Have you heard of a capsule wardrobe? If not, start the season right by getting stuck into this guide to find out more about this new sustainable movement in fashion. With the industry accounting for around 10% of global human emissions, it’s time to start making more proactive, sensitive choices.
What is a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe doesn’t arrive complete – it’s up to you to make it work. Knowing how to build one is a skill that stylists across the globe swear by, but it doesn’t take a professional to create one.
In a capsule wardrobe, you’ll find a neutral, stripped-back selection of key items of clothing that can be mixed and matched to make up a great outfit every time.
Curating the perfect capsule wardrobe
Capsule wardrobes work most effectively with a colour scheme. Natural, pale tones contrasting with darker hues work well, but if you’re fond of a splash of colour we recommend adding it with your accessories – not making it part of your outfit.
Bright colours can make clothes harder to coordinate, and you don’t want to have anything in your capsule wardrobe that could clash. Your capsule wardrobe will still need to complement your style, though. Do you prefer formal business dress or more relaxed, casual attire? Make sure all your pieces follow a trend.
Sustainable styling
Recently, attention has turned within fashion to our own problematic behaviours. Impulse buying, return culture and mass clear-outs mean we all contribute to global carbon emissions, mostly from fabrics disposal in landfill.
Simply put, fast fashion is addictive. With mass marketing schemes like Black Friday adding even more pressure to buy, shoppers end up purchasing things they may never need.
So, how can we start to make a difference? Experts suggest that seeing your wardrobe as a permanent collection could help put a pause on impulse buying. Learning how to reuse, repair and upcycle clothes could also give a new lease of life to pieces you thought might end up in the bin.
An eco-friendly capsule wardrobe
If you choose high-quality or designer pieces for your capsule wardrobe, it means you’ll be less likely to want to throw them away. Unlike with cheap, frilly items from high-street stores, it won’t be as easy to justify dropping them at a charity shop ready for your next haul. Just make sure you think about your finances first.
Circularity is the process of textiles being recycled and reused again within the fashion industry. If you responsibly source some great items for your winter capsule wardrobe, you’ll make choosing your outfit in the morning less complicated – and be doing your part for the planet too.
