One of the best things about learning to sew is being able to design and create your own clothes! In today’s post, I want to share some tips for designing your very own handmade wardrobe, including how to define your style and how to figure out what you need to complete the perfect capsule wardrobe. I’ve also included a printable planner at the bottom of this post to help you create your custom wardrobe.
What do you like to wear?
Think about your most-worn pieces that you absolutely love to wear. Not the pieces in the back of your closet that you adore, but never put on, but the clothes that bring you joy, that you choose to wear over and over again. Make a list of your 10 most-worn pieces that you can’t live without. Now that you have your list, take a look at what’s on it.
My list consists of:
- five sweaters
- two pairs of jeans
- a pair of sweatpants
- a ruffled blouse
- and, a cardigan
As you can see, there are no shorts, t-shirts, skirts, or tank tops on there even though I do love those kinds of garments. When making a capsule wardrobe, the goal is to create a comprehensive collection of items that can span seasons and occasions and to fill in any gaps that exist in your current wardrobe. Figure out what the “gaps” are in your wardrobe and write them down.
Choosing Colors
Start by looking at your existing wardrobe and ask yourself these questions:
- Are there any recurring colors or patterns?
- Do your top ten pieces match the color palette of the rest of your wardrobe?
- What colors do you feel best wearing?
- What colors look good on you?
- What colors do you hate wearing?
Define Your Style
How do you describe your style? How would friends describe your style? Use the list below as a jumping-off point for defining your style. Choose 2-3 words that you feel best describes your style and so you can reference it throughout the creative process.
Some style examples:
- Elegant
- Playful
- Whimsical
- Classic
- Modern
- Retro/Vintage
- Bohemian
- Artistic
- Romantic
- Minimalist
Favorite Features
Think about your favorite pieces of clothing. What are some of the features they have that you love? Personally, I gravitate towards sweaters that have a high collar or mock neck, and I love dresses that are fitted at the waist and flare out. What are some of your favorite features in clothing?
Examples:
- turtlenecks
- long sleeves
- cropped
- fitted
- draped
- v-neck
- boxy
- ruffles
If you’re interested in designing your own custom wardrobe, I highly encourage you download the free My Handmade Capsule Wardrobe Planner PDF and use it to map out your style and the pieces you’d like to sew first.
