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Stepping into Kristen Campbell’s dressing room is like walking into a carefully curated boutique. Bold accessories are artfully arranged on a table draped in lush faux fur. Purses are perched on shelves like décor. On her dresser, the artful tags from clothing are on display under a glass top. She always found the designer graphics on fashion tags appealing, and she used to cover her school notebooks in them. While she always had a passion for fashion, little did she know she’d eventually find her way back to it, making a new career out of it as a wardrobe consultant and personal stylist.
Campbell has a master’s degree in environmental science, and even when she was directing The African Center for Health and Human Security at George Washington University, she was always drawn to fashion…the fabrics the women were wearing left an imprint on her style. Today, she uses her methodology in fashion, just like she would in science, following the process with each client on their unique style journey.
Using her love of fashion and background in science, Campbell started Threads of Hershey in 2014 (threadsofhershey.com). She offers a range of services including closet audits, styling sessions, and personal shopping appointments to women and men throughout Central Pennsylvania and ranging all the way to Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Using a methodical approach, Campbell helps her clients manage their closets and shop more strategically so that they look and feel better. She also teaches her clients how to do more with less.
The noticeable difference in her own closet: one rack which contains her entire wardrobe for spring. A closet in her bedroom stores out-of-season pieces. “Because spring weather in Central PA is so erratic, there are seven jackets; the bulk of the capsule wardrobe is outerwear,” Campbell explains. She chose one neutral sweater and one suit—but in an updated lilac hue. She also has the essential jeans: one skinny (which are still in style, she confirms, just not with high boots unless over-the-knee; booties are where it’s at for this season), one wide-leg, and one white pair. “The white jean is one of my signatures. It will change your life if you embrace wearing it year-round.” Missing from the spring capsule is a little black dress. Instead Campbell chooses a navy jumpsuit. “Navy is my go-to for spring.” There are 35 pieces total, including five pairs of shoes. This capsule wardrobe will take her through May, when it’s time to transition to summer.
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“The jumper is the LBD of the spring wardrobe.” She pairs it with a white bodysuit, bomber jacket, and sneaks for a casual look. Or in this look, dresses it up with a lilac blazer and bold patterned heels. “I could wear this to work or a baby shower.”
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“Camo is the new neutral,” Kristen says. These high-waisted wide-leg pants are made by York fashion designer Arthur & Daughters using real military grade fabric. Paired with a classic white tee, bomber jacket, black studded bag, and Veja sneakers (the French equivalent to Adidas’ Stan Smith).
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High-waisted skinny jeans are paired with a seasonally-updated white shirt with sweet eyelet lace details. Kitten heels are back in this studded white bootie. Blush pink statement earrings add a pop of color. A bamboo clutch brings it all together.
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“A chambray shirt is something everyone should have in their closet,” says Kristen. “And in spring, you still need one sweater in your capsule wardrobe.” These white jeans are a “kick flare,” which is a new style, she adds. “The key to the trendy fanny pack: low and slung.” Lastly, “animal prints are big; gotta have a killer boot.”
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Kristen loves these AYR silky culottes for more than just their ready-to-wear versatility; they’re made by a designer from Hershey, PA. By pairing them with a bow tie blouse, neutral metallic slides, a bucket bag, and a long faux suede coat, she’s ready to go from work to wherever.
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“This look is perfect when it’s 40 degrees in the morning and 60 in the afternoon.” Not your mom’s khakis, with updated cuffs and gold buttons, paired with a neutral green shell and a statement jacket (in nontraditional spring colors) that can come off as temps rise. A classic Louis Vuitton. And earrings made by local artisan Jenni Bowman Designs.
We asked Campbell to explain the concept of the capsule wardrobe and share how you too can simplify your own closet:
What is a capsule wardrobe?
“A capsule wardrobe contains a limited number of items—both staples and trendy pieces—that can be mixed and matched to create numerous outfits. Although the term ‘capsule wardrobe’ was coined in the 1970s by Susie Faux, the owner of a London boutique, capsule wardrobes have the potential to work really well in 2019 because society has become much more casual. As a result, items in your closet are inherently more versatile and, therefore, can be worn more readily. The main idea behind the capsule wardrobe is that by having/owning less, you will actually gain more!” Campbell explains.
“People love the idea of a capsule wardrobe, but they are hesitant because they don’t want to part with their clothing. They think it might be too difficult to style multiple looks, or they have plenty of closet space and don’t feel like they need to pare back. The reality is that owning fewer things results in a new-found freedom. We all believe the lie that more is better, when less can actually be more when it comes to your closet!”
Are there “rules” to follow?
“Although there are no set rules per se, it’s important to understand the framework and philosophy behind owning minimal items. Two resources that I live by are The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo and The Curated Closet, by Anuschka Rees. Both authors advocate for a simplified wardrobe management system to help reduce stress and build style confidence. Capsule wardrobes can (and should) be tailored to fit your climate and lifestyle. The transformation realized from a simplified wardrobe can be life-changing because it makes shopping and dressing easier.”
What are the necessary pieces?
“Sources vary on the number and types of pieces necessary for a capsule wardrobe. Having done it myself, I believe the magic number is somewhere between 30-40 items, including shoes (undergarments, workout gear, sleepwear, and swimwear are extras). Your capsule should be built on well-fitting and well-made staples that will hold up season after season. Although I think the original concept of the capsule wardrobe was that it was seasonless, to make it work in Central Pennsylvania where the weather varies greatly, I think seasonal capsules are a necessity.” She explains, “I have four capsule wardrobes (although two would also work), and my staples cross over from season to season.”
Campbell’s advice: “Shoes can complete an outfit, so choose wisely. I select shoes that are versatile or that add texture and pattern to the solid clothing pieces. These include snakeskin embossed booties, white pebble leather kitten-heel booties, leopard calf hair block heels, and grey suede heels. The shoes also help transform my looks so that I am ready for any activity or event that comes my way.”
“Affordable accessories are a great way to make the same staples appear different,” she says. “Like my shoes, I also use my accessories—jewelry, scarves, bags—to bring in any needed colors, textures, or shine, which instantly elevates my well-crafted looks.”
“If you have a small capsule wardrobe, you have to make your accessories and shoes work really hard,” Campbell points out.
“An important note is that a capsule wardrobe is not just about paring back or editing items out of your closet. The items that you add to your closet to build your capsule wardrobe are even more critical for success. When I started my business about five years ago, I became more mindful about my clothing purchases and how the items I was purchasing worked with my wardrobe in its entirety. I started asking myself, “Do I need this?” as a first step instead of, “Do I love it?” Because I love fashion and shopping, I found I could almost always convince myself that I loved an item, especially if it was on sale! When I started buying pieces that I could wear multiple times, or that rounded out specific looks, I found that I was wearing things more effectively and looked more stylish,” explains Campbell.
Some of Campbell’s favorite local resources for purchasing capsule items: Essentials/Basics—Arthur and Daughters, Simple J, Little Black Dress, and Maggie Adams. Trendy items—Three Little Birds, Knock Knock Jewelry, and Marketplace Hershey. Shoes—Plum Bottom and Nordstrom Rack.
How do you make the concept work for people who think it might be unrealistic?
“The reality, according to Ginny Snook Scott, chief design officer of California Closets, is that most of us only wear about 20 percent of our clothes regularly, so transitioning to a minimal closet or capsule wardrobe is more achievable than you might think. Also, the casualization of society has made it easier to interchange pieces from day to night and from workout to work wear.
What is a more realistic number of pieces to pare down to?
“It is important to note that it’s not just about paring down but also about identifying and purchasing the right pieces,” Campbell explains. “Although a true capsule wardrobe is around 35 items, your personal number depends on your lifestyle and personal style. A more realistic number that’s still manageable might be between 50-75 pieces. I would say that a working person might need more variety in his or her wardrobe (depending on workplace dress code and travel), while someone who is retired or who is a stay-at-home mom or dad might need fewer items. The goal is to be able to wear an item 30 or more times a season for it to be an effective part of your wardrobe.”
What should those pieces be?
“I often refer my clients to online lists of staples (whowhatwear.com and Pinterest are great resources). Because today’s fashion is more about personal style than it is about following steadfast rules, even the basic lists vary depending on what stylist you ask. Also, the list of staples changes over time. Clients can view different versions of the staples and decide for themselves which fit them best,” says Campbell.
What’s your philosophy on wardrobe management?
“What you wear is really important because it impacts your intelligence (studies have been done to prove this), confidence level, and mood,” explains Campbell. “What you wear also impacts how people interact with you. People make assumptions about your capabilities, likeability, and performance based on your appearance. Maintaining a minimal closet and only wearing things that you love is really critical to your success in life.”
How do you help clients choose what to keep, toss, donate, or consign?
“We run through the checklist above (Does it fit? Do I love it?) to determine what stays and what gets edited. Sometimes I have to read cues (body language, facial expressions, tone of voice) to help them make a decision, but they often know what they absolutely love and what needs to be discarded. Once we set items aside, we can determine what items to donate (usually those that are in good condition but a little outdated), toss (those items that are worn or damaged), and consign (I sell gently used clothes that were purchased in the last one to three years to Jhett Set in Hershey). Therealreal.com is also a great resource for high-end consignment because they only purchase and sell items that are authentic and that are in excellent condition,” says Campbell.
Is there a type of hanger you recommend?
“I recommend the velvet hangers that can be purchased at Costco or Home Goods. They are slim, so they don’t take up much space in your closet, and they grip your clothes so that silky shirts don’t slip off,” she says. “I also recommend the velvet clips (available at Bed Bath and Beyond) for skirts and dressy pants. I love this system because it creates space between your items and puts everything in the same line of sight so that you can easily see all of your clothes. The symmetry also creates a beautiful and calming space so that you start your day off on the right foot. I hang my jeans on metal S-hooks because I like to quickly and easily see the different types of wash, length, and rise.”
Tips for closet/storage solutions?
“I love a beautiful closet system, and there are some wonderful vendors around town (Victory Closets, Closettec, and California Closets), but if you can’t afford to go that route, there are simple storage and organization solutions that work great,” Campbell states. “I like to be able to see my fashion items, so I have simple metal racks for my clothes. I display my necklaces on faux deer antlers that hang on the wall, and earrings and cuffs are arranged on trays that sit on tables and dressers. My scarves hang on a wooden ladder, and I remove my shoes from their boxes and group them by type. Bags are organized on shelves for easy access. I have a small dresser so that I can store my undergarments, socks, pajamas, and workout clothes.”
Kristen’s steps to building acapsule wardrobe:
1. Pretend like you are packing for Paris: According to Sara Watson, a well-known capsule wardrobe blogger (livelovesara.com), the best way to start narrowing your capsule is to pretend like you are packing the perfect wardrobe for a two-week trip to a major city like Paris or New York. Over those 14 days, you want a minimal number of bags that contain fashion items that look great and that are comfortable. These items should mix and match so that you can wear them multiple times and be versatile enough for a range of activities, just like in your everyday life.
2. Identify an anchor color: The second step is to establish an anchor color (I typically use black in the fall and winter and navy in the spring and summer because they pair well with colors that dominate those seasons). To add interest and pops of color to your looks, identify one or two coordinating colors (my coordinating colors this winter were burgundy and emerald green, and for spring they are shades of lavender and pinks). I always visit the Pantone Color Institute’s Pantone Fashion Color Trend Report (pantone.com) to identify trending colors for each season.
3. Style before you buy: The third step is to style looks (and then photograph them) in order to identify any missing items you might need to purchase to complete your outfits. Make a shopping list and just shop for those items that you need to round out the looks. Accessories are a must and can also be used to finish a look.
More Pro Tips fromthe Stylist:
There are three main things I work on with my clients:
1. Editing and organizing
2. Styling looks
3. Shopping strategically
First, I encourage my clients to think of their closet as a place that brings them calm and confidence. To achieve this, we first have to edit by evaluating each item in the closet and asking:
1. Does it fit (or can it be tailored)?
2. Is it in good condition?
3. Do I love it?
4. Does it reflect my current style?
Items that don’t meet the above criteria are removed. Often, I’m giving my clients permission to part with things they already knew they needed to discard. I also organize items in the closet by type (shirts, pants, skirts) and then by color (neutrals and then colors of the rainbow).
We also have the bin category. I encourage clients to remove and store keepsake items (for example, something from the first date with your husband) and any items they really love but that don't currently fit. This category can’t be excessive, but we all have things we can’t part with for one reason or another.
Second, I help my clients “shop their own closets” by building outfits using their existing clothes. I photograph the looks (called a “flat lay”) and then I assemble a digital or hard copy “look book” so that clients can refer back to the outfits.
Third, I help my clients shop more strategically by giving them the tools to save them time and money. For most of us, shopping meets some emotional need by relieving stress, boredom, insecurity, or unhappiness. If you shop from a list of items that you need, you can remove emotion from the equation. I find that when my clients are focused on necessary items, they are more likely to think carefully about their purchases, resulting in a wardrobe that is more compact, more stylish and more practical.
Additional tips to help you shop more strategically:
1. Avoid buying duplicate items (one can be enough!)
2. Don’t buy things just because they are on sale (it causes you to purchase things you don’t need).
3. Consider cost per wear (better quality items typically last longer, which results in a bigger bang for the buck—items from Target can be more expensive than items from Neiman Marcus because they don’t stand up to the wash and wear.)
