The Problem with the Capsule Wardrobe
The Internet has been selling you a lie.
I remember as an adolescent describing some poor pre pubescent lad or other to my mother as “a good catch”. She looked at me with what was, even by then, familiar, motherly disdain and said “whatever do you mean?” to which I replied “you know, good on paper”. Once again she looked horrified to have birthed me, and it is here, with this unlikely 1995 anecdote, that I begin my article on the capsule wardrobe.
You see, her point was this: how could someone ever be “a good catch” if they are not suited to you? To your own specific needs and wants, preferences and requirements? It doesn’t matter what they are on paper if they have nothing to say for himself, or you are not drawn to their own particular brand of rizz?
And over the years I have come to believe that she had a point and it can be extrapolated to clothing too.
And the point is this:no two peoples lives are identical, nor are their preferences and taste. What will form the basis of your wardrobe, the pieces that will go on to become your “most worn”, is something YOU have to decide upon, and not let the internet tell you.
For example - I can guaranteee that many online capsule wardrobes will encourage us all towards “a timeless trench”, often Burbury-esque. You’ll also see Breton tops, and denim of various cuts and hues. I’m not saying these pieces are bad ideas, but if your life is school runs and dog walks, the last thing you need is a starched trench. If you love colour and it makes you want to do cartwheels when you don it, the last thing you need is a monochrome top.
DO NOT BE FOOLED.
Let’s look at a case study. When I was working a patient facing role, six days a week, my capsule wardrobe was this:
black trousers (wide leg)
black trousers (tapered leg)
heeled court shoes
smart flat shoes
2-3 pretty blouses
2-3 dresses than can be worn perennially layered up/down
1-2 warm knits
These pieces formed the basis of what I wore 5-6 days a week. I never wore trainers outside of the gym (I used to quote Victoria Beckham and say I couldn’t think straight in flats), and had little need for jeans as spare time was in the house, resting, or dressed up, out socialising.
Now, as I work from home, that capsule, and other clothes amassed from that time, are largely redundant. When I’m working from somewhere that isn’t my living room, I’m in an office, or meeting room, or lecture theatre, and so what I require from my wardrobe is different. I don’t need it to help instil confidence in a patient that I am the right balance of personable and knowledgable. I need it, when working, to help me communicate that I am someone to be listened to, who won’t be patronised, but to also keep true to the more playful elements of who I am.
You decide what your capsule should be, based on your lifestyle and then make your purchases, over time, from there, not the other way around. If you buy someone else’s prescription for it, you will STILL struggle to get dressed daily.
How to do this? ~I’ll show you one way, though there are more. Start by categorising your clothes according to the weeks activities. The categories might look something like this:
Gym wear
Errands
Work
Socialising
But there also might be more/less. Then, count how many times a week you dress according to each of these category. For me:
Gym wear - 4/5
Errands/life admin,WFH - 4/5
Work - 1/2
Socialising - 3/4
So I now know that in a month, 50% of my outfits will workout wear/casual wear. This isn’t to say these outfits will all be composed of different pieces - for example, 3 pairs of hard wearing gym leggings will see me right, and probably a rotation of 5 tops/ sports bras, 2-3 pairs of jeans and an assortment of knitwear and tops.
This helps to define my shopping list, and keep me focused on what I will actually wear. Hard wearing gym leggings that will wash and dry easily. Casual clothes that are comfortable to WFH and that I can also run to the shop in and feel put together, ideally that don’t need ironed. I need things I can wear to boardrooms - but not that many of them, and so if they’re dry clean only it’s no biggie. And I need things I can wear out for drinks or dinner and feel like an elevated, twinklier version of myself.
Trainers are now an essential and I have worked out those that I like and that are comfortable (the ubiquitous ones are ubiquitous for a reason). Same with boots.
The capsule wardrobe is only effective if you have defined your need. That is why, as a concept, it works so well for a holiday, or work trip - you often have set what you’ll be doing and can work from there. You know where you are going, what functionality you need, how you want to appear and feel, and how often. A “ten piece guide” written according to someone whose life is different to yours, while might provide some inspiration, will not simplify getting dressed.
So mine currently looks a bit like this, or will by the end of the season:
Flats that work well with jeans and skirts for the nighttime options
Jeans that are loose legged and comfortable to wear when sitting at a desk all day, and are the right length and style for the flats and trainers.
Lulu Lemon leggings - I’m sorry but I can’t with a happy heart suggest any other brand. No others wash or wear as well as these.
Coat - warm, doesn't crease, isn’t so bulky that it feels like a lot of coat to back onto a seat on the tube or on a plane. Longer length so protects the outfit underneath, and easy enough to clean after jumping onto a lime bike here or there.
Trainers - Sambas for life, new blanches for the gym.
T shirts and sweaters that can be thrown on with jeans or over a workout top.
This is what works for me now, most of the the time. My going out stuff, and office wear, looks different again.
I hope this helps you come to the realisiation that there is no such thing as a good catch - of a human, or of a piece clothing. Either is only good if it is suited to you, and all facets of your life. While you might encounter many that you admire from afar, unless it makes your existing set up better - it’s not for you.
Next week is back to the February round up. It’s been a manic one - 6 flights in five days is never the best of times really, but I did squeeze in some fun along the way, that I will share. And then it will be MARCH - and really time to start thinking about what the Spring and Summer months will bring. Shocking really given as Christmas was yesterday but here we are.
Until then
Big love
Una
x