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A capsule wardrobe is a minimalist collection of clothes that can be put together in different ways to cover a variety of outfits and occasions. The aim is to have an outfit suitable for any occasion without owning excessive items of clothing. This is usually achieved by buying what are considered to be "key" or "staple" items in coordinating colours.^[1] It has been the subject of several popular television series and appears widely in British and American fashion media.

Capsule wardrobes appeared in American publications as early as the 1940s as small collections of garments designed to be worn together which harmonize in color and line. Susie Faux, owner of London boutique "Wardrobe", revived the term in the 1970s. According to Faux, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that do not go out of fashion, such as skirts, trousers, and coats, which can then be augmented with seasonal pieces.^[2] American designer Donna Karan popularised the idea when in 1985, she released an influential capsule collection of seven interchangeable work-wear pieces.^[3]

History and popularity

The use of "capsule" to mean "small and compact" was a distinctly American use of the word that surfaced in 1938 according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The term capsule wardrobe appeared in American publications as early as the 1940s to denote a small collection of garments designed to be worn together which harmonized in color and line.^[4] The term was revived by Susie Faux,^[5]^[6] owner of the West End boutique "Wardrobe",^[7] in the 1970s to refer to a collection of essential items of clothing that would not go out of fashion, and therefore could be worn for multiple seasons. The aim was to update this collection with seasonal pieces to provide something to wear for any occasion without buying many new items of clothing.^[2] Typically, Faux suggests that a woman's capsule wardrobe contain at least "2 pairs of trousers, a dress or a skirt, a jacket, a coat, a knit, two pairs of shoes and two bags".^[8]^{[unreliable source?]}

The concept of a capsule wardrobe was popularised by American designer Donna Karan in 1985, when she released her "7 Easy Pieces" collection.^[9]^[3] Her aim was to fill what she referred to as "a void in the marketplace" for a stylish and practical wardrobe designed with working women in mind.^[10] When the collection debuted, she showed eight models dressed only in bodysuits and black tights. The models then began to add items of clothing such as wrap-skirts, trousers, and dresses,^[11] to demonstrate her interchangeable style of dressing.

As a term, "capsule wardrobe" is widely used in the fashion media; the fashion sections in British newspapers The Independent and The Daily Telegraph have run feature articles on capsule wardrobes,^[12]^[13] as have British Marie Claire and Elle magazines, among others.^[14]^[15] The concept has been further popularised by several television programmes, including Trinny and Susannah's 'What Not to Wear', which aired on the BBC 2001–2007, and Gok's Fashion Fix, which aired on Channel Four from 2008 onwards. Presenter and stylist Gok Wan asserts that a capsule wardrobe is an especially important tool in a recession as it allows people to look good on a small budget.^[16]

Examples

Below are examples of a typical capsule wardrobe, one for women^[17]^[18] and one for men.^[19]^[20]^[21]

Sample women's wardrobe	Sample men's wardrobe
A belted trench coat	A suit
Skinny jeans	A pair of jeans
A white shirt	A coat
A black blazer	T-shirts
A dress	Cotton shirts
A pair of tailored trousers	A blazer
A pencil skirt	A pair of trousers
T-shirts and camisole tops	A pair of smart shoes
A cashmere sweater	A pair of casual shoes
A sundress	A pair of sneakers
A pair of ballet flats	A pair of rugged boots
A pair of long boots	A wool sweater
A tote bag	A watch
A clutch bag	A jacket
A silk scarf	A knit scarf
Sunglasses	Sunglasses
A pair of high heels
A pair of casual shoes

References

^ "mycapsulewardrobe.com". Archived from the original on 2012-03-27. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
^ ^a ^b Susie, Faux. "Capsule Wardrobe". Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
^ ^a ^b "Donna Karan". voguepedia. Vogue. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
^ Przybyszewski, Linda (2014). The Lost Art of Dress: The Women Who Once Made America Stylish. New York: Basic Books. p. 197. ISBN 9780465036714.
^ "The perfect capsule wardrobe". UKTV. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
^ Faux, Susie. "About Susie Faux". Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
^ Susie, Faux. "About Wardrobe". Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
^ Clarke, Zoe (4 February 2012). "Capsule Wardrobe". Retrieved 6 April 2012.
^ Krebs, Jost. "Donna Karan Biography". Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
^ Karan, Donna (20 June 1994). "Fortune Turn for a Fast-Rising Fashion Star". New York Times. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
^ Hyde, Nina. "Donna Karan show report". Retrieved 6 April 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Walker, Harriet (1 February 2009). "The Capsule Wardrobe". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
^ Trotter, Louise (1 February 2009). "How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
^ "Capsule Wardrobe Staples". Marie Claire. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
^ Weir, Laura. "Romantic Getaway". Elle UK. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
^ Wan, Gok. "Gok's Fashion Fix". Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
^ Faux, Susie. "Capsule Wardrobe". Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
^ "How to build the perfect capsule wardrobe". Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
^ "10 wardrobe essentials every man must own". Retrieved 8 April 2012.
^ "The capsule wardrobe". Men's Health. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
^ "Wardrobe Essentials Every Man Should Have". apoloformen.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2016.

[1] "mycapsulewardrobe.com". Archived from the original on 2012-03-27. Retrieved 7 April 2012.

[Susie-2] Susie, Faux. "Capsule Wardrobe". Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.

[donnakaran-3] "Donna Karan". voguepedia. Vogue. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.

[4] Przybyszewski, Linda (2014). The Lost Art of Dress: The Women Who Once Made America Stylish. New York: Basic Books. p. 197. ISBN 9780465036714.

[5] "The perfect capsule wardrobe". UKTV. Retrieved 8 April 2012.

[About_Susie_Faux-6] Faux, Susie. "About Susie Faux". Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2012.

[About_Wardrobe-7] Susie, Faux. "About Wardrobe". Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.

[8] Clarke, Zoe (4 February 2012). "Capsule Wardrobe". Retrieved 6 April 2012.

[9] Krebs, Jost. "Donna Karan Biography". Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2012.

[10] Karan, Donna (20 June 1994). "Fortune Turn for a Fast-Rising Fashion Star". New York Times. Retrieved 6 April 2012.

[11] Hyde, Nina. "Donna Karan show report". Retrieved 6 April 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}

[12] Walker, Harriet (1 February 2009). "The Capsule Wardrobe". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 April 2012.

[13] Trotter, Louise (1 February 2009). "How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 7 April 2012.

[14] "Capsule Wardrobe Staples". Marie Claire. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012.

[15] Weir, Laura. "Romantic Getaway". Elle UK. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012.

[16] Wan, Gok. "Gok's Fashion Fix". Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2012.

[17] Faux, Susie. "Capsule Wardrobe". Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.

[18] "How to build the perfect capsule wardrobe". Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.

[19] "10 wardrobe essentials every man must own". Retrieved 8 April 2012.

[20] "The capsule wardrobe". Men's Health. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.

[apoloformen-21] "Wardrobe Essentials Every Man Should Have". apoloformen.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2016.

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+{{Short description|Collection of clothing items that do not go out of fashion}}
-{{Multiple issues|refimprove =June 2009|essay-like =June 2009|inappropriate person =June 2009|orphan = December 2010}}
+[[File:Capsule Travel Wardrobe.png|thumb|A capsule travel wardrobe]]
+A '''capsule wardrobe''' is a [[Minimalism|minimalist]] collection of [[Clothing|clothes]] that can be put together in different ways to cover a variety of outfits and occasions. The aim is to have an outfit suitable for any occasion without owning excessive items of clothing. This is usually achieved by buying what are considered to be "key" or "staple" items in coordinating colours.<ref>{{cite web|title=mycapsulewardrobe.com|url=http://www.mycapsulewardrobe.com/index.htm|accessdate=7 April 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327034021/http://www.mycapsulewardrobe.com/index.htm|archivedate=2012-03-27}}</ref> It has been the subject of several popular television series and appears widely in British and American fashion media.
+Capsule wardrobes appeared in American publications as early as the 1940s as small collections of garments designed to be worn together which harmonize in color and line. Susie Faux, owner of London [[boutique]] "Wardrobe", revived the term in the 1970s. According to Faux, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that do not go out of [[fashion]], such as [[skirt]]s, trousers, and coats, which can then be augmented with seasonal pieces.<ref name="Susie">{{cite web|last=Susie|first=Faux|title=Capsule Wardrobe|url=http://confidencetricks.susiefaux.com/?cat=48|accessdate=6 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104130844/http://confidencetricks.susiefaux.com/?cat=48|archive-date=4 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> American designer [[Donna Karan]] popularised the idea when in 1985, she released an influential capsule collection of seven interchangeable work-wear pieces.<ref name="donnakaran">{{cite web|title=Donna Karan|url=http://www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Donna_Karan_%28Brand%29|work=voguepedia|publisher=Vogue|accessdate=6 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414084640/http://www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Donna_Karan_(Brand)|archive-date=14 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-A '''capsule wardrobe''' is a set of clothing, normally around 24 items, which can be [[wikt:mix and match|mixed and matched]] to create a wide variety of outfits. The idea is aimed at people who want to make the most of a small clothing [[budget]], or people who find that they spend a lot of money on clothes that they never wear.<ref>{{citation|title=Capsule Wardrobe for June's War Bride|publisher=Evening Independent|date=June 10, 1943 [http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h7tSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gX0DAAAAIBAJ&dq=capsule%20wardrobe%20for%20june's%20war%20bride&pg=4031%2C4775674 link]}}</ref>
+== History and popularity ==
-The benefits of a capsule wardrobe are that you spend less money on clothes, and that you make the most of the clothes you own, instead of having items sitting in your closet and never being worn. This type of wardrobe can also make you feel more confident, because if you go about it correctly, you will look [[fashion]]able for longer. The key is to buy timeless designs, which will ensure that your clothes do not go out of style, and to buy the right clothes for your [[body shape]]. You should also choose [[Color analysis|colours that work well with your skin]], and any items that you get for your capsule wardrobe need to work with the other capsule clothes.
+The use of "capsule" to mean "small and compact" was a distinctly American use of the word that surfaced in 1938 according to the ''Oxford English Dictionary''. The term capsule wardrobe appeared in American publications as early as the 1940s to denote a small collection of garments designed to be worn together which harmonized in color and line.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Przybyszewski|first=Linda|title=The Lost Art of Dress: The Women Who Once Made America Stylish|publisher=Basic Books|year=2014|isbn=9780465036714|location=New York|pages=197}}</ref> The term was revived by Susie Faux,<ref>{{cite web|title=The perfect capsule wardrobe|url=http://uktv.co.uk/really/item/aid/2676|publisher=UKTV|accessdate=8 April 2012}}</ref><ref name="About Susie Faux">{{cite web|last=Faux|first=Susie|title=About Susie Faux|url=http://confidencetricks.susiefaux.com/?page_id=17|accessdate=6 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726035722/http://confidencetricks.susiefaux.com/?page_id=17|archive-date=26 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> owner of the West End boutique "Wardrobe",<ref name="About Wardrobe">{{cite web|last=Susie|first=Faux|title=About Wardrobe|url=http://www.wardrobe.co.uk/welcome.html|accessdate=6 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501153959/http://www.wardrobe.co.uk/welcome.html|archive-date=1 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> in the 1970s to refer to a collection of essential items of clothing that would not go out of fashion, and therefore could be worn for multiple seasons. The aim was to update this collection with seasonal pieces to provide something to wear for any occasion without buying many new items of clothing.<ref name="Susie"/> Typically, Faux suggests that a woman's capsule wardrobe contain at least "2 pairs of trousers, a dress or a skirt, a jacket, a coat, a knit, two pairs of shoes and two bags".<ref>{{cite web|first=Zoe|last=Clarke|title=Capsule Wardrobe|date=4 February 2012 |url=http://lifeofavegetariangirl.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/capsule-wardrobe.html|accessdate=6 April 2012}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=October 2020}}
+The concept of a capsule wardrobe was popularised by American designer [[Donna Karan]] in 1985, when she released her "7 Easy Pieces" collection.<ref>{{cite web|last=Krebs|first=Jost|title=Donna Karan Biography|url=http://www.infomat.com/whoswho/donnakaran.html|accessdate=6 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303031355/http://infomat.com/whoswho/donnakaran.html|archive-date=3 March 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="donnakaran" /> Her aim was to fill what she referred to as "a void in the marketplace" for a stylish and practical wardrobe designed with working women in mind.<ref>{{cite news|last=Karan|first=Donna|title=Fortune Turn for a Fast-Rising Fashion Star|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/20/us/fortunes-turn-for-a-fast-rising-fashion-star.html|work=New York Times|accessdate=6 April 2012|date=20 June 1994}}</ref> When the collection debuted, she showed eight [[Model (profession)|model]]s dressed only in [[bodysuit]]s and black [[tights]]. The models then began to add items of clothing such as [[Wrap (clothing)|wrap-skirts]], trousers, and dresses,<ref>{{cite web|last=Hyde|first=Nina|author-link=Nina Hyde |title=Donna Karan show report|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OWMaAAAAIBAJ&pg=2671,689945&dq=donna+karan&hl=en|accessdate=6 April 2012}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> to demonstrate her interchangeable style of dressing.
-The beauty of this type of wardrobe is also that you can dress up your clothes with funky jewelry, shoes, bags or scarves, so that any outfit can be dressed "up" or "down". What you select for your capsule depends on your own needs and style. For example, if you work in a corporate environment, you may choose to buy a dress that can be teamed with a fitted jacket, scarf and flats for an office look, but can also be worn with [[High-heeled shoe|high heels]] and [[jewelry]] for a night out on the town.
+As a term, "capsule wardrobe" is widely used in the fashion media; the fashion sections in British newspapers ''[[The Independent]]'' and ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' have run feature articles on capsule wardrobes,<ref>{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Harriet|title=The Capsule Wardrobe|url=http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG4401266/How-to-build-a-capsule-wardrobe.html|work=The Independent|accessdate=7 April 2012|location=London|date=1 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Trotter|first=Louise|title=How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe|url=http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG4401266/How-to-build-a-capsule-wardrobe.html|accessdate=7 April 2012|location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=1 February 2009}}</ref> as have British ''[[Marie Claire]]'' and ''[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]]'' magazines, among others.<ref>{{cite web|title=Capsule Wardrobe Staples|url=http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/best/34806/10/capsule-wardrobe-staples.html#index=9&slider=off|publisher=Marie Claire|accessdate=7 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311203925/http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/best/34806/10/capsule-wardrobe-staples.html#index=9&slider=off|archive-date=11 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Weir|first=Laura|title=Romantic Getaway|url=http://www.elleuk.com/style/occasions/romantic-getaway|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729145257/http://www.elleuk.com/style/occasions/romantic-getaway|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 July 2012|publisher=Elle UK|accessdate=7 April 2012}}</ref> The concept has been further popularised by several television programmes, including ''[[Trinny and Susannah]]'s '[[What Not to Wear (British TV series)|What Not to Wear]]''', which aired on the BBC 2001–2007, and ''Gok's Fashion Fix'', which aired on [[Channel 4|Channel Four]] from 2008 onwards. Presenter and stylist [[Gok Wan]] asserts that a capsule wardrobe is an especially important tool in a [[Great Recession|recession]] as it allows people to look good on a small budget.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wan|first=Gok|title=Gok's Fashion Fix|url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/goks-fashion-fix|accessdate=8 April 2012|archive-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228235859/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/goks-fashion-fix|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-A Capsule Wardrobe may contain:
-*1 Pair of Dark Wash Jeans
+== Examples ==
-*1 Black Skirt
+Below are examples of a typical capsule wardrobe, one for women<ref>{{cite web|last=Faux|first=Susie|title=Capsule Wardrobe|url=http://confidencetricks.susiefaux.com/?cat=48|accessdate=8 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104130844/http://confidencetricks.susiefaux.com/?cat=48|archive-date=4 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=How to build the perfect capsule wardrobe|url=http://www.opentalkmagazine.com/fashion-style/womens_style-tips/3166-how-to-build-the-perfect-capsule-wardrobe.html|accessdate=8 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510165219/http://www.opentalkmagazine.com/fashion-style/womens_style-tips/3166-how-to-build-the-perfect-capsule-wardrobe.html|archive-date=10 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and one for men.<ref>{{cite web|title=10 wardrobe essentials every man must own|url=http://www.quidco.com/blog/wardrobe-essentials-for-men/|accessdate=8 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The capsule wardrobe|url=http://www.menshealth.co.uk/style/tips/get-a-capsule-wardrobe|publisher=Men's Health|accessdate=8 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107023941/http://www.menshealth.co.uk/style/tips/get-a-capsule-wardrobe|archive-date=7 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="apoloformen">{{cite web|url=http://www.apoloformen.com/wardrobe-essentials-every-man-needs/|title=Wardrobe Essentials Every Man Should Have|publisher=apoloformen.com|accessdate=7 March 2016|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305015429/http://www.apoloformen.com/wardrobe-essentials-every-man-needs/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-*1 Pair of Trousers
-*6 Tops
+{| class="wikitable"
-*2 Dresses
+|-
-*1 Trenchcoat
+! Sample women's wardrobe !! Sample men's wardrobe
-*2 Jackets
+|-
-*2 Silk Scarves
+| A belted [[trench coat]] || A suit
-*2 Belts
+|-
-*2 Bags
+| Skinny jeans || A pair of jeans
-*4 Pairs of Shoes
+|-
+| A white shirt || A [[coat]]
+|-
+| A black blazer || T-shirts
+|-
+| A [[dress]]  || Cotton shirts
+|-
+| A pair of tailored trousers || A [[blazer]]
+|-
+| A [[pencil skirt]] || A pair of trousers
+|-
+| T-shirts and camisole tops || A pair of smart shoes
+|-
+| A [[cashmere wool|cashmere]] sweater || A pair of casual shoes
+|-
+| A [[sundress]] || A pair of [[sneakers]]
+|-
+| A pair of [[ballet flats]] || A pair of rugged boots
+|-
+| A pair of long boots || A wool sweater
+|-
+| A [[tote bag]] ||  A watch
+|-
+| A clutch bag ||  A jacket
+|-
+| A silk scarf || A knit scarf
+|-
+| Sunglasses || Sunglasses
+|-
+| A pair of high heels ||
+|-
+| A pair of casual shoes ||
+|}
+==See also==
+* [[Simple living]]
+* [[Normcore]]
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{reflist|2}}
+{{Fashion}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Capsule Wardrobe}}
+[[Category:1930s neologisms]]
+[[Category:Anti-fashion]]
 [[Category:Fashion]]
+[[Category:Fashion terminology]]
+[[Category:Minimalist clothing]]
 [[Category:Simple living]]
+[[Category:Fashion aesthetics]]