Make A Capsule Wardrobe Work For You
This is my 3rd season to do a capsule wardrobe. My spring capsule wardrobe post is the single most viewed article on my blog, so be sure to check it out! This post has been delayed because--you guessed it--I learned even more lessons from my spring capsule.I played around with a few different things for my summer capsule wardrobe. I wanted to experiment before I put it on the blog. I think I've finally got this one down. The biggest thing I took away from my spring wardrobe was that I have to make this wardrobe work for me and my life. It's completely tailored to me, like it should be.
How I Made A Capsule Wardrobe Work For Me
To make my capsule wardrobe experience really work for my life, I tweaked 3 things. Each adjustment helped me tailor my capsule wardrobe to meet my unique expectations and needs. You may find that these adjustments help you, or you may come up with your own changes. Either way, don't be afraid to make changes to the basic rules.
1 | Throw Out Rules
I've pretty much stuck to the basic rules of a capsule wardrobe, until now. For summer, I decided to throw on in particular out the window. I decided not to count my bottoms against my "number of items" at all. This may seem a little odd, but it just goes back to making this capsule wardrobe work for me. In my life, I need to have some leeway. My capsule wardrobe is my day-to-day wardrobe, my work wardrobe (+ scrubs, of course), and my date wardrobe. I don't want separate wardrobes for each of those things. For me, what was hindering the versatility of my capsule was my bottom pieces: jeans, shorts, skirts. To remedy that, I just decided I won't count my bottom pieces, and I'll just wear whichever suits my fancy.
2 | Know Your Body
With our huge exposure to social media, it's really easy to get caught up in trends. However, some trends aren't for everybody. For instance, I'd love to be able to rock a crop-top... but let's face it, I can't. Knowing your body will help you choose pieces that are flattering. Truth be told, a flattering ensemble looks so much better than just a trendy one. In my last capsule, I threw in some fairly basic tops that just did not flatter my figure at all, simply because they fit my color scheme. Oddly enough, I threw out color scheme entirely for my summer capsule wardrobe. Another "know your body" trick that has helped is that I have largely quit shopping online. My figure is totally not mainstream, so it's impossible to know how any one piece will look on me. Shopping in the stores and trying things on has really helped in this department.
3 | Experiment With Your "Style"
One of my biggest reasons for starting and continuing this capsule wardrobe lifestyle was to find my own personal style. I don't think I'm there, yet, but I'm closer than I was when I started this thing. If I look piece by piece, my "personal style" ranges from kindergarten teacher to beach bum. But when looking at my collective capsule wardrobe, I think I'm whittling it down to a cohesive "style"... or some semblance of one, at least. I also learned that it's okay to put pieces in your capsule wardrobe that push your personal style envelope. By the end, that piece may just end up as your favorite. So, while basics are important, throw in an odd ball or two! This time, I decided to throw in a tropical ladder back top. I didn't think I'd wear it, but I find myself really loving it. It's the perfect top for a weekend outside, or a fun date night.
So, while a traditional capsule wardrobe may not work for you, I'm positive that with some minute changes, you can tailor a capsule wardrobe to fit all of your wants and needs. It's a work in progress, always. I can't wait to discover what I learn from this summer's capsule wardrobe! So in addition to the tops at the beginning of this post, I have a basic black and white tee, and a black dress exactly like the red one. Altogether, I think this gives me a great capsule wardrobe for summer. It's versatile and I can put together outfits like this metallic beauty (linking up with The Creative Closet) by just adding fun accessories. I think this is going to work for me.
Do you have a capsule wardrobe? Do you stick to the rules, or tweak them?