CAPSULE WARDROBES: CONNECTING THE DOTS BEYOND THE BASICS

It’s been a while since I’ve written about one of our clients, but a recent experience with one felt so universally relatable that I couldn’t resist sharing it. Enter Ms. Transcendent—a woman who, like many of my clients, is brilliant, accomplished, and always striving for excellence.

As with all the clients I write about, I chose a pseudonym that not only protects her identity but also captures her personality. I selected “Transcendent” because one definition of the word means to surpass the ordinary or be exceptional—which perfectly describes my experience working with her. In every interaction, she exceeded expectations—whether in meeting deadlines, providing high-quality information, or communicating with us. I always tell clients that styling is a journey we take together, not a spectator sport. The more they engage, the more value they gain. In all things, Ms. Transcendent fully engaged.

THE CHALLENGE: A BLOATED CLOSET AND A TIGHT DEADLINE

When Ms. Transcendent came to us, she had a list of wardrobe needs for upcoming business trips. Helping clients build capsules and travel wardrobes is something we do regularly, but her situation posed a unique challenge due to the tight deadline. Additionally, she had an overstuffed closet that needed serious editing before we could make any real progress. The task was big, and with the pressure to ensure she presented herself well on her trips, she was understandably stressed. This wasn’t my first rodeo, but for her, it was—and I completely understood her stress.

THE VERSATILITY TRAP: WHEN BASICS FALL FLAT

The upside was that once we cleared away the pieces that weren’t working, Ms. Transcendent had a strong foundation of great basics. Unlike many clients, her challenge wasn’t a lack of basics but their repetition.

For example, she owned multiple suits, but the majority were navy, camel, or black. It quickly became evident that volume did not equal versatility. This is a common pitfall. People seeking versatility often lean into neutral shades, but if they go too deep into the same ones, they end up splitting their wears and actually reducing their outfit options. Ms. Transcendent needed pieces to break up the repetition, connect her wardrobe, and bring it to life.

MS. TRANSCENDENT’S SPECIFIC NEEDS

Each client has unique needs based on factors like personal preferences, work requirements, and travel comfort. In Ms. Transcendent’s case, traveling comfortably was critical. She needed to be able to go from a flight straight to a work event while looking professional and feeling at ease. Additionally, she worked in an industry with a more relaxed professional dress code, where jeans and suited sneaker looks were acceptable. On top of that, she frequently participated in conference panels, meaning she needed outfits that balanced presence and relatability. All of these considerations shaped our approach to curating her wardrobe.

PULLING FROM INSPIRATION

We invite all clients to send photos that inspire them in terms of where they want their wardrobes to go. These images don’t have to be literal, and clients don’t necessarily need to know why they’re drawn to the images or how to execute them in their wardrobe—that’s my job. Looking at some of the images that Ms. Transcendent shared with me, I decided to build a travel capsule based in navy and camel for her upcoming trip. With a strong foundation set, the next step was to fill in the missing pieces.

WORKING FROM A STARTING POINT

The first place I sourced from was her wardrobe. I knew a piece like the popular M.M. Lafleur Merritt cardigan she owns in navy would be an ideal travel piece. Her Natalia pants from J.Crew aren’t just great suit pants but also fit her well as separate bottoms. She also had plenty of tops to choose from, like the basic ivory short sleeve knit top from M.M. Lafleur. Everlane’s silk button-up, or her sleeveless burgundy washable silk top from Quince, which had already been in heavy rotation. For shoes and accessories, I set aside a pair of burgundy Mary Jane flats Ms. Transcendent purchased from Franco Sarto, and a layered necklace as possible items to pack.

SHOPPING SELECTIONS

Curating a capsule isn’t just about filling gaps—it’s more strategic.  I didn’t select the pieces mentioned first and then shop. For Ms. Transcendent, this process took shape in three steps- tailored pieces, layering pieces, and accessorizing and it was a lot of back and forth with me looking back at her wardrobe, looking at her inspiration, and then shopping to figure out what additional pieces would make sense.  These are the additions I added:

• A Standalone Camel Blazer: Ms. Transcendent already owned two camel blazers—so why add one more? First, I wanted a camel blazer that could stand alone and didn’t look like the top half of a suit. Second, while she and I discussed packing one of the blazers she already had, she wasn’t enthused about them as options. If I could track down this long sold-out style from Veronica Beard at resale, she was on board with the purchase.  We had already established the Veronica Beard blazer Miller blazer as a good fit, so we’re excited about this style and color for her.

• Comfortable Travel Pants: Next, I wanted to choose comfortable pants for travel. No one wants discomfort on long flights, so I chose a pair of pull-on wide-leg jeans I own from Halara, which I’ve been recommending to everyone. They’re affordable, look like jeans at first glance, but feel like yoga pants. For navy pants, I selected Quince’s ponte straight-leg pull-on pants—equally comfortable, but with belt loops to enhance their polished look.  Ms. Transcendent is still deciding if she is as in love with the Halara “jeans” as I am and the straight-leg pants didn’t fit her as well as we hoped, so she is trying Quince’s ponte bootcut style as an alternative.  Due to the fact that she needs long inseams, we’re thrilled Quince offers this.

• Professional Sneakers: Ms. Transcendent didn’t need to purchase both pairs of sneakers, but I couldn’t resist selecting both a white pair and a camel pair from Dolce Vita given the color scheme.

• Camel Flats: For comfort, I introduced Ms. Transcendent to M.Gemi’s Danza flats in camel. With their wider toe box and slight invisible wedge, they’re perfect for all-day wear.  Ms. Transcendent loved these out of the box.  No surprise there.  M.Gemi is my favorite brand.  Perhaps I converted another client?

• M.M. LaFleur Axam Turtleneck: Like many clients, Ms. Transcendent loves these turtlenecks from M.M. LaFleur and owns them in multiple colors. She didn’t own navy yet, so I suggested adding it to create a monochromatic look.

• Quince Cashmere Crew: I love Quince cashmere sweaters, and while Ms. Transcendent doesn’t wear much color, burgundy is a shade she has already incorporated. This crewneck sweater was an easy addition to the camel-and-navy capsule.  We’re currently weighing whether she will keep this in the group.

• A Cognac Belt: I suggested this cognac belt from J.Crew to finish her looks.

• A Breton Tee: A Breton tee is versatile—it can be treated like a solid navy tee while adding interest. I selected this style from Boden.  If it isn’t this exact style, we both agree, a Breton would make a fantastic addition.  

HERE IS THE CAPSULE ALL TOGETHER

With a mix of structured and versatile pieces, this capsule balances professionalism and ease. Here’s how it all came together:

OUTFITS CREATED FROM THE CAPSULE

While the trip is only for a few days, I was able to build more than enough looks for Ms. Transcendent’s trip—pieces she can continue wearing long after she returns.

CONNECTING THE DOTS

A well-curated travel capsule isn’t just about looking put together—it’s about understanding what you already have, drawing inspiration, and recognizing that good basics can only take you so far. It often takes just a few key pieces to connect the dots and transform a wardrobe. Ms. Transcendent’s journey is a great example of how strategic additions can unlock the full potential of a closet, making dressing effortless and stylish.

A special thank you to Ms. Transcendent for allowing us to share her story. Her willingness to engage fully in the process is a great reminder of how transformative a thoughtful approach to wardrobe curation can be.