Building mix and match capsule wardrobes

How Michelle Barrett helps clients save time, money and space.

I am honoured to be part of such a fantastic group of women! Thank you, SBT. When I attend business-related events like this, people naturally ask me what I do. When I tell them, more often than not, I can see they are wondering if I am judging them. I am not. I do the opposite.

You see, I am a personal stylist. I have worked in TV and film for over 20 years with many actors, musicians and presenters, including Katy Perry, Jerry Springer (yes, really), Emma Thomson and Jim Broadbent. As you can see, a broad range. 

About a year ago, I decided to use the skills I had gained for the greater good – to help clients build wardrobes that mix and match easily and save time, money and space. 

So many of us have a wardrobe full of clothes but nothing to wear. Does that sound familiar? If so, you are not alone. I work with clients worldwide, predominantly online; their stories are very similar – they feel overwhelmed, frumpy, lost and do not have the time to fix it. 

There are so many outside influences and pressures to look a certain age, style, or size for both men and women. We are constantly bombarded with images and idealistic lifestyle choices, but none make us happy. The point is none of us can become happier through more stuff. Not only that, but fast fashion and how we currently buy is unsustainable. On the one hand, we are told we need to be more environmentally conscious. On the other hand, we are bombarded with messages telling us how inadequate we are and encouraging us to buy a product to ‘fix’ the problem. 

Clients often come to me needing help finding their way. They feel overwhelmed with so many choices, have searched online to learn which colours and styles suit them and need clarification. Most of us want to look and feel good without being pigeonholed into a style that does not work for us. 

A capsule wardrobe is the answer. There is lots of information around that will tell you that a capsule wardrobe is 30 items, 100 items of any other number. Restricting yourself to a number only works for very few people because everyone lives in different climates and has different lifestyles, tastes, budgets and working environments. 

I had been looking at my purchasing habits for some time when I started my business. About ten years before I noticed that designers often gave famous clients gorgeous clothes. Their wardrobes were vast, and they had so many choices. But guess what? These men and women were more insecure about their appearance than anyone else. I realised buying more clothes to make you feel good;

• Does not make you happier

• Uses up more space that you then have to maintain

• Encourages you to spend money you do not have

• Creates too many choices, which leads to confusion

• Leaves you feeling low after the high through guilt or the realisation that you are left feeling the same as before the purchase. 

Put simply, it doesn’t work. A much better option is;

• To learn which colours work for you, initially choose eight or under to start your wardrobe.

• Discover which styles suit your shape and choose clothes you love based on these guidelines.

• Edit what you have and remove anything that you never wear. For some reason, lots of women have too many black leggings!

• Become very intentional about what you buy and ensure it fits your colouring, shape, personal preferences and lifestyle. 

The problem is that most of us wander around shops or browse online without knowing what we want. Either that, or we repeat patterns that do not work for us. 

Instead of buying something on a whim or with very loose requirements, become intentional about everything you buy. You might need a pair of trousers for work and purchase the first black pair you see. With my help, clients shop intentionally. 

For example, when looking for a pair of trousers for work, you might;

• Choose navy because it is a colour you love, and you know it works for you.

• Consider flat-fronted with a side fastening and a wide leg because you have learnt you are an apple shape.

• Look for wool because you are purchasing them for winter.

• Need them lined because you do not like wool directly on your skin. 

• Take the shoes you will wear them with to make sure they sit right. 

When you have all the tools to shop intentionally, you feel better, save time, money and space and never make a wardrobe mistake again!

If this sounds like you and on this International Women’s Day you want to find your happy place and learn more, grab a ticket to my FREE live event at Eventbrite, or book a quick personal styling consultation. 

Michelle Barrett

www.capsuleclosetstylist.com