Why a capsule wardrobe might not be for you
It’s not often you hear the reasoning behind why a capsule wardrobe might not just be for you. Read on to learn about why, I myself, do not have a capsule wardrobe.
I love clothes. I love different fabrics, colours, shapes and styles. Have I pinned down my staple style? Yes absolutely, we all need those days where you don’t have to think about what to wear, you just put on what you know works. But for me, it’s more about waking up in the morning and putting on something that express’s how I feel and how I want to be perceived for that day.
As an example, just yesterday I put on brown seamless gym leggings, a white cropped T and an oversized brown leather jacket. I wore my gym trainers and my everyday jewellery Vs one day last week where you might have caught me prancing up and down the kings road in my full length silk skirt, white cowgirl boots and massive oversized glittery gold bomber jacket with a silk neck scarf. I’m what I like to call a Maxi stylist.
In my dream world I would walk into a shop and say please can I have one of everything in every size and every colour. My wardrobe sizing goes from a size 8 to a size 18 and I wear it all. For me, a capsule wardrobe wouldn’t work, my clothes are my expression of who I am and I just love putting outfits together from a broad selection.
Examples of my different styles
I do however, strongly believe that creating a capsule wardrobe for a someone else who might not share the love of clothes like I do, is a very valuable process. The biggest plus for any capsule is that it is the ultimate time saving tool for people who are time poor or who quite frankly, do not want to add “what do I wear today” to their to-do list. Using neutral tones, only having the stable shapes and cuts included in the line up means that anything and everything in that capsule can be paired together to achieve a effortless, put together look that works with the current season.
The current world of influencers has put a slightly different spin on what a capsule wardrobe is, many now are pulling in key pieces or season colours from the current trends. Whilst there is nothing wrong with this and if client came to me asking for a simple on trend wardrobe I would do the same, my view of a true capsule wardrobe is quite different.
As an example, if a client came to me this autumn and asked me to build them something that is simple and timeless, I would not be including any oversized jackets, leather trenches, cowboy style boots or burgundy (well, I might use that colour if it comes out key on the colour palette for said client but otherwise no). The timeless versions of these pieces are not a million miles away from the current trends but there are some foundational differences in the way a timeless piece is cut vs what might be on trend, take a classic trench coat as an example - they are in neutral tones, are made out of cotton gabardine, the collar is in proportion to the shoulders, and the fabric is buildable - they usually come with a warmer inner that can be popped in or out. The current seasonal trench may have a larger, oversized collar, a maxi oversized fit and for right now it’s all about leather or suede fabric.
In summary, if you are someone who wants simplicity, minimal items and to take out any doubts around what might go with what, then a capsule wardrobe could be exactly what you need.