If you want to look stylish and put together more easily, let’s chat capsule wardrobe collections.
As a Chicago personal stylist this is one of my main offerings. Here’s how I build a capsule wardrobe for clients and how you can build one yourself.
First, knowing your style and how you want to feel is an important first step.
If you’re looking for more help how to find your personal style, check out this blog post here.
Friendly reminder: there is a difference between admiring someone else’s style and your own personal style.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself when it comes to your own personal style:
- What was I wearing recently that I felt most like “me?”
- If I could wear one outfit for the rest of my life..what would it be?
- If no one (myself included) would judge what I wear, what would I wear?
Explore these questions and take note. Is there a theme between all the outfits? Maybe it’s color, structure, texture, comfort or ease….
How can you know the difference between admiring someone else’s style and your own personal style? By actually wearing the clothing. I cannot emphasize this enough.
Just like trying a new food- you won’t really know unless you experience it.
Now that you’re aware of your own style, the next step for how to build a capsule wardrobe is to think of your needs.
Still struggling? Look around your home (if you like it’s decor..)
What themes do you notice?
Sometimes personal style is similar to your home style.
Now that you’re aware of your own style, the next step for how to build a capsule wardrobe is to ask yourself, “What are my wardrobe needs?” “Where do I find myself getting most frustrated when it comes to getting dressed?”
- Is this wardrobe for stylish, comfortable outfits back at the office?
- Date night wardrobe?
- Wardrobe to play with kiddos but you still look stylish?
- Stylish outfits while running errands?
Ideally your capsule wardrobe collection is versatile (that’s the goal afterall) so with a swap of a few pieces, you can wear your wardrobe in a variety of ways.
And, when you know what your wardrobe needs are, you can always choose to purchase more of a certain category versus another.
For example, if you struggle with stylish work outfits more than cute stylish errand outfits, then you can spend more time and money on work appropriate items.
Here’s an example of a versatile piece of clothing that can go from work-appropriate to worn casually with the denim pant, shirt underneath and a scarf.
Okay, now that you’ve got your personal style in mind and your needs, you’re almost ready to shop!
Before you start shopping, you’ll want to choose a color palette that you want to look for. This will help you filter your shopping when shopping online (especially secondhand).
While you don’t have to stick the same color palette, it will make your mixing and matching much easier. (Especially your core pieces like layering jackets, blazers and pants). If they are all the same color- it’s so much easier.
*Note: this is when your personal style comes into play because maybe you LOVE mixing and matching bold colors and patterns together.
Similarly to most of my clients, I tend to wear neutral color palettes with a pop, but this was a fun experiment, mixing and matching patterns, If you want to see how to mix and match pattern examples, you can check out this blog post here,
But if you’re like many of my clients, you prefer classic style with pops of color.
This is why I suggest keeping a color theme with your core essential pieces.
If you’re feeling stuck, I recommend this exercise..
Pretend you’re a designer for a day and sending your collection down the runway, does it all make sense together?
Could you easily swap a jacket between dresses, pants and skirts?
When clients hire me to build their capsule collections I typically shop 5-7 stores and I suggest you do so too!
Why? For an ultimate uniquely YOU capsule collection, the most stylish looks are different brands paired together (versus wearing the same head-to-toe brand).
I try to shop secondhand as much as possible as well because I believe in sustainable style, helping our planet and uniqueness (not to mention bonus of saving money).
When clients work with me for their capsule, it results in (minimally) 20 mix and match outfit ideas.
The goal of a capsule collection is the ultimate mix-and-match versatility (it can be dressed up or down etc).
While each capsule looks different based up needs and budgets, here’s what I suggest if you want to tackle a capsule collection on your own!
- 6-8 layering pieces (ranging from casual to work- blazer)
- 10 tops
- 4 dresses
- 4 pants
- 4 skirts
Speaking of numbers and stats, here are a few breakdowns of capsule collections:
31 Pieces Kept
14 of these were secondhand
total spent: $4,689.54
29 Pieces Kept
26 of these were secondhand
total spent: $2,067.72
33 Pieces Kept
22 of these were secondhand
total spent: $2,758.08
31 Pieces Kept
11 of these were secondhand
total spent: $3,951.48
22 Pieces Kept:
17 of these were secondhand
total spent: $1,504..88
40 Pieces Kept:
24 of these were secondhand
total spent:
$5,827.57
39 Pieces Kept:
14 of these were secondhand
total spent:
$4,271.68
29 Pieces Kept:
14 of these were secondhand
total spent:
$3,263.44
Each capsule collection ends with seamstress services for the ultimate convenience.
Lastly, receive a digital look book with outfit ideas= no guesswork required. Go-to stylish outfit ideas at your fingertips.
I’d love to help you discover the joy of getting dressed so easily you can practically get dressed in the dark.
