How to Plan a Historical Capsule Wardrobe

A historical capsule wardrobe might truly be an answer to making historical fashion more convenient for everyday wear. This video focuses upon how to plan your own historical capsule wardrobe. While I myself do not have a historical capsule wardrobe (yet), I do have over two years of experience wearing historical clothing daily, so these were the tips I could devise to get started with making your very own.

Because I primarily only wear 18th and 19th century fashion, I do use many examples from these periods, however, these tips could very well be applied to any era of dress, whether that be more masculine or feminine fashion. A more historybounding capsule wardrobe plan could also be created using these pointers.

Be sure to download my free, simple to use historical capsule wardrobe planning checklist, so you can have a seamless experience brainstorming and organising your ideas:

Thank you so much for watching and for more than 2.5K subscribers on this channel! I am beyond grateful.

A big thanks to Brittany Bishop for her artistic contribution of the line-work sketch of the 18th-century lady (later coloured in and used throughout different parts of this video). She is a fabulous creative and her Instagram can be found here:

From The Jenness-Miller Magazine Dress, Vol II, Jan-Feb, probably 1888. Page 181. “Rational Dress” Underwear for Women.

A final thanks to Beachfront B-Roll for the shot of the winter icicles melting:

Due to character limitations, all other sources can be found here:

All music is sourced from Epidemic Sound.

Time Stamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:56 What Is a Capsule Wardrobe?
3:07 Choose Two Piece Sets
4:13 Choose an Era
6:42 Only Include What You Will Wear
7:40 Consider Seasonality & Treat Under and Outer Garments Separate
11:12 Choose a Colour Scheme
12:57 Stick to Similar Silhouettes
14:34 Add Accessories
16:08 Final Thoughts & End Screen

#HistoricalCapsuleWardrobe #HistoricalFashion #VictorianFashion

[VBirchwood]

I hope you all enjoyed this video and I appreciate your patience as I got a hang of the new editing programme!

Be sure to download the free historical capsule wardrobe plan checklist, for which a link is available in the description box.

Additionally, as a small token of my gratitude for being a part of this channel reaching more than 2.5K subscribers, I have just released a curated "Songs for Historical Sewing" playlist, which can be found in the "Playlists" tab on my channel.

[kassistwisted]

One thing we should not forget is that the aesthetic of people in the past is not the same as the aesthetic today as you showed so brilliantly with the bubble gum pink and cobalt blue combo. Your suggestion to "wear what colours you enjoy" is just the best advice. Brava!

[habituscraeftig]

Living in India gave me such an appreciation for unusual and vibrant color combinations. I also enjoy looking at the color layering charts for Heian era court dress. They have some truly baffling combinations that do, in fact, work quite well — despite what it looks like as little color swatches on the page.

[VerbenaComfrey]

I live wearing a dark teal with a delft blue and then small touches of tangerine orange. I get compliments all the time on it. Viva la Ugly -Pretty!

[feezlfuzzl]

I have a similar thing with my 1950s- style dresses. I make the same style every time, because that's what I love. They are one-piece, but I like that, because that's almost the whole outfit. It makes getting dressed so much faster and easier, not having to choose separates. I want to get into more historical clothing, especially dirndl, maybe for winter. The most intimidating part for me is the corsets or stays, but I'm experimenting.

[mononoke]

Very inspiring! I personally like the early Tudor and early Medieval (European) period in general with the lovely kirtle styles, detachable sleeves, wool petticoats and aprons (more working class) so will take these points and apply to them. i think mixing and matching pinafore style kirtles with smock-like dresses is going to be a lot of fun! Thank you for another excellent video <3

[makeda]

Am I planning a capsule wardrobe? No. Am I gonna use the information to match everything I make from now on? Probably
Thanks for the video~.

[joe_kahn]

As soon as she starts talking i forget what i was angry about. Her voice and beauty soothes me.

[theresashingler]

This is wonderful, thank you. I'm just dipping my toes into historically inspired dressing and sewing (1895 - 1910 ish). This is so helpful. I look forward to the undergarment wardrobe too when it comes out.

[SimpleDesertRose]

Same way you don't like short sleeves, I personally can't stand tight things around my neck. Growing up I was always tugging on the neck of any turtleneck shirts of sweaters that I had. Which has created a challenge for me as far as wearing Victorian/Edwardian shirts. Since everything went up and around the neck I have had a hard time finding blouse patterns that work for me. So I have been on the lookout for a blouse that buttons up the front. I recently found one from the right period too. So now I can have a shirt that can give the high neck look while leaving the top unbuttoned for the days I just cant do anything around my neck. Another thing I don't really like are gathers. They some how seem messy to me so I pleat my skirts in the back for proper fullness and still give a clean silhouette. I'm also working on a regency wardrobe for the hot Arizona summers. When it reaches 115°F you want something light weight and breezy to wear. I bought some linen earlier in the summer to make a regency dresses with. Only like an idiot I didn't make a mock up for the bodice and attempted to do the modifications to the bust with the fabric I was using for the dress. That turned out to be an epic fail. I managed to find another pattern to use that will be easier to modify for a much better fit. It would be so much easier if I had a dress form instead of trying to do it on my body. Soon, though. I have to do some rearranging of my sewing area. It also doubles as my school office. I have my personal computer in there and do all my printing and store all my school supplies in there. I have plans for rearranging the homeschool area so that I can move school out completely and reclaim my sewing area.

[dexaria]

I wear more of a historically inspired wardrobe and thermal underwear is my go to in winter. Under my clothes no one can see my stripey long johns but I’m toasty warm

[justyna]

When it comes to historical capsule wardrobes, in my opinion the best place on YouTube to go to is Mariah Pattie! She’s wonderful, and she makes different historical capsule wardrobes from different time periods, she’s done 18th century, medieval, 1890s, 1910s and she keeps making more, I think that’s an awesome recommendation to give in regards to this topic.

[mspennywhistle]

This is awesome, I have similar methods of assembling and making my wardrobe (1890s clothes) and I’m glad to know I’m not alone in my thinking. Also the ugly-pretty Victorian and general historical phenomenon is hilarious, I agree that it’s so fascinating yet amusing! Excellent video too, the visuals are amazing

[iainmc]

Totally with you on the generics, petticoats, chemises, underclothes in general if the outer garment covers them up can all be re-used (It depends here if you're wearing things for your own satisfaction or for the public eye). A wide brimmed straw or felt hat can often be manipulated into several shapes and accessorized to period. Stomachers can also be re-used on different gowns as well. Older people tend to wear the fashion from the generation before, certain professions, eg. doctors, clerics, have an almost institutional conservatism in dress.
I have an 18th century greatcoat with a wide 19th century collar, as the wide collar balances out stylistically the turnback cuffs I don't really care that its an anachronism, it keeps the wind off the back of my neck and can be topped off by either a tricorn or a bicorn.
The point you make about practical working people's clothing is spot on, fashion changes for those that can afford it.
I guess the general point, as you stated, is not everything has to be up to date, whatever that date happens to be.

[LiljaHusmo]

Love the thumbnail, and your striped shirt is so nice! These are some great tips!

[loftyradish]

I love this, and your mantra about thoughts is one I'm going to use.

I just like wearing pretty things and I see the clothes I make as works of art. I'm currently working on a capsule wardrobe designed around skirts and blouses. I love colour, and mostly wear pastels. So I have pale pink, sky blue, lavender blue and purple, yellow, grey and white. My plan is to create matching skirts and blouses that I can wear as a set, or I can mix and match. I also do hand embroidery and hand make my own lace, and typically do the embroidery and lace in different colours to the clothes. I am such a slow knitter, but my plan is to make cardigans I can pair with everything. I love clothes that are quietly elegant, where the sheer amount of effort that goes into the garment isn't immediately apparent. I love doing embroidery stitches around button holes that only I will ever see or appreciate. I do it all by hand, so it is a very slow process since I work full time and study part time, but it brings me so much peace to do, and joy to wear.

[ThistleandInkwell]

Bring it, the #victorianuglypretty hashtag. Unconventional pairings are beautiful to some and ugly to others, just like any art might be as well. Love the reference and how it plays into wardrobe pairings. I like to mix it up sometimes, plaids and stripes and the like, keeps things spicy.

[lisez]

motivating, thank you, you convinced me to start planning my capsule.

[vincentbriggs]

That brooch at 16:40 would go SO well with 1990's bowling alley carpet inspired prints! Some of the mid 19th century print swatches I've seen are so incredibly eye searing that I'm sure they'd love those 90's prints.
Your wardrobe is fabulous! 18th century women's jackets are so so cute, I love them.

I've been thinking that I want to make a video on my wardrobe eventually, but there are important gaps in it that need filling first, so perhaps I ought to make a planning & designing video sometime this year. That could be very helpful, since I've never come across anything like this for menswear.

[greeneyedgal]

Love you show, I love fabric, I am a quilter so fabric is my love. Your fashions are fantastic. Thank you