Capsule Wardrobe

Twiggy – the simple clean 60s look great for androgynous figure types who love to show their legs.

Jeans the staple…

General tips

Capsule Wardrobe

If you think about the job of a fashion designer, part of it is to devise a collection that works together for the brand.  Therefore, all dresses, tops, skirts and trousers are usually interchangeable within each range to encourage the client to stay shopping with the same company showing devoted loyalty.  This is the type of collection that would be produced and this can form your capsule wardrobe if you are clever in your colour and fabric choices.

Given these 12 items you would be able to create 40 outfits with them.  What more does a woman need?

1. One good quality woollen coat, classic in style but perhaps a strong colour, one trenchcoat short or long, classic usually works the best, to use anywhere (or a padded outdoor jacket for more casual wear).
2. Two well fitted superb good quality suits, (or more commonly these days two sets of separates) which work well together jackets trousers/skirts.
3. Two pieces of good quality knitwear a bold coloured cardigan and preferably a loose V-necked merino or cashmere sweater in a simple neutral colour eg: taupe, black, navy or grey.
4. One day dress in black/navy – corporate coloured jersey with sleeves, which can be worn from day through to evening, with flats or heels, not too revealing or covered up or can be worn with your cardigan.
5. One stunning but simple evening dress in a bold colour of your choice if you suit black this is the easiest to wear, if not go for a colour that you suit red, pink, emerald, purple, blue or cream are good bold choices depending upon your colour type. This should fit well and be of sumptuous cloth, preferably lined and working well with one of your coats/jackets.
6. A pair of simple good fitting jeans, which feel ultra comfy and look good with everything else in your wardrobe, pick a good make but ensure comfort and fit comes before brand.
7. One pair of sandals/loafers or ballet pump flats, a pair of heeled leather court shoe/boots a stylish and elegant pair of evening shoes and a pair of boots/hightops.
8. Finally at least 4 tops or shirts in a variety of styles and colours and fabrics to dress up your suits, preferably interchangeable with both suits and jeans. This is where you can add to the selection and ring the changes.

If you start to imagine all of these together in different combinations, I am sure you too could create at least 40 outfits.  I managed 57 varieties with all the different accessories, tops and permutations bearing in mind that all the colours should work together.

Boned- bodice evening wear – Singer Sargent 1884 (Classic chic )

Shopping Mantra

 Remember the ‘Shopping Mantra’ – 6 C’s CHARACTER,  CLOTH,  COLOUR,  CUT,  COST and  CORRECT FIT don’t buy if you have to lie  – to yourself about any one of these. My Shopping Mantra, which has been very useful and saved women lots of money. See the Capsule Wardrobe tip sheet which goes alongside this. Plan your wardrobe, after a wardrobe session keep the list in your purse of what would actually extend the pieces you already have. Don’t go shopping when trying to cheer yourself up. Don’t buy too many disparate prints in clashing colours that need careful matching. Don’t buy too long, big and baggy unless you are very tall. Don’t buy unless it matches your capsule wardrobe basics (personalise this to your colourways). Don’t buy if the cost, cloth, character, colour, cut and size are incorrect for you – it has to be right in every way or it is a waste of money. Don’t buy on a whim, go think about it and then return, you may realise you have a top exactly like it or that you need another colour – or may need something else. DO: Use special events to purchase something you have always wanted and make sure it becomes your beloved well worn staple, rather than just adding to a diverse difficult to match collection. Decide what other hobby/interest makes you feel good as opposed to shopping to cheer yourself up, trying a new hair style or make-up look, hair accessories or a lovely magazine to give you ideas for revamping or reusing or to help you update your look with a few accessories. Write a list of things that make you feel happy and use them as a means of focusing your shopping trips or afternoons off. Eg:- spend some of your usual shopping time meeting for coffee with friends you rarely see. Try to be more creative with the clothes you already have.  Find a good dressmaker to alter previous expensive purchases and update them. DO BUY THOUGHTFULLY AND NOT TOO OFTEN SO THAT YOU DON’T FEEL GUILTY AS THESE ARE THE PURCHASES THAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD.  Remember the ‘Shopping Mantra’ CHARACTER,  CLOTH,  COLOUR,  CUT,  COST and  CORRECT FIT don’t buy if you have to lie  – to yourself about any one of these.    

Lanvin: Master of Bias

An old favourite of mine – would simply love to see this exhibition, I love the way it is described in this little vid.

Lanvin video

http://www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr/en/exhibitions/jeanne-lanvin

Alber Elbaz is very emotional, but whilst describing the dresses the white satin one for me could be worn today totally timeless, classic and elegant chic.

Today the first Paris exhibition devoted to Jeanne Lanvin, founder of the oldest French fashion house still in business, opens at the Palais Galliera. Curated by Olivier Saillard in collaboration with Lanvin creative director Alber Elbaz, the show explores the breadth of Jeanne Lanvin’s artistry as a designer. Style.com’s Tim Blanks had the opportunity to preview the show with Elbaz to discuss the importance of her work, from the house’s iconic mother/daughter logo to Jeanne Lanvin’s final piece—a simple dress with “wings.” Elbaz explains that for years Jeanne Lanvin didn’t get the recognition she deserved because her pieces whispered, they didn’t shout. “But when you go deeper…,” he says. Take a deeper look with Elbaz and Blanks here.

Jeanne Lanvin is on display at the Palais Galliera through August 23.​

Great style blogger

Go see the last straggler – she has a lovely blog which involves a lot of time and effort with stunning examples of unique style, music and art.

I just love her choices       https://thelaststraggler.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/bag-lust-nathalie-trad/

See below Erykah Badu: Queen of style:  Just so unique so colourful so true to her own feelings and ideas, just love when all the character oozes out of the person through their sense of individuality. Also some great blog posts on Nathalie Trad bags – lovely ….  or if she isn’t your cup of tea ( as it were) go more https://mybubblegumblog.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/key-trends-at-new-york-fashion-week/  bubblegum a totally different approach and a great update on New York Fashion Week.

S

New E-Book

This is my new book out on Amazon Kindle just published.

This book has an NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming)

Style chapter encourages you to work with your body shape and

love the body you have – dressing it and treating it in the best possible

way.

Textiles the Art of Mankind

Textiles the Art of Mankind

New Book by Mary Schoeser which features work from ‘Thinking Caps, by Maggi Toner-Edgar.

Raymond Honeyman’s beautiful textiles for Liberty’s of London and  Ehrman tapestries are featured in the book. Toner-Edgar’s work is featured in four separate sections of this phenomenal book.  It is a must for any textile department in Schools and Universities along with the Thinking Caps book where Schoeser has sourced some of her images.

Urban Fashion

Image via Wikipedia

Go and see this great blog if you need to understand how Urban clothing really works http://goodtogoclothing.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/the-urban-fashion-difference/

Their website and blog gives some good sizing advice and a bit of a how to find your  urban style which I like.  See this urban style from New Orleans with Dog and urban chicken. >

http://goodtogoclothing.co.uk/  Got to say it just seems right for men and the men seem to have that laidback urban attitude that really counts, love the hats on these guys I think they look better than the women.  The girls need more urban attitude mixed with style!