The Joy of Slow Styling: How to Build a Beautiful, Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe
Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe: Many women around the world have packed their wardrobes full of clothes and stood in front of them wondering what to wear. The reason for this is because fast fashion has dominated the way we shop for clothes, leading to a culture where trends come and go trends are constantly bombarding us with the latest must have items. The result of this is that even though we have more clothes than ever before in our wardrobes, we feel like we have nothing to wear.
The antidote to this daily decision fatigue isn’t buying more; it is buying better.
The way that you shop for clothes can have a massive impact on your wardrobe and indeed your body. When you approach buying with a more mindful attitude you can end up with a more curated collection of clothes. These can form the basis of a sustainable wardrobe and the first step to slow fashion. When you shop slowly for the better, you can simplify your morning routine, and create outfits that flatter your figure. And more importantly, they can make you feel great in them too.
1. Shift Your Focus to Fabric First
First, take a look at the fabric. Most fast fashion is made of synthetic fibers such as polyester that don’t breathe and are known to trap heat. And the worst part is that they wear out really quickly, so even though they might be cheap at first, you’ll end up having to replace them often. Instead, look for high-quality natural fibers that are made to last. Natural fibers such as organic cotton, mulesing-free wool, and European linen are perfect for making a wardrobe that will last.
When choosing items to add to your wardrobe search for items made from natural fibers that are sustainable and of high quality. Materials such as organic cotton, mulesing-free wool and European linen made from European flax are excellent choices. Natural fibers add texture and depth to any outfit, allow for airflow and are comfortable against the skin. In particular high quality pure linen gets softer with every wash.
2. Invest in the Multi-Tasking Dress
One of the core tenets of a functional capsule wardrobe is that each piece of clothing should be able to be mixed and matched freely in order to create as many outfits as possible. Therefore, finding a single, amazing dress to use as the cornerstone of your wardrobe is one of the smartest wardrobe decisions you can make. Look for a relaxed cut with clean lines and functional details, like side pockets. A dressy linen midi dress is a great example of a wardrobe workhorse. You can pair it with sandals and a canvas bag for a casual weekend out, or add a blazer and some loafers for work.
Go for a relaxed style with clean lines, like a dress with side pockets. A simple Shift Dress or a Smock Dress is perfect for every occasion dressing. Wear it with flat sandals and a canvas tote for a casual weekend look at the farmer’s market, and then dress it up with a structured blazer and loafers for work. Really versatile linen dresses are wardrobe workhorses and will bring effortless style to your every day look.
3. Leverage the Power of Co-Ords
Co-ords: the Stylist’s Secret Weapon. The two-piece set is essentially the same as wearing a jumpsuit or dress but can be styled up and down to create so many more outfits than just one dress.
You can create so many outfits with a co-ord. We like to wear a co-ord as a set to look like a jumpsuit or dress, but we also like to mix-and-match the pieces. For example, we like to wear the top half of a co-ord with a pair of vintage jeans for a more relaxed look. We also like to pair the skirt of a co-ord with a simple white ribbed tank top for a chic look.
4. Opt for Tailored, Relaxed Trousers
While denim will always have a place in our closets, a pair of relaxed, wide-leg trousers offers a softer, more comfortable alternative that still looks incredibly polished.
Draw on the comfort of these pieces and enjoy wearing the softness of earthy tones such as olive, warm sand or classic navy which can also be worn for evening events paired with a silk camisole and statement jewelry. Paired with a silk camisole and some statement jewelry these can make for example be worn for evening events.
5. Practice the “One In, One Out” Philosophy
The idea of having a ‘capsule wardrobe’ is not to restrict yourself to a certain number of items. In fact, having a quality selection of items means that you can be more experimental and creative with your outfits. This brings us on to our final tip: the ‘one in-out’ rule. This means that for every new item that you bring into your wardrobe, one has to go out of it. This means that you will never let your wardrobe become too cluttered and you will always have a good mix of new and old items to wear.
Creating a capsule wardrobe can be to cultivate a wardrobe of high quality clothing that one wears often and with love. By choosing to invest in clothing that is made to last and is respectful to the environment and people who make it, one is expressing their values through their style. By choosing to support independent, dedicated makers such as the slow-fashion brand Sonfre, who only makes small batches of OEKO-TEX certified clothing, you can ensure that your love of fashion does not have to harm the environment. Enjoy getting dressed every morning with the knowledge that you are wearing clothing that you love and that has been made with care.
