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?'

@DazzlePaintedBattlePants

I have been browsing at M&S and found this: https://www.marksandspencer.com/jersey-flared-trousers/p/clp60519768?intid=mobileappppdpshare

These look good as basics? They're very budget friendly but worth a shot at that price to see how they bear up

I am short too - 5 foot naught - but I love, love my dresses.
Separates are a faf and I love dresses for their throw-on appeal.
Accessories can really change a dress - boots and merino in winter and birkies and sunnies in summer.
They are the most versatile items in my wardrobe.

I have those M&S trousers and are nice.

List sounds good, I would add plain white shirt, mom jeans in black and blue, nude jumper or cardy. Trench coat. Good quality leather bag large and cross body. Maybe a silk blouse.

@MadeinSW3 see I love the sound of that list but it wouldn't work for me and my lifestyle.

I'd feel like a flasher in a trench coat

Luckily I have loads of lovely handbags, mostly Loewe and Gucci but I do fancy the Coach tabby pillow

Following for ideas as I am in exactly the same position. Totally lost my sense of style with kids and wfh. I have checked out most of my wardrobe and trying to find my personal style again.

I have got as far as writing a list of things I want and have a load of Pinterest saves of looks I like. Like a pp said I am wanting to buy less but better so leather jacket, leather joggers, cashmere etc. I need to lose weight though so some of my list will need to wait as don't want to invest in something which hopefully won't fit soon. I am also trying to look for things with interesting details so they look a bit more wow than a plain t shirt for example.

*chucked out

I have a very small wardrobe with not too many different colours in it. Not sure it's strictly a capsule as some of the items don't go together.

3 x blue jeans
1 x denim shorts
5 x long sleeve tshirts
4 x short sleeve tshirts
1 x shirt
1 x dressy top
1 x skirt
3 x dresses (one long with long sleeves, one short with short sleeves, one sleeveless, really lightweight linen for hot summer days)
1 x dungarees
3 x jumpsuits
2 x jumpers
1 x hoodie
1 x coord set for summer (might count as two items)
2 x lightweight trousers for summer

Shoes are:

Ankle boots
White trainers
Winter trainers
Ballet flats
Sandals

Hand bags:

1 x small black cross body
1 x tan satchel
1 x everyday backpack

Coats:

Wool coat
Teddy lined corduroy coat thing
Massive duvet coat
Waterproof

This is circa 40 items for work and days off and for all seasons.

I haven't counted things like leggings for sport and PJs etc.

Well I've gone full on Marie Kondo and ordered some velvet hangers which will arrive later, along with a case to store my trainers and boots (don't wear shoes)

All clothes charity shopped already and about 7 pieces on eBay.

I ordered 2 blazers, a jumper, various yoga pants / black wide leg trousers from John Lewis and will collect them today

Might even share a photo when it's to my liking - if it ever is

@Weaselstoatferret yes I used to suffer a bit from ' when I'm size 6, I'll buy better things'

Now I don't think like that. I'm not going to be that size so I tend to buy stuff in a size 14, or 12 if it's generous, and I find that does me even if I lose a little weight. I have a jaeger leather jacket in a 14 and it would be fine if I lost weight. Same for my Levi's denim jacket and my cashmere I buy a bit larger as it always looks better slouchy / a little oversized

So what I'm saying is, unless you're planning a drastic weight loss, don't hold off buying yourself nice things

@SarahJessicaPorker do you find it easier having less things? See, before my big cull yesterday, I had 6 camo jackets in the wardrobe. 6! I clearly like camo jackets. So I've kept my Bird + Wolf one, which I had specially made (dunno why - I already owned loads ) and I've got rid of the rest

Tbh, I still wear the same as i did before. I just had a lot of stuff in my wardrobe that I didn't wear! So I'm not sure if it's necessarily easier or any different getting dressed now, except that I don't have to wade through all the unworn crap in my wardrobe before deciding to wear what I always wear anyway. Also don't have that weird guilt / burden i used to feel about my unworn clothes because they aren't there to wear anymore!

Think the key for me was realising what I enjoy wearing. For example, I'm not massively into skirts and dresses, but have a few now. Before I had tonnes as I thought I should. In reality I wear jeans most days in winter (allowed to for work or else I'd find another type of trousers that I could wear at home and work), and lighter trousers, shorts and jumpsuits in summer. I used to have many boots! Now know I only need one pair. No heels either.

@AlpacaThatPicnic yes totally agree. I spent way too long wearing rubbish stuff because I was waiting until I lost weight so I have bought a few nicer things to tide me over. I do need to lose at least 3 stone though which I am hoping will take me from an 18 to a 12 so I am holding off on some of the more investment style bits.

I have also bought some nicer accessories and boots as obviously they don't matter. Have upgraded hats and scarves to cashmere and also bought some nannette boots, nice veja trainers and some lovely bobbies trainers. I also have got a few sezane sweatshirts white are oversized so will hopefully last.

Other things have been some nice t shirts from Ivy the brand and Sinead Kearney. They are lovely and will cover me for a few dress sizes.

I got an M&S cashmere jumper super cheap on vinted and also a nice silk blazer.

My ultimate goal wardrobe list is looking a bit like this -

Leather joggers - black
Leather biker - charcoal
Cashmere boyfriend jumper - grey or off white
Statement cashmere jumper - not found this yet but thinking an interesting pattern or colour 🤔
Short sleeved t - grey, off white, blush pink
Long sleeved t - breton and off white
Sweatshirts - one plain and one slogan (maybe)
3 x jeans - straight and mom
3 x joggers - 2 casual and one smarter
A statement necklace and bracelet from Amy Russell Taylor

Where did you get the cashmere mix vests? They sound fab. I had an old topshop one which died a few years ago but lasted about 20!

@Weaselstoatferret ooh I like the sound of your ultimate wardrobe. I also like the sound of leather joggers but I just can't even imagine them on me. I'd look like Gene Hunt or something

I've also ordered 6 bras that I'm picking up today. Well, I say bras but I mean bra tops - they're the Anya ones from John Lewis and they're amazing. Perfect for round the house/ popping out/ bit of support. Have a look at those anyway if you're not familiar.

These are the cashmere vests. A really good price and brilliant reviews.

I have been browsing at M&S and found this: https://www.marksandspencer.com/cashmere-blend-strappy-vest/p/clp60472795?intid=mobileappppdpshare

Laughing at the Gene Hunt comment as I have a vision in my head which may not match reality when I actually order them 😅

Those vests look great, going to order a few. Thank you! Also going to check out the bras.

You won't be disappointed with the bras. The reviews - for once - don't lie

I suspect that the leather leggings look could be for the willowy 6 footers among us but I've been tempted on the past by the Hush ones

@AlpacaThatPicnic and @DazzlePaintedBattlePants I think those M&S black trousers are the ones I have too.
Very comfy and look great!

@AlpacaThatPicnic have you bought new white trainers yet? I’d recommend ones with a slightly raised sole rather than totally flat. The extra height is better for wearing with said jersey trousers, joggers etc

Following as I wish to do the same! Loving the lists so far very inspirational! Can someone kindly also share the link for the Anya bras please? Is it the Anyday ones?

Also, Thrift+ is another good place to look for second hand clothes and also you can donate to them too, and get credit.

Good point re the trainers and they'll be a purchase for next month as A I have loads of pairs already which are Not Quite Right and B I need to research ones with a slight platform

Ok so I've culled and now have some new bits from John Lewis

I've attached a couple of pics but I've bought ...

NRBY black joggers
Mint velvet wide legs black (wide!)
John Lewis yoga pants (less wide!)
NYDJ jeggings

Mint velvet black blazer

Mint velvet twill beige blazer - keeping this but went for the 12 as all that's in stock and it's a little (a lot) too tight on my arms but by summer I'm sure it'll be fine

Reiss baby jumper with cream high neck collar and cream cuffs - reduced from £125 to £50

Coach reversible belt - @tigerbear I went on Vinted and I searched and got it for £45 instead of £125. It's brand new too

3 grey t shirts arriving tomorrow from H&M - I've had these before and they tick my boxes - they're longer length, short sleeved but not cap sleeves which I hate and they're just good basics

Also stocked up on Anya bra tops

And that's me done for a little while!

Ignore the pic of the Reiss jumper - wrong one! It's gone out of stock. But it's very similar

@DarlingCoffee yes the AnyDay ones which is quite a new things as I've bought them for years and they were not under that umbrella before.

I'm a size 14 and a 36 D and I buy them in a large. Medium is ok but large is more comfortable and still loads of support. They're not wired or anything like that though so fine for day wear but maybe not for stewpot dresses or evenings !

Thanks @AlpacaThatPicnic and well done on your purchases they all look fab! I’ve just been doing some sales shopping in Mango and got myself some new black palazzo trousers, slouchy caramel cardigan, white tee and navy gilet in the sale. Some good deals on there. Will have a look at these bras next!

@AlpacaThatPicnic without wanting to be a bra knob, are you 100% sure you're a 36? I only ask because I'm the same size as you, 12/14, and used to wear 36D. I can't tell you how much better I looked when I realised I was a 32F!!

For figuring our your capsule wardrobe I always recommend Anuschka Rees book 'the curated closet'. It goes through how you see your style so it doesn't just give you the standard list of things everyone 'should' have and you make your own capsule wardrobe list. I've done it a few times and even though I don't feel my wardrobe is 'done' (and it probably never will be) I do feel that my decisions are more considered and I have more faith in by choices when I buy something more expensive that it won't be a waste.

Can I recommend Daniel footwear op. Lots of trainers with a platform