Guardian capsule wardrobe article- what items do you agree with and ones that you don't?

[PragmaticDramatic]

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/aug/24/the-ultimate-capsule-wardrobe-the-only-20-items-youll-ever-really-need
I am assuming you need multiples of these items.

Maybe I'm a bit old and jaded but it feels very 1998 to me - kitten heels and satin skirts were quite the thing when I was working in London in my twenties 30 years ago. Plus the inclusion of the dreaded 'classic white shirt', which along with the 'classic trench' is rolled out in these sort of articles all the time and which I have never managed to find or make work. Usually looks as though I'm waitressing or have come in my old school uniform by mistake.

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain If you've managed to find elegant/stylish leather work shoes suitable for people with plantar fasciitis, would you mind sharing please? Need to give up my ballet pumps as they are doing me no good.

I definitely had the ballet flats and kitten heels from around 1998-2002.

My feet hurt like crazy, I sprained my ankle all the time in the kitten heels and now I have the bunions.

Not going back to shoes that are actively trying to kill me, however fashionable they are.

Literally everyone in London is wearing a satin skirt. They have come around again. As fashion always does.

I agree, I was at the toddler group stage with my DC then and my usual outfit was wide leg trousers or Levi’s with ballet shoes or boots and a shirt or round neck jumper. Kitten heels for nights out

Urghh ballet flats. The make normal women look like Billy Bunter and tall slim women look like Olive Oil if any of you remember who they are. Id also never wear brogues or white trainers horrid.

Where's the colour? Also, I don't have a use for a white top, a breton, a chemise, sling back or ballet shoes, a blazer or cigarette trousers. Who is this list for?

Not me!

I have never owned a blazer or short jacket as an adult. Waterproofs, yes.

As for one jumper, pfft! Where are all the cardigans and gilets?

They've not included any wellies at all, much less covered the essential welly basics!

Long insulated winter wellies, short summer wellies, industrial steel toe cap wellies, a size too large for easy on/off wellies, and snug through the arch and heel for striding through mud without leaving one behind wellies. That's not counting comfy but leaky old versions and stiff but dry new ones, awkward unsuitable gift wellies, and all the different colours of wellies.

Onwards to hiking boots, snow boots, ankle boots, calf boots, long leather boots ...

It’s just daft filling of column inches

Really well made loafers will do the job, but they need to have solid and robust soles, don't compromise on something for thirty quid from Next (though it doesn't have to be wildly expensive, Clarks would do).

If your work is a bit less formal then you might be able to get away with sneaker-style trainers like these (these are Fitflops so absolutely the business for PF, but you might be able to get away with something a bit more fashion depending on how bad your feet are).

Not to derail the thread, but I've never understood about "supportive" footwear, plantar fasciitis etc. Do people who don't wear shoes at all get these conditions?

The shirt would be ok, if it wasn’t plain white and the only non-jean option wasn’t black trousers. White shirt and black trousers is waiting staff uniform. As such, it never looks stylish or interesting or even particularly smart.

A different shirt works with black trousers, but most women would avoid white shirt and black trousers.

Shoes would say depend a lot more on your lifestyle. Slingback kitten heels wouldn't work for me. Not most women with heavy calves.

The skirt is pretty blah. And the dress. I'd have a completely different dress. Probably black or navy as once you've worn that red dress everyone would recognise it. You'd be the woman who always wore that one red dress.

I'd swap out the lace up boots for more of a chunky boot and those white supergas are just awful

You'd need way more than that though. Long sleeve t-shirts. White/navy short sleeve t-shirt. Pretty blouse/shirt.

I actually have 17 of the 20 pieces, but about 70 more besides!

It seems to be aimed at someone who:
Never goes outside on a wet and also windy day (no coats with hoods)
Never goes outside during the middle of winter or high summer (only one jumper and one t shirt)
Never goes on a sunshine holiday (one tee, no sundresses, shorts, linen shirts etc)
Does laundry at least twice a week (only five tops!)

I do agree with the point though that it's easier and less stressful if almost everything goes with everything else and is easy to see.

And I'm definitely on board that you don't need endless wardrobes of stuff. I'm at about 90 pieces (there was a similar article last year about a 70 piece wardrobe, so I was curious and counted mine!), including multiples of things like white t-shirts and, depending on your life and work, that seems like a reasonably sensible number.

Actually thinking about it - as these pieces clearly don’t work together well, this list works as a building blocks list. The pieces you have (that you can spend a bit more on) that you’ll mix with more fashionable, more colourful/interesting clothing choices to build a range of outfits.

@ShutTheFuckUpCakes

Huh? So...a 'capsule wardrobe' is just...some of your clothes? I don't get it.

It's the stuff you'd wear 80% of the time. Of course everyone would have other stuff that fitted in with their lifestyle. A capsule wardrobe is the basis from which you can add bits to update or personalise. It's the foundation

Might be very localised - haven’t seen anyone wearing one in my office and we have quite a few people who seem to love their clothes and always look amazing (sadly I’m not one of them!)

At least the photo list has two coats: one wool and one waterproof (though I agree that the waterproof one should have a hood - who walks the dog with an umbrella?).

The accompanying article says that all the experts are unanimous that you only need one coat! Madness.

I'd say that one smart wool, one smart trench, one lightweight waterproof with a hood and one warm waterproof with a hood is the absolute minimum that I'd be prepared to strip down to for London living.

If you got rid of a few pairs of shoes then I'd call that a good example of a minimalist wardrobe.
I mean if you didn't have a tumble dryer you could run out of things to wear.

No white t shirt, no sweatshirt, nothing for a hot day like shorts - I think you need a capsule wardrobe for each season really.

Hahaaa. You'd find me very boring then. I wear stuff like this most days.

Today for example I wore straight leg black mannish trousers a white long sleeve t-shirt peeking out from under a grey cashmere crew neck jumper with NB sneakers. I feel compact and neat. A bit like this but with a bit of white showing and my sneakers were black and white.

Is it exciting? Maybe not. But I like slightly androgynous pared back dressing.

It lost me at Breton top tbh, and ballet flats must be like walking in pitta bread. It read like one of those 'how to dress like a Parisian' articles.

Pitta bread 😂

This confirms that I am not a capsule wardrobe type of person.
I would like to reduce the amount of clothes I have but not to this extent.
I don’t work from home so need a good selection of clothes.
My office get very cold in winter and hot in summer.
I don’t wear ballet flats, they are very bad for your feet, and I can’t stand kitten heels.
I also have several coats. I walk a lot. I need ones for the various types of weather we experience. For example very cold and wet weather. Rain but not too cold. A posh winter coat. A summer coat. A jacket. A blazer for work when needed.

I don't suit crew necks or white so no to the white shirt and crew neck jumper.

There is definitely not enough in there for my entire wardrobe. What would I wear to keep me warm while my only pair of jeans and a jumper were in the wash?

They say something about going on a trip, so wonder if this is based on a holiday capsule or something...

I do like the idea of a capsule wardrobe, but I think I'd do something like a Steve Jobs-esque uniform if I ever did it. I most likely won't as I love clothes and dressing up 🤷‍♀️

I think saying for ex 5 pairs of shoes is fine, but the type of shoes would vary according to lifestyle/personal taste. I wouldn't want loafers or sling back kitten heels - fit me it would be knee high boots, ankle boots, trainers, sandals, dressy heels.
Wouldn't have a white shirt or denim, but would have a couple of linen shirts in darker colours.
So basically adapting the type of item within the category.
Would definitely want 3 jumpers though.