Unconventional Capsule Wardrobes
Classic or unconventional, a capsule wardrobe is essential to one’s identity. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to shaping our capsule wardrobe
BY HANEEN ELMESWARIPOSTED AT 12:00PM EDT, WED December 13, 2022The capsule wardrobe is a timeless collection of carefully curated clothing. Traditionally, staples in your capsule wardrobe are interchangeable; however, the meaning of a capsule wardrobe has become more misunderstood as minimalistic styles have become more and more popularized.
There's a common misconception that a capsule wardrobe should be basic, boring, and classic; staples like slacks, white button-ups, and straight coats are essential. This conventional idea goes against the very nature of fashion, an industry that thrives on individuality, novelty, and pushing limits. As a result of this, you can end up filling your closet with basics that might not speak to you just to create more outfit variety with the same few items.
Your capsule wardrobe may contain versatile clothes, but that doesn't mean that they have to be dull, leaving you with little to no room for creativity.
There are no rules when it comes to what pieces you can put in your capsule wardrobe. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
Some essential things to ask yourself first: Will I be able to wear this often? Can I wear it in multiple ways? It’s important to be sure that the clothes you're buying aren't a micro-fad that you’ll toss out in six months.
Secondly, does the piece spark joy or make you feel good? There's no use in buying clothes that don't make you feel like the best version of yourself. Fashion is not only a way to build self-confidence but showcase your innermost personality, so use that to your advantage.
For some, it's about putting aside societal pressures and wearing those pieces that make you feel joyful, but for others, it's about eliminating hassle with the guarantee of looking cohesive and sharp every morning. The unconventional capsule wardrobe is about exploring, experimenting, and owning your self-expression. The versatility of your very own wardrobe makes something traditionally conventional, unconventional.
Model and actress, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, is one who can easily be identified by her chic, effortless, and sophisticated uniform. Keeping her silhouettes structured and elegant, she's known to wear well-tailored trousers, elegant trench coats, or sensual slip dresses while experimenting with accessories or shoes in bright colors. In doing so, she makes her simplistic style elevated and Pinterest-worthy. And Huntington-Whiteley isn’t alone; other models and celebrities, like Hailey Bieber, have been known to emulate a similar style and approach their wardrobes.
When models like Huntington-Whiteley and Bieber helped to popularize the effortless “cool girl vibe,” street style became seemingly more casual as more people garnered chic and sophisticated silhouettes. A minimalistic wardrobe with a predetermined set of garments that are worn interchangeably really began to become the standard for any capsule wardrobe.
While the functionality of curating a capsule wardrobe has many benefits, it’s not for everybody.
The standards set for a capsule wardrobe seem to suggest the idea that by getting the most out of your clothes, we all have to be wearing the same pieces. It’s time to trash that idea — or better yet — redefine it. To redefine a capsule wardrobe, it’s important to understand exactly how the relationship between your persona and style is connected.
In the process of redefining your capsule wardrobe, you must step back and observe it from an external lens. What from your life defines the way you dress? How much does your wardrobe reflect your identity? How much of your wardrobe is for pure convenience?
In most cases, we build our capsule wardrobes subconsciously. We often gravitate towards certain pieces we love to wear and find ourselves grabbing them without even a second thought. But what really determines what pieces get to call your closet home? While lifestyles, careers, morals, and hobbies play a large part in it, other factors can weigh in greatly on these decisions.
“A lot of people view capsule wardrobes as boring, but for me, I have a lot of interchangeable pieces that are colorful,” shares recent Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) graduate and personal stylist, Sahar Kariem. With her outgoing personality and love for color, Kariem finds this to play a significant role in what she's wearing. “I love Converse! People have black and white, but I have my bright green and pink.”
It can also boil down to your environment. “Sometimes you can't just walk around in a 6-inch heel to do regular errands,” says Bea Tal, an Advertising and Marketing Communications major at FIT.
In the spirit of wanting to create a capsule wardrobe, Tal has taken a moment to reflect on her style. It took a pandemic for her to look back into her closet and realize that it didn't reflect who she was. “The fact that I’m outgrowing my clothes, not literally, but taste-wise, was a red flag to me,” expresses Tal. She has since ditched bright colors and strange silhouettes for a more sophisticated, sharp look, and as a model herself, the “model off duty” look is perfect for her.
Clothing is a helpful tool an individual can use to heal personal traumas; it’s also a great way to take control of one’s life through an art form.
Chicago-based visual artist, Ameya Marie Okamoto, uses fashion as a form of confronting trauma and body image issues, not only for self-expression. “As someone who’s short, for a long time, there was a feeling that I would never be sexy,” she explains. Okamoto has also found uncommon struggles with dress coding, after repeatedly breaking the rules. “It taught me that people don’t perceive me as sexy, so why don’t I just use it?”
This led Okamoto to ultimately develop a sensual style by showing skin and disregarding public opinion. She found a form of therapy through clothes saying, “For me, style icons are individuals who express themselves without giving a shit.” She's made this apparent in her style by wearing bold, vibrant, and saturated clothing. Now Okamoto’s signature look includes a pair of platform shoes; her rainbow, vintage racing jacket; and a vintage, purple slip dress from one of her favorite designers, Betsey Johnson.
From Tal’s neutrals to Okamoto’s alluring sense of style, these completely different personalities demonstrate just how individualized it is to redefine a capsule wardrobe.
When you’re building your own capsule wardrobe, it's important to think about the factors that affect you every day life beyond your closet. What’s deemed conventional to you may be pretty unconventional to someone else.
While it may be customary for you to wear your 3-inch platform sneakers every time you leave the house, someone else may prefer to throw on a pair of vintage kitten heels. That's what makes a capsule wardrobe so fascinating — it's a way for individuals to take control of their lives through fabric.
When building your own wardrobe, remember that what shapes your style, should ultimately shape you too.
Originally Published in Blush Magazine
