Staying on top of trends isn’t always easy, but it isn’t hard to create a wardrobe that is stylish all year round.
People have been talking about capsule wardrobes for some time now, but not everyone knows how to create one.
That’s where the stylish cousin duo behind States of Style, Nikki Pash, 31, who resides in Melbourne, and Michelle Rimmer, 32, who lives in Perth, step in.
‘We believe in buying quality over quantity. People often think that when you buy a ‘brand name’ you’re paying for the label, but the truth is that the quality of these products means that they often last a lifetime,’ they told FEMAIL.
Stylish cousin duo behind States of Style , Nikki Pash, 31, (right) who resides in Melbourne, and Michelle Rimmer, 32, (left) who lives in Perth have revealed how you can be stylish all year round
‘The fact that they cost more means that you tend to treat them with more respect and therefore the cost per wear is actually more efficient, compared to the cheaper item that you throw away after one wear,’ they added.
The fashion conscious pair explained that creating a capsule wardrobe, which is a collection of essential items of clothing that don’t go out of fashion, is easier than people may think.
‘Regardless of the season, there’s a decent number of essential items that go together to form a capsule wardrobe and we would invest in good quality, which doesn’t necessarily mean expensive, pieces,’ they said.
‘These include things like a graphic t-shirt, an oversized denim jacket, a black or navy silk cami, which is perfect for layering under the jackets or over the graphic t-shirt, simple black strap heels and chain necklaces for layering.’
‘We believe in buying quality over quantity. People often think that when you buy a ‘brand name’ you’re paying for the label, but the truth is that the quality of these products means that they often last a lifetime,’ they told FEMAIL
They said that when you’re creating a capsule wardrobe you should aim to focus on one colour and at the moment they’re loving pink
‘Regardless of the season, there’s a decent number of essential items that go together to form a capsule wardrobe,’ the cousins said
The wardrobe necessities don’t stop there because if you’re creating a capsule wardrobe you need to ensure it will work all year round.
‘Everyone needs a staple bag which fits everyday essentials – here’s a good place to park some money,’ they explained.
‘Nothing is more of an investment than a classic designer bag, which will look good regardless of how much Mexican you’ve just consumed or what season we’re in.’
This being said, you want to avoid purchasing anything that is ‘too trendy’ as you don’t want to spend a heap of money on a piece that you’re not still in love with when the brand has had their moment.
‘Our additional essentials include an effortlessly stylish dress, a great detailed coat and a cosy jumper. Plus denim. We can never get enough denim,’ they added.
‘Mix these items together and you’ve got yourself one hell of a timeless, not too trendy, capsule wardrobe.’
One of the main things that stops people from creating a capsule wardrobe is they’re worried that they will be stuck wearing the some outfits, which isn’t true.
If you’re creating a capsule wardrobe you need to ensure it will work all year round
‘Our additional essentials include an effortlessly stylish dress, a great detailed coat and a cosy jumper,’ Nikki and Michelle said
Also thanks to social media, particularly Instagram, many people feel like they can’t outfit repeat.
The cousin’s solution to this? Shop vintage and focus on how your photographing your fashion looks.
‘Vintage shopping is great, especially in cities like Melbourne. Areas like Fitzroy have curated collections of vintage pieces and you never know what you’ll find,’ Nikki said.
If you’re worried about uploading repeated looks to your Instagram account, they have tips for that too.
Thanks to social media many people feel like they can’t outfit repeat but the cousins solution to this is to shop vintage and focus on how your photographing your fashion looks
Although the recommended capsule item amount is usually 30, the fashion bloggers believe that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach
‘It’s essential to shoot all looks from various angles to ensure details are captured,’ they said.
‘Multiple shots of one outfit should go live on your social media accounts as long as you’re highlighting and considering the key details of each look.’
Other important elements of creating the perfect capsule wardrobe that can work all year is focusing on a colour and choosing classic shapes and patterns.
‘It’s essential to shoot all looks from various angles to ensure details are captured,’ they said
‘Multiple shots of one outfit should go live on your social media accounts as long as you’re highlighting and considering the key details of each look,’ the cousins explained
With these prerequisites in place the cousins believe it is much easier to create a bold, yet chic, outfit.
‘Whether it’s incredible heels, an amazing bag or a statement skirt, pick one feature of your look and start there,’ Nikki and Michelle said.
‘Sometimes we’re living for a colour and will put together an outfit based on this. The tonal trend is currently huge, we’re currently loving pink, on pink, on pink!
‘On the flip side, you can’t beat black, on black, on black.’
‘Whether it’s incredible heels, an amazing bag or a statement skirt, pick one feature of your look and start there,’ Nikki and Michelle said
Although the recommended capsule item amount is usually 30, the fashion bloggers believe that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.
‘Having space is essential – you don’t want items shoved away and out of view, slim-line coat hangers allow more items in the available space minus the clutter,’ they told FEMAIL.
‘One would hope that the majority of items would be worn on a semi-regular basis but the reality is that most people wear the same items on a constant cycle due to factors such as comfort and practicality.
‘Keep these items in mind when purchasing. It’s absolutely acceptable to invest in more denim pieces or band t-shirts if these are what you tend to live in!’
As for when you should get rid of an item you own? Only chuck it out when they’re beyond repair, otherwise donate them.
‘Only purchase something new when it takes over your world, you start dreaming about it, and when you know it’s not a one-time-wear situation,’ Nikki and Michelle said.