There is a lot of chatter about "capsule wardrobes"- what they are, what they should consist of, how to make them work for you. Here's what I think: if you are interested in shopping with a purpose and never having to worry about what to wear in the morning, you should consider putting one together.
This does not mean that you have to buy a whole new wardrobe- in fact, what you already own should make up the bulk of your first capsule.
First, a definition: a capsule wardrobe, according to moi, is a group of wardrobe pieces that you can mix together to make multiple outfits easily.
Second, a very simplistic example: let's say you own a cranberry sweater, a pair of jeans, a black skirt, a white tee and a navy tee. That's 5 pieces, in case you aren't counting.
You can do the following:
Jeans + white tee = an classic look, just add accessories
Jeans + navy tee = sophisticated version of above, add the same accessories
Black skirt + white tee = with colorful accessories, you are sleek and polished
Black skirt + navy tee = yes, black and navy go together because they are both NEUTRAL, you just have to wear them with purpose, add metallic accessories here
That's 4 outfits.
By adding the cranberry sweater to any of the above, you double the number of outfits, so now you have 8.
Part 1 of this process is the planning stage. I like to think about my wardrobe in terms of seasons. Not only is this how the fashion industry works, it is also a finite number of times I need to plan during the year. Now that we are well into summer, I can start planning for fall.
Here's what I do:
1. Look at the upcoming fall colors and decide which ones work for me- my skin tone, my preferences, and most importantly, what I already own.
After you do this for a couple of seasons, you will start to see trends emerge in your own wardrobe, and that's a good thing. Not only will you be aware of what you already have, you can make more consious decisions about what to buy.
The
Pantone Fashion Color Report is a good place to start. It's a pretty accurate forecast of what designers will use in the upcoming season. There are other places to look for these predictions; from what I can tell, they all look fairly similar to each other for Fall 2009.
You can also look to the runways; we will see versions of whatever the big fashion houses are showing in places the rest of us actually shop. I like to look at the fashion shows as inspiration for new accessories and experimentation, but I don't use them as a guide for planning my daily work and weekend capsule.
I can do a quick elimination of several colors they list: "honey yellow" and "creme brulee" wash out my skin tone, "warm olive" makes me think of the 70s in a bad way, and "Nomad" is just a little weird for me.
That leaves me with 6 other colors, all of which I either like and would consider buying or I already own. (In case you are wondering, they are "American Beauty," "Purple Heart," "Iron," "Burnt Sienna," "Majolica Blue," and "Rapture Rose.")
2. Decide which 2-3 neutrals to use as a base for the colors I like.
This is largely informed by what I already own. I have a lot of black, grey, and navy, so those would likely be my neutral bases. However, I really love brown in the fall and winter, so I will probably switch one out for brown.
I think I will go with grey, navy, and brown. Not only do I already own a lot of black, many of this season's more muted colors will look richer with softer neutrals.
You could also go with cream and tan as light neutrals, if you already own those.
3. Choose 2-3 colors to add to the neutrals.
My decision on this is based on my research and what I find fun or interesting. I don't want to be a slave to trends, but I am also a practical shopper. If "Majolica Blue" is going to be big, I am going to be able to find it easily; if I decide that bright orange is my new favorite color, my efforts to round out my wardrobe for the season will be pretty frustrating. When I select colors I enjoy, I am more likely to wear them beyond a specific season; this is where taking into account your own taste comes in.
I have chosen "American Beauty" (pinkish, blue-red, almost raspberry), "Majolica Blue" (deep aquamarine blue without any yellow tinge), and "Iron" (charcoal with some depth).
4. Test the selected colors against the neutrals and each other.
Each color should go equally well with each neutral you have chosen, as well as going together with each other.
Here, each of my colors will go well with grey, navy, and brown. And the red, blue, and charcoal shades will work together beautifully.
Sound like a lot of attention to focus on something as seemingly trivial as the colors in your wardrobe? Trust me, once you have finished the entire process, you will be relieved to find that getting dressed is not only easier, but so is feeling put together and confident. Not to mention the sense that you have accomplished something: you will have defined and showcased your personal style.
Next up: In Part 2 I will discuss how to determine which specific pieces to look for, now that you have chosen a color palette.
The Wild West bag from Ricardo Hinojosa is $179.99 at NOVICA. The shape, size, and apparent quality of the leather are awesome and and the studs make the whole thing even more interesting. 
I am reading the Seductive Shoe: Four Centuries of Fashion Footwear. I recommend it to anyone who loves shoes- or can at least appreciate them from afar.
There is something adorable- but not in an obnoxious way- about this Noah Love Birds Shoulder Bag. It is $129.99 and looks roomy enough for every day, including work, the park, and shopping with the girls. I love the laser cut details in navy; the birds make this a little silly but the structured shape offsets that nicely. What do you think?
A leather jacket is a staple in my wardrobe, and really, in my life. If you don't already have one, now is a great time to consider it. The Nordstrom Anniversary sale has a pretty awesome selection right now, and other late summer sales will be popping up at other stores through August. All of the jackets pictured here are from the Nordstrom sale.
As awesome as it is to see people wearing their glasses on a string around their necks, now people who don't even need glasses can join the fun. This spectacle necklace is as expensive as a real pair of glasses at $118 and is made of copper and silk. I just want to know who thinks this is a good idea. I heart you Anthropologie, but get a damn clue.
Not only is this little monstrosity actually a cotton tote with a Louis Vuitton bag printed on the front and back, it's advertised as an exclusive collaboration piece. And it's over $65. 
The Sabina Leather Coquille Bag is $149.99 and in this delish brown leather, looks like a perfect year round bag. The pleated leather and braided strap is just enough detail to make this interesting and it looks roomy and easy to carry everywhere. I love this one!
That's right, people- it's another leather messenger bag. This one is the Ecote Whipstitch Leather Messenger and is $79.99. I like it because it is a neutral color and just a little rugged. The zebra-print lining doesn't hurt, either.
Since it is my birthday and this is my blog, I am going to take this opportunity to shamelessly gush over my lastest shoe obsession: the Ruby & Bloom Grace ballerina flat. Not only do they come in like 20 colors (bright patents, muted metallics, cool prints), they are $69.95 and they are fabulously cute and comfortable. If you wear flats at all, you should get a pair of these shoes. The only downside, as with most flats, is that there isn't a ton of foot support. But they are comfy anyway. And did I mention adorable?
Whatever this thing is, it's hideous. It's like she's wearing a damn diaper and trying to make it sexy. I don't get it and I don't like it.
The Sak Flap Crossbody Bag is $199 and available in a color called Saffron. Since it's leather and pretty sleek, looks like a sophisticated school or work bag. The color, which can be viewed under the link, looks mustard-y enough to work for summer and fall, and the handy outside pockets gives the bag a little ruggedness and great place for a cell phone and train pass...
I am in love with this fan pleat satin clutch. It is $48 and comes in black and cloud silver. It is unique and interesting, and still looks sleek and easy to carry. It also comes with a strap in case you want to wear it over your shoulder. I think this would be a fab way to add a one-of-kind detail to an evening outfit.
This Nordstrom ruched silk wristlet looks like a great evening clutch. It is $48 and comes in turquoise, purple, black, silver and champagne. I like it for its simplicity and practicality- it looks roomy enough for a phone, keys, lipstick, and a credit card and you can carry it on your wrist or under your arm. In turquoise or purple, it would be great pop of color for an all black evening look. In black, silver or champagne, it would be a versatile piece you could wear with anything.
I'm obviously somewhat obsessed with crossbody bags right now. This B. Makowsky studded bag is $128 and comes in violet, black, brandy, and cobalt. This brand has delish leather products and fun linings- this bag has leopard print lining! Perfect for weekends and travel, I adore this little bag and might be forced to add it to my wardrobe...
The Nordstrom mini crossbody bag is $88 and comes in black, orchid, green and orange. I love the sleek lines of the bag and the fact that it looks sophisticated but also casual. Plus, I like a crossbody in leather so much more than canvas.
