Working With Capsules

Here's the definition of a capsule from the MakeLifeEasy glossary:

A capsule is a set of apparel items -- say six to twelve articles -- that, when used together in different combinations, can produce about twenty different looks (outfits). A capsule is often based on a suit and a set of separates (jackets, pants, skirts, etc.). For example, a capsule could consist of a basic suit, a jacket, a skirt, five tops, and two neck accessories. A set of just four capsules (based around four suits) can make about eighty different looks.

Women have been using the capsule concept for years, with excellent results. You may be able to create a complete work wardrobe from, say, four or five business capsules, two or three business casual capsules, one formal capsule, etc. Men might also want to use this method, especially for business casual and non-business situations.

NOTE that, although capsules intuitively consist of "assets" (articles of clothing), we actually build capsules around "needs", and then "cover" those needs with assets. That way, if one of the capsule's assets "expires" (gets worn out, goes out of style, etc.) you can simply "re-cover" that asset's need with a new asset. The capsule doesn't change.

MakeLifeEasy helps you to build and maintain capsules using the "Add Many Wardrobe Needs" page, the "Capsule Manager" page, and the "Wardrobe Needs" page. This topic describes how to do these things with capsules:

• Create a completely new capsule
• Create a capsule from existing needs
• Cover a capsule's need with assets
• View a capsule
• Change or remove a capsule

Create a Completely New Capsule

When you're first adding your set of needs to the database, you may want to create new capsules. There are two main ways that you might want to create a capsule in your database: (1) Create a completely new (empty) capsule for which you don't own any articles yet, or (2) Create a capsule around an article or articles that you already own.

Creating a Completely New Capsule With No Assets To Cover It

To create a completely new (empty) capsule:

1. Click on "Wardrobe needs" to display your "Wardrobe Needs" page.
   
   
2. Click on the "Add many needs" button at the bottom of the page to pop up the "Add Many Needs" page.
   
   
3. Select one of the "capsule builder" kits to display the "Need Kit: " page for the chosen capsule.
   
   
4. Create the capsule and its needs using that page. You can press the "Help" button on that page for assistance.
   
   

Creating a Completely New Capsule Around Existing Assets

A common approach is to create one or more capsules around assets that you already have. You would probably do this after a wardrobe audit. For example, during the audit you single out a favorite suit, your "Nordstrom's Glen plaid suit". You want to build a capsule around this suit. Let's say that you also find a print blouse and a scarf that will work well in the capsule. You would follow the same steps as described above, but:

• You might name the capsule something like "Glen plaid suit capsule", and
  
  
• You'll probably create one of the capsule needs named something like "Glen plaid suit [for capsule]".
  
  
• You'll add needs for the other assets as well.
  
  
• Later, when you enter the "Nordstrom's Glen plaid suit" asset, you'll select the "Glen plaid suit [for capsule]" need as the need that the asset covers. Do the same thing for any other assets in the capsule.
  
  

Create a Capsule From Existing Needs

When you have existing needs that you want to bundle into a capsule, it's easier to use the "Manage Capsules" page. This might happen if you've been using MakeLifeEasy for a while and you're re-organizing your wardrobe:

1. Click on "Wardrobe needs" to display your "Wardrobe Needs" page.
   
   
2. Click on the "Manage capsules" button at the bottom of the page to pop up the "Manage Capsules" page.
   
   
3. Follow the instructions on that page for selecting or creating a capsule and for adding needs to the capsule.

Cover a Capsule's Needs With Assets

When you create a capsule and its needs, the needs will go on your shopping list until you purchase assets to fill them. Then, when you enter the assets to cover these needs, the needs will go off your shopping list. This is no different than the way things work without capsules. But here's a quick recap about how to enter an asset to cover a need in a capsule:

1. Click on "Wardrobe assets" to display your "Wardrobe Assets" page.
   
   
2. Click on the "Add asset" button at the top of the page to pop up the "Add Wardrobe Asset" page.
   
   
3. Enter the data to add the asset, up to the "Covers my need for:" section.
   
   
4. In the "Covers my need for:" section, select the need from the capsule you're adding the asset to.
   
   
5. Finish entering the asset data in the "Add Wardrobe Asset" page, and press "OK: Save".

Now you've added an asset to cover a need in the capsule.

View a Capsule

There are two ways to view a capsule: Using the "Wardrobe Needs" page or the "Manage Capsules" page.

Viewing a capsule with the Wardrobe Needs page

1. Click on "Wardrobe needs" to display your "Wardrobe Needs" page.
   
   
2. Filter by the name of the capsule you want to view and press "Go".
   
   
3. The capsule's needs will be displayed in the list.
   
   
4. (Note that you may also make certain modifications to the capsule here by modifying individual needs in the list.)

Viewing a capsule with the Manage Capsules page

1. Click on "Wardrobe needs" to display your "Wardrobe Needs" page.
   
   
2. Click on the "Manage capsules" button at the bottom of the page to pop up the "Manage Capsules" page.
   
   
3. Select the name of the capsule you wish to view and press "Go".
   
   
4. The capsule's name, notes, and needs will be displayed.

Change or Remove a Capsule

When you have and existing capsule that you want to modify, use the "Manage Capsules" page:

1. Click on "Wardrobe needs" to display your "Wardrobe Needs" page.
   
   
2. Click on the "Manage capsules" button at the bottom of the page to pop up the "Manage Capsules" page.
   
   
3. Find the operation you want to perform on that page and follow the instructions.