If you’re as inspired by minimalism as we are, then you have certainly heard of capsule wardrobes. We think having just a few high quality goods that are handcrafted with care is the epitome of luxury. Your closet doesn’t have to be packed with one hundred different pieces of clothing. Rather, as with a capsule wardrobe, you can choose just a few beautiful pieces for the season that keep you feeling fresh and creative, without the burnout that comes from an overstuffed closet. The idea of capsule wardrobes was brought to fashion consciousness in the 1970s by boutique owner Susie Faux in London, but it was made popular by Donna Karan in 1985 when she released her own take on the capsule wardrobe with just seven interchangeable pieces that women could wear to work.
The idea behind a capsule wardrobe is that there are certain pieces of clothing that are timeless, beautiful, and go with every season. There’s a variety of ways to create a capsule wardrobe, and a variety of philosophies about how many pieces you should include in yours. But what we love the most about capsule wardrobes is the fact that the modern kimono robe is a perfect piece for every single season and every wardrobe you can dream up. Today on the blog, we’re teaching you how to build a winter capsule wardrobe that includes, you guessed it, how to wear your kimono robe during the winter months.
If you’re wondering if the time it takes to build a capsule wardrobe is worth it — think of all the time you’re going to save when getting dressed in the morning. The jury is out on how many pieces you should be including in your capsule wardrobe. It could be as few as seven (like Donna Karan presented) or as many as 40. The range is up to you, but even just paring your closet down to 40 go-to pieces will make getting dressed every morning a breeze. You’ll easily rack up time when your rack of clothes contains only pieces you love to wear. Additionally, a capsule wardrobe is a sustainable and environmentally conscious way to dress. When you’re wearing high quality fabrics and materials, you’ll be able to wear and re-wear your pieces over and over again. In this way, you’re making an investment in your wardrobe and not piling up clothes that you’ll soon have to throw out because they become damaged or too worn. It could also save you money in the long run because you’re focused on how to get more out for your closet than in how to add more and more pieces.
If you’ve read our journal and follow us on social, you know that a modern kimono robe is not just a piece to lounge in. It’s a beautiful layer that transforms with your day. Wear it as part of your morning routine, throw it on as a floral kimono cardigan while at work, and wear your kimono wrap for a night out on the town over jeans, or belted as a dynamic dress all unto itself. It’s the ultimate piece for any capsule wardrobe, but we love it for winter because it’s an unexpected layer that goes with everything from pants to dresses.
There’s nothing more fun in a winter capsule wardrobe than choosing a theme and then getting creative with it. Many experts suggest choosing a color palette that works for you. Perhaps you’re into neutrals or you’re always wearing jewel tones — this is the best place to start when building your winter capsule wardrobe. And a creative way to play by the rules with as much variety as possible is to work with texture. We love the texture of the velvet sleeves of this kimono wrap and the frayed edges of your favorite pair of denim jeans. The dichotomy of textures and materials brings both your kimono wrap and jeans to life and adds an extra depth. Another great look for the kimono wrap is to wear it over a dress at your holiday party or tied with a belt, making it a statement dress all its own.
A key element of your capsule wardrobe will be the stand alone pieces like dresses or rompers that you can wear throughout the season in a variety of ways. Topping a neutral dress off with a floral kimono cardigan gives this base layer a whole new vibe. And for winter, we love the blue to enhance the neutral black and gray tones of a simple, cotton dress.
No matter what kind of capsule wardrobe you’re building, you’ll need a camisole top for layering. We love a scalloped neckline and extra details against neutral colors to heighten this everyday piece. Camisoles are great for a winter capsule wardrobe to layer underneath sweaters, blazers, rompers, and yes — modern kimono robes! We love the look of this floral kimono cardigan against a neutral camisole top as a twist on the typical winter cardigan you might wear. While it’s still a lightweight piece, the length gives it that winter dimension of hygge and coziness.
When building your winter capsule wardrobe, it’s important to find pieces that are both classic and surprising. That may just be in the cut, a simple detail, or the color you choose. As long as the surprising elements are ones you absolutely love and the classic elements are ones you’ll never grow tired of, then wearing that piece can be so much fun. We love the button details of this neutral skirt to bring a little bit of interest to a look. And we love a kimono jacket to turn any outfit into a sophisticated statement. With its wide sleeves and flattering hip-length cut, a kimono jacket adds a surprising structure with the classic look of a kimono.
This is just a start to building a beautiful winter capsule wardrobe for the season. Remember, however many pieces you add into your own capsule, the best thing to do is to choose quality goods that will last. Limiting your options will actually boost your sartorial creativity, not to mention give you your mornings back!, and we’d love to see how you build yours. Don’t forget to tag us @kimandono_ and #swaythisway on Instagram so we can celebrate all the ways you wear yours, lovely!
