2020, the ‘jeans out, joggers in’ new era of dressing. After months spent wearing joggers, leggings and loose dresses, it’s easy to see why tight-fitting clothes may have lost their appeal. Jeans, tailored suits, handbags and even bras have all fallen victim to the pandemic (I can’t say I’ll be ditching the bras just yet!).

Lockdown has given us time to think about what we really like wearing, with many excited about starting to shift their wardrobe in that direction. Long-term, perhaps the biggest change will not be what we wear, but how we shop. Fashion is notoriously bad for the planet and with many retailers closing throughout much of lockdown, we’ve turned to something many of us have long been committed to in theory: avoiding cheaper impulse buys and shopping from our own wardrobes.

Et voila, introducing the Capsule Wardrobe.

This approach is having a revival in popularity right now, offering a more sustainable approach to dressing. The idea behind a capsule wardrobe is that you buy essential key pieces only, which all coordinate and work cohesively together. Quality over quantity. These items can then be added to some current seasonal pieces to add variety, and to effortlessly change up the wardrobe season upon season.

Yet so many of us are struggling to build the foundations of that capsule wardrobe and are drawn to ‘trending’ items instead.

So what is the best way to go about curating one? And what exactly should be in one?!

Below is an idea of the basics needed to make one up - again these are just your core pieces and not trending items throughout the year.

There isn’t a one size fits all and it all depends on your lifestyle (not now of course!) , with the contents also being determined by your colouring and body shape.

One common misconception is that it’s a little boring and basic, but each wardrobe would of course be tailored to your own likes and dislikes. So if you love bold prints, lots of red and only blue cotton shirts, then that is what you should include.

Ultimately a capsule wardrobe should mean:

• Less work - every piece you own fits you well and goes together so there’s no need trying to force them to fit you or work on you

• More visibility - the less items, the easier it is to see what you have and therefore the more ‘wears per item’ you’ll get

• More money in your pocket - once it’s complete, the less you’ll be spending on new clothes. It’s an investment for sure, but it most definitely pays off.

• Ease with building your outfits - owning less means knowing each of your pieces more intimately and knowing exactly whIch top looks fantastic with that black skirt or ripped jeans.

• Less over-consumption - once the demand for clothing reduces so does the need for manufacturing. And this is exactly what a capsule wardrobe is about - sustainability.

How do I create my own?

That’s where I come in! I provide both online and face to face wardrobe edit services - we would work through your current items, weeding out what isn’t working anymore and really making the best of what you already have. We shop your wardrobe!

I would then create a list of missing items needed to complete your capsule wardrobe, all tailored to your colouring, body shape and lifestyle.

If you simply need help styling your current items/working with what you already have, a wardrobe edit is perfect for that too.

Have a fabulous week lovely lot and as always I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic!

Love P

xx