How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe

DIY: Build a stylish Capsule Women’s Wardrobe

Dressmakers who study tailoring on the website of Anastasia Korfiati Sewing Schools masterfully acquire dressmaking skills. We invite you to go even further and participate in an interesting experiment: create a capsule collection from models using patterns published on our website. You may have already sewn many of these items or are already planning to sew them. Our ideas will help you take a fresh look at your wardrobe, add stylish accents and bring a fresh twist to your usual looks. Join us as we build a capsule women’s wardrobe together!

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A little history: what is a “capsule wardrobe” mean

Historically, we owe the term “capsule wardrobe” to the owner of the Wardrobe boutique in the West End named Susie Fox. This genius woman decided to come up with a name for a mini-collection of essential clothing items that never go out of style and can therefore be worn for several seasons. This is how the term “capsule wardrobe” was born in the 70-s of the last century.

The idea was brilliantly simple – without buying a lot of new items of clothing, just update the capsule collection of clothes with seasonal items and at the same time have models for every occasion.

Summarizing all of the above, we can make a simple conclusion that a capsule wardrobe (capsule collection) is a collection of several basic items of clothing that do not go out of fashion (skirts, trousers, tops and coats) and which can then be supplemented with seasonal items.
What clothing items might be included in the capsule collection?
According to Susie Fox, a woman’s capsule wardrobe should include at least seven items of clothing, two pairs of shoes and a couple of handbags. From clothes it is important to have:

• trousers (2 pcs.);
• dress;
• skirt;
• blazer;
• coat;
• knitwear (knitted clothing).

Over time, the rules for creating a capsule wardrobe have not changed much. The number of basic items in the capsule collection depends on the season, but in general the standards remain the same.

Capsule collection Korfiati. Korfiati’s capsule wardrobe includes clothing models: trouser suit, oversized shirt, top, coat, denim trousers, dress, skirt. You will find links to patterns for these products later in this article.

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Rules for building a capsule wardrobe

To make your capsule wardrobe combinatorial, follow the rules when building it.

Color spectrum. Use one or two primary colors that are easy to combine, such as black, white, brown, gray or blue. It is advisable to choose shoes and bags in shades of basic colors. All items should be easily combined with each other.

Capsule collection Korfiati. Our designers chose graphite gray – one of the most relevant colors of the season – as the main color of our “capsule”. This collection was compiled on its basis. A classic trouser suit, including jacket and straight long trousers with wide hemline made of suiting fabric, is an excellent base for creating various combinations. Additional colors – black/white/beige. Use accessories, shoes or handbags in these colors. Double-breasted jacket sewing pattern

Then choose one or two accent colors that are brighter than the main colors and use them. Typically, accent colors are used for tops, t-shirts and accessories. All items in the wardrobe should be interchangeable, and the colors of the items should complement each other well.

Capsule collection Korfiati. Additional companion colors are warm/light mocha. The oversized coat, made of coral-colored fabric with splashes of milky color, not only fits perfectly into the overall color scheme, but also brings richness and brightness to the capsule wardrobe. Double breasted coat sewing pattern

• Determine your body type and choose clothes based on your personal proportions. For more information about this, see the lesson Types of Women’s Body Shapes
• Determine your color type to choose the color scheme of the capsule collection. Analyze which clothing colors suit your skin color and hair color best and choose them.

Capsule collection Korfiati. A beltless skirt made of satin fabric is one of the important elements of the capsule collection. Made in a delicate mocha color, this model goes well with garment made in both white and gray. Get the perfect old money look by pairing this skirt with an oversized shirt. Oversized shirt sewing pattern

• Choose classic clothes – they are the most relevant and have practically never gone out of fashion for many years.
• Choose only high-quality fabrics for your garments. As mentioned above, the idea of a capsule wardrobe is to have several pieces of clothing that, when combined, can be worn for a long time. Cheap, low-quality fabrics wear out faster, fade when washed and look unsightly. Therefore, it is recommended to choose fabrics that will look flawless and of high quality for a long time.

Capsule collection Korfiati. A satin top is another versatile combo partner for creating a stunning look. The soft material and warm color of the top visually soften the impression, making the look more sensual. Trousers with wide hemline sewing pattern

Korfiati’s capsule collection. Add one or two knitted items to your collection – a sweater, pullover or cardigan. This will expand your options and increase the variety of combinations for the cold season. Beltless skirt sewing pattern

A win-win combination is to pair dress pants with an oversized white shirt and sweater. The look is less formal and very stylish.

Capsule collection Korfiati. Another non-standard and fashionable combination is knitted sweater and classic wide trousers tucked into high boots. Add to this a felt hat and a mocha-colored belt – a bold look that is now incredibly relevant on the catwalks of the most famous fashion houses.

Capsule collection Korfiati. Jeans. If you can create perfectly tailored stylish looks with classic trousers, then jeans will help make the look more informal and comfortable. Feel free to combine jeans with an oversized shirt, top, knitted sweater or jacket – because they are a truly universal element for combination. Jeans sewing pattern

Korfiati’s capsule collection. The dress is another must-have item for any capsule collection. A classic, fitted, below-the-knee dress is a luxurious choice that never lets you down! In the cold season, the dress can be complemented with a jacket or coat from the capsule wardrobe. Dress midi sewing pattern

To order make your own capsule collection stylish and combinatorial, be sure to include the following items of clothing and accessories: two pairs of trousers, a dress, a skirt, a jacket, a coat, knitwear (knitwear), two hand bags, two pairs of shoes, two belts and sunglasses. In this article, we showed only some of the possible options for combining items from the capsule collection.

When starting to create your own capsule wardrobe, remember that no matter how hard you try to follow universal advice, the choice is always yours. Be creative and free – this is the only way to create truly beautiful garments that will delight and bring happiness to you!

You will find even more patterns for download and ideas for your sewing projects on the Sewing School of Anastasia Korfiati website. Subscribe to our free newsletters and be the first to receive new patterns!

You might be interested in:

• Women’s Measurements Charts
• Palazzo pants pattern
• Basic dartless dress pattern
• Longsleeve – simple sewing pattern