I decided to write a piece - yes, including some pictures- about capsule wardrobes. I'll do an exemplar post (or several) next week.
This is a very long post, I'm afraid. Hopefully it's not too boring!
Capsule by TekkenTag1
I decided to do this post thanks to this post, and several others, as created by TekkenTag1 last year. She doesn't blog very often, but it's a great blog to check out if you want more stardoll Capsule outfits.
Stardoll has capsules!?!?
Stardoll, believe it or not, has a built in capsule function. Also known as the dress-up dolls. Just in case you forgot about those! With a total of 28 hangers, they more than qualify as being a capsule.
Mine, circa 2016- Not too long ago, yet I already have so many regrets.
My IRL Experience:
My own wardrobe IRL could be considered "capsule" as I own less than 37 items of clothing - not including accessories, shoes, or underwear.
In fact I currently own:
- 15 shirts
- 4 pairs of Jeans
- 1 dress pants
- 3 skirts
- 4 dresses
- 6 jackets
- 3 jumpers
For a total of 36 items.
And yes, I counted.
Of course, this leaves out my 4 bags, 9 scarves, 30-something jewelry pieces, nail polishes, underwear, shoes, and non-clothing items. Even one of which can completely change my overall look.
Also, my apartment closet is smaller than my heater, which is ridiculous. 90% of my clothes will probably stay on THE CHAIR- which I threw them on for counting purposes - until they're next worn.
Wait, but that's not what I heard!
The thing with capsules is that everyone seems to define capsules a little bit differently. The vast majority I found did not include any accessories in the total number. Some, however, did - mostly scarves, bags, and jewelry. Others considered every worn item to be a part of it, from keychains to hairclips and even lipstick.
It was not uncommon to be suggested that you make certain aspects of your wardrobe into a capsule instead of the whole thing, such as all of your business clothes, or one for each season.
The number of items has also changed greatly over time. Many suggest starting out by culling your wardrobe to less than 50 pieces. Most suggest 37 pieces as the final goal.
Older editions focused on having 7 pieces for every occasion. Other, more recent adaptions have supported anywhere between 20 and, yes, 37 pieces per season.
It's obviously not something that's strictly defined, but rather self-tailored.
It's obviously not something that's strictly defined, but rather self-tailored.
So, where did they come from?
Originating in the 1970s, capsules were tailored around the working woman - "2 pairs of trousers, a dress or a skirt, a jacket, a coat, a knit, two pairs of shoes and two bags" were the proportions of a working woman's seasonal wardrobe, according to Susie Faux, who coined the "capsule wardrobe" term.
Back then, the idea was to create a small set of outfits that were interchangeable, high-quality, and that would not go out of fashion. That way, a woman would always have something suitable to wear for all occasions, and never have an issue with combining items.
This meant that you could do more, while owning less. You would only buy or replace a small number of items each season, with the sole purpose of replacing any that were damaged, or inappropriate for the season eg; swap wool coats for light kimonos.
These days, it's a bit more flexible, with hundreds of guides giving different instructions and requirements on how a capsule should come together.
But the question remains -
Why are capsules so popular?
Capsule creation means investing in good quality, made-to-last items rather than buying into current trends and fast fashion. It's great saving in the long run, it's a good way to support fair trade, and you are guaranteed to be wearing these items for years instead of having them wear out in a matter of days.
Another appeal of capsules to the modern woman dresser (we're not in the 1970s) is minimalism. These days, many people are keen to cut down on usage of space, excessive waste, and overall clutter. Capsule wardrobes quickly cut down on all of these issues.
There's also the lazyperson's favourite - no plans, no-fuss dressing. Capsules are designed so that there is no limit to the number of combinations you can put together, so there's no need to worry on the day.
But wait...
Interestingly enough, several youtubers and bloggers well-known for their capsule creations and advice, have stopped doing them.
They, along with other former capsule users - and anyone who has ever attempted to size-down their wardrobe into one - is that we're always trying to follow trends. And many of the items we pick for our capsule, whether we are aware of it or not, are often made to follow those trends. If you look back two years, or even just a couple of months, there are no doubt items you loved then that you would never wear today.
Then, there's the issue of wear, washing, and damage. Less options means washing more often. Although ideally, any top and bottom should match, we all have our favourites. With a capsule, you have much less to choose from, and there's a good chance you'll have worn half of them by the middle of the week. So you might end up with a large number of items that, even if they look fine together, you'll find you just don't like.
Other times, as mentioned above, people struggle with the concept of just not buying things. When you're used to buying something, it's hard to stop. I for one discovered severe yeast allergies, yet I still struggle not to buy donuts and bread, because I'm so used to just being able to have them. So I can sympathize, albeit for different reasons, with people who struggle to not "expand" a capsulized wardrobe.
Still Interested?
Here's a couple of things I'd recommend if you're keen on starting or getting tips for capsules:
Project 333:
Feeling serious? Project 333 is all about using only 33 items for 3 months, and recording yourself as you go along. There's a hashtag, blog, and large community to get involved with for support and stories.
How To Build a Capsule By Mademoiselle:
If you want an idea of the first steps, start here. This is your classic everyday capsule wardrobe.
How to always know what to wear by Daria Andronescu
Perfect if you need to know what will - or won't - go with what you already own, or if you're interested in making a digital outfit catalog.
Capsule wardrobe: how to add colors by Justine Leconte:
If you aren't interested in the basic neutral tones and stripes of most capsules, check this out for other colour combination that are just as effortlessly easy to put together.
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