Having a ‘capsule wardrobe’ has definitely made my life easier. Before I had a full closet with lots of options. And the more options you have, the more overwhelming the choice, the less likely you are to make a good decision. Our brains become overwhelmed by too many options, which is also known as analysis paralysis. This is what happens when you stare at your overflowing closet, but don’t seem to have anything to wear. Does this sound familiar? By buying only things that I absolutely love and that are timeless and versatile, I save time getting dressed and I save money by buying fewer items. The capsule wardrobe is all about buying less and buying better. With the money saved I can invest in higher quality pieces which last longer. These not only give more joy in wearing but are also more sustainable and better for the environment.
What exactly is a capsule wardrobe? The capsule wardrobe works on the basis of timeless clothing. You basically build a wardrobe with a limited number of strategically selected items of clothing. All items go well together and because they are timeless, they will never go out of style. The key is to make sure that the pieces you have are versatile. This means that they can be paired with different pieces to create completely different looks that are appropriate for different events and occasions.
Above: Everlane’s The ’80s Italian Wool Blazer, The Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee in Sandstone/Black.
Above: Everlane’s The Italian Leather Day Ballet Flat in Pale Pink (available in many other colors, I have these in Sugar Almond and love them!), The ’80s Italian Wool Blazer, The Pima Micro-Rib Scoop-Neck Tee in White.
How to create a capsule wardrobe? A capsule wardrobe consists of a set of tops, bottoms, jackets and coats, shoes, some dresses and accessories that can be easily mixed and matched together to be dressed up or down. Your closet should have less trendy pieces that will only be worn for one season and more high-quality ones that stand the test of time and can be worn for many years to come.
Where to shop for a capsule wardrobe? I love Arket, Cos, Other Stories and especially Everlane. Everlane partners with the best, ethical factories around the world and they source only the finest materials. They are strong on doing ethical business and they design to last. “At Everlane, we’re not big on trends. We want you to wear our pieces for years, even decades, to come. That’s why we source the finest materials and factories for our timeless products”.
In a series of posts I will show you some of my favorite timeless staples that are in my capsule wardrobe. Today’s post is about an example of a capsule wardrobe outfit: a blazer, (striped) t-shirt, jeans and some flat shoes. This outfit is timeless and versatile: you can pair it with leather loafers or ballerina’s for a classic look (above), or wear it with sneaker for a more casual outfit (below).
Above: Everlane’s The ’80s Italian Wool Blazer, The Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee in Sandstone/Black, white sneakers.
Above: Everlane’s The Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee striped, The Italian Leather Day Glove shoes (I love these and have them in black – see image below), The ’90s Cheeky Jean in Deep Atlantic. I love this jeans and wear it in 26.5″ inseam so it falls at the ankle which is beautiful paired with flat shoes (such as the ballerinas).
Above: Everlane’s The Italian Leather Day Glove shoes in Black (LOVE these!)
Another great versatile investment piece is a cashmere sweater. Above is Everlane’s The Cashmere Crew in Charcoal. It is is warm, soft to the touch, and lightweight with a slightly relaxed fit for an easy, timeless look. Plus, it’s made of certified Grade-A cashmere from Inner Mongolia, which is more durable, pills less, and gets softer with wear.
