developing fashion capsules no.2

what works best for you?

Photo credit: Cleo Vermij Unsplash

Many years ago, I had a client who commissioned me to make her a selection of dresses. They were to be in various plain colours in a fine wool crepe. Over two or three seasons her collection grew to about 10 of these elegant, wearable, and practical items. I asked her about the thinking behind her choices, and she said that she could put them on and forget about them. She had a busy life with various professional responsibilities and had found a way of dressing that suited her figure as well as her commitments. She could add a formal layer with jackets, accessorise with scarves and use knitwear to add warmth in the colder months. This business capsule meant that she knew what she was going to wear, knew she would look professional and knew she didn’t have to worry about finding coordinates. She was confident that she would remain smart and ‘tucked in’ and could easily dress-up her chosen dress for an evening event.

Being clear about your lifestyle, and the things that matter to you in respect of your image will enable you to build your wardrobe in a way that works. Perhaps you have several different aspects to your day, or your week? Are you at a time in your life where you are inside most of the time and your. need for a varied wardrobe isn’t high on your priority list at the moment? Do you need to wear a uniform of some sort? Do you work from home, or do you go to an office? Do you have a regular day out with friends? Do you spend most of your time outdoors but also attend formal events where you need to look very smart?

Why not take some time and fill in the diagram below so you can get a better idea of how you spend your life and consequently, how your wardrobe needs to reflect this?

When you know the balance of your days or weeks, you are in a better position to create a system in your wardrobe. It might be that your answer is separate capsules for different functions, or having your clothes organised by colour or type…all your trousers in one place or perhaps your navy items grouped together. Finding a way of dressing that works best for you, and then arranging your clothes and accessories in a way to better facilitate this method, is obviously an individual preference. There is no single answer, and you may find that your initial idea needs tweaking to make it work. However, creating your plan, and working out what works best for you, is a great step forward to wearing more of what you have, more often, saving time, space, and money.

 Continues in No.3…

All rights reserved. Milly Churchill asserts the right to be identified as the author of this work.