The Perfect Capsule Wardrobe
Published July 2007
 Do you open your wardrobe and think to yourself – I never have anything to wear... and is your wardrobe so cluttered that you don’t even know where to start?
Sadly summer will soon be on its way out so it’s the perfect time to de-clutter your wardrobe. A few hours spent sifting through your fashion mistakes and clothes that you never wear will save you hours every morning. And, with a little help fromTopStylista  it needn’t be such a daunting task. So start building a capsule wardrobe in time for the Autumn season.
The capsule concept
We’re all guilty of having far too many clothes lurking in our wardrobes and only ever wearing a handful of them. Instead, take the attitude 'less quantity more quality'.
The capsule wardrobe concept is simple and you should continue to be build on it season after season with good quality basics such as trousers, skirts, jackets, jeans, bags and shoes (stick to neutral colours and they’re less likely to date, and you’ll be able to match them to an array of fun accessories).
These pieces are worth paying more money for because they should form the crux of your wardrobe. If the idea of spending £300 on a great pair of jeans fills you with fear then just break it down into the cost per wear and they’ll soon seem good value.
The idea is then to build on these items. Your aim should be to create a personal style whilst being truthful about what items really flatter your natural body shape - if you don’t find them on day one or they are less than perfect then be patient, ruthless and do not buy. A capsule wardrobe takes time. Once you have this concept sussed, then it’s an easy ride.
Out with the old and in with the new
Ok, so you now know what you have to do but how do you actually achieve it? The first chore is to de-clutter your wardrobe. Be ruthless as it’s the only way forward. Have a bin liner to the ready and if you haven't worn it during the last two years (max!) then chuck it. It’s an exciting feeling and you will feel liberated - you know what they say, 'clear wardrobe, clear mind'.
Once this job is done you can start to identify the gaps. Make a list and get ready for the fun bit...
Shopping, shopping and more shopping! Remember the mistakes that you have just binned, why they didn’t work for you and be disciplined. Start in stores that offer several brands (such as Net A Porter and Matches ) so you’ve got lots of different cuts to choose from and so you’re not pigeon holed into going for one particular style.
From then on it’s down to you - just be true to yourself when it comes to what really suits you. Buying online is a good idea because it forces you to try your choices on at home (as opposed to infront of one of those skinny mirrors!) and see if they work with the rest of your wardrobe. If they don’t, send them back and try again. A capsule wardrobe should work across the board.
Good luck, get de-cluttering and have fabulous shopping!
By Chantelle Znideric, Personal Stylist at TopStylista . To book your wardrobe styling session please contact Chantelle for further details.
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