Wardrobes That Stand the Test of Time
Fashion trends are consistently coming and going. When the current Berry seniors were born, feathered trim, Tommy Hilfiger Bandeaus and smaller-than-usual sunglasses were wildly popular. Now, bike shorts, bucket hats and oversized denim are all the rage. However, there are some staples that never go out of fashion: wool coats, denim jackets, basic tees and the list goes on.
Combining and reducing your closet down to staple items has been referred to as a ‘Capsule Wardrobe’. This concept comes from Susie Faux who owned a clothing store in London in the 70’s. She knew that by minimizing your closet down to a few always-fashionable pieces, you could make hundreds out outfits without your wardrobe feeling so cluttered. She recognized that women spend far too much money on clothing that usually isn’t right for their body type and pieces that will go out of style in less than a year. She sought out to create a widespread standard for women to make their wardrobe experiences much easier and long lasting.
A capsule wardrobe is perfect if you want to spend less time worrying about what to wear and add more time to your productive day. Not to mention, capsule wardrobes help the environment tremendously. These wardrobes typically consist of a couple pairs of pants (or shorts depending on the season), three basic tops, two basic dresses, three jackets, a coat and five pairs of shoes. Though this is not a hard and fast rule, most capsule wardrobers suggest starting here.
If you decide to create your own capsule wardrobe, expect to spend good money on solid pieces that will last a long time. Freshman Graham Wiesner, owner of an online thrift store, said, “If you’re going to do it, you have to get really nice pieces of clothing. If not, you’re going to be buying that same t-shirt over and over again in the course of a couple weeks which will not help you save anything in the long run.” It may be more expensive on the front end, but it will save you time and energy in the end.
Capsule wardrobes are also extraordinarily helpful for the environment. Each year, millions of dollars’ worth of clothing are thrown into landfills. Susie Faux wanted to offer a more sustainable option in which local designers or ethical resources are supported as opposed to cheaper clothing typically made in sweat shops. Senior Kate Moore, an advocate for environmental consciousness, said “If capsule wardrobes became more of the norm, it would decrease the amount of production of clothing and it would promote better quality of clothing that is made. When you have better quality, you have better practices with production.”
A concern with the capsule wardrobe is that the minimalism in the clothing can lead to taking away some of the wearer’s individuality. However, style can still show through in simple pieces. Graham said, “It depends more on how you wear it and your personality than what you are wearing. Your personality can still shine through as long as you feel comfortable and confident.” Minimalist does not equate to boring.
Though capsule wardrobes are fun and environmentally friendly. While shelling out a lot of money may not seem ideal, in the long run, it will prove itself to be more efficient and cost-effective in only a few short months. Fashion trends may be constantly shifting but that doesn’t mean your closet has to go with it!
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