It sounds like you have your minimalist wardrobe sorted.

One idea that worked for me. When I had to replace my wardrobe a couple of years ago because of my weight loss, I spent an entire afternoon at a favorite store creating a basic wardrobe that I could use and build on in the future. I had a basic list--jeans, dress pants, jacket, tops, dress--that I'd need and, as well, I brought in a tote bag with some of my favorite accessories and shoes to make sure that they would work with my new purchases.

I can't tell you how helpful it was to create the outfits right there in the dressing room; I could swap sizes, and mix and match endlessly until I found exactly the right items to create an outfit that I knew I'd love wearing. Once I explained what I was trying to do, the owner and her sales staff were a fabulous resource of ideas, suggestions, and prodding. I spent almost five hours in the store and my credit card took a beating, but I was absolutely delighted with the results. And, because of the final tally, all my alterations were free. The owner even threw in a couple of scarves as freebies.

The core wardrobe that I purchased that day served me so well for the next year. If I was a better shopper like Angie, I'm sure I could have done much of this in my head going from store to store. But I've always found buying items one by one and then trying to create a capsule has always been hard because, too often, the colors and shapes were ho-hum when I put them together. Doing everything at once worked so well that it changed the way I shop. I may spend more on each shopping trip, but I end up with things that I actually wear. I also don't get so frustrated bringing things home that end up having to be returned--or having items hang in my closet because I don't have the right top or shoe to make them work.

The funniest part of my new shopping strategy was my husband's comment: "Now you're shopping like a man". Still laughing about that one.

Gaylene, I love this approach. For too many years I've stopped myself from the "all at once" shopping, but really, I think it's the best way to have mixable pieces.

So much to think about after reading this thread. I am in the exact same place as Ariadne-wanting to minimize the number of items in my wardrobe while still having great pieces. I am envious (you should see my green face) of the ability to look at the capsules & know how to personalize them. I'm not sure I have the patience, but may be something I need to do to have the wardrobe I want.

This post is very timely for me. I love the idea of a small remixable wardrobe and have been reading all that I can to get ideas, see examples, etc. I hadn't seen VF before and am looking forward to exploring the site. Based on the links, I have to agree that the VF version is a bit blah. But the BR version is exciting and fun. It probably appeals to me more because it's dressier and a little more colorful. I wouldn't necessarily wear those particular colors but I like the balance of color versus neutral. Most of my items aren't particularly memorable, but a few are. I think that balance keeps it from getting boring.

I'm not really a fan of the Vivienne files' capsules. They do not make sense to me at all, I get immobilized if I start to overthink this dressing gig. I don't need every piece of my wardrobe to mix and match. As far as BR, well, considering I own quite a number of items from them, I think the quality is overall great for the price and you can really do a lot with their stuff, style wise.

Ariadne, the cost will be less if you buy them on 30% off which BR has now

Sveta, I may or may not have picked up a few pieces en route home from Dress for Success tonight...!

Gaylene, I love your story and that sounds like a wonderful approach. I'm filing the idea away for when I complete my weight loss journey. For now all this musing is primarily theoretical--I'm not going to go out and buy all these items or toss the others from my closet because I'm also trying to experiment a lot with what I already own as a way of refining and defining my style as I proceed to lose weight--but I hope all the thinking will serve me well when I do need to replace my clothes, hopefully in about 6-9 months.

Ditto what MaryK said about The Vivienne Files. I'm itchy all over just thinking about them!

Ariadne there's also a combined option of sorts, using the first approach with your personal wardrobe essentials and then using the second to mix in everything else. If you want a minimal wardrobe, then theoretically your essentials will be the backbone of your wardrobe and it would function, albeit a bit simply, on its own; then you can add in more fun/trendy pieces as small capsules that work off your essentials to keep things minimal along with using shoes/bags/accessories to spice things up. Of course, this would involve determine WHAT you essentials are and you'd have to be willing to spend money on those items because they're the crux of your wardrobe.

In the VF example you posted, for example, half of those items wouldn't work as MY wardrobe essentials; the gray tee, black cardigan, and khakis aren't essential to me, but a colorful sweater, a black blazer, and baggy denim shorts totally are. If you haven't really sat down and figured out what your personal essentials are, it may be worth doing (and here's a quick link to Angie's post about it). It looks like you've at the least started thinking about this, based on your list of additions you'd make to the BR capsule.

I must say that this is all coming at a very good time for me. I am home alone this weekend and I am going to take a crack at assembling my wardrobe for a big upcoming trip. I realized this weekend that lugging around a big suitcase is not much fun, so I am considering trying to put together a mix-and-match capsule. I don't like the Vivienne Files for reasons already explained (*waving at Marley*), but I think I could take a lot of inspiration from the BR capsule, especially after seeing Ingunn's brilliant rendition thereof!

Aida, that's pretty much my plan--I like both capsules for different reasons and a combination of the two plus fun/trendy add-ons sounds good to me. Now I need to spend some time making sure I have my essentials sorted.

MK, I hope you post your capsule.

I will definitely post my capsule but you will have to be a little patient. I plan on working on it around Halloween when I have a few days off work!

Just popping back in to say I've found this conversation so productive and can't wait to get home and do some more analysis of my own closet.

Having said that, I think I may have a version of the BR capsule (plus some additions) with me on this almost month-long trip.

Here's what's "in the bag":

The Core:

Black jersey dress (can be layered over and under)
Leopard print cropped pants
Skinnies
Taupe pencil skirt
Fuchsia knit shrunken jacket
Striped boatneck sweater (cream/navy)
Grey cardigan
White button down
Orchid button down
Black trench

Accessories:

2 scarves: 1 leopard print, one multi-coloured including fuchsia, taupe, red, orange, white, green, black

Taupe belt

Taupe booties
Black booties
Red flat shoes

Red bag

"Extras"/ add-ons:

Grey cowl jersey dress

Black midi skirt (jersey)
Denim pencil skirt

Black waxed denim moto

Gray wool T-neck
Taupe linen "sweatshirt"

Grey layering T
White layering T
Striped short-sleeve layering T
Fuchsia sweater/top
Blue athletic shirt (doubles as layering T)

Blue/black/cream/taupe/grey leopard print silk shirt
Denim shirt

Layering camisoles/tanks in various colours
Tights
Gloves
Silk undies (double as PJs)

Underthings

Black flats

Will I get thoroughly sick of wearing this by month's end? Stay tuned......

I'll add this here as well, and cross-link when I get a chance to try on and photograph the capsule I came up with yesterday, as a mental exercise only at this point.

The 10 pieces I came up with from my own closet:

1. BR Purple, cobalt, gold paisley flowy blouse.
2. AG dark wash skinnies
3. Halogen red cashmere cowl neck sweater
4. Nine west giraffe pumps
5. Charcoal gray wool pencil skirt
6. Theory charcoal gray boyfriend jacket OR BR light gray tweed 3/4 length coat.. either one would work here.
7. RL cobalt long sleeve V neck sweater dress
8. AT white pleather jacket
9. INC black ponte knit skinnies
10. Striped top

Not included in the 10, but shown with the outfits:

Me Too black suede wedge pumps
Moschino red bag
Red pashmina
BR denim shirt

Notes/realizations:

1) I don't have a fall/winter weight suit! (The reason is all my business trips tend to be towards warmer climates, or in the spring or summer, so there's never been a need for a matching suit). So after a bit of thought, I realized I do have a charcoal gray pencil skirt, and I could easily substitute the white pleather jacket for the suit jacket in all the outfits. White is one of my personal neutrals; I had to get white in there *somewhere*...

2) I don't have any colored denim. So I substituted black ponte knits here. But I don't think it's as exciting and interesting. So I went and ordered the mustard Sloan ankle skinnies, which would totally work, as the paisley top has touches of gold in it. Gold or yellow or mustard is not a color I ever wear near my face - but I could do it in pants. We'll see if they fit!

3) I do have the "regulation striped top" but I don't like it nor do I wear it often. Stripes are difficult to do, they always seem to draw attention to my chest. Also I always feel too "costumey" in stripes. But this exercise made me realize there is a place for just the right striped top -- I just haven't found the one that is "me" yet. I am now on the hunt! I ordered one from Piperlime; dubious it will fit. We'll see... stay tuned...

4) Neutrals in my capsule example: charcoal gray, light gray, white, black. Non-neutrals: Red (a blue-red), cobalt, purple and (potentially) mustard. Pattern: instead of leopard, giraffe. Though leopard would work too; I just like the idea of giraffe a bit better, as it brings in more white.

All in all, I loved this exercise because it showed me where my gaps are right now. I have been on the fence about adding colored pants, worried they'd become orphans. Now I'm intrigued to give it a whirl. And I have known I need more tops; now I am focused on finding just the right striped top. I had debated adding leopard print pumps, but I think I'm set here. As for winter suit, I don't really need one. And I *may* want to upgrade my charcoal pencil skirt.

This thread makes my head spin! How exiting it is to read all your brilliant ideas. Ariadne, your analysis of and strategy for replacing items in the BR-capsule is just amazing! I've stolen every word.

Gaylene, what you did was so clever! I can imagine how daunting it must be to have to go shopping for an entire wardrobe at once. I do find it difficult to buy more that one item at the time.

Suz, your travel capsule/core sounds very much like the BR-selection. I hope you are taking pictures of yourself as well, next to the Chinese Wall!

Shiny, your capsule sounds very promising, and I can't wait to see it. It seems to me that your thoughts on what you have and what you need are spot on.

Shiny and Suz, your capsules sound so great. I can't wait to see pics. I'm going to try to do something akin to what you two and Ingunn did this week IF I get a chance (it's shaping up to be a very busy week).