https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 26 Apr 2026 17:01:57 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning#post-428318 Fri, 23 Sep 2011 01:32:05 +0000 Elly 428318@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh--- and Lynne, I love that striped top! Looks great on you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning#post-428304 Fri, 23 Sep 2011 01:11:21 +0000 Aida 428304@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lots of great boots this season, I think you'll have fun with that one </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning#post-428300 Fri, 23 Sep 2011 01:03:29 +0000 Elly 428300@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm so sorry that I missed this until now!</p> <p>Aida-- good advice on the lengths and types on jeans. I have an order on the way with a pair of black skinnies and a dressier pair of dark bootcuts. I need to get my medium wash western jeans out and see if they work with my cowboy boots-- otherwise I will have to pic up another pair. </p> <p>Lynne- great examples! I generally find myself most comfortable in heel heights between 1.5 and two inches outside of sneakers and workboot-type shoes. That still leaves me with 3 different lengths to think about though! 2" heels, 1.5 (the height of most cowboy boots), and flatter shoes. </p> <p>I did some ordering yesterday-- I guess we'll see when it comes in. I think my biggest challenge in shopping will be finding tops, boots, and dress slacks. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning#post-427073 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:45:22 +0000 Lynne 427073@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Elly, your capsule thinking got me so excited that I went through my wiw pics and started classifying them into capsules around pieces. Which is not the same a functional capsules, I know, but I wanted to share my accidental heel height discovery....</p> <p>These are some pics from my flared jeans capsule, from left to right dressy pumps, cowboy boots, boots with a summer weight jacket, summer wedges, and boots in a warmer outfit. These all have an approx 2" heel. It's not rocket science, I know, but I enjoyed looking back and thinking about this :). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning#post-426704 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:53:52 +0000 Erin 426704@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Elly, Great thread. I read through right along with you. This is the same way I had been working on my capsules but I never finished as I got so overwhelmed. You are a trooper.. I really appreciated the following posts too as it has helped me to see how to narrow mine down too. I will keep watching this as it progresses. Thanks for sharing your process! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning#post-426692 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:39:31 +0000 Aida 426692@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>"I think my main struggle is going to be jean lengths (casual that works with both boots and sneakers) and types (skinny vs. straight vs. bootcut, black vs. blue denim, work appropriate vs. weekend casual vs. going out, western, lighter denim vs. heavier) and shoe types (heel heights, boots, sneakers)."</p> <p>Regarding jean lengths and shoe types: If you want to have multiple heel heights then skinny/straight will be most versatile because you can wear nearly all heights with these; bootcuts are going to need more particular heights to keep PPL.</p> <p>Regarding jean color: I think all you need to keep in mind is that the darker the wash (and the less distressing, fading, whiskering, etc) the less casual it is. A dark wash (or black) jean can be used for smart casual, casual, going out, possibly work depending on dress code; while light wash/faded jeans would likely be used just for casual (could work with some of the others if you put some extra work into it). If you don't want to worry about work vs. weekend, I suggest picking up separate black/gray/brown trousers for work use.</p> <p>Regarding denim weight: I think that's going to be a bit of personal preference. I personally prefer heavier denim because I like the structure, but I do have lighter weights that I wear in summer and for tucking into boots.</p> <p>Without knowing which jean cut you favor, I think a dark wash or black skinny jean, a medium wash blue straight leg jean, and a bootcut jean for wear with cowboy boots would be a great denim base for you to start from. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning#post-426495 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:59:09 +0000 Lynne 426495@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Elly, one thing I've found by accident is that by having several pairs of shoes with the same heel height, I have a pair of bootcut jeans that can move between 3 different capsules. Purely by accident, my dressy wedge sandals, cowboy boots, and dressier taupe boots are all about 2" high, and give different looks while keeping PPL. As I said, this was by accident but it might be something to keep in mind when choosing shoes :). Of course, if you're wearing skinnies or straight jeans it's probably less important. Looking forward to following this thread :). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning#post-426467 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:18:52 +0000 Elly 426467@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ornelia and Angie-- thank you both so much! Your replies made me smile and I am going to take the advice to heart. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning#post-426246 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:06:00 +0000 Angie 426246@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This was a very thorough process and I commend your efforts, Elly. Well done! </p> <p>This is how I see it: </p> <p>- Smart Casual (bulk of your wardrobe when you are out, but not messing around in the yard)<br /> - Casual (for traveling, photography excursions, errands and such)<br /> - Gear (for sport, gym, lounging and handyman activities)<br /> - Biz Casual (only if your new job requires it, but great for church too)<br /> - Event Outfits (like weddings)</p> <p>I wouldn't give this too much more thought, Elly. You have done PLENTY of thinking about this! Your first task, if you don't already have them, is to get a few pairs of killer jeans. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning#post-426144 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 07:43:33 +0000 Ornella 426144@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dear Elly</p> <p>I have thoroughly enjoyed your detailed post. Everything is described to the smallest detail important for this exercise. With such a great plan, you'll achieve your goal for sure.</p> <p>I would like to say a few things:<br /> 1. Yes, it IS overwhelming, but reconstructed wardrobe is a big, big ask. Unless we have unlimited budget and Angie's clone living in the spare bedroom, we have to do it at slow and steady pace. You'll get there, one piece at a time. If I say give yourself a year to achieve what you need, I would not be exaggerating. Patience, my friend, is essential and will start paying off a bit further down the line, but you'll be so happy!</p> <p>2. If possible, weed out everything you can live without. Emptier, breathable wardrobe gives a sense of mental piece and quiet and you'll soon find yourself very 'protective' of the order established - only good pieces will be going in. Start with as clean slate as possible.</p> <p>3. Determine your criteria in shopping and keeping the purchases. My essential analysis is this: is the color suitable and flattering, does it flatter my body type, where can I wear it and is it climate/geography appropriate. E.g.: I don't wear yellow or green, tops that make my shoulders look narrower, I don't but party dresses and I have waved good-bye to pretty summer dresses as there is no hot summer where I now live.</p> <p>4. Don't be afraid to return purchased goods. Don't feel underwhelmed if you have to send everything back (if you do, quickly start a thread here so we can encourage you ). The pleasure of waiting for the right piece and keeping the right one cannot be compared to the feeling of settling for 10 mediocre ones. Unless you absolutely need something to get you buy until the right piece, use the wonderful privilege called returns.</p> <p>5. Take photos of yourself in the new goodies. Even if you won't post them here, you'll be amazed how camera tells different things than mirror. Also, make a style file of your photos in some outfits ready for some of the occasions you listed, so you don't feel stressed out just before the events and can relax knowing you have at least one solution.</p> <p>6. Definitely consider Aida's approach of collapsing some categories into one. Little details make all the difference in adopting almost identical outfit for different occasions. Take one black top, add fab jeans, funky piece of jewellery or scarf and dressy shoes, and you cover art events and dinners; swap the jeans for formal pants and add jacket, you have funerals covered; swap the black (tee) shirt with white one and either keep the black pants or go back to denim, and there's your interview outfit; same black top and jeans, but sturdy piece jewellery (bangles are best) or scarf will be great for events with friends who have small children, but anything with pattern is also great when there are kids around as pattern is more stain-forgiving. Etc.</p> <p>7. Very often it is how *you feel* about the outfit that makes the crucial difference. You won’t mind your grandmother seeing you in the same shirt for the next five years if it’s the shirt you love. Think Angie’s AF shirts – they are all fab and can be reinvented countless times.</p> <p>8. Hair! Love your hair and you'll always feel great. I am a deep believer that having great hairstyle, even if it's just a simple ponytail - but the one made with care - can make up for all the *errors and misses* with the rest of our appearance - but even if you have the fabbest of the fab clothes, bad hair will wipe it all out.</p> <p>So, pretty much it all comes down to - have a lot of patience (Rome wasn't built in a day) and love your hair. For everything else, you've got us here to help you along the way. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning#post-426101 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:46:11 +0000 Elly 426101@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Aida-- thank you so much for reading through all that and using the mental clarity I was clearly lacking!</p> <p>I think my main struggle is going to be jean lengths (casual that works with both boots and sneakers) and types (skinny vs. straight vs. bootcut, black vs. blue denim, work appropriate vs. weekend casual vs. going out, western, lighter denim vs. heavier) and shoe types (heel heights, boots, sneakers). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning#post-426086 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 03:37:10 +0000 Mo 426086@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow - yours are so intricately thought out. I went with 'go out', 'hang out', and 'work out' LOL. But Aida said it so much more eloquently. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning#post-426048 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:09:58 +0000 Aida 426048@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think you can definitely collapse a few of these into, at the least, highly overlapping capsules. Here's what I'm thinking:</p> <p>"Smart casual" could cover several of these (travel, dinner, friends, dates, church, errands) and you could add 1 or 2 more specific pieces to those sections as needed, or borrow from other sections (or you could split this into 2, one smarter and one more casual). A dressier capsule could cover museum/gallery, interviews, weddings, funerals and if done in separates you could borrow elements from this+smart casual for clubs/bars and dates. A small capsule to cover powwows and c/w dancing that borrows a little from "smart casual", or just add a couple elements to that capsule to cover those. Then you could have a separate set of small capsules to cover those outdoors/gear heavy events: One with hiking etc. items to cover warm and cool weather, one for the gym, one for handyman. Photography could borrow from this + smart casual. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/working-on-capsule-planning#post-426036 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 01:57:14 +0000 Elly 426036@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hello Ladies!</p> <p>I have been trying to make a list of all my activities and potential capsules in an attempt to narrow down items that would make good purchases. </p> <p>Making the list was pretty easy, but now that I have it I find it overwhelming. There are a lot of separate activities and I am having problems narrowing down if some of them can be combined into one capsule with versatile use of clothing. </p> <p>If you all wouldn't mind bearing with me and my brainstorming, I would love some input. </p> <p>Here goes a long post!</p> <p>Activities/capsules and descriptions:</p> <p>1. Travel-- I live in a pretty remote area, so I spent a lot of my weekends (especially during good weather) traveling. I don't fly much, but I do alot of 1-3 day road trips and maybe 3-4 longer trips a year when I get time off. I need practical, comfortable stuff that is easy to mix-and-match and throw in a bag, yet which also can be combined in ways that I don't look out of place or like a honky or a crazy tourist if we end up in a gallery or a theatre. </p> <p>2. Photography-- I have been an amateur photographer for 8 years. Obviously when I am out shooting nature in the mountains, I wear mountain clothing. On the other hand, I take a lot of trips and walks in well populated areas-- so I like to look nice but need sturdy shoes (flat sneakers, low-heeled boots) and clothes that won't be ruined if I end up leaning against something rough or kneeling in the dirt to get my shot. </p> <p>3. Powwows, Bear dances, and other events-- I get invited to casual events with a "respectful" dress code often enough to need an option or two. Sometimes these events call for a long skirt with a shirt or blouse, other times a pair of clean looser jeans with a sweater, skirt or blouse will suffice. Shoe options are limited to moccasins, cowboy boots, and the occasional con-type-sneakers. The other must have accessory is a dance shawl to cover the shoulders. </p> <p>4. Museum/gallery events--- There are a couple of times a year when I have to dress up for openings or other events. Sometimes they are very arty-casual but there are also more cocktail-type attire events. </p> <p>5. Country-western dancing and c/w band-events and concerts-- I love to two-step and go to something like this maybe 6-8 times a year, but have done it much more in the past and would like to get back to it. Obviously, cowboy boots, snug western jeans, a western shirt, a belt, and a cute top or two have this covered.</p> <p>6. Clubs, bars, dancing-- I am not much of a club kid, but being in my early twenties many many invitations and activities end up at the bar-- even with friends that don't drink. I like to look "sexy" yet stay covered. Something that is comfortable to dance in and won't be destroyed. Snug jeans, a fancier or moderately revealing top, and danceable boots or heels.</p> <p>7. Dinner out--- in my community this usually means smart casual with the occasional skirt or sundress.</p> <p>8. Friends' houses-- many of my friends have kids so a lot of our socialization happens at their homes. Others have dogs. I need something comfortable and mess-proof, but up a notch from my own home wear. </p> <p>9. Dates-- I just started dating again after two years where I wasn't and three in a serious relationship.</p> <p>10. Interviews/presentations-- need to work on this ASAP. Definitely creative business though. </p> <p>11. Work-- still waiting on the news on the job, but more likely than not the dress code at any place will be smart casual. However, I don't think I would be comfortable going to work in my errands or going out jeans and I would need some business casual options. </p> <p>12. Family events and church-- pretty occasional and a different type of put together casual. My grandmother currently has pictures of me wearing the same shirt for 5 years in a row to events. </p> <p>13. Weddings--- more frequent that you might think. I have had 9 friends get married this past year-- again I am in all the pictures in the same two outfits that are both aged.</p> <p>14. Funerals-- none this year, but the year before I had 3, and the year before that there were 5. </p> <p>15. Errands-- things to wear to the grocery store, post office, to drive to town to go to the mall or home depot, and down to the local diner. Some might be stand alone outfits, others might be jackets, ect to throw over a "home" outfit. </p> <p>16. Around the house-- I am in my yard multiple times a day and am very visible, so I prefer real clothes at home. That said, I irrigate, carry wood in, pick apples, cook, ect in these clothes, as well as have two dogs. I also need a sweatshirt or coat to wear when doing dirty chores to slip over whatever I am wearing and a pair of waterproof boots for the same. This capsule also includes loungewear for evenings, mornings, and after workouts. </p> <p>17. Handyman capsule--- these have to be tough, functional clothes that I don't mind getting dirty and staying dirty. Stuff to wear to go to the mountains to cut wood, get bloody helping out after a hunt, pour concrete in, ect. </p> <p>18. Desert/warm hiking-- Unless I am on a well-maintained trail I prefer long pants. Maybe one pair of cargo shorts. Jeans and light pants, short sleeve tops, light cotton button downs.</p> <p>19. Fishing, mountain hiking, lake time, horseback riding, shooting-- Sturdy jeans, possible wool or tough pants, cotton or tech long and short sleeved tops, flannel and denim shirts, fleece or sweatshirts, cowboy and hiking boots. </p> <p>20. Swimming/gym-- workout and running clothing, bikini for hot springs and beach, practice suit for pool time. Some parts of this capsule also may go to the hospital and doctors for physical therapy and stress tests or MRIs. </p>