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Capsule Wardrobe Project 333: camel & navy, step by step

I think this wardrobe looks very diverse; if anybody is able to detect that you have only 33 garments, they are paying WAAAAY too much attention.      

Camel blazer – Gucci, camel cardigan – Jil Sander, navy cardigan – L.L.Bean, striped sweater – Gerry Weber, tweed cardigan – Paul & Joe, rust crewneck – A.P.C., navy blazer – A.P.C., blue shirt – D&G, rust blouse – Raquel Allegra, navy v-neck – J. Crew, yellow sweater – Acne, white shirt – Theory, navy shirt – J. Crew, navy dress – A.P.C., argyle sweater – Pringle, rust cardigan – Allude, camel dress – Phase Eight, Fair Isle sweater – Brooks Brothers, denim bow shirt – A.P.C., blue striped shirt – Golden Goose, rust tee – James Perse, navy turtleneck – ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Project 333: navy & grey, step by step

As promised!  The plaid skirts and cardigans were a specific request from a reader; I think they give a very youthful and "New England-y" feel to this wardrobe...    

Grey blazer -Theory, purple swing cardigan – L.L.Bean, navy cardigan – L.L.Bean, grey cardigan – L.L.Bean, mulberry 

cabled cardigan – L.L.Bean, navy blazer – A.P.C., blue shirt – D&G, purple henley – L.L.Bean, navy dress – A.P.C., navy  

v-neck – J. Crew, striped top – Rag & Bone, white shirt – Theory, grey dress – J. Crew, Navy shirt – J. Crew, Color 

blocked sweater – Acne, purple tee shirt – L.L.Bean, grey sweater – L.L.Bean, grey sleeveless top – L.L.Bean, Denim bow

 shirt – A.P.C., blue striped ... View the Post

Capsule Wardrobe Project 333: my clothes, step by step

I was not able to finish navy/grey last night, so I'm doing another step-by-step, this time using my own personal 333.  This is a thought process that I can describe in great detail!   Regarding the final number of tops, jackets, cardigans etc.: start with a general target number for your final wardrobe.  I personally like to have 10 "bottoms" (i.e. skirts or pants), and I want 6 or 8 cardigans or blazers, because I wear them frequently.  And I know going in that I want to include both a very basic black knit dress, and my road-warrior black velvet Eileen Fisher dress.     First, I of course will start with black.  I wear a lot of black, and I never get bored or tired of it.  (lots of scarves ... View the Post

A Four by four Capsule Wardrobe: finishing fall

 

12 more garments, also from L.L.Bean.  And then, I thought I would show all of the possible outfits... When I got up to 48 outfits, I threw in the towel.  And these outfits were assembled BEFORE I ever started using the navy corduroy pants, or the navy tee shirt, or the striped oxford shirt, or the blue jeans...   So okay, this wardrobe doesn't include any lime green.  No orange.  No abstract prints. No platform pumps...  Some of us are fine without those things.    

 

 

Scarf – Missoni, scarf – Marc Jacobs, grey boots – Pas de Rouge, grey flats - Rochas      

 

    ... View the Post

A Four by four Capsule Wardrobe: planning for fall

I know, everybody HATES L.L.Bean clothes, but their clothes are perfect for illustrating the concept of building a capsule wardrobe by fours.  And frankly, there's a world full of women who would look better dressed in these simple garments, rather than the gaudy, poorly-made tat that they're wearing...  (none of us, of course, but we all know people who might tone it down a notch or two...)Rather than using accessories from Bean, I've chosen a few things from the other end of the fashion scale - iconic scarves, fabulous shoes.  That's the real beauty of simple, unadorned clothes in neutral colors  - they serve as a perfect base for accessories that do the real "talking".

 

Chiffon scarf – ... View the Post

A Four by four Capsule Wardrobe: the entire summer

So if you remember from yesterday, we had these garments in our Four by Four capsule wardrobe, planned for a trip to the shore:   

After finding that these items worked really well for our specific needs, it was determined that the entirety of the summer wardrobe would be purchased with the same guidelines.First, a little something in darker colors, just so our jeans don't get lonely in the laundry!

And then a really pretty color, just because it's summer, and because it goes with our three neutrals:

Some more tops, in a variety of colors, and a few more essential summer accessories...

With these 24 garments, your summer is pretty much handled...And NO, I AM NOT TELLING YOU TO GO BUY YOUR ... View the Post

A Four by four Capsule Wardrobe: summer at the shore

When I see the ocean, it is NOT at the beach - it's more Humboldt County, California, or the west coast of Ireland, or the coast of Maine.  Warm, sunny days, cool evenings, and a gray and damp day every now and then, where you spend the day sitting by the fireplace...  This Four by Four Capsule Wardrobe gives you options for any kind of shoreline...

 

Yes, our rental house DOES have laundry facilities....

Throw in a little bit of color....

 And essential accessories.

I'm not necessarily saying that you need to run out and buy your entire summer wardrobe from L.L.Bean - I use these clothes as an example of what's possible.  But if you're a sturdy New Englander, with a ... View the Post

A Four by four Capsule Wardrobe: teal and navy

One of the most frequent colors that I'm asked to work with is the teal/turquoise family.  This pairs it with navy, and a dash of pink.  You can see that you don't have quite as many outfit options when you include more colors, but still enough choices to satisfy almost anybody. 

Pants – Stella McCartney, Tank and shirt – J. Crew, skirt - DKNY    

 

Jeans – Rag & Bone, cardigan – Mint Velvet, tee – Karl Marc, skirt – J. Crew    

 

Flowered tee – Minuet, Pink tee – Mango, white sweater – 360 Sweater, striped top – Viyella    

 

Scarf – Tiffany, shoes – Amalfi by Rangoni, fabric bag – Vera Bradley, bracelet – ... View the Post

A Four by four Capsule Wardrobe: in camel and grey

Every day, I get a request for capsule wardrobes in camel and grey - I hasten to satisfy!And please note, I'm NOT suggesting that your entire wardrobe should be 12 garments. (unless that's what is best for you, in which case I support your choice completely!)  This is a plan for wardrobe coordinating, and updating.  The number of these "pods" you choose to have is entirely up to you...

Also, if you're not fond of wearing classic styles, or if you're looking for garments for warmer (or cooler) weather, just substitute similar garments that please you more for the ones which I have chosen.  These guidelines are intended to be just that - guidelines - and not a specific prescription for what you should ... View the Post

A Four by four Capsule Wardrobe: Bonus in navy and grey

Someone earlier mentioned using this idea with navy and grey, with less conservative styles - and I was in the middle of that exact capsule wardrobe project!  Here it is...

Navy pants and tops – J. Crew, navy mini – A.P.C.  

Grey layered tee shirt – Romwe, Grey jacket and skirt – Vivienne Westwood,

 jeans – 7 for all Mankind  

Print silk blouse – Otte, Striped long-sleeved tee – Muji, tee shirt with printed cuffs –

 Comme des Garcons, hummingbird tee – Jil Sander  

Scarf – Roberto Cavalli, Jewelry – Miriam Salat,  pumps – Stuart Weitzman  

  ... View the Post

Building a Capsule Wardrobe: by Fours

May 14, 2012   People ask me every day how to build a capsule wardrobe.  There are as many different approaches as there are women in the world, but one of my favorite ideas is to work in "pods" of four garments.  Find a color and fabric that really REALLY appeals to you - one that sings to your heart, and either buy or have someone make for your four core garments - two tops and top bottoms.   Seamstresses are going to be very useful friends...   And note, everything in this entire post is from L.L.Bean. I love them, and they've never (yet!) given me a single piece of clothing in exchange for shamelessly promoting them...  

  Immediately, you have four new outfits:

 

But no ... View the Post