In light of the WSJ article and the items they chose for a capsule wardrobe, I thought I would follow suit with my take. If you’re trying to wean down your wardrobe and eliminate excess, you want to make sure what you keep or want to acquire are pieces that are well-made (so they last, see my last post on buying for longevity), versatile (so key), and are a combination of modern and timeless (like those shown here).
Creating a capsule wardrobe is pretty much the same exercise as writing down your ultimate packing list (which is how I like to begin organizing someone’s closet and wardrobe). I have versions of many of the items on this page, and wear them often and in different ways. Can you live solely on a capsule wardrobe this tightly edited? You could. I am somewhat of a minimalist but not at all that strict. Below are combos of how I would wear the above. It’s a great exercise to do with your own clothing. Think of different ways to pair things together. Also, if you feel like you have a lot of mismatched pieces in your wardrobe that don’t work well together, it might be time to make a list of the core pieces you’re missing and make a plan on how to add them (it can take time). Sure, all the pieces here are designer, but there are also affordable options for each. However, I do not believe in fast fashion. You should always buy less and buy better, whatever your “better” budget may be.
Outfits: Hoops at all times and a bag when needed
- Coat + white shirt + black sweater + jeans + boots
- Coat + brown sweater + black turtleneck + jeans + boots
- Coat + black sweater + sweatpants + sneakers
- Coat + dress + brown sweater + boots
- Dress + slides + black sweater worn as scarf (night at home)
- Blue blouse + jeans + slides
- Black turtleneck + white shirt + jeans + boots (tuck it in and belted or with black sweater as a jacket over all)
- Brown sweater + jeans + sneakers
- Dress + turtleneck (underneath) + boots + coat
Maxmara coat, $2950; Khaite boots, $1460; Richer Poorer sweatpants, $76; Toteme jeans, $280; Khaite dress, $980; Khaite sweater, $1380; Nili Lotan sweater, $950; Toteme slides, $550; Bottega Veneta white shirt, $890; Another Tomorrow blue blouse, $560; Nike sneakers, $90; Chanel bag, $6800; Frances de Lourdes turtleneck, $340; Otiumberg, $195.
Congrats Jennifer on the fantastic column in the Journal and I love this post. Could not agree with you more regarding quality over quantity. However, while I think there is definitely a place for a pricier button down, do you have any suggestions for a more mid-priced version? I love wearing a solid, beautifully made shirt but now that I find myself home (will this ever end!?) with my six year old supervising remote learning I worry about wearing anything too precious. Guidance is so welcome and appreciated! Thank you!
I love the WSJ article and this is one of your best posts. I’d also love to see a more mid-range version (not fast fashion).
Me too, I recently had a discussion with a coworker about how some of our longest worn things have been from Old Navy. Which is below mid range. But I do like to look at the higher end for inspiration.
Beautifully edited post…especially if the world was normal right now.
I’m all over this concept, and will definitely use this as a blueprint for pieces in my own price range 😉 The only thing that seems like it’s missing is another pair of pants of some sort. Love the rest of it!
I think you need to add a jacket or blazer. those of us who live in milder climates would rarely wear a long coat.
100%!
I too love this post. And I am all for buying either the best quality one can afford and/or recycled fashion.
And I know I am a broken record on this matter, but I just so very suspicious of a brand that sells a sweater for 1400.00 and the place of origin is listed as “imported.” Khaite is the supposedly the opposite of fast fashion, but for their exceedingly high price point I expect to know the country of origin (and I expect it not to be China unless they are very specific about how the garment is manufactured–such information is no where to be found on the Khaite website.)
Who is being paid such high wages to make such a precious sweater and justify the price-point? I would like to know that…
Very valid question, Dana.
I have a similar question to Dana’s. Why is price any guarantee of longevity? I’ve bought Nili Lotan cashmere sweaters that pill as much as J.Crew cashmere. So, it’s really a question, how do you know? I know if I bought a new Chanel bag the brand would stand behind the item, but with clothing….how do you really know? Maybe for another post? Longevity of style and the longevity of the actual item.
So true KSL.
The cashmere game is such a crap shoot. I have spent thousands of dollars on cashmere sweaters thinking each one will be “the one”. The one that doesn’t pill after two wears. The one that doesn’t look awful after a month. Sadly very few have come through for me. I have had luck with Vince recently, and it seems Cuyana has a wonderful new single source cashmere that I am curious to try. Would love to see a post on brands that have true longevity, in both style and quality.
I’ve never had a sweater pill so fast than a Cuyana one. They actually took it back and gave me a new one…that did the exact same thing!
The pilling issue is a great point and true of cashmere which is such a gamble these days no matter the price.
I’ve been advised to only buy expensive brands like Magaschoni used (like on real real) or look for vintage. I have heard pre 2000s TSE does not pill. Probably anything pre 2000s is made a bit better as a rule of thumb (less blends better craftsmanship).
Thank you for the info! Pre 2000 TSE is a blast from the past. Wish I kept all my old sweaters!
I have a similar question to KSL: What justifies the high price point of a garment? I’m talking the $1400 sweater vs. the say, $380 version. Both are expensive, but what makes one worth $1,000 more? I’ve actually wondered this for a long time. Thanks, Jennifer!