Capsule wardrobes, dating back to the ’70s, are trending once again, on social media and throughout clothing brands. The idea? A minimalist collection of clothing to fit any season or occasion, with an emphasis on versatile, made-to-last garments where quality reigns over quantity.
Centreville-based clothing designer Christina Pannone knows the ins and outs of crafting practical wardrobes, both for herself and for her studio’s collections at Knieriem Designs. She’s seen adaptable, well-made items reduce costs and long-term consumption. While practicality is different for everyone, Pannone offers tips for making your own capsule closet.
Pick items that work for multiple seasons or at least six months of the year.
“The first thing I think of is how often am I going to wear this? Is this just a summer piece?” Pannone says. Pieces that can layer or be dressed up or down are ideal. “If I can get more of my wardrobe to fit into that all-the-time category, I like that.”
Look for garments with functional aspects.
For instance, weatherproof fabrics or genuine pockets. Pannone herself tries to include pockets whenever possible in her garments, adding, “not these little dainty pockets they put on women’s clothing that don’t hold anything.”
Think about how clothing might interfere with daily life.
Fussy sleeves get in the way of cooking, and prone-to-wrinkle fabrics send an item to a dark corner of the closet. Being realistic about what will be easy to wear is paramount to Pannone.
Invest in multipurpose garments.
Knieriem Designs offers a “multi-way jacket” that can be draped, tied, and pinned several ways. As a lightweight layering piece, it’s wearable year-round. “Truly, I reach for that 12 months out of the year,” Pannone says. KniDesigns.com
This article originally appeared in the August 2024 issue.
