This week, I wanted to talk to you about the difference between core pieces and character pieces in your wardrobe. But more specifically, why it’s so important to make sure you have plenty of core pieces before you buy the character pieces. Check out my IGTV on Instagram for the full video, or continue reading below for my thoughts on the subject…
Now, if you don’t know what I’m talking about when I refer to core and character pieces; take some time now to consider your current wardrobe. Is it something you find quite difficult to get dressed from? If it is, you probably have a situation where you have plenty of character pieces and less core.
As I refer to it, core pieces are the basics. Anything really simple. For example, a white t-shirt that’s completely plain. No ruffles, no logos (no matter how small), or buttons etc. If it has any of these things, it’s not a core piece. I’m referring to those items that are so plain, they go with absolutely everything.
Whereas a character piece is an item with something extra. Even if it’s, let’s say, navy, and could be considered quite simple, it has some form of detailing; making it harder to create an outfit from. For example, a basic jacket, that happens to have contrasting buttons. Those buttons qualify it as a character piece.
The reason this came to mind to discuss this week, is that I recently did a wardrobe session with a client who struggled to correctly identify her core pieces. When I asked her for her plain core pieces, she would repeatedly show me something that was not core, and instead, had some level of further detailing.
This made it really easy for me to see why she struggled to put outfits together. Why she repeatedly found herself stood in front of her wardrobe full of clothes but consistently felt she had nothing to wear. There were so few items that were devoid of extra detailing or features, that it made the daily routine increasingly harder as they didn’t go with anything as an outfit.
So, when we went shopping, we focused on the basics. A lot of the character pieces she already owned were great, so she didn’t need much on that front, but we found her core items to build outfits from.
This is something I want you to start thinking about with your clothing. If you’re somebody that’s always standing in front of their wardrobe and often having to put things on, take them off, repeat, you are probably missing the thing that would make an outfit work. I want you to consider whether you have very simple items, that will pull everything together. If you don’t, I want you to compile a shopping list to rectify this.
I know when you go shopping on the weekend or evenings, those are not the things that call you from the rail - or are hung on the mannequin - they’re the things that aren’t that fun to buy or try. But, they are the things that are going to make everything work for you. They are the things will make your wardrobe effortless. I want you to really look at what you own, and see how many items are completely plain. Those are the things you should be looking for. They’re the core pieces.
I hope you find this useful. If you have any questions on this or anything relative, please do let me know!