Written by: London Forbes, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Wondering what a capsule wardrobe is? I don’t blame you! Susie Fox, a wardrobe consultant and London’s Wardrobe boutique owner used this term in the 1970s. However, it only became a part of the mainstream lingo much later when top designers began to employ it.
What is a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a curation of timeless clothes collection that can be paired with multiple outfits. Here, quality is prioritized over quantity to create multiple outfits using few quality items.
So why is it important to curate a capsule wardrobe for your personal brand? Take for instance the role image plays in communicating your brand message. You can reinforce your brand not only by being authentic and creating impact but also by using image, especially clothing. This can be reflected in clothes or the colours of clothes.
How many garments should I own?
Although there aren’t definitive rules regarding the number of items a capsule wardrobe should contain, most start with 40 pieces or less! While it may seem overwhelming at first to work with a few pieces, let your creativity take over. This is especially useful for entrepreneurs building their personal brands as you can create consistent looks and palettes with the few pieces that you retain.
If you have trouble starting, here’s an easy way to go about it: pick a basic white top and figure out in how many ways you can style it. Maybe with jeans or a skater skirt or a pair of palazzos. Before you know it, you will realize you can create many beautiful outfits that reflect your personal brand with just one white top. By merely changing the layers or the bottoms, you may be able to create around 15 outfits. While your personal brand requires a consistent look, you can be flexible with your styling based on the occasion, mood, etc.
7 tips to create your capsule wardrobe
1. Declutter
Declutter immediately if you have hundreds of items in your wardrobe. Get rid of what you don’t need and organise your clothes based on what they mean to you. This helps understand what you need.
2. Make it personal
While a capsule wardrobe is about curating a more functional and practical wardrobe, don’t forget that the main goal is to reflect your personality. Prioritise pieces that align with your values and go from there.
3. Create a list
Make a list of what you need and have some fun. Maybe you want a specific piece that is expensive. You can tag that as a reward for when you achieve XYZ. This way, you can purchase an item you love and accomplish an important goal!
4. Allow it to take time
Remember “Rome wasn't built in a day.” Creating a capsule wardrobe requires time and effort. In fact, the best way to create a long-lasting capsule wardrobe is by purchasing items periodically, so your wardrobe reflects your personal brand’s evolution. If the process is not stress-free, you’re doing it wrong! By thinking things through, you can also avoid buying items you don't need.
5. Keep stock
Take a photo and keep a log of your items to know what is in your wardrobe and what you still need to complete your wardrobe. While this may sound taxing, this information can help you create a fashionable minimalist wardrobe.
6. Understand your lifestyle
Your capsule wardrobe should reflect your personal brand and style. If you work in a corporate environment, you may need formalwear while an artist can experiment with whimsical options. For work from home, you can pull off cosy loungewear. Just don’t wear your bathrobe all day or while on a zoom call! Even at home, remember that fashion and comfort can go together.
7. Be realistic
Remember your affordability and opt for quality items from high street brands if you don’t want to splurge. It’s all about the fabric, (remember the foundation of a good garment design will always be rooted in fabric) as well as how it makes you feel, and whether it reflects your brand. Only buy what’s practical. Don’t like heels? Just stick to fashionable and comfortable flats!
Love heels but don’t know where to start? Check out this article I wrote on how to wear heels all day here. Just make sure that they align with your brand and your personality, because that’s the essence of a capsule wardrobe.
While fashion can be overwhelming for your personal branding, making the right choices with your capsule wardrobe will help you achieve all of your style goals! To create a wardrobe that you love and channel and cultivate your style, find your flow on our website here, on LinkedIn, Facebook, or on Instagram.
London Forbes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
London Forbes is a fearless founder whose own journey of self-discovery illuminated the path to her success and her mission of helping others realise their own value and cultivate a strong personal brand and image. It is both an art and a science to cultivate and curate a successful image, and BYICON was born from this — a vision for authenticity, self-love, acceptance, and harnessing your most valuable asset, yourself, to cultivate a strong ROI.
