What to wear
> A beginner's guide to starting a capsule wardrobe
British boutique owner Susie Faux is credited with the phrase after she used the idea to help women refine their wardrobes to only include high-quality essentials that could be worn interchangeably.
The concept reached peak popularity in 1985 when designer Donna Karan introduced a capsule collection of workwear items called "Seven Easy Pieces" and it has remained a hot topic ever since.
How many pieces should a capsule wardrobe include? The amount of pieces your capsule should include varies, while some recommend as few as 10 others will suggest as many as 50.
Ultimately, the number isn't critical and will vary from person to person. The main thing is to make sure you have all the basics covered with well-made items that fit you properly.
How do you start a capsule wardrobe? While there are no hard and fast rules about how to build a capsule wardrobe, it's safe to say that the best place to start is with a clearout.
Take every single piece of clothing out of your closet and consider the last time you wore it, if it's been more than six months pop it into storage or donate to charity.
Next, you’re going to want to build a base of wardrobe of pieces that transcend trends. These are staple pieces that you should take time to source; make sure they fit properly and are made from the best quality fabrics.
For most women, this will involve some combination of the following: a pair of tailored trousers, denim jeans that look good with heels and flats, a neutral shirt, T-shirts for layering, a little black dress, a trench coat, high heels and a pair of boots.
Of course, it can take some trial and error to find the right mix and this will vary depending on your lifestyle and where you work.
After that, you will need to add a few seasonal pieces depending on the time of year such as good quality knitwear, a warm coat or camisole tops.
Don’t be afraid to introduce new pieces to your capsule but make sure that they work with what you already have.