Do you have a casual capsule wardrobe? Help please

[AlpacaThatPicnic]

I think I'm going to basically charity shop the overwhelming majority of my clothes and start again.

I would like some ideas for a capsule wardrobe - must be very casual but with the odd piece slightly smarter. Fed up with looking a mess in harem pants and scamp and dude sweatshirts but as I work from home (with occasional meeting out on the world!) I need something comfortable that I can throw on.

Prefer mid to higher end pieces as want stiff that will last - so... what's your idea of a casual capsule wardrobe? How many pieces are in it? And I can't possibly cope with two t shirts for example, but does buying 10 make a mockery of the word 'capsule?'

I have recently bought these from sosander after looking for comfy but suitable for leaving the house in trousers. I am tucking the drawstring in so it can't be seen but they are otherwise perfect, just wish they did more colours!

Can't help on the capsule wardrobe element as I tried and I'm awful at it!

I've just invested in two beautiful pairs of jeans - one pair from Sandro and the other from Ba&Sh. With both pairs, I got the waist tailored to make them fit perfectly. The shops should offer this service. I know jeans are less comfy than yoga pants, but I prefer to keep yoga pants for yoga or hiking or whatever.

For tops, I tend to buy basics from Massimo Dutti. They cut their t-shirts with a long line and you can pick up nice fitted items with good but minimal details (buttons or trim) if you wade through all the patterned blousy stuff they also sell.

I also like the COS cotton vests, which look basically identical to the Toteme ones, and again are cut long.

I also have a pair of stretchy corduroy black bootcut trousers. They fit like yoga pants in terms of comfort but can look smart or casual if needed to. I have no idea where you'd buy these, but they're integral to my wardrobe.

Me and Em would be a good place for this sort of shopping. I guess I’d get : jeans x2; palazzos x1; wide legged trousers x1; track pants/satin joggers etc x1. Then a couple of good sweaters; a roll neck; a cardigan that can be worn as a sweater too; 4 or 5 t shirts etc.
but I would never stick to it and would end up with just as much stuff as ever!

OP, I’m a recent convert to using Vinted for both buying and selling stuff.
I started out selling mine and DD’s old things, and realised that once I’d sold a few items, I had credit on my account, which could be used to buy other things on the app.
Honestly, it’s been a revelation! I don’t think I’ll ever buy new again.
You could get all of the kind of items you want for about £100 total, or even less.
In the past 2 weeks, I’ve got a full length leather trench coat by Joseph for £110 (biggest bargain in the world as new would have been over £1k), a Maxmara jumper for £20, Massimo Dutti top for £8, a Jigsaw suede jacket for £40, leather trousers for £2.50!!
There’s a lot of upper high street stuff on there in better quality fabrics, so will last for capsule pieces. Check out pieces from Cos, Massimo Dutti, Jigsaw, Autograph, Maxmara, Joseph, Modern Rarity by John Lewis, and I guarantee you’ll find some amazing bargains.
There’s so much on there that’s new with tags on too. You can also make the buyer an offer below the stated price.
I’m a total shopaholic, and I’m converted!!

Also, the kind of stretchy palazzo pants someone mentioned up thread, M&S do them. I got some in their sale for £4.99 last week!

I’d advise searching for things in good quality fabrics - leather, cashmere etc - as basics look smarter this way.
Eg leather (or fake leather) jogging bottoms or jeggings look way smarter than normal ones.

@tigerbear I'll check out Vinted but I've always found it a bit confusing in the past when I've tried it but definitely up for some bargains!

@RacheyCat I like the look of those cos vests so they're on the list . Also liked some of the MD t shirts

I think I'm looking to curate (lol, curate) a wardrobe which consists of

A black casual wool blazer
A lighter fabric beige blazer
Coach C leather belt
Coach tan tabby pillow bag
Black slim fit joggers - few pairs
Grey slim fit joggers - few pairs
Black leggings / jeggings / pants
Jeans x 2
7 vests
10 t shirts - all in white / cream / black / odd pop of colour maybe
White trainers

I already have ..

Nanette boots
Jaeger leather jacket
Levi's denim jacket
Ultra mini Uggs
Black Chelsea boots

How does that sound?

@AlpacaThatPicnic your list sounds great.
I’m happy to do some searching on Vinted for you, if you don’t mind saying what size you are?

Just found this wool and cashmere blend Reiss blazer for £12

@tigerbear ooh that is nice. You're good!

I'm a size 14, 12 if it's a loose fit. 5 ft 3 and a bit.

I look in my wardrobe now and it's just madness. Scamp and dude sweatshirts which you may know are heavily patterned so I feel like a toddler in them. I have loads of matching type bottoms but don't wear together. I have half a dozen Hush harem pants but they don't really suit me as in short and a bit chubby. Many top shop joggers / sweaty Betty joggers and a lot of striped t shirts which again, don't massively suit me. I also don't like cap sleeved t shirts but have loads of them - why I don't know as I don't like showing my arms. But 3/4 length sleeves don't suit me either as they make me look wider

I'm heavily influenced by stuff I see on Instagram / expensive things that I then don't wear

Oh and tops. I've got loads of plain Hush tops but they're all a bit too short so again, I look silly and out of proportion

I think I just want slim cut joggers, high quality jeggings, longer tops, blazers. Nothing floaty or patterned or uncomfortable and absolutely no dresses as I feel all LOOK IVE GOT A DRESS ON when I put one on

Off to examine that blazer more closely but that is in the ballpark what I'm after for sure

I've also seen a style app that's 3.99 where you can upload what you have. I may consider that once I've done the big cull later.

@AlpacaThatPicnic I work in the fashion industry, so am looking at clothes most days 😀
Totally agree re dresses - I’ve just sold loads of mine on Vinted, as they’re too much of a faff to wear!
Also agree regarding harem pants, as just not flattering for shorties (am also 5ft 2)
I’ve found that the M&S palazzo pants are good (and their pants in general), as they come in short sizes, so don’t trail the ground.
They also do a nice cotton cargo pant, which is as comfy as joggers, but looks smarter. I’ve seen them in khaki, beige, and black (I’ve got the black)

I think I'll follow suit and list all my dresses and scamp and dude toddler fear on eBay!

I'm looking on m & s and blimey, they've got so many wide legged trousers! Which ones did you go for?

*gear!

Ok so what do we think of these which am about to purchase ..

1 x cashmere crew neck jumper in black

1 x cashmere v neck in khaki

6 x cashmere blend vests in black and navy

2 x pull on black palazzo pants

1 x high waisted joggers

Your comment about dresses made me laugh - I love the idea of wearing one as they seem so versatile but that's exactly how I feel too!

Your list sounds great :)

@WoodSageandSeasalt I know right? Last year I decided I was going to be the sort of person who wears dresses effortlessly. Spent a bomb on 5 of the things from monsoon and whistles.

They are not effortless. Monsoon ones made me look like an ageing milkmaid, whistles ones were too tight. And for some reason I bought them in colours like red and bright green. I don't wear red or green

@AlpacaThatPicnic I'd probably love your dresses - red and green are my thing!

As someone who recently went through something similar, I really recommend you spend slowly. I bought stuff like a white t-shirt, because it was the basis of all capsules - only to realise that I didn't really wear that. So I'd say don't try to follow a formula, but figure out what works for you. There's no set number of items.

Also, choose a colour palette that works for you and stick to it. I have black, grey, khaki and cream as neutrals, and jewel tones as colours. I have a few lingering pink tops, but I like them so I won't get rid of them just because of that, but I also won't replace them later.

Think about washability and wearability - you wash stuff more often when you have less items, so will you have the energy to handwash or dry clean stuff regularly?

Think about versatility - I have a v-neck khaki jumpsuit I love because it can be dressed up or down - ditto a green wool jumper dress.

Have you looked at Me & Em OP? That's where I'd buy a capsule wardrobe from with your brief

@tigerbear I thought Vinted was just for designer wear. I've got so much Toast, Jigsaw, Whistles, etc stuff I don't wear anymore . It does seem very low price compared to ebay though...

(but like the OP, I love the idea of a capsule wardrobe but my current wardrobes are full to bursting!).

@Pigtailsandall please go and find them on eBay! I've started them at 99p as I honestly don't care 😀 I've also done them as a job lot - bar 1.

Great advice thanks

@Ra12345 I'll take a look at me&em

@Ra12345 meant to say - thank you!

tigerbear - you are a very bad person. I’ve just spent 2hrs on Vinted! The make me an offer button, do you know how flexible people generally are? is it more a quid off, than offering half listed price?

Crashing this thread for links to M&S wide leg trouser recommendations, if anyone would be kind enough to share?