My “Blue Skies” Capsule Wardrobe
This year I am experimenting with building a capsule wardrobe.
With spring cleaning upon us, I feel like this is the perfect time to build a capsule wardrobe.
Right now my closet is so overstuffed that I can barely browse my collection. It dawned on me recently, how profligate I am with clothes. I try not to wear the same outfit twice, as if there’s some imaginary fashion police checking up on me. I am always buying more, despite how many I have, and this always feels justified. Before I moved to New York City and lost the space for this enormous wardrobe, I realized one day that I owned enough clothing to wear an entirely different item every day for over one year. This is just far too many clothes.
My solution is to build a capsule wardrobe.
Capsule wardrobes are by definition, minimal. They consist of pieces that can easily be mixed and matched together but the pieces are by nature, limited. I dream of walking into my bedroom the way I would walk into any high-end boutique. I want spaced out hangers and just enough clothes hanging in my closet that if it was a store, I would wonder how they afford the rent. My dream has always been to see my wardrobe at a glance, but in its current state I find myself reaching for the same few pieces again and again anyways.
I might as well put the rest of my clothes away for this season and be honest with myself about my current favorites. This spring my overarching theme is “Blue Skies”. I know it’s windy and rainy but every spring day comes with one brief moment of respite when there are endless blue skies reminding me of what’s to come. In fashion, this theme can translate quite literally, with shades of blue taking precedence but I like to add accents of white for the errant clouds.
In my closet I’m reaching for a Roberto Cavalli dress I thrifted in my neighborhood. It’s shades of blue and grey to me, but what I love most about it is the business-like yet coquettish cut. It feels like it belongs in a boardroom with its hourglass silhouette but then it’s bedazzled and comes with a matching silk scarf. I like a dress that keeps you guessing. In skirts, I prefer a tie-on voluminous piece that can also be worn as a cape. Spring is about layers that can be easily removed or adjusted and this light blue skirt fits the bill. It matches perfectly with white jodhpurs I got in India earlier this year.
When building this capsule wardrobe, I’m going to be thinking about my fashion needs for this season, not just color schemes. Do I prefer a heavy sweater or a light sweatshirt? I will need a long-sleeved, open-front shirting option for layering, of course. These are the types of questions I will be considering. As this will be my first experiment with a capsule wardrobe, I will have to include thinking about accessories like hats and scarves.
To me, the project of building a capsule wardrobe seems like a good way to become acquainted with what you already own. The selection process, while weeding out unseasonable attire, also hones in how I am feeling now. These are not just capsule collections of my wardrobe, but time capsules. If I continue to build these collections throughout the upcoming seasons, I can zero in on trends and see how they evolve over time, through my own eyes.
If not just for space requirements, I am looking forward to the process of building my capsule wardrobe titled “Blue Skies” for the rest of the spring season. Look out for me wearing high-heeled blue ballet shoes and sporting a fake saddle bag! I’ll be shopping in my closet this season.