The Capsule Wardrobe How to Build

                           The Capsule Wardrobe: How to Build.

What is a capsule wardrobe?

If you’re new to the concept, you may be wondering what exactly a capsule wardrobe is.

A capsule wardrobe is simply a collection of clothing composed of thoughtfully curated, easily interchangeable items designed to maximize the number of outfits that you can create. 

Essentially, a capsule wardrobe allows you to create a variety of different looks with a small selection of clothes.

The Benefits of a Capsule Wardrobe

There are so many benefits to having a capsule wardrobe! Here are some upsides we’ve experienced first-hand.

You’ll have less decision fatigue. I was worried having fewer clothes would feel too limiting, but as it turns out, having fewer options makes it significantly easier to decide what to wear. My capsule also helps me get more creative with my wardrobe compared to when I had hundreds more items hanging in my closet.

Capsule wardrobes are better for the planet. Purchasing fewer clothes has significantly less impact on the environment. Less clothing means fewer chemicals in our water and oceans, less clothing in landfills, and a smaller carbon footprint.

You can afford nicer stuff. When you stop buying clothes you don’t need, you have more money to invest in timeless, high-quality pieces that will last multiple seasons —or in many cases, years.

You’ll reclaim hours (even days) of your life back. Think of all the time you’ve spent buying clothes over the last few years: shopping (online or in-store), trying on, and making returns or exchanges. Then think about how much time you’ve spent managing the clothes in your closet (tailoring, organizing, and purging) and fretting out what to wear. When you have a minimalist capsule wardrobe, you spend considerably less time on all those things, leaving you more time and energy to focus on other, more important things.

You’ll reduce unnecessary stress and overwhelm. Clutter increases cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. By downsizing your wardrobe, you clear physical clutter from your home, and your closet suddenly becomes a more open and calming environment. Also, getting dressed is stress-free when you have a wardrobe of clothes you love, know how to wear, fit you well, and make you feel confident.

How to Start a Capsule Wardrobe

Step 1: Declutter your wardrobe.

The first step in building a minimalist capsule wardrobe is removing things from your current wardrobe that you know you are ready to part with. Doing this allows you to clear the clutter so you can focus on building a capsule wardrobe with pieces you love.

• Donate, sell, or recycle things that:
• Don’t fit.
• You don’t like.
• Are duplicates or very similar in color and style to something else you own.
• Don’t work with your skin tone or body type.
• Are stained or damaged beyond repair.

Then clear some space in your closet and organize what’s left into categories:

• Bottoms (non-denim trousers/pants, skirts, and non-denim shorts)
• Denim (long and short)
• Tees and tanks
• Tops and blouses
• Sweaters
• Dresses and jumpsuits
• Coats and jackets

Step 2: Choose your core capsule pieces.

Once you’ve done your initial edit, it is time to choose clothes you want to incorporate into your capsule wardrobe from what you have left.

When doing this, look for quality basics that are both functional and versatile. A functional piece of clothing is practical, useful, and suits your current lifestyle. A versatile piece of clothing easily pairs with other clothes, can be styled in different ways, and worn in different contexts.

When evaluating items for their functionality, think about the item’s fabric, weight, physical attributes (like length, silhouette, and sleeve style), and how easy it is to clean and maintain.

When evaluating the versatility of a garment, consider how easily it can be mixed and matched with other pieces, colors, and patterns, and whether you can wear it to different events or in different seasons.

You will build your capsule for the current season and focus on one category at a time. It’s easier and more efficient to focus on what you need now. You can pick favorites, eliminate duplicates, and identify what’s missing more easily when you look at everything together.

Bottoms

Bottoms are the foundation of an outfit. They’re the easiest starting point whether you’re building a capsule wardrobe or a simple outfit. We’ll focus on non-denim bottoms first.

Tips for choosing capsule wardrobe bottoms: 

• Choose bottoms that fit well, are comfortable, and can be worn with multiple tops, sweaters, jackets, and tees. Keep in mind that neutrals will be more versatile than bold prints or bright colors. 
• While some bottoms can be worn year-round, you will probably have different bottoms for different seasons. For example, lighter, more flowy trousers for warmer seasons and heavier trousers for the colder seasons. Focus on the bottoms you’ll need for this season and hang onto some to revisit when the seasons change.
• If you have several bottoms in a similar color and style, keep the best one and donate or consign the rest.

Here are some key capsule bottoms to consider: 

• Black seasonal trousers
• Lighter colored seasonal trousers (white, off-white, beige, or taupe)
• Cotton or linen shorts (for summer)
• Knee-length skirt, midi skirt, or maxi skirt (These lengths will be more versatile than a mini skirt.)

Denim

Denim is the other key foundation of your capsule wardrobe. When I get dressed, the first thing I decide on is denim or no-denim, which is why I like to tackle these two categories first.

Tips for choosing the best denim for your capsule wardrobe: 

• Have a few different washes. For example, a dark wash, medium wash, light wash, and black or another neutral color will give you maximum versatility and allow you to dress up or dress down the tops you pair them with.
• Find the brands and styles that fit you best. If you don’t have a few pairs of denim jeans you love, I highly recommend going to a few stores and trying on as many as possible to figure out what brands, styles, inseams, rises, and washes you like best. If you can afford a pair or two of premium denim, I find they’re worth the investment. They keep their shape and fit significantly better than cheaper denim made with lower-quality fabric.
• Ditch the duplicates. If you have multiple pairs of a particular style or wash, keep only the best. Donate or sell the others if they’re in good condition.

Here are some denim options to consider: 

• Dark skinny jeans or straight-leg denim (Citizens of Humanity high-waisted skinny jeans are my personal favorite)
• Medium-wash mom jeans
• Light-wash wide-leg or destroyed denim (I also really like Abercrombie jeans because they’re good quality, fit well, and most styles come in curvy, petite, and tall.)
• Black, white, or beige/taupe denim
• 1-2 pairs of denim shorts 

Tees & Tanks

Good neutral tees and tanks are another capsule wardrobe essential. Look for t-shirts and tank tops that can be worn alone and layered under tops, sweaters, or jackets. Short sleeve tees are more versatile than long sleeve since they can be worn year-round and layered under other items during cooler months. If you have several t-shirts in the same color, keep the best 1-2. Donate or recycle the rest, depending on their condition. 

Here are some core tees & tanks to consider: 

• White tee
• Gray tee
• Cream or beige tee
• Colored tee
• Graphic tee
• Black tee
• White tank
• Beige or cream tank
• Black tank

Tops & Blouses

Now that you’ve chosen your core tees and tanks, let’s move on to tops and blouses.

Look for tops and blouses that easily mix and match with the bottoms you’ve chosen, and that can be dressed up or down in shoes, accessories, or a jacket. Sleeveless and short-sleeve tops that you can layer under a chunky cardigan, blazer, or jacket in cooler months will be the most versatile since you can wear them in all seasons. Neutrals are generally more versatile than busy prints and bold colors —but of course you can do one or two of those, too!

Here are some core tops and blouses to consider:

• Nice short-sleeve top (maybe with a v-back that can be worn both in the front and back)
• Silk or linen tank 
• White button-down
• Seasonal button-down (e.g. light cotton or linen for spring/summer and thick cotton or flannel for fall/winter)
• Denim or Tencel shirt
• Silk blouse

Sweaters

Having the right sweaters will add warmth and a layer of interest to any outfit. They’re also key transition pieces. Toss one over a summer slip dress with a pair of boots, and you’ve got a totally new outfit for fall.

You will likely have different sweaters for different seasons —lighter, flowy sweaters and cardigans for warmer seasons and thicker, chunkier knits for the colder seasons. Having a couple of neutral sweaters in different weights is all you need each season. For warmer months, you likely only need 1-2 light knits or an everyday cardigan. During colder months, you may also want 1-2 midweight sweaters and a chunky knit. 

Here are some key capsule sweaters to consider:

• Light knit
• Everyday cardigan
• 1-2 midweight sweaters
• Chunky knit

Dresses & Jumpsuits

There are two categories left, and they’re usually the quickest to get through. Don’t quit now!

Tips for choosing the best dresses for your capsule wardrobe: 

• Color and sleeve-length matter. Look for neutral dresses that are either sleeveless or short-sleeved, and that can be layered under a cardigan, blazer, or jacket. You’ll get the most use out of these since they can be worn through different seasons. 
• Identify the dresses you can dress up and Length is important. I love midi-length dresses. They are flattering and can more easily be dressed up or down than a “little black dress” or long dress.
• Solids tend to be the most versatile. But a floral or fun print can also earn a spot in your capsule if you can wear it a few different ways. 

Here are some key capsule wardrobe dresses to consider: 

• Black, sleeveless midi dress
• Light linen dress (for spring/summer)
• Maxi dress (good for spring through fall) 
• Classic mid-length A-line dress 
• Sweater dress (for fall/winter)

Coats & Jackets

Having the right coats and jackets will carry you from season to season and add a layer of interest to whatever you’re wearing.

Tips for choosing the best capsule coats and jackets: 

• Keep versatile, seasonal favorites. Identify the jackets you can wear the most that work in the current season and beyond. Put the coats and jackets you won’t need this season in a separate area of your closet to revisit in the coming months.
• Consider the weight and color. When it comes to outerwear, weight, and color is incredibly important. If you live somewhere with four very different seasons, you’ll need a variety of weights, but usually only a couple per season. Neutrals will always be more versatile than prints and bold colors, although a neutral plaid blazer can work with a lot, too!

  Here are some key capsule wardrobe jackets and coats to consider: 

• Versatile blazer 
• Denim jacket
• Neutral lightweight jacket
• Lined, midweight jacket.
• Leather jacket
• Fleece jacket
• Heavier winter coat

A Note on Shoes 

When it comes to footwear, you don’t need excessive amounts, but having a variety of shoes will allow you to create more outfits with fewer clothes. 

Your next task is to create 10 go-to outfits with the pieces you’ve selected from each category. More shoes will make this process easier and expand your outfit options, which is why I like to wait until the end to pare down the shoes.

You’ll probably gravitate towards the same 3-5 pairs of shoes and repeatedly put back the same pairs, making it easy to know which ones you want to keep and which you don’t.

Here are some essential shoes to consider for your capsule: 

• Neutral or white sneakers
• Nude heel
• Neutral everyday flats (like a ballet flat, loafer, or mule)
• Flip flops
• Strappy sandals
• Structured, supportive sandals (like Birkenstocks or Teva)
• Athletic sneakers
• All-weather boots

Step 3: Create 10 everyday outfits.

• Now that you’ve edited your wardrobe and picked out your core capsule pieces, the next step is to create 10 (or more) everyday outfits with the garments you’ve put back in your closet. 
• I include this step because having some pre-planned, everyday outfits will make you feel exponentially more comfortable with your smaller wardrobe and save you so much time and mental energy when getting dressed. 
• If you’re tired, take a long break or come back and do this step in a day or two when you’re feeling fresh. But whatever you do, don’t skip it. 

Tips for creating your everyday outfits:

• Get inspiration from Pinterest. Pinterest is a great source of inspiration because you can search for outfit ideas for the clothes you already own. Pin outfits you love and have all (or nearly all) of the pieces for. If there’s something you don’t have, see if there’s something you can substitute for instead.  
• Take photos. As you create outfits you like, document the details. Take a picture to store on your phone for you to reference in the future. I created a “Capsule wardrobe” folder in my iPhone photos app to be able to pull up these photos quickly. If you’re a pen-and-paper gal, you can also write down the details of each outfit on the back of your capsule checklist.
• Start with one pair of bottoms. I recommend starting with one pair of bottoms or denim and seeing how many outfits you can make with your capsule tees, tops, sweaters, and jackets. 
• Don’t forget the accessories. Shoes, jackets, and accessories are key parts of an outfit and can really expand your options, so don’t skip these details.
• Identify the gaps. During this process, you may identify gaps and items you need that you didn’t earlier. If so, write them down and plan to purchase that item within the next couple of weeks. 
• Look for weak links. During this process, if you find that one of your core pieces will only work 1 or 2 ways, consider if it’s worth keeping. Chances are that this item will not work as hard for you as something else might. See if this item can be eliminated, swapped out for something else, or replaced with something more versatile.