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Capsules, comfort, and uniforms

MsLuna

Veteran

There's been talk about capsules in YLF for quite sometime, and I was inspired to see the capsules many of you have come up with. This makes me think of my own wardrobe and how I've been trying to streamline my wardrobe since 2006. It's been quite a rough journey since, but for the first time in years I think I somewhat have some clarity in my style and what I find comfortable. Despite being a designer by trade (who has an odd fascination for design systems of some kind), capsules do not come naturally for me. I used to dress based on my mood and I often use clothing/fashion as an outlet for self-expression. My biggest fear about capsules is boredom and the lack of a creative outlet. From what I've seen here in YLF though, capsule-creation seems to be a creative ordeal.

Before I jump in to capsule creation, I've observed a few things about my personal style in the last few months where I've felt that my personal style knowledge has expanded (compared to the last 7 years):

- I am most comfortable in slim silhouettes. (Narrow pants and skirts)
- I wear long over lean (long top, lean bottom) 99% of the time
- I prefer pants over skirts/dresses (I would not have said this six months ago)
- I don't like wearing skirt separates. If I wear skirts, I wear dresses (comfier)
- I tend to wear mainly draped or semi-fitted jacket/blazer styles
- I am not 100% comfortable in fitted styles (reserved for job interviews)
- I' tend to lean to casual over dressy
- my wardrobe needs to be low maintenance
-wardrobe needs to suit my grab and go lifestyle
- physical comfort is very important - yet so is NOT looking sloppy!

Based on my observations, it looks to me that I prefer having a uniform of some kind. The narrow silhouette preference and the low maintenance grab-and-go life seems to suggest it. I often wonder if I will get bored of the uniform, but I keep grabbing the same outfit combinations in my closet: not due to convenience but because I look and feel good in these combination of items (drape or semi-fitted topper, long blouse or tunic, slim pants, boots). I hoping that accessorizing (my only way to satisfy my mood-dressing tendencies) might be sufficient to keep wardrobe boredom at bay. I tend nor to limit myself with accessories and tend not to invest in them (aside from shoes, bags and belts).

Do I have the right idea for a capsule wardrobe? Is comfort and lifestyle a good basis? How do you manage to keep yourself from wardrobe boredom (if you have capsule wardrobes).

Dressing

20 replies

Latest reply was from Vicki

Neel

Veteran

I think a capsule works more as a fallback mechanism or a guide to help you choose. And I think I would get bored too if I had to see the same colors everyday even if they were different outfits!

Capsules sound very interesting to me and the only capsule I am looking on creating is a dressy occasion capsule. Mainly because I have no clue what to reach for when I have to dress for a dressy event. And I am sure it would be a great capsule to have as it will not get boring considering the minimal number of such events I need to attend AND it would save me from the last minute panic attacks!

Lifestyle is definitely the first basis for a capsule creation IMO. I am yet to create one so I can't really say much on that. Hope you have loads of fun creating a capsule.

rute

Veteran

This is so interesting and I have been thinking a lot about this too.
I discovered I do well in uniformes too and it doesn't have to be boring.

I used one on Angie's capsule here:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....le-concept

I'm still doing it, It makes my mornings much less complicate!

Carla

Veteran

The capsule formula is really just a tool, and one shouldn't feel compelled to comply with capsule making if the idea doesn't appeal. What the capsule experiment revealed to me was:

- there are capsules in my wardrobe without my having to purchase new items - there are more combinations of outfits available to me than just the regular 'go to' outfits
-provided a parameter for a comfortable wardrobe size ( in other words revealed where the wardrobe holes are ( or)that there are enough clothes in my wardrobe for my lifestyle.)
-provided a great formula for travel packing

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You can definitely build capsules by shopping your closet, Ms Katie. Start there.

As you start putting outfits together, there in lies the magic, because you are forced to think about your wardrobe items and how they relate to each other. That's the point of capsuling.

You've honed your needs. Now go for it. Identify the gaps and pop them onto a shopping list.

Vix

Veteran

Hi KatieKat --

First, I've been enjoying reading about your style shifts and think you're looking great...just haven't commented. So please keep up the sharing!

I'm very much a uniform dresser but one way I help keep boredom away most of the time is by varying textures and having a pretty broad range of shades *within* my chosen color palette -- and by incorporating a lot more prints and patterns than I originally did.

So naturally I noticed you don't speak to that at all.

Can you add a bit more about fav textures, whether you skew towards solids, prints, or a mix? Where you land on colors?

MsLuna

Veteran

Thanks for the feedback ladies!!! I really appreciate all this!

Neel: indeed, a dressy capsule would be a really good thing to have! I know I tend to rush and try to buoy dresses at the last minute when a special occasion occurs! I managed to find very versatile jersey dresses that work day and night, so I have not shopped for new special occasion dresses for a while!

Rute: I had a look at your thread: Wow... Just WOW! You are so chic and stylish and I love the looks you wear! I can definitely see the uniform dressing there and you still make it so that your outfits are not boring at all! Interesting how you also tend to reach for the same colours (neutrals) and styles! It's so good to see that you've worked the capsule wardrobe with your lifestyle!

Runcarla: capsules definitely appeal to me, though I guess the fear of boredom still gets to me. I'm still trying to get to know what works and what doesn't. It's good to see though, that through your capsule experiment, you've learned so much about your wardrobe/dressing patterns

Angie: thanks for clarifying, Angie! I pretty much had a good look at my wardrobe and discovered what my most-worn outfits are (in my case, anything with skinnies and longer tops). I'm beginning to build the rest based on this. I also have a common colour scheme (black as neutral and purple/pink are predominating colours. Vivid teal is the accent). I do realize that because I've impulse-shopped so much for the wrong sizes and unflattering clothes, I may have to build a capsule by buying some clothes.

Vix: I totally forgot about textures! Funny because I am a texture person! As far as textures go, I like combining them: leather with satin, lace with velvet, denim, fluid tops... I love combining different kinds. I do believe this is also part of my personal style. I also like prints and patterns a lot, though I keep my bottoms pattern-free aside from a texture play of a combination of materials (all monochrome). As for colours, I have a very defined/set palette: black is my neutral. Purple are magenta are my main colours, and vivid teal for my accents. I also wear cobalt, emerald green and deep red, but those colours look like they'd be better on another capsule.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Have you read Angie's blog posts on capsule building? Because there are lots of different ways of approaching this -- by season, by occasion, by item (i.e. a footwear capsule). If you look in the blog archives under capsule you'll come up with all the past posts with examples.

It didn't make a lot of sense to me at first -- except for travel. I've since learned that's partly because I've always naturally looked at my whole wardrobe as a sort of capsule.

But I have focused my use of colour, etc.

In answer to your question, does it get boring dressing in a "uniform" -- to me it does, yes. At least eventually. But everyone is different, so you might not feel the same.

I don't have a large wardrobe, but I do try to vary the silhouettes available. to me. For example, I mostly own boyfriend jeans and skinnies. I only own one pair of flared jeans. They're not my go-to look -- yet it's really fun and fresh to be able to change my look a bit by wearing them now and then.

dakotacheryl

Veteran

KK...you and I have almost the same preferred wardrobe styles (except I prefer pencil skirts to dresses).

I change my look with colors and textures...eg. a Hi-Lo hammered silk blouse in gold, a cable sweater in cranberry etc...and different shoes and boots (fatal love of footwear).

I think that finding what you love to wear is key and you've already done that.

I look forward to seeing your WIW posts so I can copy them LOL.

MsLuna

Veteran

@Suz: yes I've read and referred to Angie's posts, but I think I really need to let what I've read sink in and just take some time to try and build the capsules. I guess the best thing i can do is really let those posts sink in and just really practice. After all, capsule building does take time, right?

I like how you have a single flare pant among your BF's and skinnies! Definitely gives your wardrobe something unexpected and fun!

@dakotacheryl: I also have a fatal love for footwear! Sadly, my poor feet can't handle them and thus far, only Naots fit my new uncompromising style + comfort standard. I'll keep in mind the use of colours and textures to change the look up!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

MsKatieKat, it sounds like you've clarified a lot about your style. Way to go! It took me a long time to take the plunge and actually create a capsule. Once I did it, though, I found it showed me outfits I wouldn't have thought of. So it's a boredom-buster, among other things. Not all my capsule outfits were winners, but some were, and those are now fall-backs I can use. All of which is to say: go for a capsule now, and see what turns up!

MsLuna

Veteran

Thank you, Firecracker!

I'm curious: did your capsules consist of different shaped pants/bottoms/skirts? I'd love to know how you have come up with outfit combos and pared down the items that just really work for you.

I think one of my concerns about capsules is that I tend to wear a single silhouette because other silhouettes just don't work for me (aesthetically and in a mental/emotional level. I realized that I had a uniform, but I'm hoping to create a multitude of looks despite my single-silhouette preference.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I've only done one capsule, and yes, I did have different silhouettes, which made some of the pairings less than stellar. I used boyfriend jeans, slouchy skinny black pants, and coated denim leggings as my bottoms, so three different silhouettes. The leggings needed more butt coverage, and the bf jeans couldn't be as covered up without creating a very sack-like outfit. Still, there were some outfits I wouldn't have thought of otherwise, so I got a lot out of it. My goal was to match up some favorite old and new pieces, to maximize their use this fall.
Since your silhouettes are pretty set, you could try creating a capsule based on a color palette. Try a capsule with your blacks plus purple and emerald green, for example. Or blacks plus magenta and teal.

MsLuna

Veteran

Colour capsules are a good idea. I think I naturally am inclined to make colour capsules because I tend to wear the same colours: black, purple, magenta, teal, emerald green. They pretty much work out very well. It's just a matter of combining the right silhouettes/tops, in my case. My tops vary in three diff. Silhouettes: dolman, straight fluid button downs (except for the fitted BF), A-line tunics and oval-shaped (like cocoon cardigans and blazers). They all seem to work with skinnies. I just have weird layering issues with the button downs (I'd rather wear them on their own, sans topper).

MsMary

Veteran

I generally stay out of the theoretical discussions about capsules and so on (when it comes to fashion, I feel like a musician who plays by ear and doesn't read music, you know?), but I will say that I have a uniform that I wear to work almost every single day, and I couldn't be happier with it: Skirt, top, jacket/cardi, heels. And often a scarf if the weather cooperates. Badda-bing, badda-boom, done and done. Sometimes I change it up by substituting pants for the skirt, or a dress for the skirt and top, but basically it's uniform dressing for sure, and it totally works for me and I am never bored. Here are a few samples from this year:

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Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

MaryK, yours is a lovely uniform. Thank you for sharing the pictures.

minimalist

Veteran

MsKatieKat, you've clarified so much about capsules vs. uniforms for me, and Firecracker's post about silhouettes helped me realize what I've resisted about many capsules I've seen.

Like you, I prefer dresses to skirt combinations. I'm not sure exactly which dress silhouette will work with my current body size/shape, but can imagine feeling comfortable in a sleeveless steampunkish something, fitted through waist then some kind of movement between hip and knee. With boots and jeans-style jacket. Actually dressing that way would sabotage impressions I've carefully cultivated at work with my current uniform of ragged hoodies and not washing my hair, but maybe I can find a balance.

MaryK, thanks so much for posting your uniform!

MsLuna

Veteran

MaryK, thank you! I've been following your posts for quite sometime and it's only now that I realized (now that you mentioned it) that you DO have a uniform! And I must say - every outfit has a different vibe to it!

Thank you so much for sharing this! It actually got me thinking that I think I'm a lot more comfortable with the uniform concept. And given the examples shown (yours, especially), I think this is the type of wardrobe discipline I can follow.

Thanks so much for this!

MsMary

Veteran

My pleasure! Every once in a while I start to feel like I'm in a rut, but then I shake myself by the shoulders and remind myself it's not a rut, it's a groove! And also, as you can see, changing up the shapes really helps keep it fresh!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

These are terrific insights Imo. Finding a look that you love like you & MK have done is a great step to take before you start on your capsule wardrobe - otherwise how do you know what to keep or buy?

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

You've really done your homework as you took a close look at your style, lifestyle and comfort, Ms.KK.

I do think capsules are very helpful, whether it's for travel or weekend wear, because it seems to simplify my choices a bit and makes things easier. Using color and and activity seem to be really helpful to me.

Thanks for bringing this subject up; it's a good one.