In pursuit of the Capsule Wardrobe.

I think about fashion all the time, yet I'm really having trouble getting back here often to write about it.  And the blog's visual format, i.e., the Blogger template, is still bothering me.  But since I can't write HTML and do it myself, I guess I should just get over it, right?

I'll try now to start writing about some of the major issues that I think about a lot.  The first is this one:  CAPSULE WARDROBES.

What, in other words, is essential?  What do you have to have to survive?  For me, traveling -- and traveling light -- helps me analyze this issue.

Here's Tim Gunn's advice.

Here's an article from Real Simple magazine.

Helpful advice, to which I will partially subscribe.  But my own personal essential list is slightly different.  And my sudden cravings for novelty or wanting to be dressed appropriately for any adventure that might have come my way often derail my best-laid plans for owning only an essential wardrobe.

For me, a capsule wardrobe is this:
1.  A skirt suit:  black or graphite grey, with a long jacket and nipped-in waist and a just-to-the-knee pencil skirt with a back vent.  Because that skirt can do double-duty.
2.  A little black skirt:  again, pencil, probably ponte knit, with a back vent.  Even more than a little black dress, I depend on this as a wardrobe staple.  I like this one a little above the knees.
3.  A white blouse:  probably Anne Fontaine, if it's not one of her tricky designs.  And since I won't iron, her knit open-work lace blouses are favorites of mine.  At the very least, a wrinkle-free long sleeved button-front classic white shirt is essential for me.
4.  A black racer-back tank top.  American Apparel does my absolute favorite one.  While we're at it, I guess I should just cop to the fact that a dark grey one and a white one are also essential for me.  I actually even wear them under suits at work. 
5.  Black wide-ish leg trousers.  I like seasonless crepe.
6.  Dark, dark wash Levis.
7.  White v-neck short sleeve tshirt.  I like J. Crew.
8.  Black v-neck long sleeve tshirt.  I like J. Crew's tissue t.  Paired with black skirt, I've got a long sleeved little black dress.
9.  Cardigan sweater.  I like merino, not cashmere; more durable.  I tend toward leopard print or black.
10.  Instead of the trench everyone recommends, I like a black leather jacket.  An edgy one, with zippers.  But close to the body in cut.  BLJ works over everything, just like a trench!
11.  Some kind of track suit or sweats/matching hoody combination.  And a pair of matching shorts.  I like black or grey with old-school stripes down the sides.  I work out in these, lounge in these, go to the grocery store in these.
12. A slinky, flowy halter dress.  My black halter dress is probably the most versatile garment I own.  I can dance tango in it, go to the symphony in it, go to dinner in it.  Throw a cardigan or leather jacket over it and it looks like a completely different skirt.
13.  A bikini. I wear the top as a bra sometimes, especially if I'm traveling.
14.  Knee-length khaki cargo shorts.  Works for nearly any outdoor adventure.  Mine are lightweight and quick drying.
15.  A crazy patterned, wildly colorful skirt.  I love Desigual for these.  They can be paired with tshirts and racerbacks.  These are sometimes the color "fix" I need in my mostly black and grey minimalist wardrobe to make me feel happy.
16.  Crazy sexy black high-heeled booties.  Yes, I wear them with suits, skirts, pants and jeans.
17.  Crazy sexy outrageous high-heeled sandals.  I will even wear them with tights in winter.
18.  Running shoes, coordinating somehow with the tracksuit.
19.  A medium width belt. I tend toward subtly studded, metallic, patent leather or leopard -- but not too over-the-top. 
20.  A kimono or tank dress or cotton chemise -- something that doubles as a robe, beach cover-up and loungewear.

And, if I could throw in just one more thing:  a patterned v-neck jersey wrap dress.

It's the many simple, short jersey dresses I own that are the main contributors to my packed closet.  They are so versatile, and a print or color I don't own can seduce me if I'm not vigilant about keeping up my guard.

I'm sure my capsule wardrobe is not classic.  Seems to me what's key is versatility of the pieces while also carefully considering one's lifestyle.  If I didn't work, my choices would likely be different.  But a blazer is something that doesn't work for me; a light leather jacket, to my taste, is a better option.