HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN CAPSULE WARDROBE
I'm constantly asked for style help from busy professionals who want to own cohesive wardrobes that are easily mix and matchable and provide them with outfits for any and every situation and occasion in their lives, be it work, spending time with kids, a night out with the spouse, or stylish and casual looks for weekends and errands. These are individuals who have attempted to curate a closet filled with stylish, put-together looks that allow them to effortlessly get dressed daily, but consistently: Have a hard time making purchase decisions, shopping for clothing at the mall or online is energy draining and frustrating. Afraid they'll buy pieces that doesn't work with the rest of their wardrobe, stressed about wasting both money and time. Are concerned about having an overwhelming amount of clothing choices in their closet, making putting together outfits difficult. Want endless outfit options without the endless amount of clothing, quality over quantity being most important to them. The answer to having an effortless wardrobe with endless outfit options is curating a capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe is filled with cohesive clothing items that all easily mix and match together, allowing seamless outfit creation. This is how I shop for my clients, by choosing efficient, versatile pieces that LAST so they can feel and look amazing for any and every occasion-- all while saving time, energy, and money! There are 5 primary questions I'm constantly asking when adding (or removing) a piece of clothing in a closet to transform it into a capsule wardrobe. Keep reading to find out what they are!
1.FUNCTIONALITY:
Do I already own a similar piece in my wardrobe?
When trying to decide what clothing to add or remove to your closet, ask yourself, do I already own a similar piece that has the same function? For example, if you already own a multitude of black pants, establish that any new pant purchased is in a different style, material, or color. Also consider pairing down to the black pants that are reached for most frequently, as the tendency will always be to wear the favorite out of those choices. This guarantees spending less time sifting through clothing or becoming overwhelmed with too many options when getting dressed, erasing the stress caused by decision fatigue. Putting this "functionality rule" into practice when shopping will protect you from buying unnecessary pieces and ensure you're only adding pieces that will create new outfits--not to mention save you money!
Above, are examples from my own wardrobe where I bought pieces that were too similar, causing one of them to never be worn. The black shorts differences may seem like enough: belt, buttons, cuffed hem (above photo) vs pleats (bottom photo), but ultimately, they had the same function and purpose. The same goes for the minor differences in pink skort!
This is an example from my wardrobe of both knowing my personal style (I love black skirts!) and ensuring that each skirt differs enough to create a new and interesting outfit each time I wear it. The fabrics, details, and lengths vary enough to make a strong visual impact! (From left to right: black denim, black velvet with button snap closures, ruched faux leather, genuine black fringe leather skirt)
Do I love how this piece looks and feels on my figure?
When searching for new clothing and desperate to find something that works, fit is often the first thing I see clients sacrifice. Buying a piece for the color, price, specific detail, or lack of being able to find anything else, is the fastest way to come back with home with nothing more than buyer's remorse. A piece of clothing that's comfortable and flawlessly flatters is worth its weight in gold and has the ability to withstand the test of time in a closet, as a beautifully fitting piece never goes out of style! The bottom line here is, don't settle for anything but 100% loving the way it looks and feels on you. Take it from someone who's made this mistake one too many times in the past, love every single thing about your purchase, or leave it in the store, it's so much better than suffering through the guilt of when you have to toss it later!
My Ivory Blazer: 2023: most recently worn in my engagement shoot, 2017: worn with sequin pants for a holiday party, and for one of my first ever branded photo shoots for Ashley Rhodes, Personal Stylist, all the way back in 2016!
I've had this stunning, ivory colored blazer in my wardrobe for at least 9 years and it's been a favorite purchase of mine to date. I largely credit this to its flattering silhouette and how the cut perfectly accentuates my waist! It's been with me through weight gain and loss and never once skipped a beat, never failing in helping me feel amazing about myself!
3.VERSATILITY
Can this piece be worn at least 4 or more ways?
Call me a nerd, but nothing gets me more hyped than when I score an extremely versatile piece of clothing. Finding a piece I know is going to work hard in my wardrobe, earning it's keep by providing me with not just one, but several different outfit options, is one of life's greatest joys! It's a rule I apply to 80% of the pieces I buy for both myself and my clients. For this stylist, there's zero sense in buying something that costs $85-$150+, if it can't be styled in at least 4 or more different outfits. I believe in buying pieces that can be easily transitioned to be worn for several different occasions depending on the styling. Outfits that are effortlessly worn at the office to spending time with kids, from weekend errands to a night out on the town, depending on what items it's paired with. This is what will allow you to own endless outfits without owning an endless amount of clothing!
Above, are looks from my own wardrobe, styled with a virtual closet styling platform I use to create cohesive, versatile outfits for clients (and myself!), allowing them to wear put-together looks effortlessly and whenever they need them!
4.LONGEVITY
Is this a quality made piece with timeless attributes?
Silhouettes, materials/fabrics, and patterns are pivotal when it comes to selecting pieces to add in your wardrobe that will LAST. Listen, as much as I love wearing clothing that I feel fantastic in, I don't want to have to be constantly searching and buying them all the time. I'm sure you can relate, I've got more important things to do, like be a BOSS in my business, enjoy time with my friends and family, relax, and in general, live my epic life! A great example is when purchasing wedding guest attire, i.e a more formal dress. I simply detest the idea of buying a new dress every time I'm invited to a wedding or formal affair and absolutely loathe shopping last minute for one, no frantic shopping meltdowns that cause stress and panic for me! Instead, when I do buy a dress, (or any piece of clothing) I ensure it's in a classic silhouette that avoids dating it for future events, quality fabrics/materials, with timeless patterns and details. Being strategic with purchases ensures you are ready for any and everything life throws your way!
This dress has been an enduring wardrobe staple for the past 13 years! I credit it to its flattering and dateless silhouette/shape, timeless lace and satin fabric/materials, and its elegant and classic floral pattern! It also may come as a surprise that this piece wasn't outrageously expensive (around $150-$200) and is of fantastic quality from one of my favorite retailers, WHBM!
5.PERSONAL STYLE
Does this piece feel true to who I am ?
Understanding and knowing your own, unique personal style is fundamental when curating a wardrobe that you'll love today and in the future. Of course, as we change and evolve so does our style and it's crucial to update and remove pieces over the years, but truly understanding what we're continually drawn to, what works for us, and what doesn't is crucial to build a wardrobe that LASTS. For example, I know what I feel and look best in are skirts, they flatter my petite frame and show off my legs. I'm also keenly aware that I adore leather, genuine or quality faux, and one of my favorite details on anything is fringe! In knowing these things about myself, I can be confident when I invest in a piece that costs more money (see my favorite investment below!), being assured I will wear it frequently and for many years to come. Personal style awareness helps saves money as you won't buy clothes that don't ring true to you and gives you the freedom to build a wardrobe that you'll absolutely love!
2017 Branded photo shoot (on the left)
2023
Branded photo shoot (on the right)
2023, Engagement photo shoot
I'll be honest with you, I practically stole this skirt when I accidentally stumbled upon it thrift shopping one day. It was brand new and still had the price tag on it, reading at $1,548. I got it that day for $42, but I'll tell you right now, it was a piece on my dream shopping list and if I had bought it full price, it would have been worth every cent. I feel like 1 million bucks every time I put it on and I promise you this---I'll be wearing it to my grave!!
Are you ready to finally own....
Own ENDLESS outfit options without owning an endless amount of clothing ? Curate a timeless, effortless, easy to mix and match wardrobe that elevates your personal style? Remove all doubt, overwhelm, and boring outfits from your life? Stop wasting valuable time and money shopping and get clarity on what pieces work best for you? Own hand selected, quality, multi-functional pieces you love and that LAST? Have electrifying confidence to be 100% YOU everyday?
My job is to make it happen.
Let's chat on a complimentary 1:1 call so I can answer all your questions and ensure you're the perfect fit!