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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

Capsule Wardrobe Project 333: Redefining Normal

In the mid-1990s, the average American bought 29 items of clothing a year.  Today, we buy 59 items.  We also throw away an average of 83 pounds of textiles per person, mostly discarded apparel, each year. - From Mother Jones.I've discovered that wearing 33 garments, well-chosen, is plenty.  Abundant.  An embarrassment of choices.  Going too far beyond this level is, for me, to spend money on clothes that I could be spending on... a trip to Paris?  Our retirement home?  Better-quality garments, made in countries that take care of their workers?  

 

 

 

 

 

Here are just some of the combinations I've discovered.  This isn't exhaustive.  I've ... 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

Packing out of the 333 Capsule Wardrobe

June 11, 2012  

For the next few days, I'll be running around the eastern US, and so I got to pull together a quick suitcase out of my new 333.  (for those of you unfamiliar with Project 333, start here). My priorities for this trip are small, light and uncomplicated.  I'm going to be travelling with others, so I wanted the world's smallest piece of luggage, and I wanted to be able to be appropriately, but simply dressed.  My bag is an 18 inch nylon duffle, and it is NOT full...  In fact, my briefcase and my luggage are about the same size!

After you've read the REAL Project 333, you'll see that I'm really cheating by not including my accessories in the "count".  Maybe the NEXT 3 months, I'll ... View the Post

New jobs, the shopping fast, and Capsule Wardrobe Project 333

So the new work environment is "business casual", with jeans on Friday.  Piece of cake...In honor of the Project 333 crew, but NOT in strict adherence with their guidelines, I've whittled down my wardrobe to the following 33 garments, which will be all that I wear for the months of June, July, and August.

Unlike Project 333, I'm going completely, wildly unlimited with accessories...

Outfit updates will follow!

 

 

 

  ... 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

A dilemma, and a wardrobe math solution

So I've not done the best of jobs in cleaning out my wardrobe, and I think I finally understand what's holding me back.  Somewhere in my heart I hold onto the hope (delusion?) that I'm going to get an office job again some day, and that I therefore won't be wearing an apron non-stop.  Therefore, I think I have to hold onto ALL of my office-worthy business clothes...In order to get past this, I've tried to approach the problem the way Vivienne would.  Basically, what are the available options I have RIGHT NOW, just with the clothes that I've decided to keep in my wardrobe up to this point?

If you remember, I'm at the 32 garment point in my plan:

 

  And from these garments I've decided that the following, ... View the Post