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Small/minimalist wardrobes--two variations, lots of inspiration

Ariadne

Veteran

I've been thinking a LOT lately about what and how many items I'd want in a very small wardrobe. In the last few days I've come across two variations on that theme, and I thought it was interesting how they display two very different approaches to the same idea (a mix-and-match wardrobe made up of 10-12 pieces).

Example #1: A Common Wardrobe from The Vivienne Files. All items are simple, classic in the extreme, and in neutral shades. The idea is to use these clothing items as a base and then spice them up via unlimited accessories. Lots of scarves, jewelry, and shoes.
http://www.theviviennefiles.bl.....drobe.html
Examples of this wardrobe with accessories:
http://www.theviviennefiles.bl.....20Wardrobe

Example #2: The Perfect 10 from a Banana Republic mailout. The pieces are still classic, but there is some colour and texture as well as draping and patterns going on. Accessories are minimal--2 pairs of shoes, 1 bag, 1 necklace, 1 belt, some bangles, 1 scarf.
http://bananarepublic.gapcanad.....CD=BNC_BAC

I realized I'm much more drawn to the BR example. With some tweaks and substitutions to casualize things to suit my lifestyle, and maybe 2-3 additions, I'd be very happy with those clothes in my closet and nothing else. After much thought I've realized I prefer my clothes to do the work--I want them to be the standout pieces, incorporating color, texture, pattern, interesting cuts, etc. I don't want to have to gussy things up with accessories to have an interesting outfit. I thought this meant I'd need a larger wardrobe but I'm feeling very inspired by the BR approach and am seeing that a small wardrobe of "star" pieces mixed with classic essentials could be do-able with a lot of effort, a careful eye, and a bold but limited colour palette.

I was so inspired I got very specific and started making lists of all the items used in each outfit and what I'd change or add or substitute to make the clothes work for my lifestyle,

I was very surprised to realise that these BR outfits I can't stop thinking about are much more classic than the direction I thought I wanted to go with my style. I think I may be closing in on my wardrobe goals!

I would be so interested to know which approach you prefer, and why! I think either one could work very well.

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45 replies

Latest reply was from Ariadne

bj1111

Veteran

that is so great to realize the direction you want to go, even if it isn't the one you thought you would take.

one potental drawback of stars is that individual pieces may be so memorable. of course it's a hazard with a small wardrobe. but easier to camoflage if the pieces were "basic"

i tend toward the former, relying on accesories, esp shoes to keep me current. i find they have more staying power than clothing.

Joy

Veteran

I love accessories and have gone the first route in the past. However, I really like the BR approach and think that this is closer to what Angie does in her own wardrobe. Often each piece is a classic yet a star and she makes them work together with the help of a few basics. Part of the secret to making this way work must be in layering and proportions.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Actually I am not a fan of Vivienne Files capsules - they seem much the same to me. So I understand perfectly why you are taken with BR capsule more
Personally I have no problem with have a small wardrobe with memorable things in it. Of course you cannot have all start in it, you need some hard working basics to ground things. However I would rather wear the same thing often which looks amazing than have more variety of such nondescript pieces that nobody can remember I already wore them yesterday.
Maybe you are realizing now for yourself what Angie was drilling into us all the time: the power of timeless classic pieces...

Mo

(website)

Veteran

There was something in Redbook that Goldenpig posted around this time last year that had a minimal, remix challenge. I know I dropped the ball on following through, but some others may have You might find it interesting and find some inspiration from their examples on the link. http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ew-outfits
EDIT: and I am team #2 all the way. I also like my clothes to do most of the talking and wear only one or 2 accessories most of the time.

fashionista

Veteran

I would love to have a wardrobe like your example no #1 and am working towards maintaining one.

Gaylene

Veteran

The proverbial penny dropped for me, as well, when I realized that a smallish wardrobe did not have to depend on accessories to be workable. I've never been much for accessories, so it was a stretch to see how that approach would ever work for me.

For the past couple of years I've been working on something much closer to your BR example which, I think, is also much closer to what Angie does with her wardrobe. Those "hard working basics" that "ground" your more unique pieces can also be interesting in their own right. For example, a "basic" white blouse can be a standard white cotton shirt from a department store or a silky blouse with an interesting detailing on the cuff and collar. That BR wardrobe works because the pieces are distinctive, yet harmonious. That seems like a winning combination to me.

Deborah

Veteran

I need to re read and think about this, but will say I agree with bj that I am relying more and more on my accessories, in particular shoes to update and keep myoutfits modern and interesting.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Vivienne never shows her capsules on a body & looking at some of them really makes me wonder about weight & texture & proportion. I think you would have to buy these pieces together to make sure they worked. I think getting a small wardrobe to function involves having all the pieces work with as many of the others as possible & proportion becomes really important. If one or two tops don't work with one or two bottoms - then your options are dramatically reduced.

In the BR example all the bottoms & the jacket & trench are all solid neutrals - it's only the tops & the dress that have colour. I think this is why it works. If you had the bottoms in brights or neutrals that didn't work with the tops then there wouldn't be the same number of options.

Sorry for the diatribe - needed to sort that out in my own mind. I do think you are on the right track.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Very interesting analysis and very helpful to me, too.

I have always been one for buying "essentials" and love my essentials (Angie is training us not to call them "basics" which refers, in the trade, to underthings!) but I now understand that an essential does not have to be dull.

Harmonizing colours is key to making this work, I think. Also, note that while there aren't a lot of accessories here, the ones that are here make a statement. Leopard print shoes, booties (both current and not boring) and a bright bag...plus a statement necklace....these actually DO add a lot to make the outfits current. Imagine the same set of clothes with plain black flats and a plain black bag.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm, interesting. I like the *idea* of the Vivienne files mix and match minimalist wardrobe, but I think I would die of boredom if all my clothing pieces looked like that. I hate shopping for basics. The BR set is much better, but even then, I like to have more colors, prints and more color/texture/print mixing. All of those pieces are pretty much neutrals except for the magenta top. I definitely have a closet full of divas/statement pieces, which makes it difficult to mix and match. I think that's why I tend to wear a lot of one-piece dresses, and why my jewelry collection is rather anemic, and why I rarely wear scarves, because my clothes are the ones doing the talking, rather than the accessories. Although, given my current condition, maybe I should look into this style of plain neutrals with lots of accessories to try to stretch my maternity wardrobe further.

I do like the Redbook remix articles (they do it twice a year for spring and fall). I guess I never did get around to doing my own remix challenge! I'll definitely have to try it sometime (although it may have to wait till I have the baby).

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for sharing a great insightful post. I think the BR capsule is WAY more interesting in color, pattern, texture and style and the "capsule" is a great way for them to showcase their clothing. More clothing makers are doing this these days and it's a wonderful idea.

Carole

Veteran

This is so intriguing to me. I have thought about recreating the Vivienne Files in my closet and playing around with the examples she gives just to see how they work IRL. I find myself drawn more and more to simplicity and the goal of minimizing my wardrobe. Too much stuff is driving me nuts. More to organize and deal with just doesn't make sense to me to me anymore. It's probably my age (55). Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts and I especially love the BR examples, but they seem just a little to dressy for my life style.. I wish they would come up with a non-career capsule, something suitable for a casual life.

Lisa

Veteran

This is very interesting. I adore both the vivienne file capsules and when BR does their little closet mixups. I do strive for more remixability (is that a word?) in my wardrobe. Too many stand alone pieces and I get bored. But I also have key elements of my personal style and lifestyle to consider. My own wardrobe is a mixture of both. I do like Vivienne's idea to mix up a core outfit with accessories and I do this most often with scarves. But I also use BR's approach by wearing pieces that can stand alone without being "boring." One thing I do not do much of, is vary up the components of my wardrobe much. Many remixes I see on the web, incorporate dresses and skirts too. I'm a jeans gal through and through. I have slowly added in some trousers recently (2 different black silhouettes and one colored pair) but I mostly stick to my top half for varying up my look.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I like both approaches, actually. I think the Vivienne Files capsules are great as essentials, and those are the garments that should last for several seasons. The BR capsule, hoverer, is more current, and thus more interesting to us now, but will date more quickly, probably. Not all the garments, perhaps. I think one needs both to have a functional wardrobe: A core of plain essentials, and a capsule of more current items. Then they can play nicely together, and with the accessories.

Anonymous

Without overthinking this whole thing, I'm gonna say I'm much more drawn to the BR collection because it looks more modern and interesting. Even classic pieces look dated after a while, so I wouldn't worry about that aspect too much. The BR collection is not going to look dated that quickly, I don't think.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This is great, Ariadne! You are honing your style

The BR capsule is more versatile because it can be dressed up or down. The VF capsules are very casual, and less versatile in my opinion.

I don't wear jewelry as deliberate strong part of my style statement (apart from a wedding ring). I love how no-nonsense it makes my outfits and how it makes the CLOTHES shine.

High five Gaylene, Sveta, Joy and Suz! Loved your thoughts on this.

shiny

Veteran

I think there's room for both approaches. The VF capsule looks more casual, more weekend appropriate. The BR capsule is more smart casual & work appropriate.

My own wardrobe veers more towards BR example... except at the moment I am working on adding more VF essentials because I've realized I am lacking in more casual/weekend wear.

Ariadne

Veteran

So much insight and wisdom on this thread! I'm SO excited and inspired by everyone's thoughts. I will come back at naptime (if it happens, ha) to write more.

A few quick thoughts:

Putting together a wardrobe that is super small but incorporates more stand-alone pieces seems like would be a LOT of work (fun work, though) to get the fit and color/pattern mix right for maximum mixability.

Suz is right on that the accessories are limited but the ones that are used are "strong voices" and add something very important to each outfit. I can suddenly see how having one belt but having it be animal print instead of black could actually work.

The BR capsule finally brought me around to the idea of animal print shoes and I ordered some leopard-print smoking slippers from the Bay (Bay Days ends today, lots of stuff on sale for Canadians).

sinead

Ariadne, thanks for posting this! I love remixing discussions. And I vote for both. I've been reading the Vivienne files and I loved this capsule idea because she usually isn't saying use only these items with accessories- she often shows this capsule (or common wardrobe, as she calls it) but with additional pieces.

http://theviviennefiles.blogsp.....ulous.html

This is hugely helpful to me because I'm still not good at coming up with ways of remixing- so I love seeing it laid out visually, over and over. And with the common wardrobe pieces (almost there) and a few statement pieces, my minimalist wardrobe is working better. I really enjoy her travel capsules, too.

rachylou

Veteran

I don't think accessories can carry the weight of making outfits different. If you go the base/accessory route, you are a uniform dresser. That can be a great look, don't get me wrong, but things are essentially the same every day.

Ok. I flirt with the idea of a capsule wardrobe everyday, but I always remember high school and these two teachers who had 2-3 outfits each. A LOT of time was spent on double-checking the math of their hygiene. I don't think I want to be followed in the office like that. I think you need at least 4 bottoms (skirts/pants).

Anonymous

@Rachylou: ROFL about checking the math of the teachers' hygiene. So true. I agree about the need to have at least 4 bottoms. If you don't want to stink, make sure your wardrobe isn't too sparse.

cheryl

Veteran

I love The Vivienne Files and read it daily but I am so much more drawn to the BR outfits. More color, updated pieces, just seems so much more fashion forward.

Makrame

Veteran

Rachylou, that is very funny. That's why when I teach, I try to rotate at least 6 "tops" and "bottoms" (I teach three days a week so it is a two-week rotation). Don't want anyone to doubt my laundry frequency (even if in reality the skirts only get dry-cleaned after several wears).

MsMary

Veteran

I am so in love with that BR capsule! (No wonder, since I have pieces similar to most of theirs!)

I hate to admit it, but The Vivienne Files gives me hives. All those disembodied garments in neat rows just make me crazy! And I agree with those of you who say that anybody who dressed per Vivienne would look verra verra similar from day to day.

Laurinda

Veteran

What a perceptive post!

The BR capsule is indeed lovely, and if I did need that kind of clothing I would find it very tempting. Alas, that is an imagined life, I am much more VF with a boatload of accessories.

Isabel

Veteran

I am a TOTAL accessories "girl" so I have been very intrigued by the Vivienne files. I think it is whatever you are attracted to personally. The first approach , truthfully, also better suits my SAHM lifestyle.

cciele

Veteran

Thanks for posting the links! Interesting juxtaposition of capsules. In my journey toward minimalism, I'm actually leaning toward the Vivienne Files approach; the BR one is too colorful for me ;). But I'm not an accessories girl at all. So for me one major piece of clothing: top, bottom, or a layer, needs to be a star. It's a fun challenge.

Ariadne

Veteran

(Will post more introspective thoughts later--I've written them out in Textpad already!)

A set like this is a great marketing tool. It makes me want to go out and buy the exact items pictured. This particular set from BR really appeals to me, far more than others I've seen, because it's in "my" colors and I ike the overall style. Since I'm totally obsessed with this right now, here are my breakdowns of the BR capsule

Cost of exact items:

Silk-blend cowl neck shell in mustard with a print in eggplant, taupe and winter white $85
burgundy slim pants $110
Mariniere style navy and white striped pullover with button shoulders $85
Light grey blazer $240
Light grey pencil skirt $110
Slim dark jeans $110
Mustard faux-wrap dress $124
Magenta wool short-sleeved top $85
Grey wool trench $275
Leopard heels $110
Black booties $110
Burgundy and purple printed scarf $75
Black and white animal print belt $50
Silver pendant necklace (long) $65
Shorter chunky necklace $64
Red satchel $275

Total cost: $1973. Not too bad if you amortize it over 6 months or a year. Approximations of many of the items could be had for much less if you were willing to hunt.

Now, this capsule is too dressy for me but I can easily see how I'd casualize it:
Swap the grey suit for a denim pencil skirt and a knit grey blazer or a high quality grey cardi--maybe a shawl collar open one
Swap the burgundy dress pants for burgundy skinnies
Swap the mustard dress that I desperately want to buy for one made from a material that does not require dry cleaning (I love the color of this dress SO MUCH)
Swap the heeled shoes for flats
Swap the raspberry wool short-sleeved top for a knit cowl neck top in the same color with sleeves that are at least elbow length
I might swap the wool trench for a darker tweed one depending how the grey looked with my coloring. http://bananarepublic.gapcanad.....=229104003
I'd keep the silky shell as is because it's hand washable and would be great for church or other dressier events.

Additions I'd make ASAP, many taken from the Common Wardrobe items:
boyfriend jeans
a denim shirt
a chunky knit turtleneck, not black
a no-iron white shirt
a small handful of layering tees
a neutral dress that can be styled casually through to business casual
one or two Equipment-style silk shirts in colors (mustard, teal, berry)
a pair of black pants like the Gap Always Skinnies
a leather moto
tall boots
oxfords
a rain trench with hood
a denim jacket

If I felt I needed more options I could also add a couple more cardigans or knit jackets in colors like mustard, teal, berry, eggplant, or silver grey, another dress or two that could be worn casually, coated or printed pants, and a knit colored pencil skirt like those lovely Halogen ones. For dressy events I'd add a cocktail dress or a dressy maxi skirt. None of those things except the dressy outfit would be strictly necessary, though.

Ariadne

Veteran

One quick thought--I have no problem with the idea of wearing a handful or two of killer items and outfits over and over and over and over and over. In fact, I crave that approach. Thinking about it makes me feel light, liberated, and relieved. The pieces I listed above, including my additions, would combine to make somewhere between 35 and 75 outfits, I think. Some would be very similar to each other and some would be very different.

I don't mean to imply in any way that a very streamlined approach is morally superior or objectively better in any way. I get that sense quite often from minimalist literature and I do not like it. This is just what I'm personally craving in my life. My home, closet, headspace and metaphoric plate are overloaded--I want to change that!

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