GIVE YOUR CLOSET A SPRING CLEAN AND TRY THE CAPSULE WARDROBE APPROACH

Flustered by too much choice? Frustrated by wasting ages in the mornings deciding what to wear? Then maybe it’s time to create a capsule wardrobe that will set you on the road to stress-free dressing.

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Fashion is such a contrary diva: always evolving and enticing her followers to buy in to the latest trends and push the boundaries of individuality, while at the same time cautioning us to adhere to fail-safe dress codes and style commandments. It can all become a little overwhelming. If this is the case for you, the solution lies in two words: Capsule Wardrobe.

Fashion anthropologists point to iconic US designer Donna Karan’s mid-80s Seven Easy Pieces collection as the moment that the idea of the capsule wardrobe became part of the mainstream fashion vocabulary.

The goal of a capsule wardrobe is to create a selection of clothing, shoes and accessories that can be mixed and matched on a daily basis, with every item being something that you love and wear regularly. Getting rid of those ‘just-in-case’ items can be an unexpectedly emotional affair. But the payoff of simplifying your life, gaining more time and saving money by foregoing impulse buys is nothing short of a revelation!

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Building your capsule
Whether you are aiming to start a capsule wardrobe with a seasonal flavour or embarking on a more minimalist approach to life in general, our simple style-savvy guidelines will help kickstart your fashion closet revolution.

1. First, a clear-out
Streamlining your wardrobe doesn’t have to be too distressing. Pare down rather than purge. It helps to think of yourself as a fashion editor working on a ‘Three-of-the-best’ type feature – the best denims, tees, sneakers, trousers, blazers, sweaters etc. are the ones that stay. Use your lifestyle and personal style as a gauge – if your look is utility chic and you last wore a skirt in play school, lose those pieces!



Next, get rid of anything tatty or threadbare, as well as those ‘wishful thinking’ items – jeans that no longer fit, jackets you’re out of love with but that cost the earth, dresses that are pretty but dated... Donate them to a charity shop or women’s home, or make some cash on the second-hand market. And anything else that’s hard to part with (a wedding dress, razzle- dazzle shoes that only see the light of day at New Year’s or that bed- spread-sized shawl you bought in Spain) – stow in boxes or bags.

2. Be creative
Approach your wardrobe with artist’s eye. When purging, it’s helpful to reduce your colour palette to classic basics: white, black, navy, earthy tones and olive/khaki. Add a few of your favourite colours, and bring in pattern and print according to your taste, as well as detailing such as beading, sequins and embroidery, and/or fleecy, velvety, furry, lacy and leathery textures.

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3. Easy does it
Buy outfits that will last, and avoid impulse buys. If you’re really coveting an item or need it for a specific occasion, bring it home, but toss an older piece to make room for it. Or update and streamline your wardrobe each season. Fashion does change, and your wardrobe will need updating. Just be mindful of your purchases, and your closet will work for you season after season.