76 CalmMoment.comliving
two years now and have loved it!” Christine
tells us, “It worked well for my casual
business attire when I was working at an
office job, but I’m switching up my wardrobe
a bit now that I’m [changing] careers and
working more from home.” Reselling her
pre-loved clothes on Instagram means that
nothing goes to waste and she can curate
another capsule collection that reflects her
changing lifestyle.
When it comes to the minimal approach,
it’s important to take time to really work
out what you need, as Christine explains.
“Because I took a few months to research
and curate each piece for my capsule
wardrobe, I was surprised at how long my
wardrobe lasted and that I wasn’t bored of
the pieces I had.”
If you’re keen to give it a try, Christine
recommends taking your time to understand
your style. “Find pieces that work for you
and make you feel your best,” she says.
Author, teacher and sewing pattern
designer Meg McElwee (sewliberated.com)
absolutely agrees: “I think you need to start
with where you are at this moment, bytaking a good look at all the clothes you
already enjoy wearing,” she says.
Taking a slower, more methodical
approach means you can stop to appreciate
what you already have, make any necessary
repairs or alterations and donate or sell
clothes that you no longer need, effectively
streamlining your wardrobe. As James Clear
explains in his brilliant book, Atomic Habits
(jamesclear.com): “When we remove the
points of friction that sap our time and
energy, we can achieve more with less effort.
This is one of the reasons tidying up can feel
so good: we are simultaneously moving
forward and lightening the cognitive load
our environment places on us.”
From Meg’s perspective, creating our own
clothes can positively impact our wellbeing
too. For her, making clothes can be a
powerful act of self-care. “Without this
approach, sewing becomes just another form
of consumerism. The clothes we make in
haste, without much thought and care, are
infused with this negative energy, and we
will feel that when we wear them. If we
want to truly honour our bodies exactly as
they are now, we need to approach our
sewing from a place of self-love. This way
of approaching the craft truly revolutionises
one’s self-care practice.
“Identify the characteristics of all your
favourite pieces – certain silhouettes,
colours and fabric feels and other details will
start to stand out to you,” she continues.
“Keep these characteristics in mind as you
decide what to make.”
These same principles could also be
applied to buying new items for your
wardrobe. Dressing in poorly made,
uncomfortable or ill-fitting garments is
unlikely to make us feel great aboutChristine Liu
Passionate about finding
more eco-friendly ways
to navigate life, Christine
shares all she's learnt in
Sustainable Home (£18,
White Lion Publishing). Find
more tips on how to create a
capsule wardrobe you love
at simplybychristine.comCrafting is known for its
therapeutic and meditative
qualities. Losing yourself in the
task, working closely with the
fabric, needle and thread, as well
as getting to wear a fixed garment
can feel incredibly rewarding.
If you want to make a feature of
your repair, it’s worth checking out
#visiblemending on Instagram.
The work of Jessica Marquez
(@MiniatureRhino), KatrinaRodabaugh (@katrinarodabaugh),
Helgrose Studio (@Helgrose_
Studio) and @WrenBirdMends is
particularly inspiring.
Keen on improving your sewing
skills or don’t have anything to
mend just yet? DIY sewing and
stitching kits, such as the Sashiko-
inspired ones by Kate Brookes
(@SewingWithKate), are great for
getting the hang of the patterns
and technique too.MEDITATIVE MENDING
Get hands-on with your clothing repairs
Photog
rap
hy^ Meg^ McEl
wee