In recent years, with our growing need for more sustainable fashion habits, the ‘capsule wardrobe’ idea has grown in popularity. The essential premise is to stock up on high-quality basics that can be styled alongside colourful accessories, and repurposed into different styles when required or desired. The financial and environmental benefits are undeniable, but the simple fashion benefits are often underrepresented.

“It seems as though experimenting with the many metaphorical colours of monochrome is in vogue”

A great way to discover current fashion trends is to ‘window shop’ in places like Selfridges, where the new products of big designers are displayed for free in their tangible form. Ascending the escalator to ‘Women’s Clothing’, I was met with a row of mannequins dressed entirely in monochrome black, whites, and browns. Dressed in my own black and white outfit, I fit right in. Here, no two looks were the same; it seems as though experimenting with the many metaphorical colours of monochrome is in vogue.

While imagining a monochrome outfit may initially bring to mind various ‘business casual’ styles (like a navy blouse and suit or a black skirt and white shirt), it also encompasses the versatile ‘little black dress’ and – when reimagined within the context of a ‘capsule wardrobe’ – a plethora of comfortable, fashionable, and versatile ensembles. My favourite two pieces are my black vest from Matalan, and plain black charity shop skirt. I have paired these with a white blouse for a smart-casual daily outfit, a printed neck scarf for an airline-inspired travel look, a leather jacket for a ‘going out’ look, and even thrown a black and white striped jumper over the top for an easy winter look. The outfit’s base is plain black but you can repurpose it for many occasions.

“The different texture of this sheer top versus my smarter blouse entirely changes the ‘feel’ of the outfit”

Layering is a great way to elevate a monochrome base. Try a white cardigan with a black dress, or even a loose blouse. For some more colour, you could also opt for a bright pink jacket or complementary patterned cardigan, keeping the ‘core’ of the outfit monochrome while giving it some ‘pop’. One of my favourite summer pieces is the oversized sheer white shirt that I found discounted at Primark; it was made as a swimsuit coverup, but it layers well over everything in my wardrobe. With a white dress, the outfit is practical for hot days and has a ‘beachy’ feel. With a black dress, it is well-suited to a night out. Sometimes, I like to tie the shirt at the bottom and layer it over my favourite vest-skirt combo; the outfit is essentially the same as the one pictured, but the different texture of this sheer top versus my smarter blouse entirely changes the ‘feel’ of the outfit. Although each element is a basic black-and-white piece, it can be used in many ways. Stocking up on basic monochrome pieces like this is a great way to keep a versatile wardrobe where you no longer need to keep buying more and more.

Of course, mastering monochrome does not mean shunning patterns and fun colour combinations. A great way to repurpose a monochrome base is through ‘wrong shoe theory’. Although I stuck to plain black shoes on this occasion, I’m sure some colourful, floral boots or Mary Janes would have elevated it even further. If you think sticking entirely to black and white (or another popular monochrome style like brown or navy) is ‘boring’, taking advantage of ‘wrong shoe theory’, pairing the outfit with colourful socks, wearing a different colour jacket, or even throwing on a scarf can add some ‘pop’ to the outfit, without sacrificing the many benefits of a monochrome-based capsule wardrobe. By taking advantage of accessories to add colour and patterns to your outfit, you can ensure that your main articles of clothing will always ‘go’ with something else. Even if you have a few abstract pieces (I often find myself questioning how to style a patterned pair of flared trousers, for instance), keeping your wardrobe stocked with monochrome basics means there will always be something that works out.

With our current cost-of-living and environmental crises, consider ditching the micro-trends and returning to the basics. Monochrome bases have plenty of potential, whether you choose to spruce them up with vibrant accessories or not.