Capsule Wardrobe How To

Here are the steps on how to build your own capsule wardrobe:

Step 1: Define your style - a "look" that suits your personality which makes you feel comfortable and confident in

Step 2: Identify your fashion needs - do you require a lot of formal office looks, or is your work place more relaxed and casual? What are your fashion needs for your daily activities? Are you an outdoorsy person who requires a lot of casual outfits? Or do you attend a lot of parties and benefits for pleasure and work and need a good collection of party dresses?

Step 3: PURGE your closet of anything that does not fit your style or your fashion needs, and anything that no longer works for you, your body, your image or style. Anything that you haven't worn in at least a year must go!

Step 4: Build your basics:

• 4 sweaters - 2 work worthy and 2 for weekends
• 7 tees which include sort and long sleeves, tanks and turtlenecks
• 4 coats and jackets - 1 elegant coat, 1 sporty outwear jacket, 1 classic trench, and 1 day-to-night jacket
• 2 tops for every skirt and pant
• 4 pants - 2 for office/evening, 2 casual
• 4 skirs - 2 for office/evening, 2 casual
• 1 suit - for every season, that can be worn together or apart
• 5 dresses - 2 for day, 1 cocktail, 1 long formal, and 1 special one
• 4 jeans - 1 slim cut, 1 relaxed fit, 1 ankle length/cropped, l longer pair for wearing with heels

Step 5: Refine your "look" by adding appropriate accessories which include:

• A pairs of boots
• A pair of heels
• A pair of sandals
• A pair of ballerina flats
• 2 belts
• An "every day" bag
• An evening purse
• Unlimited accessories including scarves

Step 6: You can either choose to stop here, or you can use this as the backbone of your wardrobe and start to build, build, build!

The bottom line is, at this point you have defined your style, cleaned out your closet and polished your look. From now on, all you need to do is simply build your wardrobe according to your style and needs. Obviously everyone has a few extraordinary items in their closet for those special occasions - which I totally encourage you to invest in - but try not to stray too far from from your look in order to maintain a refined style.