But what actually is a 'Capsule Wardrobe' -
HB: I found it really interesting the other day, how when we were in the circle [at the post pop up drinks] that everyone had a different definition of a capsule wardrobe… What was yours again?
AW: Mine was not as strict as other people’s from memory. I remember other people said, like, ‘two pants, two skirts’... For me it’s a very tight, considered wardrobe where most things all go together, and you can mix and match it all year round and it’s gonna go pretty well. Not all of it, but a good percentage of it.
HB: Do you have certain pants that are designated cold weather / warm weather, or do you wear them all year?
AW: I mainly wear them all year. I think the Harvey’s, it’s just because they’re cream. If I had a black pair I’d wear them all year round. I don’t know why -
HB: Do you think that will change when you have softer colours on top half?
AW: Yes! You could do a cream knit on top with the Harvey’s and that would look beautiful in winter. And I do love a tonal cream situation! So maybe it’s just that I don’t own a cream jumper? And then I feel like these boots have unlocked Cross Back Skirt in winter as well.
HB: Yeah, totally. I love how differently we wear [similar clothes]. I like that with both of our brands, two people can own exactly the same pieces, and it gets styled completely differently and takes on… it’s like they are blank canvases and takes on their wearer. - It’s the gentle details I think. That you discover as you go.
AW: Something we talked about the other day [was how] - a big part of other people saying they’re getting rid of clothes is because they won’t be that size again. And so I think it’s something we don’t really think about but pieces in your capsule wardrobe can move with you a little bit that makes such a huge difference between that piece getting worn all the time, or that piece being put on the back burner.
HB: I agree, clothes need to adjust and move with you.
AW: I think society has told women for so long that we need to be controlling our bodies and our bodies should be fitting into the garment or into the world -
HB: - Into the standard size. But there is no standard size.
AW: Yep. We don’t [always] have control over our bodies. Sometimes you're bloated, sometimes you get unwell and lose weight or get unwell and put on weight.
HB: Stress.
AW: All sort of things happen, so that is just a lie that we’ve been fed that we have control so I think it is so nice when we can accept - it’s hard to accept - but actually, my body is going to fluctuate a little bit and it’s one of my criteria, is there a bit of wiggle room, a dress size either way for that, and I feel like that’s what I love about the Cross Back, and the Harvey’s and that so many pieces allow for fluctuation throughout the day *laughs* and in your life.
HB: Did you know that with customers, if they’re [figuring out size in emails] I ask them to measure themselves in the morning and in the evening.
*conversation pauses as Anna changes lanes in traffic*
HB: So, my definition of a capsule wardrobe - someone thought I had one.
AW: I think you have one. I agree with that person *laughs*
HB: I thought of it more how you said it before. Like two pairs of pants, four t-shirts, or one shirt. But I think it’s because I know people that have a single rack.
AW: Wow.
HB: I felt really guilty [comparing my amount of clothes to others] for a long time - then I realised some people wear a uniform to work.
AW: Ohhh as in for us -
HB: This is our uniform.
AW: I guess also, anything worth doing is also worth doing imperfectly.
HB: Imperfectly?
AW: Yeah, which is something I come back to all the time, if you are trying to do a capsule wardrobe and it’s not quite two pants and two skirts or whatever, that’s still great, you’re trying to have less. I also think if we’re aiming for that, it’s kind of daunting [if] I’m not going to achieve that there’s no point.
HB: How long has it been since you’ve been building yours? Coz I think that’s another misconception. I remember first circulating into beautiful quality t-shirts and slowly getting rid of the other things.
AW: Well, it’s not like I woke up one day and thought ‘I’m doing a capsule wardrobe’ it’s more - I still remember, when I was say twenty, and I saved up for a black cashmere cardigan, it slowly started. As you say, it was a transition. I still had some crappy t-shirts but I’m not going to get rid of them. It’s like I slowly phased things out.
HB: And found the updated versions as well.
AW: Yeah, I slowly invested in a few pieces, and then I used them as my corner stones whenever I would want to get something new. ‘Well okay, I’ve got my special cardigan, and I’ve got my special mary janes, is this now going to slot nicely in with this party?’ The further I got, the easier it became. The very start was the hardest.
HB: Well you’re just looking into the void aren’t you of 'what do I want?'
AW: There’s times where I bought something thinking it was my forever coat or whatever, and there was times where I thought, 'actually I got that wrong'.
HB: I think it’s good to test that stuff though, if you can. If you are buying the quality garment to test it and you are aiming for it to be forever, but you’ve invested in quality so if you resell it after a few wears [if you change your mind].
AW: Yeah it’ll have a great resale value. You were asking how long -
HB: So you were twenty! When you started your journey!
AW: I didn’t know I was starting my journey, but I was, I guess, and now I’m turning thirty three! It’s been the last three years, where I can pack a suitcase, and it’s not stressful. It’s also been really nice getting to a point when I’m packing that it’s all from designers that I am really proud to have supported, and I’m proud to wear this piece. Like your pieces, or shoes from Post Sole or things from Before March store. It feels like I’m packing a suitcase of treasures - little amulets, is that the word?
HB: What does Patti Smith call them? Talismans!
*We laugh*
This conversation was recorded on Holly's second last day in Auckland, driving into Anna's studio. One week after HB Archive x Francie Pop Up. 9th of May, 2024.
