Anybody up for a capsule wardrobe thread?

[ApplesTheHare]

This has probably been done before but I've had a baby and come back to my 'real' wardrobe after 16 months (I was trapped in breastfeeding clothes post-pregnancy) to find all the clothes are either what was I thinking?? hideous or so old and worn they need to go. I've never spent a lot on clothes, as I did a lot of charity/thrift shopping, but I bought tons of stuff over the years and I'm amazed by how much there is. It takes half an hour to choose an outfit in the morning because there's so much stuff that doesn't suit to wade through. I'd like to do an inventory of current pieces, decide what to keep and then plan the rest of the capsule.

Anybody else similarly overflowing with crappy clothes they don't really want to be seen dead in and desperate to streamline?

[KitKat1985]

Good thread idea. I think a decent pair or two of jeans are always a winner. A couple of jersey dresses would be helpful as can be dressed up or down depending on accessories. :)

[Topsyloulou]

I definitely need a capsule wardrobe for work. I have loads of work stuff but a lot of it is has seen better days. Don't want to spend a lot at the moment as still trying to lose the baby weight but I do need 3 outfits for next week for a conference. I went on a panic buying shopping trip for work clothes yesterday. Came home with two fab jackets but nothing to wear them with. Has anyone seen any nice black work dresses anywhere?

[KitKat1985]

Would be this any good TopsyLouLou? www.dorothyperkins.com/en/dpuk/product/dresses-203543/workwear-dresses-1969998/closet-black-ribbed-bodycon-dress-4143662?bi=21&ps=20

[Lovewearingjeans]

I don't think I could ever capsule, but trying to buy less, and stick with a smaller palette of colours; navy, grey, black, light cool green, raspberry pink, white.
I work in a school, and sort of have a capsule wardrobe for that, which is; black, skinny trousers, long sleeve or short sleeve Fat Face tops, White Stuff cropped trousers in the summer, cardigan in navy, blue or black, ankle boots in Winter, canvas shoes in Summer. I am a TA BTW.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I don't have a capsule wardrobe, but am v much in favour of having a few really good basics that can work in a range of scenarios. For me that would include:
skinny jeans in black, pale blue and grey
tube skirts
plain black and grey tops
black blazer
biker jacket
I also own lots of black and grey, so that nearly everything goes together, and then I have splashes of khaki, bright pink, leopard print and snake print. I have a few other colours, but not many!

Is this Pinterest board any use?

[TeamEponine]

I've just done a similar thing. I was fed up of feeling all slummy mummy and got myself a few key pieces in preparation for going back to work.

This is the black dress I got. Quite cheap, very flattering and comfy...

m.bhs.co.uk/h5/product?productId=17518434

I also got a couple of pairs of Jasper Conran shape enhancing jeans from Debenhams...

m.debenhams.com/women/jeans/shape-enhancing

They are amazing! Look lovely, very flattering and come up high enough to hold in my baggy tummy and love handles! They don't look like high waisted jeans on though, which for me is a plus point. I got a skinny and a bootcut pair.

Most of my tops are ok, but I got a couple of plain tops.

Two new pairs of shoes too...

m.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_052010320960?CMP=SSH&tmcampid=28&tmad=c&sku=7686024&ci_src=18615224&ci_sku=7686024&gclid=Cj0KEQjwyIyqBRD4janGs5e67IsBEiQAoF8DGvGtAAKpGaGQpAZmpaoAo7Q3dA68F5QP2WdUHxKqT-AaAngH8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds&m-referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2Faclk%3Fsa%3Dl%26ai%3DC7jq9iOJDVee5EciR0wWR9oCgBvfjs6wHx7XXwNEBguGnysUCCAkQASCrr_ocYLvOooPQCqABsf7a1QPIAQepAsfOv8zcZLk-qgQnT9ABbalQroBUKHnyV3yeyS07fbk7F96EgHzbyRQrynJZNE6owcOwwAUFoAYm2AYCgAe3gaUqiAcBkAcCqAemvhvYBwHgEqjkl4PRgcvquQE%26sig%3DAOD64_3KcbHdVowDYks15Y_39BGhh4A64w%26adurl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fclickserve.dartsearch.net%2Flink%2Fclick%253Flid%253D92700005493081007%2526ds_s_kwgid%253D58700000358968199%2526ds_e_adid%253D56237890015%2526ds_e_product_group_id%253D87397363842%2526ds_e_product_id%253D7686024%2526ds_e_product_merchant_id%253D6242457%2526ds_e_product_country%253DGB%2526ds_e_product_language%253Den%2526ds_e_product_channel%253Donline%2526ds_e_product_store_id%253D%2526ds_e_ad_type%253Dpla%2526ds_s_inventory_feed_id%253D97700000001001980%2526ds_url_v%253D2%2526ds_dest_url%253Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.debenhams.com%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2Fprod_10701_10001_052010320960%25253FCMP%25253DSSH%252526tmcampid%25253D28%252526tmad%25253Dc%252526sku%25253D7686024%252526ci_src%25253D18615224%252526ci_sku%25253D7686024%26ctype%3D5%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26ved%3D0CAUQrkM%26ei%3DiOJDVd-KEIzzapqygdAL

www.schuh.co.uk/womens/red-or-dead-mountain-black-boots/1473487020/

I may have gone a little crazy with the spending, but I feel so much better for it.

[squiz81]

I love the idea of it...nothing I have seems to go together. But not sure I'm quick enough with my washing and ironing to have a true capsule wardrobe!!

I do need to do a big cull. I also need to be more discerning when I buy, not just getting things because they're a bargain!

[Topsyloulou]

Those dresses look great team & kitkat, just what I'm after. Trip to BHS on Tuesday for me.

[Glitterkitten24]

Signing in! I culled probably 75% of my wardrobe last year, am slowly building up a capsule now.

[JasperDamerel]

I did Project 333, which has made a big difference to my life.

My summer wardrobe is:
Jeans
Wide legged trousers (grey)
Black skirt
Black leggings
Taupe skirt
Shorts
Dresses in grey, taupe, powder blue, sea foam and Dark blue
More colourful print dress
Maxi dress
Grey silk tunic
Powder blue silk tunic
White shirt
Grey shirt
T-shirts in basic neutrals
Cardigans in teal, dusky pink, charcoal, taupe.
Raincoat/Mac type coat in grey/taupe/pale blue pattern
Clogs
Comfy flat shoes
More formal flat shoes.

[SuperFlyHigh]

Don't discount charity/vintage when it comes to clothes. Got a great c&a vintage floral maxi dress from a vintage stall and a 90s monsoon sundress (much admired) for £10 each!

[Pointlessfan]

I also had a cull when I went back to work after mat leave and am now aiming to streamline. I've been trying to buy things I can wear in and out of work.
Best buy was a teal dress in Hobbs sale that I wear with a jacket and heels for work and flat boots and a scarf casually.
I found it easier in winter though, I find it very hard to look smart in summer clothes/shoes and I cannot get on with thin tights.

[Thelovecats]

Jasper did you get your raincoat recently? It sounds lovely :)

[JasperDamerel]

Charity shop :-)

[SpecificOcean]

Jasper I like the sound of your clothes capsule. You have some nice colours.
Can I ask where are your silk tunics from?

[SpecificOcean]

I found this useful when getting rid;

theeverygirl.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_full/public/articles/images/the-everygirl-closet-cleaning.jpg?itok=2B5IBL5x

[JasperDamerel]

Pretty much everything is charity shop or TK Maxx, apart from some of the knitwear and a couple of 1950s style dresses from Lindybop. The nice thing about a capsule wardrobe is that I know where the gaps are, so I can go into a shop, look for what I need and see if it's there in a minute or two, and I can buy things before I need them, so I now try never to spend more than £30 on anything other than shoes.

[BadgersArse]

is 'breton' now a singular too?

I LAUGH IN THE FACE of dreary capsules. buy masses - have fun!

as for Macs, do people REALLY wear them? they always feature on these ye i never see anyone i know in Rl wearing them

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I had a cropped mac a few years ago, which I stopped wearing after the 'grown up' Hermione Granger wore a v similar one in the final Potter film. I realised that it made me look dowdy and middle-aged (I can't help the latter, but I can try to prevent the former). DD1 (20) wears it a fair bit still though, and looks lovely in it.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I try not to buy masses, not because I necessarily want a capsule or because I don't want some fun in my wardrobe, but because I'm still a bit of an environmentalist at heart. Also, we don't have lots of spare money now, so I'd rather pare down, buy less, and ensure that they are things I'm going to be able to get lots of wear out of. I still buy 'fun' stuff, but usually just from charity shops.

[BadgersArse]

but the capsule thing makes me all contrary. Its just so DULL

[Kennington]

I capsule wardrobe and it really helps get ready fast in the morning plus I buy less now so can afford silk and wool.......I use navy charcoal grey, black and white and a basis. It sounds boring but I am trying to do the French vogue editor look. Albeit I am short and without the figure!
I now don't think about what I am wearing and the clothes I wear are more chic and sliming. I find uniqlo, cos and marks and Spencer's good places to shop

[JasperDamerel]

I say "capsule wardrobe". I actually mean "I don't have much money or storage space so I can't afford to waste either on stuff I don't love or use".

So for me, it's about everything in my wardrobe being something that suits me, that I love, and I will realistically wear fairly often.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

YY the CW does sound dull .

I'm very lucky that I wear a uniform to work so I need to give zero thought apart from it being clean.

I noticed my go-to colour was navy so I made a sterling effort to avoid that being my first choice though if I buy two of the same thing, one will most likely be navy

What helped me was putting all my clothes in colour groups (Black, black/white through navy,grey, then all the shades to white) Much easier.