Thinking about Capsules - YouLookFab Forum

So I have been thinking about creating capsule wardrobes - I am thinking this may be a way of approaching my wardrobe in a more systematic way - and it makes the planning seem a whole lot less daunting! So here is what I have come up with:

A loungewear capsule: to avoid wearing the old sweats and stained t's that I currently wear around the house.

I figure I need around 3 days of this type of capsule. cute yoga pants, leggings, hoodies, t's - that sort of thing.

A sleepwear capsule: because I inevitably land up sleeping in the aformentioned sweats and t's because they look so crappy that I figure I may as well just sleep in them.

2 x PJ's, slippers, dressing gown

A MOTG capsule: Something that will take me between my various work commitments and afterschool activities. This is going to be the hardest capsule for me to figure out, because I want something that reflects me, a style...

This will be the biggest capsule I think - the most clothes.

A doula capsule : Something I can keep in my doula bag in my car as well as in my wardrobe - fast go-to clothes that I can grab in the middle of the night or change into where ever I am if I get a call to go to a mom - things that I can be comfortable in and I am not afraid of getting messy.

Probably stretch jeans and dark t's are best here... need to think about this...

A dirty work capsule - I figure the old sweats refered to above will go straight into this capsule - only to be worn if I am painting the house or dying my hair.

A night out capsule: A couple of tops that I can wear with jeans from my MOTG capsule for those all too rare date nights, etc!

A shoe capsule: I probably already have this covered - I have the basics - boots, heels, sneakers, ballet pumps. I need perhaps a few more colour/style choices.

So - who of you work on a capsule basis? How strict are you? Does it work for you? Any suggestions?

12 years ago

jenanded

Veteran

These capsules sound perfect Hil. I always feel so much more sane when I have this sorted. You sound pretty focused. I would check out Angies posts on making capsules from last year... really inspiring and a good guide to get maximum variation and versatility. Cant wait to see more and photos. Can i be rude and ask what doula is.
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Anonymous

I loved reading your thought process and these seem like a good starting point. I haven't really got a capsule system at the moment but I might be leaning towards the idea of a weekend one and a week/work one as I work from home. Like you my weekend casual wardrobe needs sorting and I really want to find the perfect lounging/ comfy clothes that could also take me out to the supermarket or impromptu friend meet. I actually photographed every item in my wardrobe a week ago and I plan to get them on the computer where I can see it as a whole and then maybe swap out some pieces from week wear to weekend wear etc and see what holes need filling. Good luck with your plan and keep us posted.

Hil

(website)

Jen - a doula is a woman who offers (non medical) physical and emotional support to pregnant mom (and her partner) prenatally, during labour and birth and postnatally.

I must go and recap Angie's posts - I am sure I did read them before.

I'm thinking this weekend I need to do a wardrobe purge and see what can be saved and put in which capsule. Thanks for the encouragement Jen and Diane!

Krista

I would say that I organize my wardrobe by capsules. I have a work capsule, casual capsule, loungewear capsule and gymwear capsule. I also have an outerwear capsule because, living in Canada, I actually need a variety of coats depending on the weather.

I allow certain pieces in my work and casual capsules to cross over, though, because sometimes I can dress casually for work or vice versa.

I would pick one capsule to start with and develop that first. I usually go with whatever is bugging me the most!

Good luck and keep us posted

rachylou

Oh, I definitely work on a capsule basis. Best thing I ever did. I know what's in my closet much better because of it. And it makes getting dressed easier... It's a little like Geranimals, the kids clothing line. Pick a Bakery top to go with a Bakery bottom and all set!

My capsules are, besides Bakery, Office, Saturday Morning, Saturday Day, and Going Out. The one I spend the most time in is definitely Office (so that should be the biggest theoretically). My long-sleeve tees and sweaters cross all the boundaries. Going Out I use for Office wear too.

What wonderful work you do Hil:-) capsules really focus me on what i need how it goes together etc. Otherwise I get alll these outfits and garments that are either orphans, outfits unfinished, or whole areas of neglect...

Suz

I do work in capsules, yes - since YLF! And it has helped me. Even just noting that I needed a sleepwear capsule and buying the items for that was useful. Obviously, I knew i needed clothes to sleep in and I had some, but going through that portion of the closet systematically and sorting it so everything worked and getting rid of the junk was useful.

My capsules are a lot like Krista's and yours -- I conceptualize mostly by activity. But I also conceptualize some by item, e.g. outerwear, denim, jackets (in different seasons).

Caro in Oz

I have very similar capsules to the ones you describe (with a lot of overlap).

I found the responses to this post very helpful too.

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-by-outfit

Thanks Caro - that link is certainly helpful! I am trying hard not to think of the capsules being an all or nothing affair, there needs to be flexibility.

CocoLion

I do think in terms of capsules! Most of my purchases fall within the casual/lounging around home, smart casual and work wear capsules. I wear demoted casual clothes to sleep in (demoted tees mostly, I have to buy the bottoms just to sleep in). My work wear capsule is very simple -- jeans and a black or white collared shirt (I work in my family's restaurant front of the house).

I make 1-2 changes of clothing a day excluding sleepwear. I actually counted the days per year I needed each type of capsule. I detailed it here in this thread:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....e-epiphany

Isis

Great thought process! I wonder if you can combine upgrade your loungewear and combine it with your doula capsule. Great looking leggings, yoga pants, and hoodies would be very washable and comfortable for doula work and would also function around the house......

(just because I like the idea of simplifying....)

Cocolion's idea of tracking how often clothes are needed is also a great idea!

Great analysis CocoLion - I may try and look at my outfits and capsules in that way! And Isis - that is a pretty good idea too about the doula/lounge wear capsule. If I am called out at 2am, leggings and a hoodie are perfect!

I sort of did what Cocolion did, breaking down the percentage of time I needed which type of clothing. For me, dressy casual (going out to eat or for drinks), active casual (hiking, biking, bowling, etc), lounge (at home), exercise, and dressy (weddings, job interviews, rare 4 star dinners) were the categories. I also wear a uniform for work, jeans or black/green bottoms with a logo tee.
I saw that 75% of my needs were casual of some sort. In reality dressy is only about 5% of my wardrobe needs. But I had shopped for more dressy historically. Now I shop for the actual daily events of my life in mind, and am much happier with the results. This means some of my recent purchases were a modal loungewear set, and supportive sneakers for work. Not exactly exciting, sexy, purchases, but I wear these more often than most of my purchases of the last year!

Thanks for telling about your experience with this Mo - analyzing time spent seems to be a great plan for my way forward. I am doing laundry today so as soon as I have a fullish wardrobe, I am going to do some sorting.

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