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Musings about my style, capsules and new direction

Cococat

Veteran

My wardrobe has always seemed to be a mishmash of random and often impulse purchases with no real understanding of how to create a functional wardrobe that reflects where I want to be stylewise.

Thanks to YLF, reading many of Angie's and others' posts, particularly recent reflections, and doing some self-reflection, I feel that I'm now better able to analyse my wardrobe, my style, and how I should plan my wardrobe for the future.

I've tried hard to stick to the new direction I talked about, but there have been times when I longed to wear colour or vintage and neither fit with my plans. I like variety and I feel restricted if I can't have it. I have made some recent purchases that were so opposite to the B & W simplicity I wanted to embrace, that I suspect they were done in rebellion. So...I've been thinking. It now seems sensible that I should break my wardrobe/style direction into 3 'capsules', for want of a better word to describe it.

1. Edgy/avant garde/black and white/punk influenced: I loved the punk and new romantic fashion movements and still have my studded leather choker from the 80s...lol...as a reminder. I'm still very drawn to this type of look. It can be very simple, black pencil skirt, structural top, minimal but bold accessories or something like my black Motto dress, or Rick Owens pieces that I already have. It embraces the new direction I was talking about earlier.

2. Vintage: Either inspired or authentic. I love the 60s and 70s, crazy prints and futuristic styling, and have a number of authentic vintage dresses that I adore and love to wear. I also love 50s bombshell dresses and they seem to be made for my figure. Sometimes I want to feel feminine and/or glamorous and they do that for me with such ease.

3. Bohemian/exotic: Looking at some of my favourite outfits, it seems that I often want to add a bohemian touch, be it a long scarf, piece of jewelry or the type of bag I choose. I'm very inspired by exotic influences, beading, ethnic prints (hence my recent Camilla purchases), traditional clothing from other countries. It's not a dominant capsule, and mostly not for work, but very suited to the casual lifestyle where I live.

I truly feel that breaking my style down into 3 categories, will help me with future purchases, and allow me the freedom that I need to express myself in the way that I dress. I need to be able to do that.

If you've read this far, thank you!

I would appreciate any thoughts, comments, or similar musings.

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Brooklyn

Bijou

Veteran

Coco I can totally understand this and my wardrobe reflects a similar amount of diversity. I work as a corporate accountant (3 days a week)and I love wearing sophisticated suits, dresses and heels for this role. I am also a Mum and need to wear comfortable clothing to play with my son, walk the dog and be casual in on the weekend. I also add some fun items into this capsule - because this is my play time. In addition, living in WA it gets hot here and on those hot summer days about the most I can stand to wear is a silk floaty dress and so the bohemian style works so well with this...therefore, I also have 3 different styles, suited for different aspects of my life. They overlap quite a bit (eg: will wear dressy black pants from the work capsule with a boho silk blouse for a night out with the girls) and I enjoy the mix. Personally, if I looked as amazing as you in 50's bombshell dresses, I would not be giving those up!

Anonymous

Coco, this sounds like a practical, workable idea for you. I hope it allows you to find and wear only pieces that you love.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think this makes a lot of sense, particularly when you consider a new purchase and want to be sure it fits in somewhere with the rest of your wardrobe. Will be interested to see pictures of your three personas.

Alassë

Veteran

I think you've got it sorted.

Cerinda

Veteran

You make perfect sense to me, CocoC. Like you, I can't boil my style down to a single descriptor, or even find an umbrella term for it. I find myself relying on adjectives --edgy, urban, eclectic (elements of boho and vintage plus designer-craftsman) instead of nouns and personas. Whatever works, man!

Clearly, your three 'capsules' reflect your intuitive, affective, experiential, and reasoned sense of your self. Go for it!

rachylou

Veteran

This is very interesting, your three styles. I wonder if by doing this breakdown, you won't actually find a place they all meet.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

A few years ago, Angie coined the term "Elegant Eclectic" for a few members (Joy included) who love to experiment with a variety of styles and often manage to blend them.

There is no need to stick to one style persona! I think of the 60s as a decade really encompassed much of this --- from the black-and-white pop art influenced looks to the boho and vintage/ romantic Biba. Many of your favourite outfits recall those influences to me and I see them as contiguous and not necessarily in conflict in the same closet.

Plus, it is better to acknowledge our various "pulls" because you're right -- pushing them out will only lead to rebellion!

chirico (Chiara)

(website)

Veteran

I think yours is the best solution: it doesn't make sense to set rules that are too strict for ourselves. I guess this is true in any aspects of life: if I decide to watch what I eat for some reasons, I'll never eliminate completely chocolate: that would mean sure failure. So, each of your style has its own place, and looks like you know it!

I loved you Camilla top, and could see it working through all your capsule.

anne

Veteran

I'm really glad you aren't cutting out all those sides of your style!

Cococat

Veteran

Thank you for your replies.

Bijou, it sounds like we have similar lifestyles and it's great to hear how you mix pieces from your 3 styles. Thank you for the compliment too.

Joy, Shevia, Alasse, Cerinda, Rachyl and Anne, thank you for your comments. I'm glad it makes sense to do this. It feels really workable to me.

Suz, I see what you mean by the variety of the 60s, and you're right, I do seem to gravitate towards those looks.

Chirico, funny thing about chocolate. I am trying to lose some weight and have created a plan (I'm good with structure in my life) that allows chocolate when I need it. Otherwise, I will end up giving up and devouring it in large quantities!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I just spent a half hour looking for this quote I once read by Marc Jacobs. He said something to the effect of, a woman should be able to dress in different styles to suit her mood. That she shouldn't feel pinned down to a certain style. I am paraphrasing. I wish I could find it.

I admit to feeling torn between finding and expressing a specific style, and having a wide range of styles to enjoy. It sounds like you are comfortable with having an eclectic outlook on fashion, that's good.

Deborah

Veteran

Coco this sounds perfect. As someone who has really limited my style, I am now (heaven forbid) really desiring to add (some, not too much) colour. What I realise is that the important thing is that I like how I look AND I feel comfortable and like me ... so these are the two things I need to take into account when trying on coloured items. I think if you like how you look and feel good in these three capsules then your on the right track.

Anonymous

I think your ideas sound very, well...sound! I don't think you can force a change to another style (eg. just black and white) as you were attempting, as it can be restricting when you enjoy so many other fashion influences. Your idea of having the different personas/capsules is fab and as Suz, so eloquently put it, they aren't in conflict as they were all quite relevant in the 60's, one of your favourite eras. I remember Angie giving me the title of Elegant Eclectic not long after I joined the forum (though I'm not sure I still am), and I think it may be a title that could possibly applied to you, though you have more of an arty/boho streak too. It's all good though and more importantly, enjoy yourself!

Anonymous

I'm impressed at your thorough analysis, and your solution sounds perfect. Your post is a big help as I continue the struggle to nail down my own style (if I ever come up with a style moniker it will likely include the word 'chameleon'). Hoping Angie weighs in as I'm curious to hear her take on diverse style capsules. I imagine you have accessories or cuts that carry through all the capsules to give them a look that's signature you.

Anonymous

Could it be that you're still on a style journey, exploring different styles, and that after a bit of experimentation, there will be a 'winning' style that you feel most comfortable in?

I ask because, as you say, these style do seem very different. I wonder if there are common elements across all these categories that you could identify. That would become the essence of your style.
From your WIW, it looks like figure flattery is important to you. Perhaps also luxurious fabrics. Some element of boldness?

Anyway, it is very interesting to hear about your experiences because I can identify with them. I often feel like there is a style conflict within me. For example, in the summer, I've always been a bit preppy, but lately, I'm loving the post-apocalyptic looks. Could you get any farther apart?!

Sally

Veteran

This is really interesting. Do you keep things separate in the wardrobe or do pieces get used for different styles. I remember reading a book "who do you want to be today? " It basically talked about the basics for different looks and the different ways you could pull them off depending on your mood.

Summer

Veteran

If you have eclectic tastes I think you will only make yourself miserable by trying to limit your choices. Your capsule idea seems to make perfect sense and should allow you to shop in a more focused way for your three distinct style preferences.
Maybe, when your capsules are up and running, you will find ways to mix some of the elements together, too.

Cococat

Veteran

CocoLion, it sounds like a great quote. I was trying very hard to focus on one particular style, one that I thought would be perfect for me, but even though I loved it, I was starting to feel a little trapped. You're right Diane, I do enjoy so many other fashion influences (my dream job is a costume designer), and I seem to want to experiment with them myself.

Deborah, it's been interesting seeing you move into colour, such as the metalicus jacket. You still wore it your own unique way, so it seemed to fit really well with your aesthetic. There is definitely some overlap in my 3 capsules, as Suz pointed out, despite sounding so different. Now that I have defined what they are, I'm exited to experiment. As Summer pointed out, I'm sure I will find ways to mix some of the elements together.

Aliona, we can be style chameleons together!

Smittie, I think I'll forever be on a style journey, but the biggest thing so far has been the ability to nail down 3 style influences that I love and make me feel good. If I had to drastically reduce my wardrobe size, it would be a great idea to look for common elements across the 3 styles. You're absolutely right in that figure flattery is important, and I also like some sort of creative flair. I wore a uniform all through my high school years, navy pleated skirt, white blouse, maroon tie, lace up shoes and black stockings (even in the middle of Summer), plus a hat. It was mandatory at my school. When I think about the ways I would modify that uniform (on the fly so my mum wouldn't know) to feel that I had some creative control, I laugh..and also cringe.

Sally, I do tend to keep things separate, not intentionally, but it's seemed to work out that way. My B & W is all together and consists of mostly separates; my vintage dresses and vintage inspired dresses are together (there are a few B/W dresses in the group), and the rest is in a couple of areas, depending on what they are. I can then choose depending on my mood or what's happening on the day. I usually pick from my B & W capsule for meetings, although when it's a meeting where I'm feeling rebellious (long story), I will wear something more creative. I usually pick from the bohemian capsule for the weekend.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I have been thinking about this post for a while and trying to come up with a semi intelligent response. First, kudos to you for so accurately describing your 3 style personas. I am quite eclectic and changeable in my tastes, so I have a lot of trouble doing this. It should make purchasing and purging decisions a lot easier. My only concern would be, going forward, that these personas cover a lot of ground. There is nothing wrong with that but it might make it harder to maintain a moderate sized wardrobe. It depends on whether that is a goal. I always really admire people with a very defined aesthetic (for example, Deborah and shedev). It must make it easier to maintain a moderate sized wardrobe where all of the pieces work together. Also I think they have a "signature" style, which is a pretty cool thing to have. But if you pursue different styles I think it makes it harder to mix and match. You are probably right to say that there will be 3 distinct capsules in your wardrobe. (Although there may be some overlap, especially between 2 and 3.) I totally agree with others that you should feel free to pursue whatever style or styles make you happy, but it might make building a cohesive wardrobe more challenging. I will be very interested to hear how it goes, especially as I think I am in a similar situation