How do I create a capsule wardrobe?

[AnnieLande]

I think that's what im after.

I find choosing what to wear everyday a complete nightmare. I have lots of mismatched pieces and I just want a simple scaled back wardrobe that fits my style.

I like comfy. I'm overweight. Big shoulders but also massive thighs.

Normally wear black leggings with a top. Cardigan, jumper or casual suit type jacket.
Black ankle boots. Occasionally jeans instead of black leggings but less often as they're less comfy.

Occasionally a dress with cardigan, tights and black boots.

Summer is harder. I like the loose fitting soft thing fabric type trousers but only have one pair at the moment. Never know what to wear on top with those kinds of bottoms though. Not sure what else to wear in summer? I'm very short so also struggle with the long maxi type dresses.

Do I have to have separate capsule wardrobes for summer and winter?

Can anyone help? How many items of each should I have, what kind of variety? Etc.

Thanks!

The items you need obviously depend on your lifestyle, but stick to 2 neutral colours and 2 contrasting colours to start with, Don’t buy anything that doesn’t go with at least 2 other items. So, my neutrals are grey and navy, my colours are dark red/maroon and pale blue. You can have black and white.

When I first was thinking about this I looked into Project 333 - 33 item wardrobe for 3 months. This means you rotate items according to weather etc.

33 doesn't sound like many, but you don't include sportswear, loungewear, nightwear etc.

If you can figure out which colours suit you, you can go from there, eg I suit darker "warm" colours, so try to wear charcoal, navy, brown etc as "base" colour for clothes, then I add in dark red/green/purple etc.

You might need to make a list of the clothes you need - eg 3x trousers, 3xleggings, etc then look for where there are gaps in your current wardrobe.

In terms of comfy trousers, there are lots of comfy/jersey trousers out there this year, if you want to have a look in H&M, ASOS etc.
My usual rule is loose-fitting clothes on EITHER top or bottom - if I wear loose clothes top and bottom then I look scruffy

My usual rule is loose-fitting clothes on EITHER top or bottom - if I wear loose clothes top and bottom then I look scruffy

I have the reverse rule, tight fitting clothes only on top or bottom!

According to Trinny (she’s a good outfit-builder on Instagram - albeit with an enormous wardrobe), her must-haves, which might help make a capsule wardrobe, are:

Coat in your favourite colour
Bright coat - might be same as above
Neutral coat - grey, navy, white etc. (until recently she hasn’t really worn black - but I’d add black)
Navy blazer
White blazer
Sequin blazer (kind of her thing)
Black dress
Trouser suit in a bold colour (can wear trousers with white T-shirt/white blazer, jacket over jeans ...)
A co-ord (matching top and trousers or skirt that you can wear as separates or together)
Statement top - best shape, colour, texture for you
Jeans
Black trousers
White shirt
White trainers
Silver brogues
Black block heels
Neutral bag
Black bag

I'd recommend working out what your season is and what colours suit you. Once you know if you're warm or cool you can them concentrate on buying pieces in those shades and you'll find that your wardrobe will naturally 'go' together and enable you to mix and match nicely so you won't end up with an item that clashes/does not go with the rest of your wardrobe.once.you know that you can review what you have and work out what needs to go and what can stay
Then start to build your capsule wardrobe by finding key pieces e.g. jackets, coats etc.

Navy is my BEST colour.
Also white and light grey.
Bit of Khaki green. (Coat and the odd jumper)

Can do black on bottom half but not top.

My favourite top is navy blue and white floral patterned. More navy but with white bits on.

Don't have any other colours really in the wardrobe really. Just navys, whites and greys and some black bottoms and shoes. I suppose in summer, I can do floral pinks (bright not pastel) and purples on white or navy.

Wear pink lipstick usually.

Does that make me warm or cool? And how do I work with that? Stick to those colours?

@Normandy144

I'd recommend working out what your season is and what colours suit you. Once you know if you're warm or cool you can them concentrate on buying pieces in those shades and you'll find that your wardrobe will naturally 'go' together and enable you to mix and match nicely so you won't end up with an item that clashes/does not go with the rest of your wardrobe.once.you know that you can review what you have and work out what needs to go and what can stay Then start to build your capsule wardrobe by finding key pieces e.g. jackets, coats etc.

How do you work this out? I've googled it and had a look but I don't seem to fit into one season. I'm probably doing it wrong though.

You sound warm and spring. Navy and grey are the main colours in the Blue Spring colour palette. Blue Spring is the cooler end of Spring, closer to Summer. Khaki isn't a Spring colour though its very useful, I love it and am Spring. Spring greens are like apple green, and a juicy kelly green.

Hmm, I read the OP’s description and thought Summer! (Except for the khaki). Interesting that grey can be a spring colour too. OP, if you can identify which side of the colour wheel below suits you best then that will help determine whether your skin is warm or cool.

@ufucoffee I'm similar - mostly suit autumn colours, but not the lighter ones like mustard yellow. I seem to hover between autumn & winter. I think for some people it's trial & error.

[quote greyinganddecaying]@ufucoffee I'm similar - mostly suit autumn colours, but not the lighter ones like mustard yellow. I seem to hover between autumn & winter. I think for some people it's trial & error.[/quote]
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