It’s sustainable. It’s practical. It’s frugal. You know all this about the capsule wardrobe trend, but you’re still reluctant to sign up for an overhaul of your entire closet. You wouldn’t even know where to begin!

The Trick to Making an Effective Capsule WardrobeWorn in more than one way and that cater to different occasions. Image source: Unsplash
 
Fortunately, the whole process is easier than you might think. We’re about to explain everything there is about capsule wardrobe and help you figure out how to create your own.

What is a capsule wardrobe?

When you get up in the morning, how long does it take to put together an outfit? Can you get dressed in five minutes? Or do you have to carefully plan every outfit in advance if you want to look good?

A capsule wardrobe is a collection of garments that all coordinate well with each other. Basically, it’s an organised, elegant approach to getting dressed that doesn’t leave much room for error. Instead of waking up to a chaotic closet full of mismatched pieces that you don’t know what to do with, you’ll have a little more order in your life.

A capsule wardrobe is not meant to stifle your creativity, it’s merely meant to be practical. Instead of stuffing your home with a lot of unnecessary garments that you rarely get to wear, you’ll save both time and money by having things that can be.

Where do I start?

We’ll give you some suggestions on what you might need:

● Good pair of skinny or straight-leg jeans
● Tailored trousers

tailored trousersImage source: Unsplash

● Plain cotton t-shirts
● Cardigans

long cardiganImage source: Unsplash

● Black ankle boots

anklebootsImage source: Unsplash

● Little black dress
● Trench coat

grey coatImage source: Unsplash

● Pencil skirt or A-line skirt

pencil skirtImage source: Unsplash

● White blouse

These are some good basics that you can start with. The aim is to have around 50 pieces of clothing that are easy to mix and match and that always look good on you.

Another thing you might want to think about is how easy it is to maintain a specific garment. For example, does it wrinkle easily, how complicated is it to clean, do you need a special clothes hanger for it — these are things you need to consider if you want to fill your wardrobe with lasting items that don’t require too much maintenance.

The Art Is In The Accessories

Instead of a cluttered closet full of things that you don’t even remember buying, embrace minimalism. Just because your outfit is simple doesn’t mean it’s boring, and it doesn’t mean you can’t make it insanely glamorous with a few accessories.

necklaceImage source: Unsplash

If you want inspiration, take a look at Aussie women. They don’t bother with fussy outfits with too many tacked-on details. Those ladies rely on their gorgeous beach tans, sunny smiles, light clothing, and fun statement pieces to show off their carefree, effortless elegance. They find gorgeous jewellery online in Australia and rely on it to bring some sassiness to their look.

And it’s not just jewellery. You can spruce up your plain white tee and jeans combo with a floral scarf and a cute hat. You can wear those same jeans and tee with a leather jacket and ankle boots for a whole different vibe. Fashion is art. You don’t always need crazy cuts and wild colours to stand out. You need skill.

Here are a few suggestions that will make any outfit pop:

● Colourful scarves

scarvesImage source: Unsplash

● Big statement necklaces
● Print headbands
● Huge handbags

handbagImage source: Unsplash

● Cateye sunglasses

cateye sunglassesImage source: Unsplash

● Black heels

Cheap Clothes Are Expensive

Here’s a crazy thought: the best way to save money is to spend more of it. Initially, at least. While this sounds insane, hear us out. When you go to a sale, you usually find a bunch of cheap garments that you can buy in bulk. T-shirts, pants, skirts, sweaters, the whole lot. But since these garments are so cheap, most of them tend to be of very poor quality.

Those shirts might be only ten bucks a piece, but they look a little misshapen and they fall apart after only a few months of wear. You’re basically buying stuff that doesn’t even look all that good on you and that won’t last through the summer. Then you re-buy. Then they fall apart again. And the cycle continues. You waste a ton of money on clothes that look bad, feel scratchy against your skin, and that you have to throw away after a few seasons of wear.

The idea is to invest in high-quality pieces. The idea is to invest in clothes that make you happy. Instead of buying ten shirts just because they are on sale, buy a single one that makes you feel great and look great when you wear it.

Does everything need to be in neutral colours?

Nope. Colours such as black, navy, brown, and beige are simply easy to combine, but you are more than welcome to add some fun to it. Perhaps you’re a redhead that looks stunning in jewel tones, or maybe your bubbly personality can’t do without bright shades of yellow. Maybe you just look good in red.

colorsImage source: Unsplash

The best way to go fill up your capsule wardrobe with effective basics is to have a good selection of neutral pieces and then add a few colourful items that can break the monotony.

You Decide What Your Base Wardrobe Is

You are unique. Your fashion is an extension of your personality, and you shouldn’t fit yourself into a box. Basics such as plain black slacks might work for one person, but what if you’re the kind of gal who mostly wears skirts and dresses?

Everyone’s capsule wardrobe basics are different, because our fashion styles are different. If you don’t like our suggestions, that’s totally okay. Here’s how you can decide what kind of basic garments are right for you: try each and every single item from your closet on. Consider what kind of clothes makes you happy. Consider what looks good. Look at the colours that draw you in.

Once you’re done, you’ll get a pretty good idea of what kind of items you should stick to, and what you need to throw away and refrain from buying in the future.

colorful cardiganImage source: Unsplash

The Philosophy Behind Capsule Wardrobe

We love our shiny, pretty, impractical pieces of clothing. We love our sparkly disco dress even though we only wore it to the New Year’s party two years ago. We love our six-inch stilettos even though they make our feet hurt if we wear them too long. We love our skin-tight leather pants even though they always make us sweat and make a weird squeaky sound every time we sit down.

Our delicate pastel suede shoes that can only be worn when the weather is dry, our crop top knit sweater that doesn’t even keep our midriff warm, our chiffon blouse that can only be dry cleaned — these are our babies. They make us look hot. But damn, are they a hassle to wear sometimes.

When you’re rushing to work, when you’ve got to take the kids to school, when you realise your closet is basically falling apart under the weight of all your clothes — this is when you start realising capsule wardrobe might be a good idea.

Not to mention how you could reduce the enormous environmental footprint of fast fashion. With the threat of global warming looming over us, finding more ways to enjoy fashion sustainably is the key to helping our ecosystem survive.

This doesn’t mean you have to throw your old clothes away. Merely consider them. Go through your garments and see whether they are actually of any use to you and whether it makes you happy to wear them.

Final Thoughts

If you’re tired of trying to figure out your outfits every morning, if your closet looks depressingly chaotic, if you’re trying to find an easy way to look great without hassle — capsule wardrobe is right for you.
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Holiday Shopping - Gift Ideas for Her

ELENA Earrings by DM Jewelry Designs
 Photo courtesy of DM Jewelry Designs

It's not a secret that women love jewellery. Receiving it makes them feel and look special. ELENA Earrings by DM Jewellery Designs will make an unforgettable gift for someone who appreciates high quality, artisan products and timeless chic. Made with imported Black Onyx which beautifully accents the sterling silver filigree beads and finished with sterling silver earring findings, this beautiful piece of jewellery is an accessory staple in every woman's wardrobe like the LBD. "The best part of gifting jewellery is that whatever it costs, once gifted it becomes a piece on which you simply can’t put a price tag. It works like a photograph, the memory associated with the gift will carry through with the person for life," says Urban Cocktail and we couldn't agree more.

About

Based out of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, DM Jewellery Designs was established as a result of a life-long enchantment of manifesting visions of radiant jewellery including custom bridal designs. Their mission is to create exquisite pieces of jewellery that celebrates every aspect of a woman. Debora Ann Malouf, owner and creative designer of DM Jewellery Designs, explains, “I will design and re-design a piece until it perfectly captures not only my vision, but also the vision of the client who is involved in the entire custom design process. I refuse to finalize a piece until each one of us experiences what I term as the “WOW” factor.” She continues to state, “Nothing excites me more than manifesting the visions of designs that capture the essence of a woman.”

Claycult
Photo courtesy of Claycult Cambodia

Bring back those holiday memories and a carefree beach mood with a limited edition of Rudraksha Seed and Ceramic necklace. This stunning long, slightly chunky style necklace, uses three silver capped Nepali seed beads in combination with the specialty ceramic beads. This unique item of jewellery, featuring a beautiful palette of earthy colours, makes a memorable gift which will be treasured for years.

About

Claycult Cambodia brings the culture of the Khmer people and the colours of Cambodia into their designs. The brand offers a range of exquisite necklaces, bracelets and earrings in addition to ceramic beads. All items are handcrafted at their studio / workshop in Siem Reap, home to Angkor Wat and the great Angkor temples.

They employ mostly women and adapt the workplace to their lives as much as possible, outsourcing to those who are unable to come to the workshop because of family commitments. Claycult Cambodia encourages education and their staff is paid a fair wage, many of them being the sole supporter of an extended family.

Labante
Photo courtesy of LaBante London

Red is officially l y the hot test colour for Fall /Winter 2017. This gorgeous handbag by LaBante London, a Peta-Approved Vegan Brand, will brighten up gloomy winter days and add a touch of glamour to even the most simple outfit.

This elegant and compact bag is perfect for a day (wear it with a casual jacket or coat) or evening out (as a striking addition to an all-black ensemble). Finished with a bow detail to give an extra twist of femininity, it comes with two handy inner compartments to help you stay organised. The shoulder strap can be detached so that the bag can be used as a hand held clutch. Two in one, how smart!

About

Established in 2009, LaBante London designs and produces accessories with an ethos of 'Fashion With Respect.' What do they mean by that? Their bags and jewellery are not only covetable but also vegan, environmentally friendly, and ethically produced. The brands want to give consumers the experience of luxury, of the finest craftsmanship, of a timeless aesthetic, while respecting the world we live in.

Happy holidays! :)

Published in Blog