Looking to simplify your wardrobe and discover your personal style? A capsule wardrobe is could be your perfect solution – never find yourself with a closet full of clothes but “nothing to wear”.
I have been using the capsule wardrobe concept for myself and my family for 10 years. So I don’t say this lightly, a capsule wardrobe can revolutionize your mornings getting dressed, your approach to personal style, and the way you shop. But first…
What is a Capsule Wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a curated selection of versatile, seasonal clothes that easily mix-and-match to create different outfit combinations.
Very simply, a capsule wardrobe = fewer pieces but many outfit possibilities.
Benefits of a Capsule Wardrobe
The reason I’ve stuck with a capsule wardrobe for 10 years is because of the numerous benefits to this way of dressing. Here are some of the key reasons you’ll love it too:
- Simplify Getting Dressed: It’s easy to put together outfits so getting dressed in the morning becomes a breeze. It also removes some big decisions from the start of your day, reducing decision fatigue.
- Saves Time: Not just getting dressed every day, but also save a tone of time with shopping. No more endless browsing, with some capsule wardrobe experience you’ll know what gaps you need to fill in your wardrobe, what will work and what won’t.
- Find your Personal Style: Since capsule pieces are thoughtfully chosen and you wear them more frequently, it is an incredible tool to hone in on what you truly enjoy wearing and feel your best in. Most people see a significant confidence boost!
- Save Money: You buy less clothes! But it also means you can budget to invest in quality, long-term pieces instead of flimsy clothes that fall apart and need frequent replacing.
- Takes Up Less Space: A leaner wardrobe translates to more space and less stressful clutter.
- More Sustainable: Fashion is an incredibly harmful industry for people and our planet. Buying less clothing, rejecting fast fashion “micro-trends”, and investing in quality over quality benefits you and our world.
- Shop more Mindfully: Impulse purchases are a waste of money and rarely end up being a good decision. Having a capsule wardrobe makes you much more conscious of what pieces reflect your personal style and are worthwhile to add to your closet.
- Reduce Stress: It’s unfortunate how much stress our clothing, shopping, and getting dresses can cause. With some capsule wardrobe experience you can say goodbye to wardrobe-induced stress.
Do you want to try it for yourself? Be aware that It can take some time to see these benefits in action. The first capsule you plan takes come extra work and typically you’ll learn a lot from your first few capsule wardrobes which you can forward to building your next one.
How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe
#1 The Big Declutter
First get rid of clothes that no longer fit, you never wear, and you don’t feel good in. I recommend separating all your clothes into 4 piles:
- Donate/Sell
- Maybe/Undecided (revisit later)
- Keep!
- Mend (make time to mend them or take to a tailor or repair cafe)
You might also have a trash pile. Read more about where to recycle old clothes and also how to get rid of your clothes in a responsible and sustainable way.
Check out this video decluttering my sister-in-law’s closet for some inspiration.
#2 Pack Away Out-of-Season Clothes
Decide if you want to do 4 seasonal capsules or a Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter capsule. Pack away any seasonal clothes that you for sure won’t be wearing in the current or upcoming season.
#3 Start with your Absolute Favorite and Most-Worn Items
Pull out your go-to items that get the most wear – don’t forget to check the laundry basket! These will form the foundation to build your capsule around. If you have a lot, try to narrow them down to the top-tier.
#4 Separate into Categories
Group your clothes by type (ie. tops, bottoms, layers, etc.) and sub-type, (ie. tanks, blouses, sweaters, etc.). It’s most helpful to lay everything out where you can see it, on a bed or the floor.
#5 Fill out the Capsule
Pulling from your remaining “keep” pieces, fill out the categories to maximize versatility; for each item in your capsule you want to think of a minimum of 3-5 outfits you can wear that items with.
Should you have a certain number? I don’t think you need to hit a specific number to have a capsule wardrobe, different people have different clothing needs and it’s about what works for you. Even your categories might be weighted different. For example if you love dresses you’ll likely have more of those and less tops/bottoms, or if you live somewhere with very temperamental weather you’ll need more layers. However a number can also be a helpful guide.
So if you want a general outline to get started, here are some averages:
Most people aim for 30-40 items:
- Tops: 8-12
- Bottoms: 7-9
- Dresses: 3-5
- Layers: 3-5 (eg. cardigan, blazer)
- Outerwear: 1-3
- Shoes & Accessories: 5-10 (note: some people like having shoes and accessories included in their capsule, some don’t)
#6 Factors to Consider
When filling out your capsule be sure this think about these things:
- Regular Activities: Do you have clothing for a typical week’s or month’s activities? For example, do you need special clothes for meetings, certain hobbies, going out, etc.
- Weather Fluctuations: Are you prepared for some temperamental weather?
- Laundry Schedule: You need enough clothes to last past laundry day!
- Colour Palette: You can definitely have a capsule wardrobe with lots of colour (here are my tips for building one) but it’s helpful to have an idea of the type of colour palette your aiming for which allows for more mix-and-match versatility.
#7 Identify Gaps
Now that you’ve sorted out most of your capsule wardrobe. Make note of any obvious gaps – first check through your “keep” and “maybe” clothes pile to see if anything fills those gaps. If you need to buy something, consider what could fill that gap in the most versatile way. For example maybe you could use another pair of dressier pants or a sweater – what colours and cuts would work with the majority of your other pieces?
#8 Pack Away any Clothes Not in your Capsule
It’s best to keep the clothes which didn’t make the capsule wardrobe cut out of site. When you build your next season’s capsule, repeat the decluttering process with them.
#9 Learn from your Capsule Wardrobe Experience
Your first capsule wardrobe will almost certainly not work out perfectly – it’s a great learning opportunity! Make note of what you wore the most, what you didn’t wear often, what pieces and outfit were the most versatile, and what gaps you discovered while wearing your capsule. Take everything you’ve learned to help you build your next one!
Don’t get discouraged if your first attempts don’t turn out as you hoped, it takes some practices!
#10 Enjoy it!
Remember this is all about creating something that benefits YOU! Don’t worry about “rules” or if you have to make changes, find a capsule wardrobe system that’s best for you and your lifestyle.
Capsule Wardrobe FAQs
Are loungewear and activewear included in a capsule wardrobe?
No, unless you wear them for regular daily wear.
Does a capsule wardrobe has to be all neutrals?
Most capsule wardrobe examples use neutral colour palettes because it’s easy to mix and match pieces. However you can build a wardrobe full of colour, here are my tips on how to do so.
Should I have a separate work and weekend/home capsule?
If you have very different work and casual clothing then it can help to separate them into 2 smaller capsule wardrobes.
Does a capsule wardrobe include accessories?
It can, it’s up to you and what you want from your wardrobe. The popular Project 333 method includes shoes and other accessories.
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