Two months ago, my office switched from remote to on-site working. While others were worrying about commuting and waking up early, I just had one thing on my mind.
What to wear?
Now, don’t get me wrong. I have clothes but my clothes mainly consist of PJ sets and some formal dresses for office monthly events. For grocery runs and lunch dates with friends, I wear some funky T-shirts that are not office-appropriate.
To make matters worse, I didn’t have enough money to splurge on office wear. So, my options were limited but investing in a capsule wardrobe saved me.
After two months of going to the office every day I have been receiving a lot of compliments.
Here is how I did it on my shoestring budget and how you can do it too.
What Is A Capsule Wardrobe?
Capsule wardrobe has its roots in minimalism, the goal is to invest in timeless statement pieces. You can mix and match these statement pieces for a fashion-forward look every day. For a 100 percent customized look, you can pick your theme and build a capsule wardrobe accordingly.
For instance, you can pick an old money theme, corporate chic, or monochrome. For my capsule wardrobe, I wanted a mix of old money and feminine chic. However, the options are endless and there is no wrong answer in capsule wardrobe. The only goal is to avoid being boring and find your own style.
Most people stick to monochromes, filling their wardrobe with just basic blacks and blues. However, it can look like you are wearing the same outfit on repeat. So make sure to pick basic colors, and statement pieces that match your theme.
How I Designed My Capsule Wardrobe on Budget
Selecting a Theme
Theme selection is very important for building a capsule wardrobe. Most people think that a theme will limit their options. However, it helps to stick to the basic options without getting confused.
As mentioned earlier, my theme was old money with some feminine colors. So, while I was picking my trousers, button-downs, and vests, I made sure to play around with pastels and pinks. This helped me avoid making my whole wardrobe black and white – a common mistake committed by women following old money themes.
Building a Board
To mix and match your clothing items, you can buy some basic items, and see how they look together. However, there is one catch – you need to spend some money. In the digital world, you no longer have to buy things because there is a virtual option as well.
Use Pinterest to make an inspiration board. A good Pinterest board will help you build a do’s and don’ts list, so you can only spend money on things you actually like. Moreover, you can get a lot of pre-made inspiration boards from other users to help you select the color combinations without wasting money and time.
Finding My Muse
Picking a muse is one of the simplest yet most underrated ways to customize your capsule wardrobe. Finding a muse will not just help you replicate different outfits, but it will also help you learn the art of layering.
Your muse can be a designer, a model, or just a brand you admire. For instance, I really like Channel because of its formal yet feminine designs. However, I also like the baggy and flowy styles of Uniqlo with a very minimalist yet clean aesthetic. So, I picked a mix of streetwear just like U6niqlo but with a color palette of the Channel with all the pearls and powder pastels.
Shopping the Pieces
Finding the right piece that is aesthetically pleasing yet affordable can be quite a challenge. Most brands selling high-quality items can be very expensive. For instance, if you actually want a durable design that stands the test of time, then something like Channel and Loro Paina will be ideal.
While these brands offer old money aesthetics, they also cost old money price. My favorite way to get good quality at a low price tag is to search for every item from Chinese vendors. Most of these vendors offer high-quality products at a wholesale price. For instance, platforms like Alibaba have search-by-image options that can be ideal for affordable clothes shopping. So, connect to any good Internet near you, and you will be able to get your favorite piece within your budget.
Adding Some Accessories
Adding accessories is one of the best ways to embrace your femininity while wearing your business suits. You can pair up your button-downs with delicate jewelry pieces or layer your chunky chains, the options are endless.
I generally wear two rings, one gold chain, a pair of earrings and a watch. However, on days I have to go out for a meeting or lunch with friends, I like to add some bling with some extra jewelry. A few good and high-quality pieces can easily help you enhance your look without making it tacky.
Top 5 Must-Have Statement Pieces in Your Capsule Wardrobe
Two Formal Trousers
Invest in high-quality black and white trousers. If you are not a fan of white, pick any light color.
Four Button Downs
Get white and black button-downs, along with one powder pink and powder blue cotton shirt.
Two Basic Tank Tops
Stick to the basics and get white and black tank tops.
Two Full Sleeve Basic T-Shirts
Get two high-quality basic full selves crew neck shirts. This is a daily wear piece so make sure to get the best quality.
Two Blazers
Get one black and one skin blazer to turn any outfit into a classy formal wear.
Two Watches
Get one metal and one leather strap watch, this can help you add some dimension to any simple outfit.
Shoes
Get one Formal Loafer, 1 Chunky Shoe, 1 formal Heals, and a pair of Sneakers. This can help you turn your outfit from formal to daily wear and informal in no time.
