The term “Capsule Wardrobe” was coined by Susie Faux, owner of London boutique ‘Wardrobe’ and was later popularised by designers such as Donna Karan. It refers to a wardrobe made up of staple items of clothing that stand the test of time, clothing impervious to trends, fads, movements and celebrity influence.
Slow Fashion is a movement which is gaining momentum amongst you fashionistas. In a society so suggestible to advertising, The Slow Fashion Movement focuses on reducing our excessive consumerism, managing our intake and making us conscious of the realities of mainstream fashion which relies on unethical mass-production on a global scale.
The Slow Fashion Movement aims to deaden our impulse to spend, spend, spend and have us focus on what we actually need…or even want. So how do you go about making a Capsule Wardrobe?
Avoid fast fashion
When trying to build a great wardrobe it is important to consider these two fashion trends. A quality clothing collection ultimately makes for timeless style, especially when shopping for business or formal attire for women.
When building a Capsule Wardrobe, you have to avoid fast trends and fast fashion. Focus on the slow fashion trend by looking to more classic, timeless pieces that are well made– pieces that could potentially last a lifetime. By moving away from fast throwaway fashion you will no doubt succeed in building a Capsule Wardrobe around ethically made sustainable fashion.
Favour ethically sourced clothing
When searching out clothing to include in your Capsule Wardrobe it is important that you are able to track the company’s manufacturing and whether the label uses ethically sourced fabrics.
Most brands that portray themselves as Slow Fashion brands promote themselves on the basis that they are homemade or home-grown niche fashion labels who only source fabrics from the label’s country of origin.
The labels’ designs also tend to be created in-house from the sketches to the final product. They tend to be exclusive fashion labels which create unique and quality clothing under small designer labels. However, it is important for the consumer to be able to trace the background of a garment.
Quality not quantity
In France, women have long since adopted this idea of buying timeless clothing that can easily be introduced into every aspect of their lives. When attempting to build a Capsule Wardrobe, part of the secret is to invest in a number of high-quality staple items.
You will need basic shirts, blouses, trousers, sweaters, blazers, skirts and dresses. You should not be concerned with having the latest fashion items. You should focus your attention on classic items that flatter the body and which are of great quality. You will need to educate yourself on quality fashion brands that specialize in minimal and timeless clothing.
However, make sure to pay attention to the details and take the time to consider the perfect color, fit, and style to incorporate into your quotidian. But in the end, it’s all about your personal preferences and what looks best on you.
Intelligent shopping
Never underestimate the importance of intelligent shopping when creating a Capsule Wardrobe. I have always said that it is better to buy medium priced designer clothing on sale rather than expensive full price clothing from high street retailers. The quality of the garment, the fabric, the overall look of the piece as a rule of thumb tends to outweigh that of its high-street counterpart.
By peppering your wardrobe with designer pieces that will most likely stand the test of time will be of great benefit for you, as you will most likely appreciate them more and put more effort into maintaining them and integrating into your quotidian.
However, if you are shopping on a budget make an effort also to find unique pieces by stalking through flea markets, vintage, and second-hand shops. In Paris, places like Les marchés des puces and kilo shops are great places to make interesting finds.
Remember to consider the potential of an item of clothing before throwing it back into the one euro bin. Another pro tip is to buy whilst travelling to find unique pieces that no one else has. And last but not least, take a look in your mother’s wardrobe from time to time as your taste inevitably changes as you get older. Consider how you could adopt these items and adapt them into fitting with your own personal style.
When creating a Capsule Wardrobe it is important to create clean- cut and sophisticated looks that will outlast one season’s wear. By shopping intelligently and investing in quality clothing and accessories, you will cultivate a wardrobe which will outlive the next fashion ripple. When shopping for quality clothing and accessories, you should be shopping for life.
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