Capsule wardrobes

[cheesenpickles]

Has anybody successfully managed to create a capsule wardrobe? Or is this a pipe dream to make us but expensive things?

I've started listing all my clothes I've not worn in years/probably won't wear again and plan to slowly but surely replace my entire wardrobe with things I'll actually wear. I've made a list of what I want to eventually have and looked for better quality and sustainable type things about it's coming out at about £1k. Obviously won't but all this at once, but am I putting a lot of effort and time into something that's actually a bit of a waste of time?

Here are a couple of looks I created with my app yesterday. Luckily all of my stuff was bought online so was able to use website photos instead of taking my own. It’s showing me that I really don’t need to buy any more clothes!!

OP sticking to a palette is the only way I can get my clothes to work. But if you’re drawn to mustard then just incorporate that into your colours (I love mustard too & actually see it as a neutral like tan). My colours are brown, khaki, mustard & too much black & dark grey (will work on phasing this out). Didn’t stop me from buying a gorgeous cornflower blue dress though because it still goes with browns & mustard

Omg. LOVE your style @happytobemrsg. I've decided my style icon is Kate Moss. So basically building a collection of jeans (skinny and vintage 501s), solid colour tees and tanks (with some graphic/ band tees), yellow blazer, black loafers with gold hardware, leather jacket, denim jacket (dark wash and a stone wash), sweaters (this is my big downfall, I'm a sucker for a sweater), leather boots in brown and tan, Barbour parka, cashmere wool double breasted coat, three pairs of Adidas superstars. I'm still finding my go-to dress but even clearing out my cupboards I have a huge load of stuff still to purge but getting there.

I think I then need to do my jewellery and my make up. I've got 20 years of make up hoarding to deal with.

Just make conscious choices when picking your clothes so you’re not doubling up & sticking to a palette. So 5 pairs of jeans but different styles & different colours (My aim is khaki skinnies, dark grey relaxed skinnies, black relaxed casual trousers, medium blue mom jeans - all different styles, all go with my colours). So if I loved blazers I’d get 2 - one in mustard & perhaps a dark grey or khaki - since they will be very easy to mix& match with everything else.

It take me a while wearing my clothes to know what works and what never will. I don’t seem to be able to figure that out in a dressing room. And by the time I know, that fit/drape/shape/colour/style has disappeared from the shops.

I like the idea of buying investment pieces but I think you have to really understand yourself/ your style very well. I could blow ££££ easily getting this wrong.

My problem is I'm such a yoyo dieter . I spend more money on good quality clothes when I'm
thinner (8/10) than when I'm bigger ( can get to 16 )
I'm loathe to get rid of smaller sizes, yet sadly, I'm more often at the larger size !

I considered going down the “investment pieces” route @PamelaTodd but I just couldn’t afford it & tbh I’ve not seen that spending £200+ on jeans mean they fit me any better than my H&M ones. Instead I’ve found styles I like (such as long flowy dresses) & bought them in lots of different prints & colours. I couldn’t afford that if I was only going high-end. I do however have the odd expensive thing I wear & mix with my high street clothes like an LV bag, VCA earrings, LV shawl etc which fit my capsule wardrobe colours/style.

Love your looks @happytobemrsg! In terms of colour palettes I'm currently 3 stone overweight so the colours I'm planning (black and grey with red as an accent) aren't really ones that suit me (I'm a soft summer) but they are slimming which is helping me to be braver with my choices rather than boring jeans and a top all the time. Off to investigate that app now...

This is fun! Though taking photos of my clothes that I currently have is trickier than I thought! That shirt looks a lot nicer in real life.

@happytobemrsg this app is amazing! Thank you so much. It's so much easier to visualise everything and I've almost logged all my clothes now. Absolute game changer!

I’m glad OP! I find it very addictive. Have you tried the outfit shuffle feature??

No! Omg off to try that now

That’s your next 5 hours sorted 😂

@happytobemrsg I’ve just use downloaded Stylebook. This is going to keep me entertained in the relatively quiet times when baby Dd is napping. 😂

I should get a commission!! 😂

Oooo, I like the look of that app! I had a clear out of my wardrobe in the winter and it's been so much easier to get an outfit together - people keep asking if I've had a makeover (although I guess there could be an implication that I looked like a scarecrow before).

I have gone for some of what to me are investment pieces, so sweaters in cashmere, nice bag, silk shirts, but I've picked them up either on eBay, charity shops or in TKMaxx because I don't have a big budget. Focus on getting stuff in nice material has been key to me looking smarter. So, they're investment pieces to me, but wouldn't be for a lot of people.

What I like about the app is I don’t have to think. I had decided what outfit I was wearing today but the weather was crap. It was 7am & I was more tired than when I went to bed (thanks wriggly baby). So I just went to the section which I put my “when it’s chilly” outfits & picked one. So much easier than actually thinking at that time in the morning.

I've had two capsule wardrobes by default because I've spent the last 18 months either pregnant or walking miles/breastfeeding on maternity leave, resulting in a weight loss of about 20lb from my pre-pregnancy weight. So I had a very limited selection of nursing tops, 3 pairs of maternity jeans and a couple of dresses for 9 months, and now I have 3 pairs of jeans in a 28 and about 6 tops in my new size.

It's taught me that no matter how many lovely quality bretons I buy, which are my staples, and how much I love my AllSaints jacket, Burberry coat, and black leather Converse, I still want room to buy a top with herons on it, a mustard cardigan, or some brown Lucy and Yak dungarees like I did the other day.

I'm @happytobemrsg I definitely feel a lot more pulled together. I went to a festival yesterday and was able to plan an outfit that was super simple and practical. I had random people coming up and complimenting me on my outfit.

@hammeringinmyhead oooh black leather converse. A lot of my clothes are easy access ones from when I was feeding that have been stretched to shit. I really struggled with my weight when I was feeding as well. It's only now it's dropping off.

I’ve started uploading things to stylebook. Omg. The options. Love it!!!

I tried working on a capsule wardrobe after I had my DC. But I found it too restricted.

I think getting good basic pieces to wear across seasons is key. Pieces that work with lots of different pieces.

My staples are 3 pairs of different coloured skinny jeans, 3 pairs of work trousers (grey, black and navy) and 2 work skirts (black and navy). If I buy a top, I aim to choose something that can work with jeans and be smart for work. I do have some tops that are completely casual but again they generally work with all jeans I have.

It does mean being ruthless sometimes. I might like something, it might suit me but if it doesn't work across the board I won't always buy it. I'm also probably not hugely fashionable. But I know what I like and what suits me.

There's a really good blogger called putting me together and she does lots of this kind of thing.

@cheesenpickles I just know that when I stop breastfeeding or even when I do it less and go back to work, some weight will go back on. Just not sure how much and when it will stabilise. Probably not this autumn/winter!

Like others, I’ve started chucking everything into Stylebook. I have a very pared down style and Stylebook helps keep me on track and stops me falling prey to my weaknesses - e.g. I’ve never met a silk shirt I didn’t like. The stats are like catnip if you like numbers!

My capsule is definitely bigger than 333 but my reflects my life - my week spans business formal, business casual and weekend casual plus regular dressy occasions. For me it’s more about making sure everything works hard for its keep.

I know it isn’t very popular around here but I have found it much easier to restrain myself since I got my colours professionally done.

Try the Outfit Shuttle feature @ememem84 game changer!

@happytobemrsg oh I’m all over it.

Today’s outfit - Black cotton shorts (Oasis), yellow sleeveless top (Oasis) leopard print espadrilles and petrol blue (apparently this is a colour) small leather backpack. Would never have done the blue bag with the yellow. But. It worked.

I’m slowly adding my clothes to the app.

I’ll be spending the next few months in casual clothes as am on mat leave until January. When I go back to work dress code is predominantly business casual. I tend to buy items which can be both work and home.