How many times have you read a capsule wardrobe guide suggesting you construct your wardrobe out of only navy, white, and khaki?
Or for the more adventurous: black, cream, and forest green?
How many times have you read a capsule wardrobe guide suggesting you run out and buy a khaki trench coat that is surely going to become a wardrobe staple?
Honestly these guides bore me to absolute tears, and have since long before I’d ever even heard of color and style analysis.
The problem with these guides is that they are boring. They are SO boring. And in being so boring, they squash any semblance of the creativity, individuality, and excitement that can be present in getting dressed every morning. You might not have to think about your wardrobe at all, but are you even going to like it?
You can work with a limited color palette, a limited silhouette, and/or a limited number of items and be very, very happy with your wardrobe. I’ve done so for many years.
But the secret is to get clear on what YOU - you personally, not the person being paid to write an article with sponsored links - look good in, are comfortable wearing, and feel excited by.
If that happens to be a palette of black, cream, and forest green with a khaki trench coat thrown into the mix, then more power to you.
If not (or if you just don’t know how to turn those things into a functional capsule), I have some tips for you:
Yes, you should pick your neutrals. In a limited wardrobe, juggling too many neutrals can get complicated and annoying, unless you’re really into mixed neutrals/metals (which is totally valid). For most people, this comes down to making choices between white or cream, black or brown, and silver or gold. Don’t forget about metallics. They can be really impactful as elevated neutrals, especially in shoes and bags.
Choose your favorite flattering colors. When you wear the colors you look good in, your outfits get an immediate boost with little effort. You may want a rainbow of color in your capsule wardrobe (which is where working with a specific season can give you a lot of flexibility), or you may want to limit your palette to a few specific tones. Maybe you want to work with a few neutrals and a color, or a few colors and a neutral. Think about how your chosen colors will work together in terms of specific pieces. Will you wear neutrals on the top or on the bottom? Will you use colors in your accessories? Pinterest (or even the color combo strip on your TCI swatchbook if you have one) can be great resources for this. Don’t just look at clothing, either: think about color palettes you’ve seen in the wild that appeal to you.
Choose your silhouette(s). Most people favor a couple of silhouettes in clothing, and it makes sense to limit your capsule to those silhouettes for the greatest permutations of mixing and matching. If you don’t already know your best proportions and silhouette strategy, this where a Personal Image Analysis can come in handy.
Think seasonally. Your ideal color palette and silhouette strategy may change according to the weather. In the summer, I live in fit-and-flare dresses or bodycon midi dresses. In the winter, I love cozy sweaters with jeans or nice leggings. Think about the colors and styles you gravitate toward season-by-season, and consider having a spring/summer capsule and a fall/winter capsule for maximum flexibility.
Examine your lifestyle. Do you work in an office? Do you work from home? How often do you go out socially? Do you spend lots of time in your yard? Are you riding public transit? Are you engaging in public speaking? Do you have little kids who are frequently wiping peanut butter on you? Practical considerations will heavily influence the clothing you need and the clothing you will actually wear.
Be honest with yourself. Do you have anywhere to wear a trench coat? Do you even like trench coats? If the answer to both is yes, then buy a fabulous one. If the answer to either question is no, they are not an essential item in your capsule wardrobe and you should skip them. Likewise, make sure you’re not purchasing for your fantasy self who has her own show on Netflix. A little romanticizing of our wardrobes is wonderful, but you should be purchasing for your real life, not your fantasy one.
Balance repetition and visual interest. A wardrobe full of solid colors and plain textures can feel uninspired, but you might be worried that if you jazz up your capsule pieces, people will notice how often you repeat your clothing. I personally don’t care if people see me in the same colorful patterns all the time, but I know that some people want to keep their capsule wardrobes interesting while still flying under-the-radar. If that’s you, look for textures like rib or cable knits, crepe, or shirring/smocking. Neckline details like cutouts, embroidery, lace, buttons, or contrasting trim can be subtle but impactful. And don’t forget the sleeves: bishop sleeves, dolman sleeves, split sleeves, or cuffed sleeves can make a plain blouse feel more intriguing. Accessories, particularly colorful ones, can be very effective for spicing up simple outfits.
Be flexible. There are no hard and fast rules. You can do whatever you want! How well your capsule works for you, and how happy it makes you, is much more important than the specific number of pieces you have in your capsule. Maybe you choose to limit your clothing pieces but not your accessories, or you have an actual uniform that you wear every day. The only person your wardrobe needs to work for is you, so take the inspiration that speaks to you, and leave the rest behind.