Dress with less

Believe it or not, 24 items of clothing is all you need to create countless outfits. Follow stylist Samantha Hannah’s instructions for a capsule wardrobe that really works.

Believe it or not, 24 items of clothing is all you need to create countless outfits. Follow stylist Samantha Hannah’s instructions for a capsule wardrobe that really works

Check out the latest issue of Good for the secrets of slow fashion and a look into the dark side of the industry …

How many times have you peered into your jam-packed wardrobe and declared, “I’ve got nothing to wear!” You’re not alone. Juggling family and work leaves many women with precious little time or money to think about what they have, what they need and how to buy it. The typical result is a chaotic, disorganised wardrobe filled with mismatched pieces. It’s hard on the credit card, and far from sustainable.

There is a solution — and surprisingly, it means owning less, not more. With a capsule wardrobe that suits your lifestyle, made up of pieces that truly flatter your body shape and colouring, you’ll find it much easier to mix and match the items you own, and shop just for what you really need, saving both time and money.

Step 1: Where do I begin?

The best place to start is in your own wardrobe. You need to evaluate every piece you have before you know what you need. You might be surprised what you find! When looking at each item, ask yourself four questions:

• Does it fit well and flatter my shape?
• Is it tidy and still current?
• Have I worn it in the last 12 months?
• Is it a classic piece that defies the trends?

If you can answer yes to all these questions, it’s a keeper.

Step 2: Let it go

As you’re going through your clothes, you’ll probably answer no to a few of the questions above. It’s time to let those pieces go. It’s easy to hold onto the illusion that a full wardrobe provides endless possibility. The truth is, an over-stuffed wardrobe makes it much harder to get dressed.

If a much-loved garment no longer fits or looks current, you don’t have to say goodbye forever. It’s amazing the magic a good tailor can work: bootleg jeans can become skinnies; a long coat can be turned into a short jacket. That beloved old cardigan could even be upcycled into a soft toy or cushion cover.

Step 3: Pile it up

If some clothes don’t make it back into your wardrobe, that doesn’t mean someone else won’t cherish them, or that they’re destined for landfill. Think about where you’d like your discarded items to go and sort them into appropriate piles.

I suggest some of the following: a charity like Dress for Success; selling them on Trade Me; a clothes-swap party or an online swap site like iSwish; tailoring; upcycling; second-hand shop; sentimental (to be stored); dress up box; rags for cleaning.

Step 4: Plan your capsule wardrobe

The garments you’ve decided to keep now need to be itemised so you can begin planning and creating your capsule wardrobe. Go though your newly streamlined wardrobe and group your clothes together into jackets, tops, bottoms, shoes and bags. If it helps, grab a notebook and list what you have under a heading for each group.

A basic capsule wardrobe needs only 24 items: three jackets, ten tops, five bottoms, a couple of dresses, three pairs of shoes and a versatile handbag. Add a mixture of accessories to express your personality, and you’ll be able to create over 70 looks.

If your wardrobe’s still bursting after your clear out, don’t worry: most of us have more than 24 items of clothing. To keep it streamlined, just remember that every garment in your wardrobe should go with at least two other pieces.

— Samantha Hannah, JacketsTops

• Cotton top in a neutral colourSmart printed blouseSmart long-sleeve top in one of your coloursWhite long-sleeve shirtEvening top in a vibrant print or colour
  

  Cardigan in a dark neutral

  If black isn’t your colour try navy, charcoal or chocolate brown. This item will be a staple in your wardrobe.

• Choose one in a colour that suits you and works with the colour palette of your wardrobe.

• Make sure the colours work with at least two other bottoms and tops/jackets in your wardrobe. This is one you can throw on in the weekend.