Creating a Capsule Wardrobe - Step One

A capsule wardrobe is so important for so many reasons. Running your wardrobe as a 'capsule' lets you keep a handle on your most favourite and most worn pieces (and replace them when needed), it lets you budget for the season ahead and also lets you define your personal style.

I'll be doing a series of posts on creating a capsule wardrobe - let us see where it takes us.

First you need to choose your 'signature pieces'. These are pieces

• you wear all the time
• are on high rotation
• that are (or need to be!) high quality
• made of a great fabric or a great colour

These are pieces you love and really say something about your 'signature style'.

You should have at least 8 pieces and up to about 24 our depending on how extensive your want your capsule wardrobe. A small capsule wardrobe (packed for a trip for example) will have about 8 to 10 pieces. A capsule wardrobe for a defined period (weight loss or pregnancy for example) will have closer to 15 or 18 pieces. A full capsule wardrobe will usually have between 20 and 24 pieces.

Over time (and over the year) your capsule wardrobe will change slightly. Your favourite jeans may stay in the mix for each season every year. Your black flats will probably hang around while your black boots may be replaced by black gladiators as the weather warms up. For the moment I think we should focus forwards and aim to create a 'Spring Capsule Wardrobe'.

This is what I'll be helping you create at my styling workshops at The High Tea Party. It may seem a little early as we have just hit the cold patch. But this gives you a chance to incorporate some of the winter pieces you are currently wearing into your Spring Capsule Wardrobe and test the boundaries whilst slowing bringing in lighter pieces for spring and summer that will be here before you know it. This also gives you a chance to start researching 'your look' for the coming warmer months.

A good start might be looking at some Spring Capsule Wardrobes from the 'Spring Capsule Wardrobe Challenge'. A couple of fellow bloggers participated earlier this year - they are Europe and UK based so they were about 6 months early for us but we might be able to continue on where they left off.

Stay tuned...