The Capsule Wardrobe, Where Fashion Meets Minimalism
Dreams of huge closets filled with hundreds of stylish and trendy pieces have fueled the fashion industry for many years, and while there is nothing wrong with having a cherished large collection of clothing, a smaller curated closet is trending now. Fashion and sustainability often do not go hand in hand, but the capsule wardrobe is coming back and proving that less can indeed be more. Say goodbye to shaming outfit repeating, because capsule wardrobes are here to simplify the act of getting dressed each day.
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The idea of the capsule wardrobe has actually been around for several decades. The term was first coined by a woman named Susie Faux who owned her own boutique called Wardrobe in London in the seventies. The idea of the capsule wardrobe, however, really caught on around the year 1985. American designer Donna Karan sparked a wide interest with her “Seven Easy Pieces” collection that included just seven garments that could be mixed and matched to create many different outfits. Karan’s intention was to design for the everyday working woman and to bring a little more simplicity to everyday fashion.
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The capsule wardrobe is basically a wardrobe that contains timeless and classic essential pieces which can then be supplemented by several seasonal and special occasion pieces. Not only does it help save space in the closet, it also provides a more frugal option for fashion enthusiasts. Instead of finding and adding trendy pieces to the closet that will go out of style within the next year, the capsule wardrobe allows a closet to be based on several high quality timeless garments that can be worn interchangeably with each other. The question of “will this top go with anything else in my closet?” will cease to exist with a capsule wardrobe.
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Fast fashion continues to rule the industry which means that clothing is made of cheaper quality which lasts only a short while to just end up in the landfill. The capsule wardrobe can help cut down on individual clothing waste, because it cuts down on the number of items one needs in their closet. Less clothes does not have to mean less styling capabilities. Each article of clothing can be worn with everything else in the closet. It can create opportunities to try different looks; a simple black dress with thin straps could be worn over a basic tee, and the tee could be worn over the dress–just two items create two different outfits. With a capsule wardrobe, accessorizing is key. Dress up a look with elegant, sparkly jewels, or add a sun hat for a day at the beach. The idea of a capsule wardrobe is not to hinder one’s fashion creativity, but to offer a different, more sustainable way to get dressed each day.
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Various brands are popping up that are making creating a capsule wardrobe a simple task. Wardrobe.NYC was started in 2017 by Christine Centenera, a stylist, and the designer Josh Goot. The brand focuses on a simple color palette for its high quality basics. Their elevated and versatile clothing makes shopping much easier for those that never know what looks good together. Everlane is another brand that has been known for their sustainable basics, and they even have a Modern Essentials Collection that features laid back yet tailored garments. Vetta is a brand that has created several capsule wardrobes already curated for people to shop, or any of their pieces from any of the collections can be mixed together to create a more personalized wardrobe. Vetta’s individual garments are designed to be worn in multiple different ways; many are reversible with different colors and prints and others feature zip-off portions so that a dress can be turned into a shirt.
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Fashion is anything but simple; it is art and creativity and passion, and the capsule wardrobe, although it contains less articles of clothing, can still reflect the artistry of fashion. Less really can be more when it comes to the amount of clothing in a closet. The capsule wardrobe trend is cost effective, better for the environment, and better for your closet space. Outfit creativity can shine even with a small closet.