How to design your own Capsule Wardrobe!

In a world of over consumption, let's kick it like a wartime wardrobe and design a capsule wardrobe in 2024!
My research was conducted from the following sources:
vintagedancer....
www.english-he....
fabrickated.co...
www.iwm.org.uk...

[@carlsenlifeafter60carlsen11]

I grew up in the 60s I only owned two pairs of shoes one for school and one tennis shoe. We weren’t allowed to wear pants to school so I had four dresses I was the last of children and we didn’t have much money. Talk about a capsule wardrobe. I had that most of my life. I have a tendency to want more clothing but now that I’m in my late 60s I’m back to a capsule Wardrobe.😊

[@recyclecouture]

@@carlsenlifeafter60carlsen11 same here and hand me downs, I have alot of female cousins. I remember getting to buy 1 new outfit for school and 1 Easter Sunday dress.

[@lesleyharris525]

I was also a smallest of the family so hand me downs were the normal for me

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

I know, how times have changed is crazy!

[@Cherylindiana2]

My grandma said during WW2 she had 2 dresses. One for everyday wear and one for church.

[@natalyaporter5730]

Did she have to wash it everyday??? Or did she wear a slip or something so she didn’t have to???

[@janetbransdon3742]

They often wore aprons some made from sacks to keep tbeir dress cleaner, and change their apron.

[@Cherylindiana2]

@@natalyaporter5730 she would have worn clean underclothes and slip and a clean pinafore style apron every day.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Your grandma sounds so lovely!

[@yasmingeorge5173]

I probably have far more cloths than a 1940s lady but I 100% keep them until they are warn out. I have clothes over 20 years old that are in good condition and once they are not fit for work or going out in they become dog walking/gardening or home clothes which saves my other things from being spoilt. I was brought up by older parents who lived through the war tho

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

That’s amazing!

[@TheAnglophileChronicles]

Really enjoyed your video today Hannah! I'm of the opinion that women's clothes today simply lack the elegance and sturdiness of the past so I do little clothing shopping. My biggest hurdle is finding great vintage dresses from the 1940s (vintage or inspired) that are not so horrendously expensive. The search continues!

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

I know exactly what you mean!

[@elizabethgwinnett6977]

I enjoyed this episode! I have always been a lover of fashion and clothing. My mom studied fashion design. During Covid I decided I would no longer buy anything other than cotton, linen, and wool. No partial polyester at all! It was easy to part with the polyester! Living in the southern US polyester is not user-friendly anyway! Read about the frequency energy of fabrics. It is a thing. I am 95% a thrifter who made a lot of my clothing as a teenager, so quality fabrics were always important to me. I am starting to sew and hand stitch more again. I also began wearing mostly longer skirts and dresses now. Early 1900s style has become my thing, I love lots of fabric, embroidery and laces! When looking for new pieces, I check for fabric content. Even if I love it, the item will not even be tried on if it is not one of my 3! I still enjoy clothing but appreciate quality and health more.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

That’s amazing! Thank you so much, I appreciate you being here!

[@suzannealexander4599]

Last week at a thrift 2nd hand store i bought a lambs wool, cashmere, angora middy length coat that had never been worn for 10.00. And then found 2 100 percent wool plaid coats they too were only 10.00 a piece.

[@dittedatte8046]

@@suzannealexander4599 Those finds make the search worth while, enjoy Your new pieces 🛍🛍🛍

[@mabel8179]

Good buy. About 8 years ago (how time flies!) I was at a food bank ( money was especially tight) and they had donated clothing there. I couldn't believe my eyes when I found a vintage style overcoat (brand Principles) there. I've also got another winter coat that I bought for about £2 in a charity shop about 15 years ago, and an anorak also got from a charity shop that I must've had about 18 years. Even the Primark light cagoule I bought about 15 years ago is going strong.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

That’s amazing!

[@dittedatte8046]

I have never bought 64 pieces of Clothing in One Year. But good quality is important for me.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

I’m exactly like you!

[@honeygarden2222]

Again, a very interesting video. I do agree that clothes used to last a lot longer. I would very much like to buy fewer things, but they do not last very long, even the expensive ones. They do this on purpose to make us consume more. The same goes for electronics, etc. In the country where I live, it is quite difficult to find any real vintage clothes-all have been already repurposed a long time ago. Now we can buy all the stuff that anybody else can, I mean new clothes, and are a part of the waste problem, sadly. Just to tell you, I would have enjoyed really much seeing you wear the capsule wardrobe, but hey, maybe next time.

[@mabel8179]

If you can access Vinted you can find vintage style clothing on there for very cheap prices.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Thank you so much, I appreciate you being here!

[@angelaoliver2750]

Just counting the clothes that I have, and I have 65 items of clothing. And the oldest item I have is 7 years old

[@dittedatte8046]

@@angelaoliver2750: Are Socks and Underwear included? Those you have to buy more ofcourse.

[@crisfernandez477]

I've been told by my mum that my nan back in the 40s in Liverpool, when she and her friends ran out of stockings (rations) they would paint the line up the back of their legs to appear as they were wearing them...talk about being resourcefull 😅 I've never been good with clothes, I don't seem to fit or like all the "modern" stuff and it wasn't until 15 years ago that I realised that it was because I liked how clothes from the 40s and 50s looked and felt better on my body...so 🎉 to us all who love not to waste and have capsule wardrobes ❤😊

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

I know exactly what you mean!

[@joanmatchett8100]

I don't have a capsule wardrobe, but I'm mindful of what I buy, classic clothes, l like the french style of dressing, it's neither in nor out of fashion, so l keep item's for year's. I only buy certain colours that will go with most things in my wardrobe, so l can mix and match. I never impulse buy clothes, l learned that mistake year's ago.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Thank you so much, I appreciate you being here!

[@countrymousesfarmhouse497]

Excellent video. I have a capsule type wardrobe out of necessity and because I love to be resourceful and try not to waste. I don't count my items but I use the container method, if the drawer doesn't close or an item isn't getting worn at all , it gets donated or we gave a big clothes swap day with friends . Which is so fun too. Thanks for sharing lovely ❤

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Thank you so much, I appreciate you being here!

[@marabanara]

A wonderful KZbinr, Retro Claude, has implemented a ration system for her wardrobe based on war time. She does sew and knit but also buys. It’s an interesting experiment. Love this video, as always!

[@mabel8179]

I must check her out, thanks for the mention.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Thank you so much, I appreciate you being here!

[@Chickenfoothomestead]

This was a great episode! I, like you shop second hand almost exclusively. You find the BEST stuff in thrift stores.

[@mabel8179]

Yes, it's fun to have a rootle and see what you can find isn't it! I remember finding a green Jaegar cardi in a charity shop in the 1980s, which must've been from the 1960s. My mother heavily dissed it, and I was very offended because it was well cut and fit my slim frame.

[@Chickenfoothomestead]

@@mabel8179 Nice! Our parents just didn't get how cool we were...

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

So true!

[@therewillbecatswithgwenhwyfar]

I have a fairly good sized collection of summer clothes. My winter wardrobe is a lot more limited but virtually everything I purchase is from a thrift store. I have become really really good at spotting natural fabric and choose those most often.

[@therewillbecatswithgwenhwyfar]

Oh yeah no I don't do this every year and I don't have 300 pieces of clothing.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

That’s amazing!

[@maxinelawson7329]

Great video, and shows how much we waste on clothes now, and I bet there wasn’t landfills full of unwanted clothes like there is now!

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

I know exactly what you mean!

[@Raggedy-Ann]

I just don’t think I could get buy with 4 pairs of “ panties”🙀 I guess they hand washed them every other day? I only buy second hand clothing 99% of the time….Enjoyed your video ❤️

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

I know exactly what you mean!

[@karen4you]

I wore a uniform for school in the sixties, some extra white blouses. All my clothes fit in one six drawer dresser, no closet available. Two of these drawers were small. More now but buy used except for underwear.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

That’s amazing!

[@christinebush7597]

As far as second hand clothes, I have been buying from Thread up an online clothing store. I have been very happy with them and their quality. Also Hannah I have been enjoying your channel. 😀❤️

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Thank you so much, I appreciate you being here!

[@Raych-]

I can’t tell you enough how much I loved this video. It was brilliant and exactly what I’ve been wanting to see. Thank you.

[@Wench64]

My gran made her own dresses sometimes, if she came to ours for Christmas we would wear her lilac dress with a broach, she would mend things, she was born 1907 the of a family of 10, my mom was not so good cos she had freedom in the 60s, to buy clothes, I bought my groan a dress once and said that's a bit fancy, she only liked plain clothes cos she said they never went out of fashion

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Your grandma sounds so lovely!

[@sylvain123]

Brilliant video thankyou! I have too much. Too much everything. This has inspired me to have a good cleanout. I have clothes that I bought 30+ years ago and are still really serviceable. Especially parka jackets. The modern anorak is useless and mostly polyester rubbish. My old parkas still look like new. It's interesting to note that I still go to the 30 year old clothes in my wardrobe over modern clothes. My favourite old jeans and tshirts. The only modern stuff I have to purchase new is underwear. And it doesn't last. I still have some very old threadbare cotton nighties that I refuse to part with ☺️

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Thank you so much, I appreciate you being here!

[@recyclecouture]

I buy most of my clothes from thrift stores, bras and underwear I buy new. I have several pullover sweaters from the 1990s.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

That’s amazing!

[@mabel8179]

I've been shopping for clothes in charity shops since the 1980s (due to tight budgets but also the fun of not not knowing what one might find and liking vintage). Recently I started shopping on Vinted, and I have found some great vintage style clothing for very cheap prices, like a 1920s style dress for under £5!

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

I’m exactly like you!

[@RedGlasses12]

Every time I switch out my summer or winter wardrobes for the season, I donate the pieces I haven't worn. If it wasn't touched, it wasn't needed. There's some things that I save for special occasions, or things that are more sentimental than practical use, but I've been winnowing down the things I own for a while. I'm nowhere near a capsule wardrobe, but that's the eventual goal! Now I just need to find a couple pairs of really well made slacks, that'll make it easier to donate the pants I don't wear anymore.

[@kilisandra6008]

What a fabulous video to find on my feed during my work lunch break. Hope your having an amazing day.😊

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

You too! xx

[@jdardlu7214]

I prefer to keep clothing for many years. Unfortunately even expensive brands no longer use durable fabrics or finish the seams etc. in a durable way.

[@mawmawd627]

Love the Narnia reference. Love your content.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Thank you so much, I appreciate you being here!

[@ibislife]

I remember my grandmother visiting us, in the 70's she came by train. Carrying a brown leather suitcase. It was rather small for todays standards, and it held clothes for a week, and sometimes even small gifts for us children. Her clothes didnt take up much space. Her style was from the 40's, like the late Queen Mother, and I remember two things - she wore an invisible hairnet, her grey hair was long! And she had a lipstick with no color, or maybe it was pale orange, but on her lips the color changed to a beautiful red colour. Magic! 😊 And you are right, the at home clothes were not as nice as the going out clothes, even going grocery shopping meant changing the clothes and putting on a hat, coat and lipstick.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Your grandma sounds so lovely!

[@mackerelcat6677]

I got hand-me-downs from my older cousins in the 1960s. I am allergic to wool and dreaded getting their wool sweaters. The clothes also did not fit well due to differences in our height and shapes. It never made me desire excessive clothing, but I am picky about fit and comfort.

[@WithLoveKristina]

Love this! I definitely have FAR too many clothes, through thrifting and collecting vintage, and honestly I'm inspired to go and clear out a few things I no longer love or wear. Maybe I won't be down to 10 dresses, but I could do with less than I have now (No I will not admit how many I have now. ;) )

[@elizabethbaldwin1269]

The suitcases are always what gets me. It comes up surprisingly frequent in period novels, an inventory if the suitcase. There’s nothing in there.

[@sallycormier1383]

I loved the Narnia reference!! lol😂

[@athenathegreatandpowerful6365]

Funny, my total quantity of clothes is WAY over 300, even counting a skirt/blouse combo as one item. But, hear me out... I have a daily wear wardrobe, skirts and blouses/tops, a Tudor wardrobe, a 1930s/40s wardrobe, a 50s wardrobe, and a wardrobe from miscellaneous eras. My main job is selling necessities to Medievalists, gotta look the part. 😊 90% I've built myself, anything I didn't make I've either traded for or bought from another costumer who made it. I sew, a LOT. It's Fun. Patterns, fabric and miscellaneous have gone through the roof since C19 and most of the ones I like are even more expensive. Scary amounts. My Christmas gift from hubby this year is a pattern.

[@mabel8179]

Well you are a costumer and seamstress so I'd expect you to have more than the average person!

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

WOW WOW WOW, I'd love to see your collection!

[@LoveisIt...]

I remember as a young child (I'm talk about 3 years old so this was in '79) when I first started stopping over with my Grandparent's house Inwoke up to a set of false teeth in the glass at the side of the bed 😅o. Rollers in her hair with a scarf or a hairnet (which eas more typical for her) .I'd be snuggled up beside her and when she couldn't talk properly it used to horrify me that that's how I'd end up. when I grew up haha 😂. She had the nighties on and the nightgown over the top but nothing extravagant. The typical 'Grandma slippers'. Then she would live in her basic top and skirt or dressbwith an apron over top during the day. She always got her hair permed at dpme point but the rest of the time she would set her hair with some sort of setting liquid and small plastic rollers. The really sharp ones.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Your grandma sounds so lovely!

[@lianapalumbo8457]

I havent bought anuthing from a "normal" shop for over 20 years. I started buying from Op shops since i was 17 and also made my clothing. I will wear my clothes until they're unable to be repaired anymore, and then they will be used for our rescue animals. I hate consumerism and the waste and greed associated with it. Im just so glad people are starting to wake up! Thankyou for an excellent episode ❤️❤️

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

I’m exactly like you!

[@TarmoAlholinna]

I love clothes! I shop at thrift stores and I buy too many items of clothing!! But I love lots of clothes!! ❤😂

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

I’m exactly like you!

[@Suefeena]

Lovely ❤

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Thank you so much

[@mandie3049]

❤❤❤ thankyou

[@julieemig432]

I have never liked shopping and am very frugal. A lot of my clothes have been given to me when family cleans out. I also downsized 2 years ago and donated over half my clothing. I still have more than I need of some things. I wear it for years. I think when people change size it contributes to clothes shopping. Fortunately I have been the same size for many years

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

I’m exactly like you!

[@alexandracash8106]

Loved this video and it's content. I'd love to hear your thoughts on Rock n Romance. I see that little yellow number you have from them. I want to try them so bad but I'm in the UK and the shipping is more than I want to pay! All the good reproduction companies are in the UK!

[@mabel8179]

Did you mean you are in the USA?

[@alexandracash8106]

Yes!

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Try Revival Vintage, I think they ship internationally?

[@ricebeansrockroll882]

Id say the biggest reason clothes get thrown out is quality. I wear my clothes untill they fall appart, but these days for a t-shirt it's about 2-3 years. I wear them out in the armpits! How much wear does the armpits get!? I have clothes that are over 20 years that hold up, new ones fall appart despite my best efforts.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

So true!

[@livvymcglone8046]

This was so good! ❤

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Thank you so much, I appreciate you being here!

[@darkrose1983]

Clothes were made to last. I grew up in the 60s and 70s. I only had school clothes, playing out clothes (often hand me downs) and a party or best dress.

[@LoveisIt...]

Explains a lot about my grandma. Always wearing her apron. When I see older people of that generation constantly went aprons over clothes. I guess it's a habit they formed back then?

[@LoveisIt...]

I remember my mom always saying that they had to make do amend attitude. She's a very minimalist person when it comes to her wardrobe and she doesn't understand that. Mine's exploded past logic haha! Im the complete opposite to her. My grandma wore the same few dresses very often.

[@LoveisIt...]

Another thing too. My mom had a very simple almost wartime style dress when she got married in 1971. It was alora Ashley one. She said they were very fashionable and she lived in Sheffield with my dad at the time. They got married in a church as was normal back then. All of her photos are black and white. I remember as a child I used to look in her drawers and see my christening dress. I used to love looking at it. She kept her veil but I found out that she'd actually cut her wedding dress up and made it into a christening dress for me. I'm guessing that's something they did back then?

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Your grandma sounds so lovely!

[@greeneyedmimibostian3013]

My southern grandma had five dresses my northern grandma 10 with one new every year

[@rachelbennett9150]

Goodness, who is buying 64 new items of clothing every year?! I have under 100 items including shoes, (but excluding socks and undies). I buy maybe 2 items a year. And I definitely shop in thrift stores, especially for my kids, who won't stop growing. I don't know why. ;)

[@joannehague4068]

There must some outliers buying huge amounts of clothing a year because I don't think I've bought 64 items in a year in my life. I might have to start keeping a record just to see!

[@ruthlloyd1163]

are we counting individual socks?

[@sayhello5377]

This is such an important topic. I’m really curious to know what studies or statistics found that American women purchase, on average, 68 new items of clothing per year. I don’t think I’ve purchased that many new items of clothing in the last five years. Honestly, the only times I’ve really purchased several new things in a single year were when I was pregnant and breast-feeding and that was because I had to do to my changing body shape. I wonder if we are including things like socks, underwear, scarves, etc. Anyway, very interesting video and thank you for sharing.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Thank you so much, I appreciate you being here!

[@angelaoliver2750]

And that's not including my underwear

[@user-yy1bx8mh1d]

Absolutely love this video ❤

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Thank you so much, I appreciate you being here!

[@Su-ri5ob]

The quality was better, clothing could last years. Nowadays, you're lucky if an item lasts a year. I bought a Seasalt 'waterproof' coat in January, the zip has broken, one of the seams has gone and it's about as waterproof as a sponge.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

So true!

[@bridgetkeyes6170]

Good approach - picky point - wouldn't they have had blouses and jumpers to go with skirts too? Still got some utility cc40 shirts and sheets - does that make me frugal or a hoarder?

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

I too am a frugal hoarder! Welcome to the family :)

[@user-gm1kl6xy4m]

My 27 year old twins have fnd they impulse buy on line live of disability if I tell them save not waste they tell at me could be fnd but I pray they learn I love them

[@JazzyBabe56]

its not so much fast fashion as it is cheap fashion - back in the day quality was the hallmark of clothing and because of that pieces lasted so much longer and could be repaired without looking crappy afterward...not so sure about things now - if they are repaired they look repaired...

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

So true!

[@user-gm1kl6xy4m]

I am 56 I only have one good out fit and two of each I only buy new underwear brae per year I live on disability

[@TheGabygael]

You compare consumption practice with times of big crises (1930s and 1940s) how would those numbers compare to the 1900s and 1920s

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Ohhh, good question, I may have another video to make...

[@TheGabygael]

@@Realvintagedollshouse Nicole Rudolph kinda did something similar looking at how much of the income was spent on clothing since the 19th century and if I understand correctly the answer is a lot more money on a piece in the past and a lot more items nowadays but it's mostly because we started wearing underwears as outerwear.

[@SkintLivingUK]

I have less than the war time lot of clothes. Is that worrying? I'm in my 50s, so it might be an age thing!

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Not at all, you're smashing it!

[@user-gm1kl6xy4m]

Living on disability I can I let afford if I need an item

[@thekowboymom2710]

What bothers me about so many of the inexpensive, fast fashions is the terrible material. It's always unbreathable polyester. No thanks. I'll stick to more expensive, natural fibers

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

So true!

[@Lanie_5D]

Clothing quality is garbage now - so the majority of us are trapped buying more. Sad truth. I also have a BAD habit of buying things that look ok but not great then hand it off to friends so buy more. Thrift stores near me are HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!! Full of stained t shirts, torn jeans and ratty shoes that smell of rotten feet. It is very frustrating.

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Oh no! :(

[@johnwynne-qx6br]

Thumbs 👍

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

Thank you so much x

[@angelaoliver2750]

No they are not i have a drawer full of socks 60 pairs of knickers and 10 bra's

[@user-yd4yr5hr3s]

The only clothing that will withstand 10 years are only affordable for the rich these days… only affordable clothing is poorly made with toxic fabric that has no life span whatsoever🤦‍♀️

[@Realvintagedollshouse]

So true!

[@mawmawd627]

Google “Olive Thomas” American Actress from early 1900’s. She’s your doppelgänger