Maybe you've just started out on your Capsule Wardrobe Journey, or maybe you've been rocking a Capsule Wardrobe since well before Marie Kondo was on the scene. Regardless of where you're at it's important to understand there are some fundamental differences between maintaining your Capsule Wardrobe and the old routine of seasonal impulse purchasing. This blog post is all about what you need to be aware of coming into a new season so you can stay on track.
First and foremost you should have a well-audited wardrobe. This means you know what you wear and you know what you need. Maybe you're saving up for a new investment piece (like a coat) OR maybe you know you need a new pair of jeans (when the old favs have worn through) but you haven't found something that's a perfect substitute. You need to make sure you're clear and honest with yourself about how you're investing in your wardrobe. Don't rush into anything and check out our "No Regrets Shopping Planner" for more specifics on this!
Generally, people fall into two categories; those who are recovering shopaholics, who need to detox and be more selective about purchases, and those who don't really like shopping and don't have enough staple items to get them through the week (dressing is often stressful for this second group).
If you're in the "recovering shopaholic" group, it's often easier to cut yourself off for a period to "detox" like some of our friends who set themselves the goal of say 30 days of no shopping, or something similar. If you fall into this group, whatever you need to do to get out of the habit of impulse buying, you should start now.
If you're in the other group and you tend to not have enough outfit options, dressing is stressful and shopping is not something you particularly enjoy, then you need to check out our blog and start building out your capsule wardrobe. Make sure you're purchasing styles you wear, that are based on what will work in your life. Use your current "go-to" outfits as a guide and create more variations of that "go-to." In this case, you don't need to be afraid of overdoing it, you need to be looking for variations on your daily uniform (for more on uniform dressing, check out this blog post).
Once you've ditched the addiction AND you have that base wardrobe working for you, there are two groups of purchases that are "approved" for a Capsule Wardrobe. The first is "investments" and second is "replacements" -- the rule is if it doesn't fall into one of these categories, it's a no go.
Then, it becomes very simple. Either you are purchasing replacement items, for pieces you already own (and know you wear A LOT) OR you're saving up for an investment piece like a suit, coat, or a classic dress.
Don't worry about too much about the total number of items in your wardrobe, as long as you're wearing everything regularly then you're fine. Some people change outfits multiple times in the day, others don't have that need. Everyone has a different version of a Capsule Wardrobe that suits their life, so just embrace the journey and make adjustments as you go along.
A note on replacements, if you're often rushing to the laundry pile OR are still struggling to put together outfits in the morning, don't be afraid to get duplicates of items you know you wear, for example, simple tees, merinos, etc. this will reduce your dressing stress!
The amazing thing about a Capsule Wardrobe is that it works for everyone. If you really enjoy beautiful clothing, you can actually buy more amazing pieces that you'll LOVE for years because you're reallocating your clothing budget to get only the best. AND If you hate shopping and just need your clothes to do their job, then a capsule enables you to spend less time and stress on this area of life.
Here at ISSUE our whole purpose is to help more women experience the bliss of having their perfect wardrobe. A small, smart wardrobe, that perfectly fits your body, your life, and your personal style. We strive to do this a couple of ways. Firstly, by creating content like this blog post to inform and inspire you on your Capsule Wardrobe Journey and we also create small runs of staple wardrobe pieces that we believe stand the test of time, both in style and in quality.
Please reach out if we can help you with choosing styles that will suit your needs.
XX Hannah & Robyn