Capsule wardrobes have long been touted as the cure to all wardrobe ills. The minimalist fashion savior for the complex puzzle that is getting dressed.

Simplify your life with a capsule wardrobe! 

Buy a capsule wardrobe once and you never need to buy clothes again! 

But what is a capsule wardrobe really? 

First, a little history lesson 

In 1985, Donna Karan launched a collection called “Seven Easy Pieces.” This collection consisted of a bodysuit, skirt, tailored jacket, dress, something leather, a white shirt, and a cashmere sweater. The idea was that these pieces gave you endless outfit options for work and for going out after work. The original “desk to drinks” concept. 

Donna Karan’s Seven Easy Pieces

Ok, so what is a capsule wardrobe?

Whether it’s 7 pieces from Donna Karan or 40 pieces dictated by a PDF you bought from Etsy, the definition is the same.

Put simply, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of clothing that allows you to create a variety of different outfits. Oftentimes there is an emphasis on a smaller amount of items but there’s no set number.

So, let’s think about this. 

Individual pieces that you combine to make different outfits.

Reusing the same pieces in different ways to make even more outfits.

Each piece you add fits in with the rest and helps you make even more outfits.

Isn’t that…just…a wardrobe?

Whether it’s 25 pieces or 500 pieces, when used correctly, every wardrobe is a capsule wardrobe. 

Unless you’re Barbie, living in Barbie’s Dream House with Barbie’s Dream Closet where each outfit is fixed (usually made by Chanel) and they don’t mix together. And if you are, Hi Barbie! Have a perfect day!

Barbie’s Non-Capsule Closet

So what does this mean? 

Sadly, there is no easy fix for getting dressed like all of that capsule wardrobe propaganda has told you.

Also, have you ever really looked at these specifically defined capsule wardrobe formulas?

Work Capsule, featuring only 3 colors

They don’t work for everything and they definitely don’t work for everyone.

The standard capsule wardrobe formulas don’t take into account formal occasions, swimwear, loungewear, undergarments, body types, color palettes, etc. 

Also, they’re B-O-R-I-N-G!

The capsule wardrobe evangelists know this too. They’ve started making more specific ones, which in my opinion, prove how unhelpful they are! At that point, it’s just one section of a wardrobe or a seasonal shopping list. Or maybe even a packing list for some sort of weird themed vacation?

If you need multiple small capsule wardrobes…isn’t that just one functional wardrobe?

Dark Academia Winter Capsule….how many people even want this?

But here’s the good news. 

You don’t need to limit the number of items you have to have a functional wardrobe that’s easy to use. If you are thoughtful about what you put in your wardrobe (or hire me to do it), it will be easy to get dressed no matter how many pieces you own.

Stick with me here and on Instagram for more ways to do this right.

Cleaning out closets is one of my favorite things to do. Not within the confines of my work, but in life. Yes, I realize this is not normal. Most people, including many stylists, dread this process. The mess, the dust, the decisions, the feelings. It can be a lot. 

Sorry to be the one to have to tell you this but no matter how you feel about the process, a closet clean out is the foundation of every successful wardrobe transformation. In order to make meaningful change, you have to start with your existing wardrobe. 

But I don’t wannnnna, why is it important?

As any management consultant or corporate strategist will tell you – in order to solve a problem, you have to have all the facts. What is the current state of the situation? How did we get here? What are the barriers to success? What has been tried before? What would an effective solution look like? A closet clean out answers all of these questions and many more. 

Ok, but how will it make me happier?

The higher percentage of items in your closet that you love – the better you feel about your wardrobe as a whole, the easier it will be to get dressed and the better you will feel in your clothes.

Think about it. 

Let's say you have 100 items in your wardrobe. You love 30 of them but your feelings on the other 70 range meh to eww. When you open those closet doors, you won’t like most of what you see. You’ll feel like you have nothing to wear. You’ll be annoyed every time you get dressed. Getting dressed will be another seemingly impossible task on your to do list. You won’t feel good when you wear the majority of your clothes. That means you won’t feel good the majority of the time.

Now imagine a closet with 50 things that you love. Every time you open those closet doors, you are excited about all the options you have. Getting dressed is easy and fun! Every outfit you wear makes you feel good and every item fits.

An edited, thoughtful wardrobe removes the stressor of “What am I going to wear?” and adds the beauty and ease of feeling amazing in the body you have, every day.

Now that we get why, let’s talk about how.

3 Concepts

Fit is (Somewhat) Subjective.

Our bodies, and our feelings about them, are all unique, therefore fit is a complex issue. Determining what fits depends on so many factors – weight fluctuation, body image, lifestyle changes (ex: having a baby, running a marathon, etc). I tailor my approach very specifically to each client based on all of this and more.

That said, a good rule of thumb that will work for many people is to only keep things that are likely to fit you in the next year. This rule only works if you’re completely honest and realistic with yourself about what that means.

Feelings Matter.

A thorough closet clean out will open up conversations not just about the clothes themselves but how they make you feel. That is where the real work happens. Clothes are a vehicle for accessing how we feel about ourselves. Clothes that make you feel like the person you are (or are aspiring to be) make you feel powerful, confident and strong. Clothes that remind you of an old you (whether you miss her or are glad she’s gone) make you feel icky, confused and weird. Through the process of a closet clean out, you’ll figure out what clothes make you feel what feelings, and therefore whether they need to stay or go.

The Easy Part.

Not all of it is that deep, I promise. In every single closet clean out I’ve done, there’s a moment, usually about 2 hours in, where the client picks something up, makes a disgusted face and says something like “I hate this, why is it still here?” Some of the work is just deciding if you like things or not. That part is easy. You know what you like. Go with your gut.

3 Tactics 

Enlist help. Whether you enlist a professional (like me) or a friend, you need someone else to keep you honest – no one can do a closet clean out alone. Your feelings and excuses are what lead to needing a clean out in the first place. Someone who doesn’t remember the fun day they had in that dress or how much that top originally cost will keep you clear-headed and accountable. Even professionals need help – I can only get truly ruthless on my own closet when I have help.

Set a goal. It doesn’t have to be complex or deep. Every item should be kept or discarded as it relates to the goal. It can be as simple as: 

• Everything in my closet comfortably fits my body.

• Nothing I own makes me say “meh.”

• Eliminate all fabrics that don’t physically feel good on my body.

Remove sentimental items. The dress you wore on your first date with your partner, that tube top you wore every weekend in your 20s, your high school club tee shirts – these are important memories. It’s understandable that you want to keep them and you should! (People are always surprised I let them keep this category.) BUT! They shouldn’t be in your closet if you’re not wearing them. Find a new home for them. They should live with your old photos, cards, childhood toys, etc. because they are not clothes anymore, they are sentimental items now.

I hope this wisdom and guidance makes the process of a closet clean out feel less scary. Now grab a pal and some trash bags and make it happen!

Want a little more? DM me to be added to my email list and I’ll send you my Closet Clean Out Guide as a freebie.

Need serious help? Book me!

People who create content about fashion (myself included) use the term “Effortless” as if it is a thing to aspire to. 

9 Effortless Ways to Style Your Blazers This Spring - Vogue

16 Best Button-Down Shirts for Women to Master Effortless Dressing - Glamour

The 26 Best Crossbody Bags for Effortless Accessorizing - Harper’s Bazaar

Search Instagram or YouTube and you will find seemingly endless results for outfit ideas and how to’s.

But what’s all the fuss about looking Effortless really about? Is it something we should be aspiring to? And what does it even mean to look Effortless?

Ok, let’s take these one at a time.

What’s all the fuss about looking Effortless really about?

There are many ways to answer this question, but here’s my hot take.

Women live in a world of impossible dualities. (Bet you didn’t see that coming, huh?)

• Have a body that meets the current beauty standards but don’t admit how much time you spend on your diet, exercise or skincare because it’s vain and embarrassing.

• Work hard and climb the corporate ladder but don’t be too assertive or confident because everyone will call you a bitch.

• Don’t age but don’t talk about your plastic surgery or get too much because it’s vain and embarrassing.

• Project manage everything around you or it will all fall apart but don’t be too controlling.

The concept of Effortless dressing is just another one of these. You should look beautiful and put together at all times but it can’t seem like you tried hard because that’s vain and embarrassing. 

Is it something we should be aspiring to?

I say hell no!

The dirty secret is that a lot of people who look Effortless, actually put a lot of effort into achieving that look. Especially if they’re doing it for social media or any kind of publicity.

My question is – what’s wrong with putting effort into how you look? 

I spend a lot of time thinking about what to wear, how to put things together, what to buy, etc. Ok, yes, it’s my job, but I’ve always been like this. 

I think it’s cool to work hard on something and be proud of it. 

Do you need to tell every person you meet about how many pages of Google Shopping you scrolled to find the exact right black tank with the perfect square, but still a little round, neckline? Probably not.

But when someone compliments you on how perfectly that tank goes with your necklace, instead of saying “Oh yeah, I just threw it on” what if you said something like “It took some digging to find the perfect one but I think it was worth it!” Or, just spitballing here, what about a good, old-fashioned “Thank you!” instead of diminishing yourself and your hard work.

Discounting the work that goes into looking great is just another way to minimize ourselves. Let’s not do that. 

What does it even mean to look Effortless?

I recently spent an afternoon having a leisurely lunch and people watching with Mr. Wardrobe Editor and this topic came up. He asked me to explain how the fashion world uses the word Effortless. While I could not define it, I could very easily point out which passersby were, and were not, exuding Effortless style. After about an hour of this, I still couldn’t land on a definition but I was able to make a (non-exhaustive) list of things that constitute Effortless and those that, in my opinion, do not.

Effortless

• Head to toe neutrals of varying shades

• One piece in your outfit that doesn’t go with anything else

• Baggy and/or distressed denim

• Slightly worn in shoes and bags

• Anything slightly oversized, untied, unbuckled or hanging off

• No visible logos

• A loose ponytail or low bun with uneven wisps framing the face

• Baseball hats and beanies

Not Effortless 

• Outfits comprised of only two or three colors, including the accessories

• Clothes and accessories that all look brand new

• Perfect bows – in hair, on clothes, in shoelaces, etc

• More than one brand logo, bonus points for multiple logos of the same brand

• Slicked back hair, perfect ponytail or top knot

• Fedoras, cowboy hats, large brimmed sun hats, berets

Do you see what I’m getting at?

Effortless is a little messy, not perfectly coordinated, worn in but still looking great. It’s “I woke up like this” and “Oh, this ole thing?” energy.

Not Effortless is matching, polished clothing choices that feel intentional. It ranges from “I put some thought into my outfit” to “I meticulously thought about every detail of every item I’m wearing.” The latter usually applies to special event looks and celebrities, though I did once see a woman at a Thierry Mugler exhibit at Brooklyn Museum whose outfit was the epitome of this and she looked AMAZING. I’ll never forget her.

Some visual examples:

Effortless

Strap just slightly hanging off, yellow shoes that seem random but somehow also work.

Jacket half off, bra showing, necklaces akimbo, sleeves too long, random yellow socks…and yet, it works.

Athletic shoes paired with a fancy outfit shouldn’t work, but it does.

Not Effortless

Khaki, black and gold – everywhere you look.

Pink, black and gold from head to toe.

Black and white, perfect ponytail, flawlessly applied makeup.

So how should we think about Effortless dressing?

While it would be nice to be able to roll out of bed, throw on whatever you see and look great – that’s not realistic. Not everything you own goes together, nor should it. A wardrobe should represent the different versions that exist within each of us. 

Some days you may want to be a glamazon, rock a power suit or feel super polished when you’re trying to impress someone you’re intimidated by. Other days, a more thrown-together look with one or two fun details could make you the person other people are intimidated by. (Even though I’m sure you’re perfectly lovely.)

Each of the examples above and all of the fabulous women I see in NYC look great. 

The issue for me is really about the term and not the style itself. As I ranted above, the term Effortless implies that it’s important to look good without trying and that’s something no one can achieve on a regular basis. 

But the styles that encompass what this term has come to represent? 

A loose bun, low slung jeans and a perfectly rumpled yet chic button down? *Chef’s Kiss*

An outfit consisting of khaki, denim and olive green with a lightly worn handbag and unbuckled boots? Yes, please.

The style itself can be a part of anyone’s fashion arsenal.

It’s time to coin a new term for Effortless. Worn In Chic? Messy Modern? Intentional Sloppy?

I’ll keep noodling on this.

While I do that, next time you see someone who embodies Effortless style – ask yourself, is her button down unevenly front tucked just so by accident or did she watch 3 tutorials before she left the house? 

And regardless of which is true, should we care? (I say, no!)