- Building a capsule wardrobe is a great way to repeat outfits while staying in style.
- Stylists shared shopping tips to follow as you grow a collection of clothes to wear again and again.
Over time, you'll probably find there are pieces you wear again and again in your wardrobe — but often it can be hard to style them together in a way that makes sense.
But thankfully, Business Insider recently spoke to stylists about building a capsule closet with inspiration from French style.
As you go about building your wardrobe, stylists recommend keeping a few shopping tips in mind. BI tapped stylists Liz Teich and Neda Kalantar for their advice so that — no matter what aesthetic you're going for — you can fill your closet with quality pieces you'll wear time and time again.
First, remember that you don't need a whole new closet
Teich told BI that when working with clients, she aims to use as many of their existing pieces as possible to start building their capsule wardrobe around.
"I'm big into sustainable fashion and creating less waste and not having to buy new things constantly," she told BI.
For existing pieces, Teich said it's important to ensure your garments fit correctly. If they don't, the stylist recommends taking them to a tailor.
Teich said everybody has particular pieces for a reason, but sometimes they don't know how to style them or have the right items to compliment them — and that's where the stylist comes in.
When shopping for new items, invest in quality materials — and avoid dry-clean only garments
Teich said a big part of a capsule wardrobe is investing in better quality fabrics. These will last the test of time, which is important if you're building a capsule closet with pieces you'll wear repeatedly.
She added that natural fabrics are better for the environment, but dry cleaning is typically not.
"It's also bad for your clothes because the chemicals can eat away at the fibers," which Teich explains is why some cashmere sweaters can look drab after being dry-cleaned.
Instead, opt for machine or hand-wash items that don't require sending to a professional. You're more likely to wear them more anyway.
Beware of poor quality when vintage shopping
Paris-based stylist Neda Kalantar, said vintage shopping is a big business in the French capital and with Gen Z in particular, like it is in the US. She added that her sisters, who are 12 and 16 years old, opt for trips to the Salvation Army over the mall.
Teich said that when shopping on a tighter budget for designers, secondhand retailers like Poshmark, The Real Real, and Vestiaire Collective, can be great places to look.
But vintage items, like anything else, can vary in quality.
"Make sure you look at the material that's listed on the tags," Kalantar said, speaking of vintage items. She recommends avoiding synthetic materials that won't hold up over time.
Kalantar recommends buying leather jackets from vintage stores, and said this is often a smart purchase since they're usually much cheaper than purchasing new. Just make sure it's not made with old, fake leather, which can crumble when exposed to heat and moisture, she said, adding that she prefers genuine leather. Of course, if you don't want to buy real leather, you could always look for a newer, faux version.
Whatever you're shopping for, just remember quality is key.