Popping back in to emphasize that for me, like Emily and Cerinda, capsule creation is more about thinking of function than colours or any other limiting factor. Now, maybe that's because I've already limited my palette. But not strictly. I mean, I definitely do not cleave to the 2 neutrals, 3 accent colours (or whatever it is) of the Vivienne files.
Instead, I go with no fewer than FIVE neutrals (ink/navy - winter-white/cream - grey -- all shades, black, taupe) all of which work well together...with accents in yet another neutral -- cognac!) as well as an entire RANGE of colours that harmonize well and with the neutrals (plus the odd "pop" of a warmer tone). When it comes to colour, my basic consideration is: "Does this colour look good on me? Great! I'll try it." And truly...you have seen...there isn't a lot that doesn't "mix and match" colour-wise in my closet.
I agree with others that silhouette is far harder to get right. Proportion is key. Cerinda said it best: "The Vivienne Files' approach is brilliant, but it fails to account for multiple silhouettes. I felt so closet-incompetent until I realized that!"
Anyway....in building my closet from the ground up, I've found it most useful to take Emily's approach. I consider an activity that I do. And then try to figure out -- do I have enough clothes that work together for that activity in all possible weather conditions?
Angie talks a lot about this on the blog, and several other members, including Mo, Gaylene, and others suggested this approach. And it has been a godsend.
At first I wasn't breaking it down enough. I was just thinking: "Oh, I need clothes for my work life. "
But...I actually have several kinds of work life. My work-from-home stuff. My meetings with colleagues in the city. And then my writing life, which is separate. The writing part itself is not -- that's just like work-from home. But I also teach classes, give readings, and make other appearances from time to time -- so that involves a different capsule. And of course I do a lot of travelling also, to different kinds of locale.
Once I'd really figured that out, it helped.
Next step is -- do I have enough variety within that capsule to satisfy my yen for variety?
Last year I discovered that switching colours and patterns is not enough to satisfy me. I also want a change in silhouette from time to time. That automatically puts me into the category of people who need at least a "moderate" closet -- for whom one capsule for each activity won't be enough. I just have to accept this about myself and go forward.
But even though I want/ enjoy a medium sized (and not minimal) wardrobe, it can still be under my control.
That's where splitting it out by season is really helpful to me.
And thinking it terms of "item" capsules is equally helpful.
It doesn't always mean that I'll be making edits, either.
Example: For a while last winter, I noticed that I wasn't wearing my button downs. Oh, how wasteful, how awful! How could I not be wearing my beautiful shirts? Why on earth did I buy all those shirts, anyway? What was I thinking? (Much gnashing of teeth and shame.)
Then the weather turned.
OOOPS! Suddenly, it almost felt like I didn't have enough button downs! And I realized I actually had a wardrobe hole for some drapey, fluid ones.....
PLUS....I also realized that I needed to add to my knits capsule with a few cozy cardigans for at home wear in winter. Because if I had the cardigans, I'd be wearing my button up shirts underneath them all winter, and wouldn't have been asking myself the question about why I wasn't wearing them in the first place.
