The wardrobe essentials for every woman

What do you do when you’re stuck in a fashion rut and you aren’t sure how to get out of it? If you’re the type of woman who stands in front of her wardrobe thinking about what to wear then perhaps creating a ‘capsule wardrobe’ is the thing for you!

If you’ve never heard the phrase ‘capsule wardrobe’ before, prepare to be amazed. This is something of a Holy Grail for women; a collection of classic, eternally stylish wardrobe essentials you can count on your fingers and toes. These essential items can be mixed and matched together seamlessly, they will see you through more than one season and you’ll no longer suffer the panic of trying to decide what to wear.

Creating your capsule wardrobe is pretty straightforward if you follow these basic steps.

1. What’s essential?

Capsule wardrobes will save you time. They are efficient. There’s less mess. It helps you be more sustainable (buying fewer pieces instead of wearing fast disposable fashion). The basic premise is simplification. Think of it as a downsizing of your wardrobe (which might make things easier when you have to do that ‘other’ downsize later on). With that in mind, clear out your wardrobe.

Sort everything into one of the following:

• Bin
• Charity
• Keep (only for items you love and wear or intend on wearing at least monthly)
• Mend and vacuum pack (for things you don’t wear regularly but can’t part with just yet

2. Find your staples

This step takes a bit of courage, but what you need to do is pick up to 10 items of staple clothing from your wardrobe and challenge yourself to wear just those pieces for the next seven to 10 days. This will help you understand the limitations of your wardrobe and will allow you to identify where there are gaps. Did someone say ‘shopping’?!

3. Take a long hard look at your underwear

When was the last time you seriously looked at your underwear? Been measured for a bra lately? If you can’t remember or the answer is more than five years ago, it’s time to start again. You want the basics — black, white and flesh-coloured options. You want them to fit properly (no granny panties or saggy breasts for you) and sit comfortably. There are a number of lingerie shops that offer fitting services. Don’t be put off by the youthful advertising at the front door, go in and get yourself measured. Chances are your bra size has changed a little as you’ve got older, so stop wearing the wrong size now.

4. What should I invest in?

Now you’ve cleaned your wardrobe and got your knickers sorted, it’s time to look at the essential items currently missing from your wardrobe. An important note about capsule wardrobes is that you don’t have to be boring. You want to find the styles that match your own taste, your body shape and your colouring, because when you do that you’ll never want to wear anything else! Here are a 10 of the most essential items for a capsule wardrobe:

• A shirt dress (it’ll see you through almost any occasion)
• A wrap dress or skirt (it’s more forgiving than a pencil skirt, but offers a sleeker line than an A-line)
• A blazer (waterfall detailing slims and conceals your problem tummy)
• Classic T-shirts (white shirts are a classic choice that can be dressed up or down) and casual tops
• The perfect pair of jeans
• The perfect Little Black Dress (LBD)
• A well-cut trench coat or jacket (a good quality coat that you can throw over anything is essential)
• Non-frumpy knitwear (you want to be warm and cosy, but you don’t want to look like you’re hibernating)
• A pair of smartish straight or slim leg trousers in black or dark grey
• Wide leg trousers (to lengthen the legs and balance out troublesome hips and thighs. Hourglass and pear-shaped figures will benefit from high-waist, while apple-shaped should opt for hipster fit)

5. Pull your look together

Once you’ve got your capsule wardrobe items sorted, you just need to think about the little extras that will take your look to the next level.

You’ll want to get your hands on a good quality handbag (it doesn’t matter if you prefer totes or satchels, find something you love and be sure to get it in a universal colour). You’ll also need a clutch bag for special occasions (something with a chain handle will mean you won’t be carrying it all night). If you want to add a splash of colour, a vibrant scarf is a subtle way to do so (and silk ones can be tied to the handle of your bag in summer months to mix things up a bit).

When it comes to jewellery, use what you already have unless it clashes completely. No doubt there are some beautiful pieces with great sentiment in your personal collection.

6. What about footwear?

Chances are you probably wear the same one of two pairs of shoes and that’s okay. It’s better to have fewer shoes that you know you’ll wear more regularly than spending money on passing trends. You want practical shoes that provide comfort and style, so consider boots, loafers, trainers and pumps. And consider things like cushioning, grip and climate too! If you need a pair of shoes for a more special occasion, you can’t go past a classic nude heel.