Build a chic capsule wardrobe and makeup kit, here's how
It is designed to simplify your life, save you time and reduce decision fatigue.
SHAH ALAM – A capsule wardrobe is a curated collection of clothing that is versatile, timeless, and minimalistic, designed to simplify your life, save time, and reduce decision fatigue.
Renowned fashion stylist and ex-fashion editor for magazines like Harper Bazaar, Andrea Wong said the main aim in preparing a capsule wardrobe is to ensure that the wardrobe should work hard for its users.
“Fill it with staple pieces that should be the cornerstone of your style: timeless, easy to wear, and something to come back to over and over again.
“This is the foundation of your wardrobe; don't hesitate to invest in good quality pieces that are durable and timeless.
“Quality fabrics and well-made garments will last longer. This might mean spending more initially, but it will save you money in the long run as you will not need to replace items as frequently,” Wong said when speaking at Sinar Daily’s She Leads 2 event at Karangkraf Complex, here, recently.
She laid down essential items when first starting to build a capsule wardrobe:
1. Dark wash skinny jeans
Wong said that dark-wash skinny jeans are essential to a person's wardrobe, where people can style them from day to night, or even look a lot smarter and dressier at the workplace.
"It is laxer; people can either wear it down or dress it up," Wong said.
2. Black pants
She also thinks that black pants are essential because they are so easy to wear, especially when there is no time to think about what to wear.
"Choose whatever colour you love; it should be a perfect canvas to play on, and you can make it look feminine edge it up depending on the day, such as pairing a black pant with a rock band T-shirt," she said.
3. Little black dress
This piece would be a timeless piece that most people own.
People can either wear a black dress at work or during an important event. Andrea said personally, she would prefer to layer a black dress with other pieces such as a blazer, which is her go-to look to look more professional and work-environment-friendly.
4. White t-shirt
"A white t-shirt is a great base for a lot of looks. We can have that perfect off-duty outfit, or it is a great piece to dress down a suit by wearing over it.
“It would look more casual with a pleated skirt, you could wear it underneath dresses or with a knee-length skirt. It is another piece you have as opposed to your jeans," Wong said.
5. Knit sweater
In the country’s humid weather, Wong said a knit sweater may seem questionable but said that one could make it work.
She advised choosing a light one to suit the humidity.
Wong however said that most offices are equipped with air conditioning, and hence a knit sweat would be a great layering piece for pieces like a collared shirt, along with a pleated skirt, for anyone going for a feminine look.
6. Button-up shirt
This is also an important piece, according to Wong, because it can be bought in many colours to pair with black pants.
7. Boots
"I love boots a lot. You can wear them with a summer dress or anything floral, or you can wear them with jeans where you cuff them with boots or with a cocktail dress," Wong said.
8. Pumps
Most people are hesitant to wear pumps because of their height and some have not even tried them on at least once in their lives.
Wong said fashion should be pursued without any limitations and said that these shoes especially in neon colours, are great to wear to rock a bold look.
For fashion beginners, nude colours for pumps would still be great as a starter, which is needed for people's wardrobe capsules.
9. Flats
Last but not least, other than boots and pumps, flats are also important.
"Simple flats give an instant confidence boost if you know how to style them, but I know that not all of us can wear them.
Women need to feel powerful in flats as they serve a sophisticated look for corporate fashion," the fashion stylist said.
She also touched on accessories, where people can always play with layering in necklaces, using gold colours for people with a warmer skin tone and silver for people with a paler skin tone.
"For instance, you can put a shorter, choker-length necklace beneath a longer pendant while throwing in another pearly piece to make your necklace set look stylish," she said.
Aside from capsule wardrobe, make-up artist Nabilah Nordin, also known as Warnabilla revealed the secrets to having a capsule makeup collection.
The Staple Rosy Make-Up Look:
Simple but enough to look like you did not just get out of bed!
"When it comes to the rosy make-up look, there is more emphasis on the blush and the lips," Nabilah said.
Known as the staple make-up look, it is simply known as patting some colours on lips and cheeks, usually using one product only, such as cheek tint, to brighten up the cheeks as well as the lips.
"Some different shades of colour you can go for are red, pink, and brown, but the key remains in trying these colours for yourself to know which one suits you best," says the experienced make-up artist.
"Cheek tints come in stick forms with different colours, and the ones I suggest would be neutral colours such as nude and peach colours that can be worn not just on the cheeks but also on the lips," she said.
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Nabilah: Toning the face down or up
"Lipsticks in the basic colour codes of coral, Barry red, brownish red, and pink brownish are a must-have in your capsule," Nabilah said.
One can put tint dots on their lips of lipstick with different colours to blend and create a good colour, she said.
"As long as the makeup does not turn your lips grey, highlight your female moustache, or make your face look dull and texturised, it means that the colour is for you," she added.
Without meaning to throw nude colours "under the bus," experimenting with colours is important to discover what colour suits best to someone, she emphasised.
Another tip for making the lipstick look bolder in colour is by layering with a few different swatches, she said, while a soft blushing lip can also be achieved through the mixing technique by also knowing what colour to mix.
"It is better to have brighter lips at a night event," she said.
Eyeshadow sticks are also important, in her opinion.
"There are many good brands that suggest such a product, such as Laura Mercier, where most of them are able to give that matte, shimmery, and glittery finish. There are brown eyeshadows that give that soft eyeshadow look, and some products are water, sweat and rain proof.
If you want to go for a glittery, pop look, you should try my usual technique of putting eyeshadow in the corner of your eyes, which is what I did today," she said at the She Leads 2 event.
"Mascara and eyebrow gel are also important to complete a good eye look where your brows and lashes would look groomed.
When it comes to complexion products, it is really up to you because different people prefer different products such as tinted moisturiser, cushions, and foundation with minimal or full coverage. As long as you determine a colour and wear a colour on your face, you will not end up looking oily and dull," she further iterated.
media [2642953]**
Known as the staple make-up look, it is simply known as patting some colours on lips and cheeks, usually using one product only, such as cheek tint, to brighten up the cheeks as well as the lips. "Some different shades of colour you can go for are red, pink, and brown, but the key remains in trying these colours for yourself to know which one suits you best," says the experienced make-up artist.
"Cheek tints come in stick forms with different colours, and the ones I suggest would be neutral colours such as nude and peach colours that can be worn not just on the cheeks but also on the lips," she said.
**media [2642901]**
Nabilah: Toning the face down or up
"Lipsticks in the basic colour codes of coral, Barry red, brownish red, and pink brownish are a must-have in your capsule," Nabilah said.
One can put tint dots on their lips of lipstick with different colours to blend and create a good colour, she said. "As long as the makeup does not turn your lips grey, highlight your female moustache, or make your face look dull and texturised, it means that the colour is for you," she added.
Without meaning to throw nude colours "under the bus," experimenting with colours is important to discover what colour suits best to someone, she emphasised.
Another tip for making the lipstick look bolder in colour is by layering with a few different swatches, she said, while a soft blushing lip can also be achieved through the mixing technique by also knowing what colour to mix.
"It is better to have brighter lips at a night event," she said.
Eyeshadow sticks are also important, in her opinion. "There are many good brands that suggest such a product, such as Laura Mercier, where most of them are able to give that matte, shimmery, and glittery finish. There are brown eyeshadows that give that soft eyeshadow look, and some products are water, sweat and rain proof.
If you want to go for a glittery, pop look, you should try my usual technique of putting eyeshadow in the corner of your eyes, which is what I did today," she said at the She Leads 2 event.
"Mascara and eyebrow gel are also important to complete a good eye look where your brows and lashes would look groomed.
When it comes to complexion products, it is really up to you because different people prefer different products such as tinted moisturiser, cushions, and foundation with minimal or full coverage. As long as you determine a colour and wear a colour on your face, you will not end up looking oily and dull," she further iterated.
