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You are here : Etiquette Tips | Manners & Communication » Dress Code » How to Build The Perfect Capsule Wardrobe

How to Build The Perfect Capsule Wardrobe

Published On February 3rd 2012. Under Dress Code  Tags: capsule wardrobe, essential clothing items, personal style  

Question: How to rebuild your wardrobe from scratch?

The initial problem: it is difficult to buy necessary items for your next perfect look all at once. But if you simply buy things which you like, it becomes close to impossible to mix them with the existing wardrobe later on.

Answer: There are several solutions to such problem, but this time let’s picture that your wardrobe is totally empty and you must rebuild it literally from scratch. Imagine that you suddenly must renew every single item of  your clothing collection. Maybe you’ve achieved your ideal weight or  grew parts you wanted to grow; in two words, let’s dream!

When the budget is limited the first thing to keep in mind is – your perfect capsule wardrobe must consist of high quality essentials. Later on, when you are ready to mix and experiment with colours, these essential clothing items will allow you to build new perfect looks simply by adding little details and  components  (such as various accessories).

Here is the list of apparel you will need to create the perfect capsule wardrobe:

1.  A suit or tuxedo jacket

DOLCE & GABBANA Spring-Summer Suit dolcegabbana suit

Windsor | Navyblue Suit Figure boyfriend blazer

 Strenesse Gabriele Strehle - Marine Blazer Angela St.Emile | Marine Blazer Marillis

2. A dress (it is better to choose black or some neutral colours like beige, grey or khaki)

Black Woolcrêpe Dress Piano Black Glamour Dress Carlotta

 Navy Blue Leather Dress Manta Fabiana Filippi- Silver I Taupe Dress Missaggio





3. A tunic or cardigan

Ralph Lauren - Creme Cashmere Cardigan Laura Iris v Arnim | Azur Cashmere Cardigan Ester

I heart | Camel Cashmere Cardigan Rina Friendly Hunting | Chocolate Cashmere Cardigan Circle

Fabiana Filippi | Sand Belted Cashmere Silk Cardigan BRUNELLO CUCINELLI | Brown Cashmere Cardigan Leece

 4. Straight-leg pants ( when you choose colour, pick any but black)

Stella McCartney | Jasmine wool straight-leg pants | NET-A-PORTER.COM REED KRAKOFF Straight leg stretch pants

PIazza Sempione | White Pants Violette Orwell | Olive Classy Pants Bean

J.Crew | Café cropped wool-tweed pants | NET-A-PORTER.COM Exit Brooklyn | Lobster Pants Kelly

5. A shirt or a blouse (pick white, ivory or pale grey colour)

Mr. Mrs. Shirt | Nature Silk Blouse Marianne Michael Kors | Cotton shirt | NET-A-PORTER.COM

Lanvin | Crepe-front silk-chiffon blouse | NET-A-PORTER.COM J.Crew | Marlice striped silk shirt | NET-A-PORTER.COM

Aubin & Wills | Oakdene velvet and silk-crepe blouse | NET-A-PORTER.COM 3.1 Phillip Lim | Silk crepe de chine blouse | NET-A-PORTER.COM

 6. A striped tee or pullover

The Row | Pablo striped cashmere sweater | NET-A-PORTER.COM Steffen Schraut | Black I White Striped Shirt

EICKHOFF | White Marine Striped Shirt Chinti and Parker | Striped cashmere sweater | NET-A-PORTER.COM

7. A turtleneck pullover

 Zoe Silk-Cashmere Turtleneck - Turtlenecks Sweaters - Ralph Lauren UK  Cashmere-Silk Turtleneck - Turtlenecks Sweaters - Ralph Lauren UK

Womens Cashmere Sweater _ Classic Cashmere Turtleneck -- Orvis UK Ralph Lauren Collection | Cashmere turtleneck sweater | NET-A-PORTER.COM

8. A black pencil skirt (Before buying a pencil skirt, make sure you try on as much as possible various skirts to find the one with your perfect length)

 Vivienne Westwood Anglomania | New Accident draped twill pencil skirt | NET-A-PORTER.COM The Row | Sandhurst leather pencil skirt | NET-A-PORTER.COM

Strenesse | Black Pencilskirt Lorraine Piazza Sempione | Black Wool Skirt Penny

9. Jeans (Dedicate some time to find your ideal jeans cut)

 Tibi | Low-rise chambray wide-leg jeans | NET-A-PORTER.COM TEXTILE Elizabeth and James | Iggy low-rise tapered-leg jeans | NET-A-PORTER.COM

GoldSign | Dark Blue Straight Jeans Precious GoldSign | Dark Blue Bootcut Jeans Quinn

Citizens of Humanity | Blue Straight Leg Jeans Ava Cambio | Dark Blue Straight Jeans Nora

10. A trench coat

 Burberry Prorsum | New Nude Velours Trench Burberry Prorsum | Leather-trimmed cotton-gabardine trench coat | NET-A-PORTER.COM

Burberry | Sand Trenchcoat Kensington Aubin & Wills | Colson cotton trench coat | NET-A-PORTER.COM

11. A classic coat

The Row | Fessing camel wool coat | example photo McQ Alexander McQueen | Cotton-felt coat | NET-A-PORTER.COM

Burberry Prorsum | Pale Mink Velours Coat image example Burberry Prorsum | New Nude Velours Trench

12. A silk or cashmere scarf (aka pashmina)

 Roberto Cavalli | Printed silk-chiffon scarf | image example Odeeh | Violet Blue Cashmere Scarf / image example

Marc by Marc Jacobs | Hot Dot printed cashmere and silk-blend scarf | photo example Friendly Hunting | Red Garden Eden Scarf

Faliero Sarti | Kiwi Scarf Macedonia Balenciaga | Exotic Silk Scarf Anima

 13. High heeled ankle or knee boots, platform booties

 Yves Saint Laurent | Wedge leather knee boots | IMAGES Gucci | Leather knee boots | Images

Chloé | Stitched leather knee boots | Photo Example Christian Louboutin | Belle 100 glossed-python ankle boots | Image

Christian Louboutin | Belle Zeppa 100 suede ankle boots | Photo Example Brian Atwood | Adrienne ruched suede ankle boots | NET-A-PORTER.COM

14. Flat heeled boots or loafers  

 Lanvin | Crinkled-leather knee boots | photo examples Chloe | Navy Velours Boot Crosta

Brunello Cucinelli | Creme Derby Shoes Luca Burberry | Buckle-detailed leather knee boots | NET-A-PORTER.COM

15. Sandals

Pedro Garcia | Zana crystal-embellished leather sandals | Images Giuseppe Zanotti | Crystal-embellished leather sandals | NET-A-PORTER.COM

16. High Heel Shoes

 Miu Miu | Satin platform pumps | NET-A-PORTER.COM Miu Miu | Leather pumps | NET-A-PORTER.COM

17. Flats

chloe | Kitt Ballerina Vittelo Renna Chloe | Black Nappa Ballerinas Oceano

18. A daytime handbag

Balenciaga | Navy Bag City Classic Image Fendi | Red Bag Small Chameleon PHOTO

17. An evening handbag

Valentino| Small White Chainbag Voom Lanvin| Black Sac Happicolo

13. A wide waist belt

Burberry | Wide leather waist belt  | PHOTOS Bottega Veneta | Intrecciato-trimmed leather waist belt | Photo

14. A skinny belt

Chloé | Hinged leather waist belt | images Fausto Colato | Bleu Iguana Belt

15. Pearl or Multi-Strand Necklaces

Gabriele Frantzen | Silver Necklace Midnight Tiger Double Row Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace Silver Clasp

16. Earrings (When you  choose earrings keep in mind that they have to look well with your watches and necklaces)

 Kenneth Jay Lane | Rhodium-plated crystal hoop earrings | NET-A-PORTER.COM Chan Luu | Silver coin earrings | NET-A-PORTER.COM

17. Boyfriend watches

Nixon | The Axe leather and stainless steel watch |  Marc by Marc Jacobs | Henry crystal-embellished rose gold-plated watch | 

18. Classic sunglasses (Aviator or similar, depending on the type of sunglases what suits you the most)

Stella McCartney | Metal and acetate aviator sunglasses | Retrosun | Vintage Christian Dior sunglasses | 

These are the main items you will need to build the solid capsule wardrobe. Later on you can enrich this clothing collection with such extra elements as mini skirts, shorts, blouses and silk tops. Whatever you feel goes well with your personal style and helps you to create perfect looks.

Now let’s review several examples and situations where the capsule wardrobe is imperative. To make it more interesting, let’s experiment with one item and try to create 2 different looks using it.

A set that allows to change some components and feel confident both at business meetings and at a romantic dinner:

Black Dress - Romantic Dinner V Business Meeting / Look Photo Example

A turtleneck pullover to wear to the dinner+movie combo or to the office:

Turtleneck Dinner V Office / Look Image Example

Using right accessories you can wear the same dress both to the office or  to the evening show:

Taupe Dress Office and Opera / Looks Photo Example

There might be nothing more diverse than a striped tee or pullover. It can both look perfect with jeans and a pencil skirt:

Striped Pullover - Weekend Shopper V Office / Look Image Example

Another option for a classic turtleneck; here you can quickly transform the business chic look to the city sleek:

Turtleneck Pullover Business V City - Look Image Example

By the way, consider spending more money on pullovers, cardigans and tunics. Nothing looks worse than the cheap glitter of bad quality wool clothes. It’s better to have only one cardigan, but of a high quality.

Classic blouse can look great both in the office and during the weekend. You can wear it under the tunics and jerseys:

Ivory Blouse - Minimize or Add on / Look Photo Example

The original text was created by Tyulka, a young fashion designer and entrepreneur living in New York City. Capsule wardrobe examples from the author: http://s-a-i-d-a.polyvore.com. More from the author at Blogspot: http://stilleta-stilleta.blogspot.com/

The photo and image examples of the apparel above are taken from: VeryEickhoff      NET-A-PORTER      RalphLauren

Shop the looks at Polyvore

Do you have questions about Building the Perfect Capsule Wardrobe or you think we forgot to mention something important? Come talk to us! We are looking forward to hearing from you!;)

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Last reply was February 5, 2012
  1. Sapphire Jewelry
    View February 5, 2012

    I really appreciated this post, it was really insightful. Thank you!

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