A New Approach to My Capsule Wardrobe in 2020
We’ve all made our resolutions for the new year, or resolved not to make any, but have you considered any wardrobe-related resolutions yet? This winter marks the first full rotation of my capsule wardrobe, which I started last winter. I learned a lot in that year, with varying degrees of success through the seasons. Here’s how I’m planning to approach my capsule wardrobe differently this year.
Thrifting with Discretion
This year I’m resolving to shop thrift stores for more pieces for my capsule wardrobe, like this silk blazer. I first started my capsule because I was tired of having a lot of clothes that didn’t fit properly or didn’t work together and none of the staple pieces I needed. I also had something of an aversion to thrifting because I approached it the same way I shopped fast fashion, buying things I would tire of quickly or that wouldn’t hold up long term. Now that the capsule wardrobe has given me a clearer sense of my personal style, I can be more discerning while shopping, whether that’s new or secondhand.
Note to Self: An impulse buy is still an impulse buy even if it’s thrifted.
The Thrill of the Hunt
Hands down, two of my favorite purchases of 2019 were both from online scondhand retailers: this lovely Topshop wrap coat from ThredUP and my beloved plaid trench (also Topshop) from Poshmark. The thing is, trends fly in and out of the shops so quickly that you’re likely to miss them the first time around if you’re not constantly spending. Nowadays when I spot something new in the shops that I really love, I’m much more inclined to seek out something similar online that’s secondhand. There’s just waaay less guilt involved and it slows down the whole buying process so that I can be really sure it’s what I want. Not to mention, there’s major bragging rights attached.
Note to Self: Refresh Ebay search alerts, not the ‘New In’ page on Asos. Good things come to those who wait.
Scaling Back Some Seasons
One thing that the capsule wardrobe really drove home for me last year is how much more I love autumn/winter than summer. As the temps rose I remember thinking I need to buy more to beef up my summer wardrobe. But the truth is, summer is a weird time because I’m mostly wearing cardigans while freezing in the office A/C. My need (and desire) for floral mini dresses is just very low and that’s perfectly fine. On the other hand, I LOVE buying outerwear so I just need to be mindful of that come Fall.
Note to Self: When your capsule wardrobe works for your lifestyle, any notions of what or how much you “need” for any given season goes out the window.
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Photos by Jade Belmes