Capsule WardrobeWords & Photography by Kelly Green. “A capsule wardrobe is a collectio

Capsule Wardrobe

Words & Photography by Kelly Green.

“A capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that don’t go out of fashion, such as skirts, trousers, and coats, which can then be augmented with seasonal pieces.”

I believe everyone should have a capsule wardrobe along with their few statement pieces, to avoid over cluttering your closet with pieces you only wear once or twice.

While creating a capsule wardrobe I like to keep this in mind – Will I wear this more than I’m paying for it? For example – A white tee shirt is twenty-five dollars, will you wear it more than twenty-five times? Probably. If a top with diamond studs and daisies all over costs thirty-eight dollars, will you wear it that many times? Highly unlikely. It’s important to think of these things while shopping, because you can really like the look of something and be willing to pay a lot for it, but in reality you won’t wear it that often. I like to splurge more money on a basic top, or a simple pair of black jeans, than my statement pieces. Simply because I know I will be able to wear my basic items more often – thus getting out of them what I pay for.

Examples of some essential items everyone should have –

White tee – I never knew how much wear I’d get out of a simple white tee shirt. It literally goes with EVERYTHING. You can dress it up, dress it down, wear it to the gym or even to bed.

Black & Grey tees – The same thing goes for the black & grey tees as for the white tee. So versatile!

Black or grey maxi dress – This again, like most items in the capsule wardrobe can be worn dressy or casual and look cute and instantly put together either way. The thing I like most about the maxi dress or dresses, in general, is that it is a simple alternative for spending time putting an outfit together, just add some jewelry and you’re good to go!

The four basic jeans: light, medium and dark wash + simple black jeans – Everyone needs a good, cute, (most importantly) comfortable pair of jeans, one of each wash is perfect for your capsule.

Black hat – This is probably the most worn item in my entire wardrobe. If an outfit is looking a little dull, all I do is throw on a hat and it instantaneously makes it look put together.

Those are probably the most basic of all basics out there, but depending on your style, you can add to this list. Maybe you wear jean jackets a lot, so a good jean jacket should be in your collection. You could be more of a leather jacket type person, so that would be in there. As styles vary from person to person, I can’t give you an exact list of what your capsule wardrobe should be. It can also vary depending on the seasons. Create your capsule wardrobe based on your style, and the items you know you are going to wear often.

How do add variety + flare to a capsule wardrobe –

Having a capsule wardrobe can seem like a dull idea. Wearing simple black and white outfits might not appeal to everyone. Here’re some tips on making a simple collection have more flare.

Find your colour pallet. Mine happens to be neutrals, it’s what I’m mainly attracted to, so I try to stick to neutrals while buying clothes, so I know I will be getting my full value out of it.

Get some statement pieces. There is nothing wrong with adding a few pieces that you might not wear as often but you love (just don’t over do it.)
Jewelry. I can’t stress enough how much jewelry can change an outfit. Whether that be a simple piece of jewelry or a statement piece, it can add a lot. Invest in some gorgeous jewelry you find appealing.

Well, chosen investment pieces can pull any outfit together. That being said, I believe a great pair of shoes, or a beautiful belt will make any outfit look stunning and well put together. Spending a little more money on one or two staples is worth it, and if you splurge on a basic you probably won’t have to replace it very often as the good quality will age gracefully and basics never go out of style.

Be mindful about proportions. Pairing a top with a lot of flow and baggy joggers together might not look very put together. However a tight top and baggy joggers or a flowy top with some skinny jeans can create simple chic.

Creating a capsule wardrobe can make putting outfits together very simple and quick. As a student, having a simple wardrobe makes my mornings easy and less stressful.

If you want to see my capsule wardrobe essentials, check out my video here.