Multiple Capsule Wardrobes Starting with Denim, Built Cluster by Cluster

September 13, 2024

In honor of Friday the 13th (not really!), I’m sharing a post that’s been lurking in my brain for a while. 

It’s pretty backwards, in that I’m going to show you the complete wardrobe first, and then show you all of the options in this that I see…

clear as mud, as I can sometimes be, when I’m trying to use words, where pictures work better!

Here’s the full 27-piece wardrobe for cool weather:

The questions that brought me to this included heroines who very much want a mostly denim wardrobe, heroines who can only keep a tiny portion of their wardrobe in their “main” closet at any time, and heroines who travel four nights a week EVERY WEEK, and who pack around a core of denim clothing…

So I started with six denim garments, which could easily go into anybody’s suitcase any time:

The next stop to filling out a capsule wardrobe, either for travel or for putting into the tiny closet, is to choose another neutral, and an accent color. Of course you can also add more denim, or just add accent colors, but I’m starting with a pretty traditional ratio of neutrals to accents…

I picture it like this:

So let’s see what these six clusters might look like:

Note that there are a couple of complete outfits JUST in the black garments, and also that you could pack just the denim and black and get by for a few days… Yes, accessories would be key!

For many of us, autumn cries out for some brown:

And for no good reason at all, you might want something light! Yes, I’m going to show you these pants until you’re sick of them, because since I got a pair (second hand!), I’ve worn the dickens out of them…

And now let’s look at the accent clusters! Some of these could certainly be turned into neutral clusters with the addition of a pair of pants or a skirt…

Burgundy = autumn…

Unless you like green better, in which case evergreen = autumn! (or Christmas…)

Or maybe you’re just a sucker for the rich beauty of camel…

I’m going to show you all nine of these; of course accessories would make a world of difference, but I think ever just looking at the clothing makes it pretty clear that these are versatile and quite pretty!

So which combination(s) do you like the most?

And would you like to see these with some accessories?

love,

Janice

p.s. Ten years ago, our focus wardrobe was pink, rose, denim and grey… pretty timely!