Fashion

How To Create A Summer Capsule Wardrobe In 7 Simple Steps


The days of fashion insiders wearing a look only once are long gone. Today’s industry players take a far more economical tack, honing a tight, seasonal edit of upscale pieces that can be remixed to fit almost any occasion. Enter the summer capsule wardrobe. ‘Capsule’ dressing may be one of the most mythologised phrases in fashion, suggesting a sartorial abstinence that most of us (come pay day) do not possess – but it is possible. Here’s how to dress decisively and shop more economically this summer in seven easy steps.

Spend on flats (rather than heels)


Part of the secret to capsulising your wardrobe lies in getting to know your best (and worst) habits and dressing accordingly. If, for instance, you prize the 45-minute stroll home from the office for vital time away from your phone screen, investing in luxurious everyday flats (instead of hard-to-walk-in heels) is a no-brainer. And while fashion editors are typically portrayed as car-dwelling creatures, in reality you’re most likely to find them dodging traffic on foot in leather pumps by Prada, Chanel hiking sandals (seen on British Vogue deputy editor Sarah Harris), or Converse.

Go head-to-toe grey

Over zealous full-look beige appreciation posts on Instagram may have distracted us from this discreet neutral of late, but it’s still prime for tonal dressing. On the AW19 catwalks, dove grey made quietly powerful appearances at Celine, where Hedi Slimane advanced the school uniform skirt, and Gabriela Hearst, who showcased the eternally chic status of stormy-grey knits. The payback? Grey goes with anything, whatever the season. Consider the not-so-moody shade your fast-track to the most serene capsule wardrobe that lasts way beyond summer.

Reconsider shorts


Bermuda shorts may not seem like the easiest piece to pull off as part of a capsule summer wardrobe, but don’t be put off. Bottega Veneta’s low-rise cotton pair are currently persuading fashion editors to ditch pencil skirts in favour of this unisex staple. The plus points? They work incredibly well with sneakers and a vest on down days, or sharp kitten heels when you need to make a more elevated entrance.

Remix tailoring

Tailoring can offer a straightforward route to a polished day-to-day look. But this isn’t necessarily about a matchy-matchy approach. Take note: the freshest way to do capsule tailoring this summer involves syncing up different shades, cuts and fits, rather than following the rulebook.

Know your high-street heroes

Future-proof capsule wardrobes don’t need to come at great cost. Fashion editors have a knack for navigating affordable high-street classics that never age, which means that if you look inside the Vogue office during warmer months, there’s guaranteed to be sightings of Havaianas monochrome flip flops, Levi’s zero-stretch jeans, Uniqlo’s versatile shirting and Birkenstock’s ever-practical slip-ons.

Upgrade to a ‘croissant’ bag (yes, really)

The trickiest part of creating a capsule wardrobe is finding a go-anywhere handbag that can stash enough of your daily wares (minimum inventory: a reusable water bottle, Tata Harper’s cheek and eye tint, smartphone and charger). On top of that we’d like a style that is relatively hands-free and can work everywhere from the gym, to the airport. Cue Lemaire’s croissant bag, the chicest evolution of last year’s belt bag that’s accessorising the well-dressed future of 24/7 dressing.

Add silk for everyday luxury

If you read ‘capsule’ as a synonym for ‘plain’, think again. Whittling your everyday look down to a concise edit calls for a little extra luxury. Switch the cotton tank for a silk-satin version and ditch the tailored track pants for silk palazzo trousers (look to The Row for the ultimate everyday indulgence). Silky separates work overtime too: wear them to the office, as the week wraps, and long into the weekend.





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