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is it wanky to give your child a capsule wardrobe, or just sensible

41 replies

BBQSteak · 17/08/2014 22:54

ive noticed a lot of things ive just bought for my dd age 7 theres a lot more purples comig into her wardrobe, so I thinking of just buying more thing that's go with what she will already have...

purples and pinks etc

or doo you prefer to buy in terms of outfits

OP posts:
Dontgotosleep · 18/08/2014 06:56

TBH didn't even know what a capsule wardrobe was but I googled them out of interest and thought they looked good. I think you should go for it.

lavenderhoney · 18/08/2014 07:01

My dc have clothes that match even if they mix up outfits so I guess yes, because otherwise you end up with loads of clothes which never get worn as nothing goes and/ or a child who insists on choosing their own outfit ( fine) but looks as if they got dressed in the dark.

Mine don't have many clothes, but what they do have go together. Same with shoes.

Makes financial sense and we don't have to shop for clothes much at all.

VeryLittleGravitasIndeed · 18/08/2014 07:09

I think buying outfits is more wanky, too matchy matchy. Capsule wardrobe is just sensible.

lavenderhoney · 18/08/2014 07:11

Outfits don't work as they usually can't be mixed and matched.

Just do for them what you do for yourself - a few clothes that all go together. Unless you have wardrobes of stuff:)

WorkingBling · 18/08/2014 07:15

It's never even occurred to me to buy "outfits" for ds. The idea makes me pmsl. As someone else said, Ashe insists on choosing most of his own clothes, I just stick to a few basic tones and hope for the best. And close my eyes on the epic fail days (orange t-shirt with royal blue trousers - that was his "I'm thinking about what it would be like to go to jail" day!!)

I also thank god that nursery know how independent he is re clothes because otherwise I worry they would report me to social services!!

diggerdigsdogs · 18/08/2014 07:20

Yy to capsule wardrobe. I also tend to only buy from a couple of shops that do similar colour palates. Much easier.

Dmil and dsil very kindly buy dd clothing and it's often lovely but it never matches anything in her wardrobe because it's colours that suit them but not dd as all their colouring is so different.

BobPatandIgglePiggle · 18/08/2014 07:50

Ds only has 'enough' clothes simply because it means I keep on top of the washing. If he had loads I'd let it fester inthe washing / ironing baskets . Stuff mostly 'goes' but not really intentionally.

Tinkerisdead · 18/08/2014 07:54

I did this for dd1 this year and it worked so much better than having random outfits. I was on a tight budget and it meant I spent far less as everything was interchangeable.

Waggamamma · 18/08/2014 08:06

Shopping for girls is slightly harder but for ds I bought a selection of tshirts, shorts and trousers. All of them are interchangeable and can be worn in a number of combinations. I didn't shop for outfits nor would I class it a capsule wardrobe.
Shock
Try to avoid garish patterns for bottoms that won't match much. I find kitting out ds far simplier than me as ds everything matches and is very wearable. Then when he changes season/size I replace the whole lot at once, has worked well so far.

BBQSteak · 18/08/2014 08:10

Digger. Yeah my mil does that too

OP posts:
DefiniteMaybe · 18/08/2014 08:16

Yes all of ds clothes go with anything, he has t shirts and denim jeans or shorts.
Dd is more difficult I've tried to do similar but some things just don't match much.

MollyBdenum · 18/08/2014 08:19

I buy capsule wardrobes for DC (until M-i-L comes along with a load of charity shop bit that never go with anything else)

Having only a few items of voting that all more or less go together keeps mess and laundry to a minimum, which I like a lot.

MinesAPintOfTea · 18/08/2014 08:40

Its wanky to call it a capsule wardrobe. Its not wanky to generally buy clothes that go together.

pluCaChange · 18/08/2014 08:57

Boys' clothes comprise a capsule wardrobe anyway, in quantity and quality (co-ordinating colours).

Girls' clothes, on the other hand, are a nightmare to co-ordinate, because there are so bloody many of them, and such varying colours, so a "capsule" approach is a great idea! We have the same problem of clashing or unsuitable colours in gifts, and I have o admit I get rid of them, too. I reckon charity shops will get more for "BNWT" clothes so I don't even de-label or wash them.

BBQSteak · 18/08/2014 09:22

Yes I find ds clothes just tend to naturally go together

For example he has navy velco shoes

Which go with jeans shorts and trousers
All his things basically where as dd
Its a minefield of clashing

OP posts:
VeryLittleGravitasIndeed · 18/08/2014 09:39

I have solved the DD/DS problem (ie boys clothes tend to be more practical and in less vibrant colours therefore go together) by buying DD mostly boys clothes...

She's too young to object and it amuses me when people on the street automatically assume she's a boy as she's not wearing pink (half the time it happens when she's in red or green or similar, because clearly little girls must only wear pink, boy get all the other colours).

MumBoots · 18/08/2014 11:16

I do this for my DD.

This summer, I bought her 6 teeshirts, 2 shorts, 2 dresses, 2 skirts and 2 light hoodies from H&M's basic range in navy/pink/lilac. Last winter I did the same at Next - bought her everything in red, navy, white. Just makes life easier.

DrinkBelliniFallDown · 18/08/2014 15:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

QueenCardigan · 18/08/2014 16:44

I'm laughing as there's no way my dd (8) would allow a capsule wardrobe. As far as she's concerned the more clashing colours and prints the better. She'd hate to be just stick to a pallete of colours. That said when she was younger I did buy just neutral bottoms (denim, navy, beige, khaki etc) so that they would go with all her tops but no chance now.

SomeSunnySunday · 18/08/2014 17:14

I guess I do this too, but unconsciously. So, e.g., my DSs get the navy / blue version of their basics (coats, fleeces, joggers, trousers etc), and all of their other clothes / shoes (i.e. T-shirts, trainers, sandals, jumpers) will "go" with blue / navy (although they are often bright colours themselves). I would never, e.g., buy brown clothes for them as they wouldn't go with anything else in their wardrobes. They don't have all that many clothes, but as pretty much everything can be mixed and matched that's fine.

DrinkBelliniFallDown · 18/08/2014 17:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SugarMiceInTheRain · 18/08/2014 17:20

Haha, I wish I could do this, but my children mostly live in hand-me-downs and the odd t-shirt my mum buys them, which will probably be themed eg Angry Birds or Minecraft because that's what they like. They have a few smarter things but no 'outfits' - they put on whatever they fancy, and occasionally I ask them to change into something smarter/ more weather appropriate/ better suited to the activity we are doing that day. Generally though they just wear whatever they feel like. The battle over clothes is one I haven't the energy to fight. They are 8 and 6. The baby on the other hand, generally looks great as she has so many gorgeous clothes and I can pick what she wears! Grin

chanie44 · 18/08/2014 17:22

I don't do a capsule wardrobe as such, but I do try and stick to neutral colours for ds trousers (jeans, grey, beige) and let him wear colourful tops.

LEMmingaround · 18/08/2014 17:39

Wtaf is a capsule wardrobe?

MollyBdenum · 18/08/2014 19:17

It's where you only buy clothes that go with all your other clothes do you don't need as much stuff.