https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 08 May 2026 13:50:06 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-635341 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 13:10:02 +0000 ButterflyLady 635341@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here are some photos of some of my existing/new wardrobe</p> <p>1. White/navy tank (new), black tank (new - to replace a useful layering piece that was worn out, so it doesn't count that I bought black!!)</p> <p>2. Dark indigo denim skirt (new) - very lightweight denim. I need to tailor this in at the sides a little, as it's a bit too a-line to suit me perfectly.</p> <p>3. Existing summer pants - taupe linen, a sort of marl-y linen mix, grey (don't like these much, might be purged), white straight leg jeans, white linen pants, white bermuda shorts.</p> <p>4. 'Hot summer' capsule tops - you can see there is a fair bit of blue/turquoise/teal anyway in this capsule, plus a dash of purple, and a couple of tops that fit into the 'summer black' capsule, but also crossover and go with the white-based 'hot summer' capsule.</p> <p>I've since bought lightweight trouser jeans, navy shorts, red t-shirt, blue and white top, navy short sleeved cardigan, white shrug-style cardigan, textured blue linen pants, long open cardigan in cobalt and a white mother-of-pearl necklace! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-635338 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 12:58:28 +0000 ButterflyLady 635338@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Exactly, Mander - it's not like I'm only buying clothes of ONE colour (which would be boring), I'm just making sure that the clothes I DO buy fit in colour and style wise with the things I already have. (Having just read that back it's so unbelievably obvious I can't believe I never worked it out before!).</p> <p>I'm also trying to avoid buying more black - I have a small-ish 'summer black' capsule (I seem to have given my capsules names!) and I'd rather not add to that, as it isn't my absolute best colour. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-635300 Sat, 02 Jun 2012 11:54:38 +0000 Mander 635300@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been enjoying the union jack stuff in all the shops here -- it's made it very easy to buy presents for my family in the States! Oddly, though, there has also been a lot of stars and stripes stuff.</p> <p>I do like your capsule approach and I think I am going to start working on adopting something similar myself. My tendency has been to think that limiting the colors I buy is, well, limiting, but in fact I hardly ever buy anything that isn't black, white, grey, red, green, or some shade of teal. So I might as well embrace it when going through my closet! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-634332 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:24:11 +0000 ButterflyLady 634332@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm pleased so many people think this is a good idea! I was so fed up with thinking I must sort out my clothes, and then buying random things and not being able to make lots of outfits. </p> <p>I do have wobbles, every now and then I think 'but what if I want colours other than navy/teal/turquoise/white/red?'. But I'm not saying I never will buy other colours - with the 'hot summer' capsule based around white, pretty much anything goes, literally (and I do have a fondness for a sort of taupe-y colour with white, it looks very sophisticated to me). And I plan, once this first capsule is done, to branch into other capsules, as long as there is a crossover for some of the garments. I kind of got this idea from this blog <a href="http://theviviennefiles.blogspot.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">http://theviviennefiles.blogspot.co.uk/</a> - her more recent posts about 'four by fours' and expansion and mileage fours. Not copying exactly, but I like seeing how different she can make the same group of clothes look.</p> <p>Suz - yes, this does happen to me, too - although red, white and blue are all over the UK stores at the moment because of the Jubilee and the Olympics! That's making it easier. </p> <p>The dress I talked about in my original post is going back, I'm not even posting a pic - it just wasn't right (and this is not about colour, I think if I tried to get a dress that fitted my navy capsule it will be decades before I find one that suits!). I did a little more shopping today, and I can clearly visualise the 'holes' in my capsule, and can see how things can be put together. I'm still looking for some more printed tops. I did take a pic of my 'hot summer' capsule before I started all this, and now I can't find the photo on my computer - when I find it, I'll post it!</p> <p>Re : the Jubilee - I am sure we will take a lot of photos, and I'll try and get one of my outfit. The weather forecast has thrown me for a loop, and then I couldn't find a red necklace that I liked, but I have a oufit. I also bought an umbrella with little union flags in the shape of hearts all over it, so I'm ready for the rain! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-633706 Thu, 31 May 2012 17:28:30 +0000 Suz 633706@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love your thinking here, and I couldn't agree more. I really try to think in terms of capsules now, too, although it is still a bit of an adjustment. My "4 season" revelation had some similar effects on me. Just recognizing that I truly needed clothes for the mid-range temperatures was crucial. In the past I bought just for our extremes. </p> <p>I think narrowing your colour palette is REALLY important and this is still rather tough for me to do. Not because I don't have preferences, or don't have ideas about what would work best, but what I prefer is not always available in the stores. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-633686 Thu, 31 May 2012 17:09:16 +0000 christieanne 633686@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love how you are thinking. It does simplify things to narrow down a color range and work on a capsule or two at a time. And it makes sense that most of our shopping is really for "wear now" or occasions.<br /> I want to hear all about the Jubilee too (I come from a Monarchist Scottish family who is now in the US - not too common anymore apparently) and how you worked your red, white and blue outfits. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-633514 Thu, 31 May 2012 14:04:34 +0000 Angie 633514@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rita, you don't need to buy a capsule at a time!! I only buy a few items at a time too - but I make sure that they fit into existing capsules. Your new approach is spot on. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-633510 Thu, 31 May 2012 14:00:40 +0000 modgrl 633510@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>ButterflyLady, Your thread has me really thinking about the way I approach wardrobe planning and purchasing decisions!</p> <p>Angie, That's a good question! I usually only feel like I have a small amount of money to spend at a time on clothes and try to keep my budget in check this way. I end up buying 1-2 things at a time at most, never a complete outfit from head to toe. Perhaps it's time to reconsider this strategy and buy a capsule at a time to hold me over for an entire season ahead, instead of buying a wardrobe in bits and pieces. Maybe there is a way to do a blended approach of building on existing pieces to complete a wardrobe capsule. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-633494 Thu, 31 May 2012 13:45:22 +0000 Angie 633494@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rita, I highly recommend purchasing with capsules in mind. Why would you not do that? </p> <p>Butterfly, LOVE your thinking here. We also have cool Summers - although the Seattleites think of it as hot! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-633430 Thu, 31 May 2012 12:36:50 +0000 modgrl 633430@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love reading about your style journey. I never thought seriously about doing a capsule but your slow subtle conversion to this concept is making me consider doing it for myself. Perhaps it would simplify shopping to do it this way rather than picking up haphazard random pieces. Please share more on the jubilee when you go. We have nothing like this here in the USA. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-633407 Thu, 31 May 2012 11:18:47 +0000 Mochi 633407@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Me too! (though particularly when armed with a laptop) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-633406 Thu, 31 May 2012 11:17:03 +0000 ButterflyLady 633406@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks ladies. Parsley, thank you - I'm far too 'wordy' I know, I'm like it in real life, too! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-633402 Thu, 31 May 2012 11:11:26 +0000 Parsley 633402@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Butterflylady,<br /> Interesting! I never thought about capsules making shopping easier, but I suppose that's true. I would imagine that there could be quite a bit of overlap between your hot summer and cool summer capsules: some of the same colors, just more layers.<br /> Good luck continuing to figure things out. I enjoy your writing style, btw! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-633401 Thu, 31 May 2012 11:04:29 +0000 Mochi 633401@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I felt cooler and breezier just from reading your post, Butterfly Lady, and I can't wait to see the crisp, vibrant, summery looks you will achieve. As you could tell from my post I find it's hard to get motivated to shop and look good in the warm season, so I take my hat off to you and look forward to your stylish pics! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/in-which-i-ponder-on-my-style-and-capsule-wardrobes---long-sorry#post-633397 Thu, 31 May 2012 10:50:36 +0000 ButterflyLady 633397@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Although I've been away from the forum for a while, I've been thinking about building a capsule wardrobe for a while.</p> <p>It started when we booked tickets on a river boat to take my mother-in-law to view the Queen's Diamond Jubilee River Pageant. She is an ardent monarchist (my mother-in-law, although I am sure the Queen is a monarchist, too ) and wants us to wear red, white and blue. I thought that would be easy, but found that despite having a dark indigo denim skirt and dark trouser jeans, and quite a bit of white, for a person who loves red, I have very little. From there (I don't know why, it's how my mind works, I suppose) I started to think about building a spring/cool summer capsule wardrobe. We only have a few weeks of really hot summer here in the UK (just had one of them, actually, forecast rain for the Pageant, unfortunately), so hence the 'cool summer' definition. I have a little collection of 'hot summer' clothes which are pretty much ok, but not much for the cooler summer days (sort of high sixties, very low seventies, temperature wise).</p> <p>So, my plan has been (and it's still a plan, I've been busy with course work and not able to shop) to use navy as one of my neutrals, with some white, red and teal/turquoise (favourite colours). My 'hot summer' capsule relies on white linen trousers, white shorts etc as a base, so the capsules will interlink nicely.</p> <p>I DID have only little foray out shopping, and found it so much easier to look at things and think - will this look nice with navy (or white) bottoms - if it's a print, does it have some of the colours in my capsule in it? And accessories - just HOW much easier is it to look at necklaces and limit yourself slightly to certain colours? It's like a revelation! I don't feel as overwhelmed.</p> <p>I am still not sure what my style could be described as - I only know what I don't like (frills, fullness and volume). But I feel much more like I'm getting there.</p> <p>In other news I've still not managed to hem all my cropped trousers to a better length, that's one of my jobs to do. I have, however, found a dress which I am going to post here for opinions - I've been looking for a casual-ish dress for summer for a couple of years now, and bought one I think might be ok recently. And having got my legs out for the first time in ages since I hemmed some crops to bermuda length, I would now like to find some skirts - I have a high hip though and skirts that suit that shape are rarer than hen's teeth in the stores here. I might have to sew myself one - another project!</p> <p>Thanks for reading - no comment necessarily required lol </p>