Capsule called "Africa" - YouLookFab Forum

Hello, YLF!

Thank you so much for your attention to "My way to YLF" and for your comments. I'm an active member now and I can load photos of my capsule for hot days! It is warm-toned, a mix of safary and ethnical style, that's why I called it "Africa". When I start building a capsule, I focus on its main idea and I try to find a name to represent its spirit.
So, Africa. It consists of 33 garments (pleasant coincidence!), 8 pairs of shoes and plenty of accessories. Garments include 9 bottoms (photo 1), 19 tops and toppers (photo 2) and 5 dresses (photo 3). All bottoms, except from printed maxi skirt, are basics and I use them in my other capsules. Tops and dresses mostly belong just to this capsule, the exceptions are: chambray shirt and dress, beige jacket and a couple of sleeveless shirts. Knitwear is my mom's masterpiece (photo 2, left bottom corner), as well as beige linen skirt and two tops. Sandals are my usual summer footwear, there are 4 pairs of them in the capsule (photo 4). Sometimes I wear wedges (2 pairs: bronse and brown with turquoise) and rarely - high heels (1 pair in beige and brown shades). Shoes are for colder weather (1 pair). As you can see, systematization is the key to my scientific approach)))
From these items I can make about 100 combinations which I really love, photo 5 shows 20 of them.
What do you think about ethnical style? Do you wear it or just enjoy in the pictures, in your interior design, perhaps? Looking forward to reading your comments!

This post has 5 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.

10 years ago

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

What a cohesive palette to work from. Your mom's knitting is beautiful too. Can you dress in these outfits for work?

Elly

How beautiful. I wonder how these pieces go together on the body?-- I'm one who likes to wear my favorite top paired with the pants it looks best with rather than have a million combos and I'm always fascinated by how something looks laid on the bed versus how it works on. Maybe I'm just sensitive to proportions. I can definitely see the themes running throughout this collection though that makes it cohesive.

Ethnic fashion is a danger zone. I LOVE clothing that is authentic or respectfully inspired by a region of the world or a culture. However, "teeny bopper fake Navajo junk" drives me nuts. I think there is a respectful way to do it (you collection has a good vibe) and a tacky way to do it. I personally really struggle since I'm most inspired by the cultures of the indigenous Americas and am a social scientist living and working in a Native community. For myself, I try to stick to pieces that "hint" at an appreciation or pieces that are made by Native designers and artisans, like my Northwest coast bear box embossed leather clutch. I.E. special authentic pieces worn with essentials or an outfit that gives off a vibe through combination (subtly exotic, rather than full-on safari).

Carole

What a great capsule...the neutral and earthy colors do give the impression of a trip to Africa in the wings. I only have one piece I would call "ethnic" ish, and that would be a maxi dress! My style goals are more classic and basic to fit my casual lifestyle but I could see how the texures could spice up a casual wardrobe.

Maneera

How lovely! That's a very cohesive capsule and so very summery.....well done!

alexandra

Active Member

I can go to work in most of these outfits, I don't have dress code. I'm a professor in a university and also work there as a scientist. Some my colleagues prefer to dress in classical style, but nobody controls it and I wear what I like.

Susie

Wow, that is a very cohesive wardrobe...well done! It sounds like you enjoy the mix and match options that a capsule provides so I bet it works very well for you.

Jeweled

I wrote a reply earlier and it disappeared, so I'm writing again.

Alexandra, I LOVE this wonderful capsule - beautiful colors, fantastic Africa ethnic theme, and most of all - incredible mix-and-match abilities with these pieces.
I particularly love your shoes and jewelry - very similar to what I wear too! And as for other ethnic touches in my wardrobe - I have a couple of tops with ethnic / tribal looking designs printed on them.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful capsule, Alexandra! It's a treat to see it.

Summer

This is a great capsule, Alexandra, and I like the way you have named it.
I hope you will show us some of the outfits in action.

Thank you so much! I will choose my favorite outfits for What I Wore!

celia

I really like all the patterns and colors here.
I do not venture too much into ethnical dressing because I don't think it suits me. I have too classic features to not look like a fake .

MuseumGal

What a fab capsule! Very cohesive and looks really wearable. Would love to see it in action, i.e. you wearing outfits from it.

Do you have other summer capsules?

I wear a lot of ethnic jewelry and accessories, but I try for it to be authentic (i.e. made by tribal member) when it comes to First Nations. For Asian pieces, since I am half Asian, I worry less about looking like I'm inappropriately coopting another culture (even though Asian cultures are extremely numerous and diverse).

Yes, I have other summer capsules. They are smaller and cold-toned: turquoise, navy, red. I'll photo them too when I have some free time:)
P.S. I have just posted an outfit from Africa capsule in WIW!

unfrumped

the idea of having a theme name for capsule is great! Very much like a style moniker. Great for focus, as in, would I wear this in my Africa capsule mode?

I have a sugar eye for some elements of "safari" as well as military, usually because of fit and fabrics. Safari-type jackets are usually longer and have some waist fit, which is better on me than moto's or cropped jackets, except with some skirts; often are in cotton or linen blends. My usual limiting factor there is that they are in very warm tones or are too casual.
Also love "camp shirts" and epaulets, that sort of thing.

So I do keep my eye out for items with these vibes but with the right colors and degree of polish, and would typically use one item of that nature while keeping everything else classic or simple.
Sometimes rather than "ethnic" I think "natural" as I like summertime jewelry with themes of shell, wood, and in lighter colors to summerize darker colored tops. It can be hard to find things that look right, not tacky or touristy or whatever.

I like your WIW and think it really fits that--the knitted top is the statement and the other pieces are simple and supporting.

cheryl

Fantastic capsule. I love the way you have themed your capsules and you have a great variety.

Anonymous

What interests me the most is that you and I are using the same exact process, yet your capsules are so creative and interesting. In contrast, mine are so mundane.

Obviously, now that I understand the process, I need to start adding in more interesting and creative pieces. I love the idea of naming each capsule to capture the spirit of it and hone the process. Wow. Thanks so much for sharing. You have given me much food for thought.

Jenn

I really like this capsule and I envy how organized you are about the whole process. You make it look way easier than it actually is to build a cohesive mix-and-match wardrobe.

Category