Capsule wardrobes or people who wear a small number of high quality pieces

[TheQueensGambit]

I know it's done to death and all that, but humour me if you will.

Do you have a capsule wardrobe of classic pieces? What is in it? I'm striving for one, but think that I'm going to end up having to store lots of things as I don't want to get rid of them, but I am also desperate for the ease and lack of decision making involved with a small, high quality, classic, capsule wardrobe.

To help me, I've ordered one of those style boxes, specifically saying I want high quality items for a capsule wardrobe. Will see how it goes.

I am not one of the people whose experience you are looking for (my wardrobe could never be described as capsule) but I'm on the email list for the Cladwell app and they are doing a capsule wardrobe course type of thing imminently - not signing up myself as am a long-term user of Stylebook, but the Cladwell one looks interesting. Plus they have an android app as well as Apple which is more than can be said of Stylebook

Oh thank you! Yes, I have an Android too, so have never been able to use Style Book.

There was a good thread on here last year by a woman who planned her capsule wardrobe on a spreadsheet. She stopped impulse buying and saved up for high quality items. Her list covered her actual lifestyle, rather than buying for a hoped-for lifestyle.
It included things like leather tote bag, trenchcoat, wool coat, a couple of work suits by an Australian company that don't crease, cotton long sleeve t-shirts for layering, the best white t-shirts she could find etc. It inspired lots of people to try it.

Thanks for that Diana. I will see if I can find it... Do you happen to have any idea what the title was?

I'm not this person, but if I was I'd base it around:
A couple of Vivienne Westwood dresses
Black long sleeved and short sleeved t-shirts from Jigsaw
An All Saints leather jacket or three
Boden Richmond trousers
A decent wool coat/rain coat/light jacket for Spring
Levis straight jeans
M&S skinny jeans
Decent black and grey jumpers
A couple of jersey dresses
A black blazer

That sounds like a good capsule Remis. My own wardrobe is not a capsule in any way.

I am thinking...straight leg jeans will feature, in my very hypothetical capsule. I suit them and think they don't really come in or out of fashion. Definitely decent knitwear, which I can still wash at home.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie, out of interest which Vivienne Westwood dresses would you choose. I’ve just looked at the website and I couldn’t imagine wearing anything from there, and the rest of your list seems so classic and accessible.

Things I always come back to are slouchy cashmere jumpers in a pale neutral colour or charcoal, or pale grey, with straight leg dark blue or dark grey jeans. They never date and are always lovely to wear.

I also have some tan leather mid calf kurt Geiger boots which ive had reheeled 3 times and still work a decade on.

If I were starting from scratch, I'd have a handful of plain cashmere jumpers, plain quality tees, a couple of long cardigans and decent jeans and 7/8 trousers. And a few simple dresses. Couple of blazers and a nice coat. Couple of sweatshirts for relaxing in.
Tan and charcoal boots and bags.

I'm really tempted to have a go at this!

This sounds like a dream, I’d love to be this classy. In reality I can’t find a single pair of jeans that suit me and can’t manage t shirts or shirts either. I need either strict tailoring to hold it all in or flowing jersey to skim over the top....

Do capsule wardrobes not include underwear, gym/run wear, nightwear ? I’m usually overflowing with these.

I struggle to spend money on really good clothes but over the last few years I’ve been reducing my wardrobe down to the clothes I wear over and over and paying attention to what it is about them that works for me so I can replace them.

The game changer has been keeping on top of my laundry - I mean getting every single item in the laundry basket cleaned and back in the wardrobe every week.

Once all my clothes were available to wear I found I kept reaching for the same pieces and it was much easier to identify what wasn’t getting worn and send it on it’s way.

I’ve worn out a favourite pair of trousers and I’m seriously considering sending them to a tailor to make me new ones, if I can find someone to do this.

I have found that ‘secret’ salsa jeans (the high waisted ones that push your tummy in) work for me and I’ve stopped wasting money buying cheap jeans that don’t fit as well, so that’s progress.

I love a capsule wardrobe but you have to be careful because it can look frumpy if you don’t choose high quality fabrics.

Black blazer, think Reiss or Jigsaw
Dark wash jeans, ankle skimming
White or blue button-up blouse
Breton top
Cashmere jumper in a dark grey or oatmeal
Camel or navy pencil skirt
Trench coat
Black biker jacket
Black flats
Dark brown long boots

Accessorise with simple earrings or necklace.

Important to remember that you want to buy pieces that compliment your figure. So, if you are large breasted, don’t buy a top with a square or boat neck. V-neck only.
Pinterest has loads of great ideas.

@DianaT1969

There was a good thread on here last year by a woman who planned her capsule wardrobe on a spreadsheet. She stopped impulse buying and saved up for high quality items. Her list covered her actual lifestyle, rather than buying for a hoped-for lifestyle. It included things like leather tote bag, trenchcoat, wool coat, a couple of work suits by an Australian company that don't crease, cotton long sleeve t-shirts for layering, the best white t-shirts she could find etc. It inspired lots of people to try it.

I remember that thread . It was fantastic.

I remember that too, she was Australian. I think it is this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3797652-thanks-to-s-b-i-m-finally-winning-in-the-pursuit-of-elegance

Thanks for all of these and for the thread link! Looks great.

I am slowly coming up with a list, but it is still very vague. I don't wear black, so will stick to other neutrals.

I think I need:

Good quality flat shoes I can walk in (as the op in the other thread suggests)
A big, brown, leather handbag which is comfortable to carry
A jacket of some kind...I have a few already in fact, so one of them might fit the bill
Good quality knitwear
Jeans
Dresses or skirts
Long sleeve and shirt sleeve tshirts
White shirt
Some sort of boots. I would probably get the most wear out of brown riding boots

The pp who mentioned gym gear etc., no, I don't think that counts in a capsule, as you might need specific sports gear. I only do yoga, but I can't do that in a dress or jeans!

I have no intention of ever having a capsule wardrobe. But I do think a small number of high end items can punch above their weight and lift everything else you're wearing. I buy mostly second hand but in the last couple of years I've gritted my teeth and shelled out for new on:
A decent bad weather coat - after years / decades of wasting money on cheaper ones.
A lightweight waterproof raincoat (with a hood - I hate umbrellas).
Solovair ankle boots
Trousers - better fabric and a good cut helps them hang better
Bras - if underwear does its job, I can get away with cheaper fabrics on top.

I think the rule of spending more on the things you wear every day is a good one. So what you prioritise depends on your lifestyle.

Generally I don't spend as much on knitwear or tops because I spill things and I sweat and they just wear out faster. But a few years ago I splashed out on a couple of Toast T shirts and I have to say they've worn and washed brilliantly, so I might have to rethink that.

Regarding colour - I think you have to find your own 'neutrals'. Mine are plum, green, very dark brown and charcoal grey. They all work together surprisingly well.

I don’t have a capsule wardrobe as such but very much stick to quality pieces in a defined style.
Boden super skinny jeans
Cashmere jumpers
Leather jacket/Barbour wax Jacket depending on season
I rotate accessories, mulberry scarves and bags to dress up or down.

Only thing I struggle a little with are T-shirt’s. I’m a bit bored of the seasalt type stripes. Any recommendations for high quality single colour T-shirt’s? Probably a mix of neutrals.

I'd recommend having your colours done. Not because I'm a particular believer in the "eyes popping" thing but because once you've identified your palate, if you stick to it, everything in your wardrobe will work together.

For me, it meant no black, which really restricts you when you're shopping, which has been a very good thing, actually. It's also made my clothes far more interesting, but maybe that's not what a classic capsule wardrobe is about

I think I am a warm spring, verging on autumn. I don't think I need to have my colours done. I know I don't suit black, but I do suit other neutrals; brown, camel, olive, burgundy, navy.

I also do not have a capsule wardrobe - the very opposite, mine is overflowing - but I have become much better about buying things I know suit me and I will wear. This year has thrown things off a bit because I have been working from home since March, so a lot of things are not being worn. I'm going to be at home until next August, so that's set to continue, but my "staples" are:

Barrel/balloon jeans
Levi's cropped 501s
Crew-neck jumpers
V-neck cardigans - worn over a crew neck t-shirt
Cords - either cropped wide leg, or again, barrel/balloon shape

Crew-neck t-shirts
Midi skirts
Midi dresses

For work

A-line mini-ish skirts - I have a couple of leather ones which were very expensive but cost per wear is now negligible
Wide leg cropped trousers
Knitwear as above, plus Breton tops
Really good tights - I like Falke and although they are expensive I have pairs from five years ago that are in perfect nick. I like the 100 denier ones
Leather trainers - Stan Smiths in black and in white, Vejas, Continental 80s
DM Church monkey boots in black and in oxblood
Black chunky flat Chelsea boots

I am also really conscious of proportions - I am a size 10, but hippy with a small waist. I need top halves that either sit on my waist band, or tuck in. Anything that comes to my hip bones cuts me off at my widest point and looks shit. I also know which shops I can get each item from without having to try on, which is particularly useful just now!

Black doesn’t work for me either. I’m a warm spring/summer and suit greys, navy and pastels primarily.

Oh, ha, forgot outerwear since I never go out now... I have loads of coats, collected over many years. Staple-wise I would say:

Denim jackets - I have a very over-sized pale blue one, and a more fitted dark one
Leather jacket
Numerous faux fur jackets and coats
Really good parka with hood
Smart wool coat - in reality this very rarely gets worn and I wouldn't replace it

Oh, ha, forgot outerwear since I never go out now

Christ, I know.....

uk.coach.com/73549.html?dwvar_color=GDO5K&istCompanyId=47192935-fdad-43fd-9835-fda03ac7f333&istFeedId=2829af50-3350-4a2a-9581-843dbd622d43&istItemId=irmpxrptp&istBid=t&gclid=CjwKCAiAoOz-BRBdEiwAyuvA67F8tQZeWV_mjGYVKUVXl2enIBJX8XiWWNHIu749UvZAhbgPJOMfJhoC94YQAvD_BwE

What do people think of this? Is it classic and timeless, or will it date? This is an item I would need to save for.

It’s fairly classic. Wouldn’t probably be my choice but each to their own. Definitely wait for the sale though.

I do a very lightweight version of a capsule wArdrobe after a combination of reading about the project 333 idea and really enjoying dressing from a holiday packing wardrobe one year. So now I have one big wardrobe with most of my clothes in it(this is in the spare room actually) and i have a small wardrobe in my bedroom. At roughly the start of every month I pick out 30 items as if I’m packing to go away for the month. I even lay them out as outfits on the bed etc and this is my capsule for that month.

Then at the start of the next month, there are some items (like my favourite jeans) that remain in the wardrobe but I return the rest and go “shopping” again in the big wardrobe for the next set of outfits. This suits me better than trying to make 33 items “last” 3 months as I can adapt to weather changes and planned events more easily.

This hasn’t helped that much with decluttering clothes in general (though it’s easy to see which are your real wardrobe stars that you keep wanting to put in the wardrobe and which items don’t quite make the cut) - but I do find it saves me mental time in planning what to wear each day when I have a more limited choice of clothes which I’ve already picked as outfits iyswim. It sounds a bit of a faff, but I enjoy clothes and fashion so see spending an hour or so planning my wardrobe for the coming month a substitute for an afternoon spent wandering round the shops