How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe - The Basics

I’ve been practicing capsule wardrobes for a few years now and in that time, I’ve adapted the process a few times to suit my evolving fashion journey. When I first started doing capsules, I did so with the intent of streamlining my wardrobe, locking down my initial color palette and figuring out my true style.

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Since that first capsule, I’ve learned what works for me and what doesn’t, and even though my original advice is still true, I now approach capsules with a looser framework. In fact, over the last few years I’ve tried traditional capsules, The 10 Item Wardrobe, Project 3-3-3 and every other version of minimized wardrobe curation and throughout them all, I’ve found a few basics to always be true.

Today, I thought it would be helpful to share those with you so I’ve outlined my top tips to get you started, as well as what I recommend for good foundation of pieces that can easily be mixed and matched all season long.

Plus, if you’ve never tried a capsule before this can be a great opportunity to because many of us aren’t going out or even into the office so it can give you a chance to see how different outfits and pieces truly make you feel before adding in the external influence of others.

GETTING STARTED

If you’re just getting started with capsules or your personal style journey, you may be feeling overwhelmed. I know when I first started, I was so overwhelmed and worried I wouldn’t do my first capsule “right” and that would render it ineffective.

As time went on though, I realized that it’s impossible to mess it up and there’s no one right way to do this. Not only is personal style incredibly personal, but capsules or any other wardrobe curation tool you use should be too. That said, below are the basic steps that have worked every time for me and I think can be customized to suit any capsule method you choose.

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• CHOOSE YOUR COLOR PALETTE: I think I mention color palettes in every blog post and video I make about wardrobe curation and it’s for good reason. In my experience, you can’t build a wardrobe or figure out your true personal style unless you have a color palette that you stick to. I have a few posts all about building a color palette and how you can find the perfect colors for you but if you’re looking for a very easy place to start, I recommend 1-2 base colors and 1-2 accent colors.

  The base colors should make up the majority of your items and serve as a good foundation while the accent colors should make up fewer pieces and be used to add some interest to your closet. I think the easiest way to get started here is to look in your closet and take note of the colors you already wear and then build your color palette around those. Typically, your base colors will be colors like black or navy, white or cream and even grey or taupe and your accent colors can be anything else you have from pink to purple to orange or green.

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• PULL OUT YOUR FAVORITES & SEASONAL APPROPRIATE ITEMS: Next, I recommend pulling out all of your closet regulars. These will be the pieces you automatically picture when you close your eyes and imagine you’re packing for a trip or the items you reach for every week and always feel amazing in.

  From there, you can narrow in on your wardrobe favorites that will suit the season you’re planning your capsule for.

  Everything that doesn’t fit the current season and/or isn’t an automatic favorite can be moved either to the back of your closet or into another closet if you have it or a container that you put under your bed, in your closet or somewhere else out of site - but not decluttered.

• SEARCH PINTEREST, YOUR FAVE BLOGS, YOUTUBE CHANNELS & REAL LIFE: Once you have your color palette selected, and your wardrobe favorites set aside, I recommend looking to Pinterest, your favorite blogs and magazines and even the individuals you see every day for inspiration.

  Take note of the images and outfits that catch your eye and why. From there, you can start planning out some outfits and new styling cues that can help you stay inspired throughout your capsule. I recommend searching specifically for the items you’ve set aside so that you can get loads of inspiration for the pieces you already have - and don’t feel the need to buy anything new.

  As you’re going through your inspiration and taking note of what you love, you will not only begin to understand your own style better, but you'll also start to see the pieces you have in a new way. The most important thing about this step is to have fun and remember that you can always add or remove pieces from your capsule if they end up not working out. Just remember that the objective of capsule dressing is to eliminate stress, not cause more because you feel panicked to commit for fear of being stuck.  

• CONSIDER YOUR LOCATION, WEATHER & LIFESTYLE: The next thing I recommend is being truly honest with yourself about the weather you have and your lifestyle. Both of these can help eliminate certain items from the beginning and also cause you to add in some things that may not be glamorous, but will be practical and practicality is essential to ensuring your capsule actually works.

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• ADD ACCESSORIES & HAVE FUN: The last thing I recommend is to take time adding in personalized accessories and bold pieces that are perfectly you. These will help set your capsule apart and help you realize the things that make your style personal. I also recommend not taking it all too seriously and instead feel free to reevaluate as you go to ensure you’re getting the most out of the experience and really using it as an exercise to figure out what you actually wear and what makes you feel the most like you.

TOP 5ESSENTIAL PIECES

Now I want to share some of my personal wardrobe essentials that may be helpful if you’re just starting out. These are the things I personally love to wear and find very versatile but I recommend always customizing these to you and your own personal preferences. Also, I’ve included shoppable items here but I always recommend checking second hand and vintage shops for great deals and beautiful quality.

NO. 1 CLASSIC JEANS

First up is a pair of classic jeans. If you’re looking for something more formal I like dark wash straight leg jeans and if you want something a little more casual but also incredibly versatile, I recommend a light to medium wash with a straight leg. I’m personally very into lighter, vintage washes at the moment and I love how they instantly pop against my sweaters and tops in the fall and winter but also feel perfect for spring and summer.

NO. 2 VERSATILE SWEATER

Another piece I always have in my wardrobe is a versatile sweater. I like something in either cotton if you live in a climate with unpredictable weather or cashmere or a cashmere blend if you live somewhere that gets cold or you’re just easily chilly. I think a crew neck or cardigan is ideal in a color you love to wear that goes with your color palette. If you’re unsure of your color palette, I would stick to neutrals to begin with - colors like white, beige, blush pink and blue. I’ve linked some below but some other brands to consider for gorgeous knitwear are N.Peal, NavyGrey, Johnstons of Elgin and Pure Collection.

NO 3. EASY T-SHIRT OR BODYSUIT

T-shirts or bodysuits are perfect for layering or wearing alone and pair perfectly with pants, skirts and shorts. I love white and black.

NO. 4 CLASSIC PANTS OR SKIRT (OR BOTH)

Since we’ve covered jeans above, the next thing I always like to have in my wardrobe is a pair of classic pants. If you instead prefer skirts, something in a versatile length and material for you will be great as well. Of course, you can also always have both for even more variety.

NO. 5 PRETTY BLOUSE

Another top I like to have in my capsule is a pretty blouse that I can dress up or down. I love silk or light cotton for this and preferably something in a color that I never get tired of. For me, that’s usually white, ivory, navy or black.

7 Ways To Wear A Scarf & My Top Tips With Sabina Savage (AD)

Today I am so excited to partner with one of my favorite brands and artists Sabina Savage to bring you 7 ways to wear a scarf. As a huge lover of scarves, I know that they can sometimes be a little intimidating so we’ve partnered to help remove some of that intimidation and help launch Sabina’s newest collection, The Treasures Of Pompeii.

Wearing: Fortuna's Box Olive/Bay Cashmere 135x135cm

If you’ve been following my channel for any length of time then you know how much I love Sabina’s work and I have a small collection of her wearable pieces of art that bring me endless joy every time I wear them.

Not only are they impeccably designed (and drawn by Sabina herself!) but they’re also crafted with gorgeous construction from the most luxurious materials that not only look beautiful but also last.

Needless to say, I couldn’t be happier about working with her on this collaboration. It’s truly a dream come true!

Before we get into my 7 favorite ways to wear a scarf, let’s go over the basics that can help you choose your perfect scarf. These are the top 3 things I keep in mind when choosing scarves to ensure I have something that will compliment the majority of my wardrobe and be wearable for my life.

COLOR

The first thing to consider is color. For this, I recommend looking at your wardrobe color palette for guidance because every scarf also has a color palette. Take note of your most worn base colors and then pick out your favorite accent colors from the palette.

If you’re palette is split into seasonal accents, consider the season you’re looking to wear your scarf and focus on those colors.

All that’s left is to find a scarf that reflects your palette, and for something that will be the easiest to style, I recommend finding a scarf with a base similar to your favorite base colors that you pulled out and your favorite 1-2 accent colors for the season you’re shopping for. This is how I’ve picked scarves and it’s never let me down.

Wearing: Cave Canem Terracotta/Carmine Silk Twill 42x42cm

Wearing: Fortuna's Box Olive/Bay Cashmere 135x135cm

MATERIAL

Once you know the color or colors you’re looking for, you can move onto material. Just like choosing your colors, I recommend focusing in on the season you plan to wear your scarf the most. For year-round wear I think you can’t go wrong with a silk twill. It’s a little thicker than some other materials but still breathable and easy to style.

Wearing: Neptune's Riches Marble/Granite Wool/Silk Stole With Cashmere Lining 100x170cm

I also recommend a silk twill and a small to medium size if you live in a very warm climate because they can easily be styled around your neck when it’s a little colder or in your hair, on a handbag or even tied on your wrist when it’s too warm to wear a scarf around your neck.

For colder weather I recommend looking for a scarf in cashmere, a silk and cashmere blend or cashmere and wool blend. The silk and cashmere will be a little lighter and easier to layer and the cashmere and wool will be thicker and toastier but still flowy and so so gorgeous around the neck - it’s also easy to drape and wear in different ways.

Wearing: Fortuna's Box Olive/Bay Cashmere 135x135cm

Wearing: Neptune's Riches Marble/Granite Wool/Silk Stole With Cashmere Lining 100x170cm

SIZE

The last thing to consider is the size. Just like the material, I think the size should be determined by when you plan to wear your scarf and the weather you’ll be experiencing during that time.

For cold weather, I think a larger scarf is perfect because it can be wrapped a few times around your neck to really keep in the warmth.

For warmer weather, I think small to medium is ideal because like I mentioned earlier, you can easily style them around your neck when it’s a little colder or in your hair, on a handbag or even tied on your wrist when it’s too warm to wear a scarf around your neck.

Wearing: Cave Canem Terracotta/Carmine Silk Twill 42x42cm

7 WAYS TO WEAR A SCARF

Wearing: Cave Canem Water/Ink Cashmere 135x135cm

Now for 7 of my favorite ways to wear a scarf. Each of these are super easy to do but still look so chic and effortless.

When I first started wearing scarves, I was able to do most of these without a lot of practice so that I could get comfortable wearing them.

Below, I’ve described each of the ties and included pictures of some of them, but in my video you can see me demonstrate each tie so that you can follow along.

Wearing: Fortuna's Box Olive/Bay Silk Twill 135x135cm

Wearing: Cave Canem Water/Ink Cashmere 135x135cm

No. 1 The Choker

This one is perfect for big and small scarves and I’ve named it the choker because it sits really high on the neck and almost looks like a choker necklace. To create this tie, all you do is fold the scarf into a thin rectangle and then wrap it around your neck as many times as you like and secure in the back or front. I like the way it looks tied in the back or off to the side because it keeps the focus on the print and draws attention to your face and the colors in the scarf. Below, you can see how it looks with the larger scarf and small scarf.

Wearing: Neptune's Riches Marble/Granite Wool/Silk 135x135cm

Wearing: Cave Canem Terracotta/Carmine Silk Twill 42x42cm

No. 2 The Rosebud

Next up is what I like to call the rosebud because I think it looks like a rosebud. I love this tie because it’s so simple but looks really complicated and adds some a beautiful touch to my outfit. This tie is also the one I’ve been wearing most recently.

To create it, it may be a little tricky to follow along in words, but in my video above and at the end of this post you can see me demonstrate it so you can follow along easily.

I think this tie works best with small to medium sized scarves in a silk twill because it’s easier to fold and hold the shape. All you do is fold the scarf into a triangle and tie the ends together. Next, stick your arm under the tied bit and bring the other two ends together and secure. The end result should look like a rosebud and you can then tie it around your neck and secure it in the back.

No. 3 The Handbag Accessory

This next tie is the one I’ve probably been doing the longest because it’s so easy and doesn’t take up too much real estate on your outfit. If you’re unsure about scarves, this is a great one to try. I like doing this one with either a ribbon scarf or a small to medium sized square scarf and I think twill works really well for it. All you do is tie your scarf around the handle of your purse. So easy and so chic!

Wearing: Neptune's Riches Marble/Granite Large Silk Twill Ribbon 10x160cm

Wearing: Fortuna's Box Aqua/Pigeon Silk Twill 90x90cm

No. 4 The Hair Accessory

Another tie that’s almost too easy but always looks great, is to wear your scarf as a hair accessory. You can do this by securing your ponytail or bun with a scarf or my personal favorite, wearing your scarf as a headband.

I like to do the headband style by either wearing a ribbon scarf as a headband or a square scarf that’s been folded into a thin rectangle, tied into a knot in the middle and then tied around your head like a headband.

In my video below you can see me demonstrate it. It’s so easy and fast and always looks great.

No. 5 The V-Neck Tie

This is another tie I’ve been doing for a very long time and I think it may be the most common scarf tie. I like to call this the v-neck tie because I used to wear this to fill the v-neck of my sweaters and t-shirts before I started wearing crewnecks more. I think this works the best with small to medium and even large scarves and any material.

To create it all you do is fold your scarf into a triangle, put it around your neck with the v facing front and then wrap it as many times as you like until it’s where you want it and secure it. You can secure it in front or back and I like to even move the tie off to one side. You can also tuck the v into the front of your sweater or shirt for a really nice look.

Wearing: Fortuna's Box Olive/Bay Silk Twill 135x135cm

Wearing: Cave Canem Water/Ink Silk Twill 90x90cm

Wearing: Neptune's Riches Rosso/Mahogany Silk Twill 90x90cm

No. 6 Put A Bow On It

This next one is as simple as tying your scarf into a bow. I like to do this with either a ribbon scarf or a square scarf and I think it looks amazing with a simple top because it adds interest and brings attention up to your face. In my video below you can see me demonstrate it :)

Wearing: Fortuna's Box Olive/Bay Cashmere 135x135cm

No. 7 The Drape

Last but not least is what I call the drape and it may be the easiest of them all (and one of my most worn). To do this, all you do is drape the scarf over your shoulders.

You can wear it like a shawl as I’ve done in the picture here and below, or you can drape it over your shoulders and then secure it under one arm or loosely in front if it’s cold or windy.

Below, you can see a few of the ways I like to wear this style and I think it looks really beautiful with larger scarves when it’s cold because you can wear them alone or under blazers and jackets to stay extra cozy.

Wearing: Fortuna's Box Olive/Bay Cashmere 135x135cm

Wearing: Fortuna's Box Aqua/Pigeon Silk Twill 90x90cm

Thank you so much to Sabina Savage for sponsoring today’s post! You can see my corresponding video to the right, and view the entire new collection here.

Also, thank YOU for spending time with me here and I hope you love this collection as much as I do. Happy scarf styling xx

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14 Pieces, Over 40 Outfits | Fall Capsule Wardrobe 2020 (VIDEO)

Today I’m sharing my small fall capsule wardrobe. I'm going over my approach to capsule wardrobes and how that's changed over the years, my color palette, the 14 items I chose and over 40 outfits. Thank you so much for watching xx Audrey

A Classic Capsule Wardrobe For Fall 2020

Today I’m sharing a classic capsule wardrobe for fall 2020. I’ve been participating in capsule wardrobes for a few years now and I credit them with helping me to discover my true personal style. I’ve come a long way since my first capsule and now I use them more as a guide for each season rather than a strict guideline to include everything I can and can’t wear.

Since I was so strict to begin with and used capsules as a way to figure out what I actually wore and what made me feel good, I no longer need them to curb impulse shopping and help undo my past ways of dressing and curating my closet. As a result, I no longer pack away everything not in my capsule and I don’t try and stick to a strict number of pieces but I still like setting aside a few items at the front of my closet that help represent the wardrobe goals I have for the season and anything I’m exciting to wear. I use this capsule as a starting point but still give myself access to the rest of my closet.

With all of that in mind, today I want to share my classic capsule with you. I’ve also filmed a corresponding video that will be live next week.

COLOR PALETTE

Let’s start off with the color palette I’ve selected for this capsule.

For my base colors I’ve selected a beige/off-white, black and navy/blue and for my accent colors I’ve selected emerald green, camel and grey.

Below, you can see the break-down of how many pieces contain each color, which is what I use as way to determine which colors are the base and which are the accents - more equal the base and fewer equal the accents. Beige/Off-White: 2. Black: 5. Navy/Blue: 3. Emerald Green: 1. Camel: 1. Grey: 2.

4 TOPS

Now I want to share the pieces I’ve selected for this capsule starting with tops. I have 4 tops and surprisingly no t-shirts. You can of course add t-shirts but I wanted to give myself an excuse to not wear t-shirts as often as I have been this summer with lockdown and nowhere to go. To help shift my focus, I want to be intentional about getting dressed every day and if I include t-shirts in my capsule I’m afraid I’ll feel like I’m wearing the same old same old.

The tops I’ve chosen are a navy cashmere crewneck sweater, off-white cropped cashmere sweater, oversized off-white turtleneck and a grey balloon sleeve cashmere sweater.

5 BOTTOMS

Now for bottoms I’ve selected a floral emerald green skirt, navy pants, casual jeans, faux leather leggings and plaid skirt.

3 OUTERWEAR PIECES

For outerwear I’ve selected my oversized camel coat, thrifted double-breasted vest and oversized black blazer.

2 PAIRS OF SHOES

For shoes I have two pairs, my classic Chelsea boots and black and converse sneakers. In past capsules I would have given myself a dressier shoe option as well, but I have no plans in the near future that will require fancy shoes so these are perfect.

ACCESSORIES (NOT PICTURED ABOVE)

To round out my capsules every season I love accessories. I’ve tried counting these as official capsule pieces and not and my preference is to leave them out of the official count. Instead, I just give myself access to all of my accessories but for the sake of a cohesive capsule, I want to call out a few that I’ve styled along with these outfits. For jewelry I chose a pair of chunky hoop earrings, long necklace, fancy pearl statement earrings and my usual rings. For scarves I chose a large shawl sized, wool blend printed scarf, medium sized silk twill scarf and small chiffon silk scarf. I also set aside two bags - my new vintage emerald green clutch and small off-white top handle, structured purse.

SOME OUTFITS

Now I want to share a few base outfits that you can create with these pieces to help inspire you. In my video coming next week I’ve styled these bases with accessories to change them up even more. You can also of course add the vest, blazer or camel coat over all of these.