Capsule wardrobe, lies!

[Nanodust]

So, I'm on the constant search for a 'capsule' wardrobe. I have sold a load of stuff on EBay and given some to charity.

I now have stuff that I either can't get rid of or is great and would be daft to get rid of. So now I'm in a slump. Still don't feel I've cracked my style and not feeling very capsule.

Is the whole capsule wardrobe thing a big lie? 😦

I am pretty good at having a "style concept" or "uniform" going on, but I like to have different things to wear and would get really fed up with having to wear the same items all the time, even if I absolutely loved those things. A blogger I follow did it for a year, and I was really interested in her experience (rachelthehat). After a year, she gave up on it, but said she was going to have a much more mindful approach to shopping.

I keep coming back to the fact that no-one ever tells me I should get rid of books I haven't read for two years and I'm fairly sure no-one has ever interrogated my husband about how often he plays all his CDs. Yet I often sense a disapproval - even on S&B - of keeping clothes you don't wear a lot.

I love having a capsule wardrobe.

I have a history of buying clothes because I like them, instead of because they look good on me/I feel good/comfortable in them. I really wanted to stop doing this.

Also, while I like clothes, I can't be bothered putting the effort in to create outfits.

I have cut down my work wardrobe to consist of either navy/charcoal trousers, then a choice long/short sleeved tunic tops (in navy/charcoal/blue/beige) with a jacket/blazer if cold.

Out of work i wear either jeans or palazzo pants if it's warm, with t-shirts/tunic tops and cardigans/blazers etc.

Occasionally I might wear a dress/leggings.

It probably sounds really boring, but it works for me. I've slowly got rid of the stuff that doesn't fit/suit/make me feel good and now tend to only buy something if it fits into the colour scheme/style that I prefer to wear.

I'm fairly sure no-one has ever interrogated my husband about how often he plays all his CDs

Women's pastimes are seen as less serious than men's.

I doubt any man has ever been approached at a rugby match or wine tasting, by a stranger demanding to know why the cost of his ticket hasn’t been donated to Amnesty International instead of squandered on his own silly whims. But a woman indulging her passion for fashion or beauty is seen to be acting selfishly, foolishly, even immorally. Because classically female pursuits (and I say this in the absolute knowledge that women enthusiastically attend rugby matches, wine tastings, the races and a host of other events commonly considered to be ‘male’), are considered daft purely because women are unfairly defined by their hobbies in the way men never are.

www.salihughesbeauty.com/columns/note-internet-crusaders-beauty/

It's made a massive difference to my life, honestly. Paired down to two pairs of jeans (one dark blue, one black) three or four long-sleeves t-shirts or Breton tops, 2 pairs of smart trousers (one grey, one black), two dresses, a few jumpers and some blazers. Any jazzing up is done with makeup or accessories.

It's interesting rewarding everyone's posts and impressions of a Capsule Wardrobe. The reason it's something I am interested in is because I want to simplify my life. I want to not have a wardrobe full of things that don't bring me some kind of happiness or make me feel confident about myself.
I haven't quite yet worked out my style and I still seem to flit between styles. I do know however that I have worn an outfit at times which just makes me feel good, no idea whether others think that but it's about how I feel, you know the way you catch yourself in a shop window Reflection or something and take a moment to think, actually I don't look half bad- I am not vein (I hope) but so often I feel like I look crap or not styled well enough, so those good days are fab.
Having a simpler wardrobe with items that make me feel good and the odd wildcard item too...well that is something that I'm aspiring to. In a way that is a hobby in itself.
Once thing I know for sure though, I am always going to love all things style and beauty and I don't care how shallow people think that is or how it is seen as a 'unworthy' hobby, I just love it. 👍🏼😊

reading not rewarding- predictive text

Google the Vivienne Files - it's really comprehensive in helping with a capsule wardrobe.