002. Wanted. Classic capsule wardrobe, non-beige, non-boring.
A complete guide to building a non-bland classic style.
The ‘capsule wardrobe’ hashtag has received 1.1 billion views on TikTok and is all over Instagram, Youtube, and fashion magazines. The content invariably displays the same set of items (e.g., a white t-shirt, black work pants, and beige trench coat) as if these are the only possible elements of a streamlined wardrobe. Today’s post focuses on tips for building a non-bland classic capsule wardrobe, inspired by several DMs I have received, such as ‘I would say my style is classic, as in bold and elegant, but never boring’, ‘I like classic, but I also like colors and strong shapes’, and ‘I like the idea of a classic capsule wardrobe, but I don’t want to look like everyone else’.
By the end of this newsletter, you will know which design elements to look out for when shopping. You will learn how to identify which other styles influence your wardrobe, whether you lean towards classic minimalism or classic ladylike, for example. I also share a list of people to follow for inspiration, brands to consider for future purchases, and more. Let’s get into it.
1. Add a Twist to Your Classics
I like a winter uniform of jeans and a black turtleneck as much as the next gal. On days I am running errands or working from home, it ticks the boxes for comfort and confidence. However, on the other days, I turn to pieces that do more to express my individuality and creativity. When considering a capsule wardrobe, people tend to focus on ‘key pieces’ but forget about ‘key design elements’. The latter make all the difference between a bland classic wardrobe and an exciting one. The images below show three staples of the classic capsule wardrobe - a denim jacket, a trench coat, and a little black dress - but they are far from bland.
When making new additions to your wardrobe, look out for design elements such as interesting buttons (you can easily DIY this too by purchasing buttons from any fabric store and sewing them onto your existing pieces to make them stand out more), embellishments, embroideries, etc. If you are shopping online, to find pieces like those pictured above, search by keywords like ‘embroidered’, ‘embellished’, ‘asymmetric’, ‘panelled’, ‘layered’, ‘trimmed’, ‘detailed’, ‘fringed’, ‘tiered’, ‘ruffled’, before applying a filter for the category you are shopping for.