Copycat: Emulating the BR minimalist wardrobe - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Inspiration

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Copycat: Emulating the BR minimalist wardrobe

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I was totally inspired by Ariadne's post yesterday about minimalist wardrobes. I hadn't seen the Banana Republic suggestion before, and it occurred to me that I already have several garments that could replace the capsule items. Thus I tried to recreate the outfits today, limited to clothes and accessories I already own. I picked 10 items and added accessories (jewelry, belts, a bag, a pair of shoes, and a shirt) and tried to emulate the model outfits.

What I learned:
- A few well-chosen garments go a long way. I don't need a very large wardrobe. This is not news, of course, but a great reminder.
- As workwear, not all of these outfits are equally practical for me. I wouldn't wear anything sleveless at this time of year. But add a topper, and I will be fine.
- I would like to have a gray suit
- I really need to upgrade my bag selection.

What I missed in my capsule:
- The leopard pumps. I substituted them with my brown booties, which probably are a lot more versatile anyway.
- My tops are old, but they do the job. The cropped mustard pant is a bit worn out, too, but it is what I have. I will eventually replace these garments.

#1 BR outfits 1-4
#2 My copycat outfits 1-4: Not all of these are instant love, but one in particular is - #1
#3 BR outfits 5-8
#4 My copycat outfits 5-8: My least favorite is #7. I don't think the belt looks good on this blazer.
#5 BR outfits 9-12
#6 My copycat outfits 9-12: I think I prefer #12 here.
#7: My capsule, the lazy way

It was surprisingly painful/scary to put the pictures of me next to the ones of the model, but after all, she is half my age, a foot taller, half my frame, and her photos are taken and edited by a professional. This is a game for me, after all. Even so, I find it a useful experience, because body image is very personal, and we are all exposed to those slim, tall, beautiful young women all the time. It helps to remember that there are so incredibly many ways to look good.

What do you think of this experiment? I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for looking!

This post has 7 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

53 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

Anonymous

I don't think you have anything to worry about compared to that model -- you have a warmth and charisma that comes out of your images and makes you look wonderful. I love your outfits, they are so much you, so interesting and well put together. What a great idea to try.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, Ceit! So very kind of you to say that. I think of myself as pretty confident about myself in general, but even so I felt a tiny sting of insecurity all of a sudden, "what will people think? Am I making a fool of myself now?" Then I realized that I was the judgmental one here. No need to put oneself down!

I do understand why so many women are dissatisfied with their looks, though, as long as beauty is displayed only in ways of the tall, young and unnaturally slim. That's not what the real world looks like, and as a mother and teacher to teenagers, I feel responsible to address these issues to help them believe that they are good enough already.

rheostaticsfan

I LOVE this! You did a great job and have inspired me to try and do a similar experiment myself.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Wow, you get the A for effort this morning! Love seeing this done with someone's current closet contents.

shedev

Veteran

You look great in all the outfits you posted.

Gaylene

Veteran

What a fantastic way to translate catalog images into a real-life, working wardrobe. I love all of your interpretations; they look so current, fresh, yet totally "you". Great idea with spectacular results.

I'm going to spend some time in my closet this weekend trying to emulate you. Ingunn, you are an inspiration!

Carole

Veteran

What a fantastic interpretation, and believe me when I say that your outfits and modeling are just as impressive as the BR examples. You are beautiful and the colors in your pieces work so well with your coloring and beautiful hair. I'm very impressed and love these types of exercises. I might give this a try, too. How fun!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Had to log in just to say Wow! What a great example you just gave - this will certainly be a post to mark for future reference for many. You look great in every outfit you posted and I can barely believe how different each outfit looks with such a small capsule of clothing. Well done and thank you!

Queen Mum

Veteran

Wow! You put all these outfits together with just 10 pieces? Amazing outfits, and a wonderful variety of looks!

Laurinda

Veteran

Another WOW! Thanks for posting, this is excellent!

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, everybody, for the encouraging words! I'm very happy if I've inspired you. Queen Mum, there are actually 12 garments, because I've included an extra pair of shoes (the oxfords) and a shirt, just like in the BR example. But there are room for many more outfits within these 12, and I found that a few accessories was enough, no need to have that many.

Gaylene and Carole, do give this a try! It is always very satisfactory when you realize that interesting new outfits already live in your closet.

catgirl

Veteran

OMG, you're brilliant! And you look stellar in every single outfit! I'm always leery of these capsules when a big retailer shows them, because it's a marketing ploy. But you've taken it and made it work without buying a single thing. Genius! And you are much more appealing than a catalog model to me...

Sara L.

Veteran

Wow, this is a great exercise! I see those magazine articles on using just a few pieces, but it's great to see a real world example using current wardrobe items. I really need to do something like this to get a casual capsule going. Just pull out the casual items and mix and match them to show myself I have plenty of options just waiting to be worn.

MsMary

Veteran

*screaming with joy*

This is stellar! Good grief! Seriously -- the outfits are beyond fab and you look absolutely gorgeous. I can see why you adore #1, and I would add #4 to the "total instant love" category, too! But they are all just great and there isn't a dud in the bunch!

*standing ovation for Ingunn*

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

OMG, you make me blush, Una and MaryK:) Thanks ever so much!

I totally hear you, Una, about the underlying shopping pressure in capsules like these. That's why I think it is so fun to use them as a creative exercise instead, because more often than not we really don't need anything new. And if we do, it is more likely that we recognize what it is if we are adequately familiar with what we have already.

Sara, this is very fun! You really should do it, too. I discovered at least two or three outfits today that I'm going to wear in the near future - already waiting for me in my wardrobe.

qfbrenda

Veteran

Wow, awesome job! I love seeing all of those looks from your closet. You look great in all of them!

bookwormmoran

Thanks for mentioning how daunting it can be when you compare yourself with the model. We must resist. I liked your outfit #8 the best. I'm loving the unexpected pairing of leopard with stripes. I wear a striped blue top with a blue blazer, green skinny jeans, leopard flats and leopard belt and it is one of my favorite outfits this fall. Hadn't thought to put a leopard scarf with blue stripes, but I will now.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Fabulous! Great photos and fantastic inspiration here! I think we should all do this as homework over the weekend. I am searching my closet right now in my mind (at least until the phone rings or someone comes in the office door). What a nice description, too. Thanks, Ingunn.

Joy

Veteran

*Standing and appauding with MaryK* Every outfit is a winner. If you have to travel, you are ready to pack your bag! This is so inspirational...It's like Angie's capsules using a BR formula.

amiable

Veteran

OH, this is so incredible. I have to try this now too. Thanks for showing us your creativity exercise - I so need this same sort of creativity exercise. Your outfits are such winners, and you used what you already have!

Anonymous

Wow, this is a really good exercise. Your combinations are brilliant. I am studying your cropped trouser and boot combo in detail. I don't seem to get that combo right.

rachylou

Veteran

OMG! That's amazing! Lol. You totally did it! Every outfit is great. But I can't get over how you put the *same* capsule together out of your wardrobe.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Your comments are so interesting and bring loads of joy! Yes, it's great, isn't, that the solution just as well might be found in your own closet?

bookwormmoran, please post a photo of your combo if you try it! I saw someone wearing stripes with leopard once, that gave me the idea. It works very well to my eye. Your combination with blue AND green probably make a very pretty split complementary color mix.

Zap, I particularly like my boots with this trouser. It doesn't work that well with my other cropped pants. I believe it is because the colors are very similar here, and of the same value. Agree?

So many of you mention that you want to try this yourselves. Please do, and post the result on YLF. I would LOVE to see that.

Anonymous

You are truly inspiring. Your outfits are fantastic and you look beautiful! What a great exercise...I am going to try to do this myself with what I already own. I may have to think outside the box because I don't have a suit, but I'm looking forward to see what I can come up with.

Aida

Veteran

Oh wow, this is such a great interpretation of the BR capsule! I love it even more BECAUSE you're using your own pieces, that are your style. So good! I do think you could get some good use out of some leopard pumps or flats, though. They'd look fantastic with your hair :}

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I agree this would be a great travel wardrobe. What a great exercise. Sometimes we judge ourselves in a way we would never judge others, I'm so glad you overcame your fear & shared these inspiring photos with us.

MsMary

Veteran

YES!! Leopard shoes for the win!!

Day Vies

Veteran

You are such an inspiration! I never thought of shopping my closet to recreate looks created by (insert national chain retailer here). I know I must sound crazy because it is such simple idea. My whole approach to catalogs is different because of your post. THANK YOU!

Carole

Veteran

I tried so hard to do this with my wardrobe today but realize my closet is plagued by schizophrenia. The definition of schizophernia is "a state characterized by the coexistence of contradictory or incompatible elements", that about sums it up. I could come up with maybe 3 or 4 outfits in one color way and could do the same with a few other colors. I wish they all were cohesive and could all mix and play together nicely.

I'm even more impressed with your efforts after trying this myself. Your colors are so beautiful together and so complimentary to your complexion and beautiful hair.. Have you been working a long time to achieve such a perfect wardrobe?

12