Most people have probably heard of the term ‘capsule wardrobe’ by now – a way of buying and keeping clothing designed to make sure you maximise usage your wardrobe. Having basics and items of clothing versatile enough that you can style them in different way, for different occasions. It’s a great way to incorporate sustainability into your fashion.
In an era of fast fashion and trends that come and go, working hand in hand to try and get you to conform to a way of dressing that can change on a whim, having a capsule wardrobe is essential in cultivating your own personal style as a way to resist ‘trendy’ styles and pieces while also reducing waste. If you feel comfortable enough in your own style of dressing, and confident enough that what you have is what you need then its unlikely that you would want to aimlessly follow in the waves of trends.
We see this all the time – skinny jeans going of style in favor of baggier jeans, the ‘white girl’ fall aesthetic (you can picture exactly what I mean without having to say anything else), the whole concept of a ‘summer bod’ to give you an excuse to buy new bathing suits even though you have a collection at home.
All of these trends are excuses people find to buy clothes, and for brands to hone their marketing to encourage people to buy clothes or accessories that won’t stand the test of time – not just because of their quality, but because they are intentionally designed to eventually go out of fashion so you come back for more.
Having a capsule wardrobe doesn’t necessitate never buying fun items of clothing that might catch your eye, but it is a way to make you reflect on whether or not you see yourself ever actually wearing it, let alone over and over again. It’s a way to make you more creative with what you have. Clothes can be styled in a multitude of different ways – wanting to style yourself differently can be achieved with items you already have.
Owning your clothing is so important. One of the reasons I want to learn how to sew, even just the most basic skills, is so that I can buy fun second-hand clothing without necessarily worrying that it’ll fit me straight from the store or is necessarily something of my own personal style. Because, the more we are able to make our clothing our own through personalisations (like adjusting size, or even alterations like distressing fabric/ dyeing things a different color etc.) makes it more likely that we’d hold onto them.
If being more sustainable is a personal goal for you, I highly encourage building a capsule wardrobe. By building I mean going through what you already have and maybe donating things you find yourself never wearing. Or, reflecting on why you don’t wear it and try styling/ adjusting it in a way that will make the item more appealing. Next time you travel, for whatever reason, see what you can do with bringing outfits with repeatable items (saves massively on space and weight in airplanes!). Knowing what you like or dislike in clothing is a huge help when picking out items for yourself that you want but might not wear regularly exactly. For example, I know that when I do wear skirts, I prefer long patterned ones so I only have one in my wardrobe because there’s no point in collecting them!!
Brands and trends will always make you want to feel like you’re outside of something if you do not engage in the ever changing tides of fast fashion but I promise, your own style is enough.
