According to fashion law every truly stylish woman should have a capsule wardrobe. So, if you're wondering what a capsule wardrobe is, and whether or not you accidentally own one - it's a timeless collection of clothing that you can rely on to take you anywhere.
'A capsule wardrobe ensures you walk out the door looking your best,' says Tess Giberson, Design Director of TSE (the New York based cashmere company) 'Its main purpose is to eliminate the last minute, panic driven sentence: I've got nothing to wear!'
The hit list for your key fashion items is as follows (you probably own some of these already)
- Little black dress (LBD)
- Classic trench coat
- Crisp white shirt
- Tailored jacket
- Flatter-your-bum black trousers
- Luxurious cashmere sweater
- Gorgeous leather handbag
- The perfect jeans
- A knee-length skirt
- Perennial shoes
Of course, there are other things you could add to the list – t-shirts, driving shoes, underwear, fashion accessories - but with these 10 timeless basics in your closet, you'll never have another style dilemma. OK, so you might have to update things from time to time – swap a wrap dress for a shift, replace skinny jeans with boot-cut - but a capsule wardrobe of reliable basic fashion items will help simplify your life.
If you feel a frump alert coming on, don't panic. Being stylish is about developing your own look based on what suits your body shape, then adding carefully chosen fashion items – a ruffle shirt, some chunky beads, a super-sized tote bag – to update an outfit.
Three golden rules for fashion
Being stylish is about developing your own look based on what suits your shape
See them as an investment, they form the backbone of your wardrobe and are worth splashing out on. As for the fashion items – don't go overboard, you'll probably throw them away at the end of the season.
Accessorise
Owning a capsule wardrobe doesn't mean you have to look like you work in a bank, a simple outfit can be transformed with the latest fashion accessory - try a belt, vintage necklace or scarf.
Choose neutral colours
Black, camel, white, navy – neutrals look classy, are versatile and easy to coordinate. Just think of the ageless colours seen on the Armani catwalk season after season, and you'll get the picture.
For fashion advice: check out the latest looks
Need help putting together a capsule wardrobe? Check out Alyson's top 10 fashion picks of the season for a collection of timeless pieces that will last you year after year.
