items as well as colour schemes. This process helped me as a guide to what I wanted my overall look to be like and build the foundations of my capsule wardrobe. Which brings me nicely onto my next point....
The next step is to go through your wardrobe piece by piece. It's a good time to think about when you last wore that item, is it suitable for your lifestyle, if it fits you properly and if it's of good quality. For any items you aren't sure about put into storage and go back to in six months time. If you haven't reached for it in that time, you know what to do! Keep a charity pile and throw away anything that is badly damage and can no longer be worn by someone else.
Once you've defined your style and cleared out your wardrobe shopping will become easier. Narrowing down the things you wear on a regular bases helps you gain an understand of the things you like and the things that haven't worked in the past. Now when I'm buying something there are some key elements I consider before making that purchase;
# 1 - Will I be wearing this next year?
If I won't be wearing it next year then is it really necessary I buy it this year? This is always something I think about a lot. I don't want something in my wardrobe that I won't get much use out of.
# 2 Will this item go with other things I already have in my wardrobe?
I've learnt all to well that if I don't have anything in my wardrobe that will go with this item then it won't get worn. To many times have I bought something that didn't go with anything then it would sit in my wardrobe for months unworn because it "didn't go with anything".
# 3 Is this item flattering?
Sometimes I see items that look lovely in the store or on the hanger or the model online but when I try them on them on they they look awful on me. It's become important for me to consider the style, colour and print of garments and whether they suit me?
# 4 Is this item good quality?
I became fed up with buying clothes that fell apart in ten minutes (
not literally). So now I buy good quality pieces for those key, staple items. This also adds to the longevity of the pieces too.
An important element is to keep in mind as what
really works for you. Think about your body type and what suits your frame. Try to choose classic shapes that
do not date because you will be more likely to wear them for a number of years.
Categorise your items, this may vary depending on your lifestyle. For me, the easiest way is to list by clothing type but you could categorise by season, formal/casual etc. I tend to categorise my clothes by type. This is only comprises of the essential pieces, I don't include underwear, sleepwear or workout clothes. Compiling a list has helped me see visually what you do and don't have. When shopping I immediately know what's missing from my wardrobe and what to look out for. It also stops me from buying similar items that I already have. After all, how many floral dresses do you need?!
This is how I arranged my list:
Clothes
- Bottoms
- Jeans
- Trousers
- Skirts
- Shorts
- Shirts
- Basic Tops
- Fashion Tops
- Casual Dresses
- Formal Dresses
- Coats
- Jackets
- Blazers
Jewellery
- Earrings
- Necklaces
- Bracelets
- Watches
- Rings
Accessories
- Sunglasses
- Bags
- Scarves
- Hats
Shoes
Sometimes you won't always get it right first time but don't worry about that. Making mistakes is how we learn so you shouldn't regret them. It's just a good opportunity to determine even more what your style is.
Living in a small flat I've learnt that space is genuinely a commodity. I embraced decluttering my wardrobe and it gave me a sense of control. I find with a capsule wardrobe getting ready has now how become easier. It's helped simply things and I now find myself asking that dreaded question "What am I going to wear?" less often. I'm making more calculated decisions when shopping.Not only that but I feel more confident in what I'm wearing. I don't spend more than 10 minutes deciding what to wear in the morning but never feel like a slob or uncomfortable.
How you created a capsule wardrobe? Have I missed anything from my list? What tips would you give someone? Did you find this article helpful? I'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment down below!
