Capsule wardrobe has been a popular concept for a number of years. Some see it as a way to drastically reduce their clothing inventory in the spirit of minimalism. Others consider it as a way to save time and hassle in arranging their wardrobe. Still, others see it as an opportunity to redefine their individual style by narrowing down their style influences and focusing on one particular aesthetic. What does the term “capsule wardrobe” actually mean? It’s a term coined in the 1970s to describe key wardrobe items that are timeless and versatile, making them easy to combine with one another and with emerging seasonal trends. Nowadays, the term refers to a small number of items that complement one another and allow for countless outfit ideas.
One of the fundamental requirements for creating a cohesive and well-functioning capsule wardrobe is choosing a specific color palette. Most of the capsule wardrobes I’ve seen consist primarily of neutral colors, as these are the easiest to combine. The combination of black, white, gray, beige, and navy blue is certainly elegant, classic, and timeless. However, for some people, it may prove boring and insufficient.
This post was inspired by a capsule proposed by one of the Polish bloggers which is an attempt to break the stereotype of a subdued and neutral closet. Let’s take it a step further and imagine what such a wardrobe could look like not only with a larger dose of color, but in a palette tailored to its owner’s color type. While adding a single accent color to neutral colors is relatively simple, combining different colors doesn’t always work.
The key to success is understanding the three basic parameters of color: hue, value and chroma. When we combine colors which parameters fall within similar ranges, we achieve a cohesive and harmonious effect that is soothing to the eye and a delight to our aesthetic senses. In other words, the most beautiful color combinations can be achieved by combining, for example, cool, fairly saturated, and moderately dark colors. Adding a warm or muted color to such a combination will create an unpleasant visual clash.
Today’s post begins a series of posts about capsule wardrobes for different color types. First up, a colorful capsule wardrobe for Bright Winter. BW’s color palette is characterized primarily by high color intensity, so all capsule elements for this type will be clean, expressive, and highly pigmented. The undertone is neutral-cool, meaning the colors are quite cold, but with a slight hint of sunny, spring warmth. BW prefers moderately dark contrast, and this is the overall light/dark effect we want to achieve for her.
The above selection of clothing and accessories is perfect for Bright Winter with a Romantic image archetype, also known as the Siren, the Bombshell, or Yin Romantic (yinR). Tapered trousers (especially high-waisted) and circle skirts work well on this body type. Peplum blouses and jackets fall at the hips, as do fitted dresses with a slightly tapered hem. The purple dress would be better if its neckline was U-shaped – a Siren with a larger bust should be careful with this type of draping. The same applies to the necklines of tops, which should be rounded and open, heart-shaped or U-shaped. The white blouse and the black peplum top would therefore be more suitable for Siren if their necklines were cut lower and more open. Furthermore, the black of the peplum top might be a bit too washed out compared to other Bright Winter colors. The jewelry and accessories repeat shapes and scale already present in Siren’s body – delicate, petite, rounded, and soft. Perhaps the black handbag could be a bit more rounded, but its edges are neither sharp nor angular, so it should work with these outfits.
A few sample outfits which can be created within this colorful capsule wardrobe for Bright Winter can be found below.
Contrast is key for Bright Winter. She looks her best in combinations of light and dark colors, with at least one or two bold colors added to neutral clothes (grays, graphite, navy blues, white and black). In most of the above outfit ideas, we have a combination of black with white or silver, plus intense red, green, blue, or purple. Even bold combinations of red with blue or red with green accompanied by neutral accessories look fantastic on Bright Winter. Her beauty simply doesn’t have a chance to fully blossom in styles composed solely of neutral colors.
What do you think of this colorful capsule wardrobe for Bright Winter? I’d love for you to share your thoughts in the comments.
The next post of this series will cover capsule wardrobe for Bright Spring.
