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Unique and Specialized Wardrobe Capsules

Anonymous

I have always known that I needed to buy and maintain what I consider my "wedding guest capsule." Done!!!

Quite by accident, I discovered there is a second, just-as-specialized capsule that I need. I am defining this as the "important work meeting/event capsule that provides a shield of strength and confidence." This is very specific and several levels of formality above what I would normally wear.

I don't need it often, maybe only six to twelve times a year. But when I need it, nothing else will do. It can't be faked. It can't easily be pulled together from existing pieces because when I try to do that, I miss the mark.

As I said, I don't need this second capsule all that often, but It is obviously something I need to define within my wardrobe as a whole. I intend to pull pieces together this weekend to see what I already own and what I might need to buy to complete a couple of ensembles. For example, I found I only own one pair of nylons. This was a surprise I didn't need to discover at 5 am this morning. I didn't have a plan B.

Dressing

47 replies

Latest reply was from Toban

gryffin

Veteran

Sterling - to me 6-12 times for anything during a year absolutely requires its own capsule. Yes, I have a work/conference capsule. My work wardrobe is very formal, my choice on this, but event dressing has its own upgraded set of requirements. I do tend to keep these items out of high rotation because it's necessary for them to appear pristine. My new VB scuba will probably become part of that capsule too if I find the pants make a good suit. I also find this capsule works well for religious events. Kudos to you for being proactive. I'll be interested to see what pieces you pick!! Plus thanks for the reminder, must check tights/stockings and see if I have.....whoopsies.....

Toban

Veteran

Discovered the same issue for me recently. My mix and match business casual wardrobe works fine for my day-to-day work environment where I've established my expertise and reputation, but I definitely need at least one notch higher for invited talks at universities and two notches higher when new collaborator meetings involve physicians who show up in suits. My plan is to ensure that I have at least two polished blazer/skirt or trouser sets in neutrals (doesn't have to be matching suit) that I can mix in with my business casual wardrobe rather than keep separate. Two sets are needed because of multi-day meetings.

Ginger

Veteran

That sounds like a very important capsule. It's so much easier to dress down formal items, than to formalize casual items. You're right, it really can't be faked. What sorts of pieces will you be look for, both in your closet and shopping? Matching suit pieces and formal shoes.

Not having the right nylons on hand will send me into a near panic. I wear them frequently in fall and early spring, and can make a pair last for weeks on end. That makes it hard to justify buying far ahead. Yet when they go, they go immediately and completely.

Joyce B

Veteran

A power capsule is a very important one to have, even if it is not routinely worn. Also stockings, they are such a boring item but when they are not right they can ruin things for sure. I also need to refresh part of my stockings capsule.
I hope you will soon find a power capsule that suits your needs.

Christina F.

Veteran

This is interesting to me, Sterling, because I've discovered the opposite problem in my own life. I used to need a capsule like that, in academia then for job interviewing. But now my job doesn't require it, as I never have meetings outside my org. I realized I was holding on to too many things that I couldn't dress down enough for my needs (though it's nice to keep a few). I can't wait to see what you decide you need to fill out your capsule!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I can relate and do have to keep a mini capsule for these events as well. For me, it's not really a suit type formality, but it needs to be authoritative, just a little conservative (no lace camis, sleeveless or low cut blouses in my case), but not uptight. It can be as simple as a solid silk blouse with some detailing in a deep color (navy or ink blue usually is my comfort color) and well fitting pants with low heeled or no heeled shoes that are on trend. I can even get away with sneakers for my level of casualness - if they are pristine - so I keep a pair for that use for summer.

In fall or winter I usually go with a pair of suede taupe oxfords and design the colors of the outfit around those. Shoes first for me then I work my way up. Angie's advice I think. A great handbag in pristine condition is also a must for me, as is a good piece of jewelry, typically a necklace that is not too dainty or boho.

gryffin

Veteran

Joyce B - I love that term "power capsule" I am so stealing that. That's exactly what it is for me. Awesome name!!

Anonymous

I agree. The name of this capsule has been revised: "Power Capsule."

I won't have a true grasp of it until after this weekend. But it is a top priority. I will also be placing an order to Nordstrom. I like to have a surplus of hose on hand ... just in case.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Power Capsule. I LIKE IT. Good job identifying it. I'm curious to see what you come up with, Sterling.

shiny

Veteran

For customer-facing meetings/events, I've got two 3-season sheath dresses (one navy and one black), with matching suit jackets. And two pairs of pumps, one nude and one leopard. These are my go-to for events in NYC where it's most formal. Then I've got other dresses that also work with the same jackets, and other jackets that coordinate with the solid color sheaths, for events in cities that aren't quite as formal as NYC. And of course I can always pair the jackets with dark wash jeans -- if the occasion is more along the lines of "high tech smart casual"... like something held in silicon valley.

What I don't have anymore: the matching slacks. I had them, and never wore them, as they didn't make me feel confident. Pants are a tricky fit for me. And besides, I'm much more confident/comfortable in a dress.

I've got an internal meeting (so more casual) coming up where I am giving a presentation to a large audience of colleagues. I'm debating about wearing a bright green dress.

Style Fan

Veteran

Power Capsule. Love it. Years ago I wore a red shirt for certain meetings that were very stressful. The pediatrician I worked with also wore a red shirt for the same meetings. We said the shirts gave us strength. I suppose that was part of my Power Capsule.

delurked

Veteran

I would argue that a need as often as every month deserves careful attention. Glad you will focus on finding what makes you feel your best for those situations. It's almost never more important to feel good than for this capsule.

Gaylene

Veteran

Oh, yes--the very important "power" capsule! It was a critical element of my wardrobe for many years. In my case, it had to be current, but not necessarily fashionable; perfectly fitted and balenced so I never was distracted; and carefully chosen from an audience perspective instead for self-expression. I also looked for ways in which my outfit could be modulated to adapt the "power" level on the fly depending on the degree of strength and confidence I deemed necessary to get the job done. Once I had established my competence, it was often advantageous to be able to ramp down my authority to create an interpersonal connection or to promote a "roll up my sleeves and get down to work" atmosphere.

It's interesting men's business clothing has been crafted for decades with exactly this in mind, while women's clothing has focused more on decorative and self-expressive aspects.

Anonymous

You've mentioned before how you like to dress differently for certain meetings, so this Power Capsule idea sounds pretty brilliant.
My business casual look was always so tailored, that I found it relatively easy to pull something like this together by substituting a jacket for a cardigan and pumps for loafers from an existing outfit.
Will this be a completely separate set of clothing, or do you contemplate some cross-over pieces?

Toban

Veteran

I love what Gaylene described about first establishing authority/competence then ramping it down for interpersonal/roll up the sleeves times. This reflects my work environment and it's needs to a T. For me, I achieve the later by switching to cardigans and adding more color or quirky jewellery. Due to weight loss, I have found that I am having to redevelop the power part of my looks as these are more structured pieces that need perfect fit.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Six to twelve uses a year is a lot, when you think about it. And the stakes are high when the occasion is professionally relevant. A Power Capsule sounds like a great idea.

Laura G

Veteran

What I love about the YLF is the encouragement to really analyze our bodies/lives/needs this way and then systematically go about filling our needs. Sort of a nerdy approach to fashion, and you're one of the best at it, Sterling!

JuniperGreen

Veteran

This is a great analysis of the impact of your wardrobe on your work life and vice versa.

Sal

Veteran

I think this is a great idea - definitely worthwhile to have something that you feel powerful in for these important occasions.

What you choose will be very personal - Gryffin would choose a stunning black jacket, Angie I suspect a bright jacket with white footwear, and I would choose a perfectly fitting dress. I think you need two full outfits - which might mean only one pair of shoes and bag, and maybe just the one jacket or trousers. This means that if you happen to have two of these meetings in a week you can have some variety. I know you prefer seperates so it could be

- One perfect jacket
- two great shirts/shell tops
- two different pairs of pants
- two pairs of shoes
- one great bag/tote/laptop bag etc
- good sunglasses
- accessories as you choose

I suspect you have half of this already.

A fun capsule to put together.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I don't normally think of my wardrobe in terms of capsules, but it does help to think of it that way when analyzing needs, doesn't it? I don't know that I have any super-specialized-doesn't-overlap-with-anything-else capsule needs in my life right now. When I was performing dance, I definitely had a specialized capsule for that. And, I suppose hiking and swimming are two specialized gear capsules. Other than that? My life all just smooshes together. I kind of wish I had some high-powered meetings sometimes.

unfrumped

Veteran

Great post! I have gbs same thing! It has tweaks within it.
I had to ramp this up when I was changing jobs a year or so ago and I found it really hard to get just the looks I wanted plus options for different seasons. Yes, stuff is " all- season/ seasonless" but really, some things that look right in August and 98 degrees out do not look right in January.
Now things are not as " power" -oriented but I have recurring times my goal is " confident professional chic" , for want of better term. . Not business formal but very polished and need to consider accessories, footwear, handbag or work tote. The whole is more important than the parts.
I needed more options than I thought because I have a situation in which I can attend certain conferences or meetings on certain days if workflow permits, but may have to skip. I won't know until later in the day. So my put- together outfit that day might be "for naught " and then I might want to try to go 2 days later or a week later. I have to think if I want to repeat the exact same outfit and how often. That makes me think of being more careful with adding pieces as I don't need more hodgepodge, it'd instead be great to have more complete outfits.

The other lesson I learned is, " wear your power ( or polished) outfits" REGULARLY even if no events. You can't just keep some things hanging in the closet for just in case. Otherwise, I'll put it on and realize there is something off about fit or style or just my taste has changed. If it would be totally wrong for regular work ( not the case for me) , wear it to go shopping or to dinner or somewhere!
Proportions of tops, bottoms and jackets are my biggest issue. It's possible to get it all just so, but takes effort. And the " rear view" matters because I would not be in my lab coat.

Joy

Veteran

This special capsule could also serve double duty as a funeral capsule, another capsule one needs when you may not expect it.

plonkee

I need a capsule for presenting to the Board. At my work it's probably the most formal/conservative I need to be, and I certainly want to feel powerful and authoritative. I usually wear my most tailored dress and jacket combo.

I need to have a separate capsule for conferences and some external meetings. This is different because it needs to be formal and fashion-forward to match my profession. I typically wear a normal work outfit that I feel nails current trends. This makes me feel authoritative in a very different way. It's not so much that it needs constant updating as a thing (I do actually wear the element and the complete outfits all the time) but it constantly updates as trends and my wardrobe change.

I also have the funeral capsule, and the pretty event (wedding, christening, etc) capsule. These are both small but essential.

Anonymous

I haven't read all the comments, and I'll come back later, but here are my thoughts:
- Do you need nylons to wear pants? If you feel uncomfortable in skirts and dresses, then your power outfit needs to have pants!
- Are there other capsules you can identify?
- Do you need a summer and winter version of this capsule?
- How many outfits do you need in this capsule?

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Oh my gosh...what smittie said! You wrote earlier this year:

"I hate wearing dresses. I never feel natural or authentic. In 2017, I finally gave myself permission to stop wearing dresses to all those functions I was told I had to wear a dress."

Are the nylons for a pantsuit?

Anonymous

Smittie and Jenn, you are right. I hate dresses/skirts. I thought I had reached a point in my career where I could dispense with dresses/skirts and be viewed just as professional as anyone else in the room. This just is not the case for a very small subset of meetings. And I am finding myself at these meetings more and more recently.

I ended up wearing a black skirt cut to just above the knee (with my one pair of nude hose), a silver-toned silk blouse, and flat black shoes because because I was on my feet for most of the day. No jewelry because I had badges, stickers, and tags all over my body. No topper because it was warm. Black and grey are safe, comforting colors for me.

Although it is true I normally would not have felt my true authentic self in a skirt, given the setting, I made the right decision. Slacks would have been a major miss ... especially if they had even a hint of trend (i.e., cropped or slouchy). As Unfrumped pointed out, I was lucky I could fit into the skirt. It might have been as long as a year since I last wore it and it was a bit tight.

Right now I own one black skirt, a lot of really nice slacks, and assorted silk blouses. Before I invest in any more pieces, I am going to see if these meetings are a real thing or just a fluke.

Side note: the other women wore skirted suits or sleeveless sheath dresses with coordinating blazers. Some wore heels. Some wore flats.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Umm...can't ageing give its own power? I do remember it was the term "professional dress" that sent me to a stylist in 2010 for clothing to wear to a seminar presenter's group interview for a day. The term petrified me at the time. I didn't get the job but have progressed in my career nonetheless. Before that my previous interview was 6 years earlier, a job I had got easily. Now at age 56 I feel so senior I don't really feel intimidated by anyone more senior in my field. So I wear what I feel like within the wide bounds of appropriateness. Maybe being an extrovert helps?

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Sterling we've cross-posted. I would have hoped your third sentence in your most recent post would apply.

Anonymous

Jenni -- I am most definitely not an extravert.

For events that are far outside my comfort zone, I try very hard to match what others are wearing. This reflects personal insecurity and not fashion choices. I dress to please myself when there is no pressure or stressor, but these types of meetings and events throw me into different territory and I use my outfit as a professional shield to make up for my feeling of insecurity. I have found myself at these meetings more and more doing these summer months. I don't know if this is new trend or if these meetings have been a fluke. Time will tell.

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