Minimalist Wardrobe Capsule 101 with @When_Sara_Smiles

by Carley Lake | Last Updated: May 29, 2020

Sara Dubbeldam of When Sara Smiles (@when_sara_smiles) has a way with mixing her minimalist wardrobe capsule with hippie/boho and bold 80s pieces, to create stylish sustainable outfits. Learn more about her mix and match minimalist style and her minimalist wardrobe capsule and essentials.

So, who are you? 🙂

I’m Sara Dubbeldam, a Dutch sustainable fashion advocate with a passion for writing. Through my blog (www.whensarasmiles.nl, in Dutch) and Instagram (@when_sara_smiles) I share my personal and honest journey towards a sustainable wardrobe. I share my (critical) view on the fashion industry and beautiful brands that deserve a stage. Sustainable fashion doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style.

How do you describe your minimalist wardrobe capsule style?

I don’t have a fixed style. Taking details and garments from different styles (like French and Scandinavian minimalism, hippie/boho, and bold 80s fits) and combine them with simple basics is something I love to do. I love to wear comfy clothes. That’s always my number one requirement when I buy something.

What are your favorite ways to embrace sustainable fashion?

I love vintage a lot so I’m often going for secondhand treasures (I love treasure hunting), but I think it’s also important to support beautiful sustainable brands to help them increase their market share and beat fast fashion.

So I’m trying to find a balance between these two. I must say that I’ve never rented or swapped, but it’s definitely something I’d like to explore in the future.

What are your favorite brands, stores, apps, tools, and communities that help you support your minimalist wardrobe capsule?

My number one inspirational app is Good On You. It really helps me discover new cool fashion brands and I love that they rate brands, helping the consumer to develop a critical mindset, and making conscious decisions. I also love to read articles on Mochni and Eco Warrior Princess.

Brands that really inspire me are Reformation (I love how they build the bridge between sustainable and sexy/trendy, making sustainable steps accessible for fast fashion queens) and Patagonia (I love how this pioneering company uses their business model and way of communicating for doing good and making statements). Other beautiful brands everyone should know are Teym, Filippa K, Joline Jolink, Paloma Wool, Rita Row, Thinking MU, and Underprotection for sustainable underwear. I could go on and on and on…

What is your go-to look from your minimalist wardrobe capsule?

On easy days I love to wear super minimalistic looks, like:

What’s your advice on building a wardrobe you love (that is conscious and ethical!), especially for those just dipping their toes in sustainable fashion?

Don’t be too hard on yourself and keep it fun and accessible. Start with prioritizing: what do you find most important? Sustainability is a complex matter and there are so many topics you can pay attention to: human rights, sustainable materials, energy/water usage, local production, timeless style, high quality, vintage, animal cruelty-free, etc. Prioritizing really helped me. Also, please realize that you’re not perfect—you will never be, and you don’t have to be. We’re all on a journey and believe me, I have taken many steps back and forth until I came where I am now. Enjoy your journey!

How do you think you (and others!) can do more to be sustainable, especially as we slow down during this time?

You can do a total wardrobe spring cleanout; it’s the perfect time and I can tell you that it creates more inner peace if you’re organized and only own (/keep) the things that really make you happy. Also, you could use these times to start learning how to sew or repair your clothes. It’s not that hard, it saves a lot of money and it’s an interesting way to build on a stronger connection with your clothes.