Clothes Old Style

hieveryone

I actually quite like the idea of a capsule wardrobe although I know fine well I'm not the type of person that will stick to it.

From memory I can remember that Gok suggests:

- a good fitting white shirt for work
- good quality tailored full length trousers
- a suit jacket
- a pencil skirt
- a colourful belt
- pair of heels
- pair of flats/wedges
- smart handbag
- casual handbag

I'm pretty sure there's a couple of other things but none I can think of just now.

I think it also depends what you do for work. I'm a teacher so it's pretty easy to dress for and co-ordinate, but if your meaning out of work clothing it can be harder.

BitterAndTwisted

It's the colours: you need to decide what colours suit you best and only ever buy those. And never buy anything unless you already have something that will go with it.

With hieveryone's list I'd add a dress. I once had a copy of Suzie Vaux's book about this very subject but I can't remember what it's called. She's the lady who owns the store "Wardrobe" so her book was mostly aimed at the professional woman's working wardrobe and I seem to recall her recommending two suits, one plain the other patterned with both a skirt and trousers so you could switch the tops and bottoms, plus a couple of dresses to go with either jacket. That's a whole load of outfits right there.

Bitsy_Beans

I wouldn't chuck out everything you own. I'd firstly take everything out and see what things you wear, you like and what can actually go with other things. Then I perhaps take some pics on my phone and the next time I go shopping bear these items that I really love in mind when I make my next purchase. I think the problem is it takes time to build up these things. it's OK for Gok he's got a few thousand to spend in one go. Most of us poor sods don't!!!
I don't agree he's paid to make people buy more clothes. I'd say he was arguing the opposite - that you don't need that many! Many of the women on the show had shed loads of stuff that they don't wear or what doesn't even fit. Whats the point in keeping it if you don't wear them?
The thing that I don't do is accessorize. Not very good at it. Would like to be better as I think accessories (and shoes <drools>) make a plain outfit more interesting.

sidefx

I wouldn't get rid of everything either. Just the stuff that doesn't fit or things you will definitely never wear again.

However, I know that I have done this, then a few months or even years later I have regretted discarding an item. It is strange how certain clothes come back into fashion.

Actiongirl_2

ooo, i love your post - this is just the kind of thing I am always thinking about (what can I say - I am at home with a baby, my brain power has waned!!)

I think I have a pretty capsule wardrobe (although quite full, so maybe more box of capsules). I am 31 and I don't consider myself trendy but I do try and look nice.

I generally buy things in the sales. Although I occasionally go off-piste, as otherwise things would be boring, I generally buy in the sales and get:

Navy tops - they suit me and are quite classy. I think that you can always match them to things like white trousers or tan cardigans.

White vest tops. When you find one that flatters buy ten and look after them and only wash as whites.

Ditto white t-shirts

I have a couple of white shirts but havent worn since I came off on maternity, so I don't think they are a must unless you are working

Blue jeans - obv.

A knitted dress - which I like in the winter with tights I generally get a neutral colour and I ALWAYS buy them in the sale at GAP. You can get massive reductions

A neutral cardigan. I have a couple of tan ones from ZARA sale and they go with everything.

White jeans/trousers. Oprah said a few months ago that every woman needs a pair of white jeans. I disagree, but believe me, if you find the right pair, they go with everything and can be dressed up and down. And I wear mine to playgroup and get paint and spaghetti hoops down them on a regular basis and they wash brilliantly and look fantastic on a sunny day.

I always buy neutral tan shoes as heels, flats or wedges. You can get different shades of tan, believe me! I don't spend a lot - as an example I got some canvas ballet pumps from matalan the other week - they are navy blue with white edging, and cost £6. They go with everything in my wardrobe.

I don't generlly do black. It washes me out so I steer clear. Know which colours flatter you and stick to them.

I do have a wardrobe that also contains some bright pink, pale pink, lemon and electric blue, but generally EVERYTHING goes with EVERYTHING.

Does this help?!

Not sure this is OS though - advocating shopping is not a very OS thing to do!!

Penelope_Penguin

DSmiffy wrote: »

Has anyone out there created a capsule wardrobe and if so what does it look like?

Take a look at Clothes Old Style I'll merge this thread to that one later to keep ideas together.

Penny. x

leiela

Erm i sort of do this, for my work clothes

in that every pair of shoes and bottom half (pants,skirts) i own are plain black, as are the 2 jackets i own and the skirts,pants and jacket i own are all similar material but in very different styles mixed and match it actually seems like i have about 20 suits, when infact i have 3 pairs of pants, 2 skirts and 2 jackets.

I then leave my splash of colour to come in from my blouses / tops which i have a greater variety of, i have around 10 tops / blouses all in differen patterns / colour's.

But together the interchangableness of it all means i essentially have around 40 different ways of wearing them, i never have to worry about what go's with what because they all go together, you'd be supriseds how different an outfit can look with a different pair of shoes or a different jacket.

I chose black as my base colour because black go's with everything so i can wear red or blue enything on the top really and i find it's quite flattering on me.

flissh

I recently let my hair go grey and most of my clothes just dont feel right. Have to say I thought Gok soke a lot of truth. If most women look in their wardrobes they are full of stuff they just do not wear.

I have finally realised I look best in Navy, a colour I have never worn before. Now when I go shopping I try not to buy stuff because I like it, but think, right, will this go with EVERYTHING I have at home, using navy as the base and adding colour with bits and bobs.

It is hard to chuck stuff away, I have put it in bin bags, put these in the loft and if I have not touched them in a few months, they are going to the charity shop.

I think most women use a capsule wardrobe, they just can't find it as it's buried in amongst all the other stuff in there!!!

ubamother

Having lost some weight, I've charity-shopped things that can't be taken in, and pared down my wardrobe to things that actually suit me, rather than just fit me. I know what colours suit me and have the following in my main (as in don't wear for gardening or camping!) wardrobe: 3prs trousers, black, navy, grey. 2 prs jeans. Purple, brown, orange, white and deep pink M & S two-for-£8 fairtrade V neck Tshirts. Black swing knit cardie, green shrug, navy jersey cardi-top. One b/w pretty dress, one navy/green pretty dress. Various handknitted lace wraps/scarves, and pashminas. Various worky tops in black/white/deep pink to go with black and grey trousers for work. My navy/orange/green stuff all mixes and matches beautifully. My pink does with black/grey/navy and the pretty navy/green dress matches with the navy/green cardies. The wraps and scarves make a huge difference. None of it was bought to create a new wardrobe - just spent a good amount of time going through it with a friend to work out what really suited me! My advice (sorry for the long long post) - get a friend/sister and go through all your stuff - a fresh eye can really help.

organic_wanabe

Is there a John Lewis near you? I once used their personal shopping service and as a result of that I have been invited, tonight, to a drinks/nibbles evening where they will show you how to put together a Summer capsule wardrobe. If I pick up any interesting tips that have not yet been mentioned, I will post them tomorrow.

I am not planning to buy anything - I wonder if I will be persuaded! I certainly wont be pressurised.