The capsule wardrobe for work — a limited number of essential pieces that can be combined to create many outfits — has been growing in popularity, which makes sense when you look at the parallel trends of “slow fashion” and Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (aff). A focus on quality pieces + an emphasis on decluttering/organization = a capsule wardrobe.
But how do you create a capsule wardrobe for work, and how do you pare down what’s currently Camiseta FC Tokyo in your closet? reader C wonders…
I am a huge fan of Corporette, and wanted to submit a suggestion for a future post. since a huge feature of the site is work appropriate clothing, I would be interested in Camiseta Brighton & Hove Albion FC discussing what women professionals’ wardrobes actually contain.
After spending several years in new York, I have learned to really cull my wardrobe (which is also better for my budget)! I was inspired by a writer named Jennifer Scott (I have no affiliation with her) who has published a book called lessons from Madame Chic. In the book, as well as on her blog, she discusses the concept of having a capsule wardrobe of items that are high quality and that you repeat throughout the season.
The concept is flexible — for instance, an attorney will have more clothing than she will, as a homemaker — but the idea is to invest in better, fewer clothes that last. I am putting this into action myself, but am curious to see if others do the same, and how (and whether this is of interest to my fellow Corporette readers).
We’ve talked about how to shop your closet, “fashion math,” how often you can repeat your work outfits, and where to start when you need style inspiration, but we haven’t specifically talked about capsule wardrobes. I’m still learning about them myself, so I’m curious to hear what people think.
I think the idea of a capsule wardrobe has been around for years — certainly for travel. but Madame chic (which apparently is the #1 book in fashion and style right now on Amazon!), the trend towards decluttering, Instagram challenges… more and more people are viewing capsule wardrobes as a great way to dress every day. buy less stuff, buy good stuff, and wear it all the time.
A number of bloggers post capsule wardrobes (see our “further reading” links below); even the author of Madame chic has YouTube videos showcasing her own capsule wardrobes.
{related: The ultimate guide to business casual for Women}
(Some people take this even further, like Obama, and wear only one outfit, period, to cut down on decision fatigue.)
So how do you do it for work? Here’s my $.02 on how to create a capsule wardrobe for work:
If you already have something you love, start with that. If it would make you really sad to never wear your bright orange Louis Vuitton Epi bag (or something), then start with that in the mix. If there’s an obi belt you love — or a pair of purple pumps — make sure that everything you choose in your capsule will work with that piece.
Pick a Camiseta Selección de fútbol de Inglaterra base neutral. Black, navy, gray, or beige — what color is your favorite suit? What color are most of your accessories? If your favorite bags and shoes are brown, you may want to reconsider black. pick ONE base neutral. wardrobe items to consider buying here:A matching suit with separates — blazer, sheath dress, pencil skirt, trousers.
A pair of pumps
A bag
A belt
Pick a second neutral. White, cream, caramel, gray, navy, beige — by picking one piece to focus on (instead of randomly buying neutrals willy nilly) you’ll have a more cohesive look. If you’re in such a business casual office that jeans are acceptable, I might consider your favorite denim (or denim in general) to be a second neutral. items to consider getting here:An on-trend pair of work-appropriate pants (whether it’s ankle pants, flowy pants, or high-waisted flared trousers is up to you)
a sheath dress
a blazer to wear as a separate — with texture
a crisp blouse
a flowy blouse
Pick two or three colors to focus on for accents. I realized recently I prefer to wear contrasting colors, rather than complementary colors — so for me I think I’m going to try to focus future purchases on cobalt blue, red, and purple. I like red and purple together. I like cobalt and red together. Cobalt and purple is a bit too complementary for me — but it’s still a cohesive look. (If this is way too much color for you, pick a third or fourth neutral, or softer colors — light blue or mint green, for example.) If you’re really limiting things you don’t need a ton of pieces in these colors. I’d suggest a few things:A pair of shoes for a pop of color
A statement necklace
A pencil skirt or flared skirt
A blazer or cardigan
A blouse with a print in one of your colors
a scarf with a print in one of your colors
A bag in one of your accent colors — if your neutral bag is a tote, get this one as a satchel, shoulder bag, or clutch.
A few neutral jewelry pieces to complement your other pieces. If you like grays, you may want to go withnullnull