Like most people, some days you open your closet and know exactly what to wear, and other days, it takes hours of trial and error to find the right outfit. One way to skip those trial-and-error days is to create a capsule wardrobe. As minimalistic living gains popularity, so does the idea of doing more with fewer clothing pieces. The outcome is less stress, cost, and time which dealing with clothing choices causes. Follow along as we look at everything you need to know about a capsule wardrobe and how to create one for yourself if you think you might enjoy a new and improved wardrobe.
What Is a Capsule Wardrobe?
First, let’s talk about what the capsule wardrobe is exactly. A capsule wardrobe is a thoughtful wardrobe where you consider each piece before adding it to the mix. The reason for the intelligent selection is that every article of clothing coordinates easily with other components in the wardrobe, therefore eliminating random tops and bottoms that you rarely wear and serve no purpose.
History of the Capsule Wardrobe
The capsule wardrobe isn’t a new idea. In the 1970s, Susie Faux, who owned “Wardrobe,” a London boutique, coined the phrase capsule wardrobe and suggested people consider timeless pieces of clothing in smaller numbers. Later, in the mid-1980s, Donna Karan announced her collection of “Seven Easy Pieces,” which she designed with the same thought.
Today, the capsule wardrobe is intriguing as many show environmental concerns and a desire for less waste, plus the ideas of minimalism boast a more stress-free lifestyle.
The Benefits of the Capsule Wardrobe
Creating a capsule wardrobe comes with many benefits, and you may choose to create one to enjoy all or just one or two of them. Let’s look at a list of the reasons a streamlined wardrobe is beneficial:
- Lowers stress and saves time: With fewer options, decisions about what to wear are easier.
- Higher quality choices: The goal is to select a smaller number of high-quality pieces rather than several lower-quality ones.
- Greater versatility: Choose easily interchangeable tops, bottoms, and accessories.
- Cost-effective: Choosing classic, high-quality clothing allows it to last for years.
- Sustainability: Fewer items mean a smaller carbon footprint in your home and less production and travel from clothing industries.
- Increases confidence: Wearing a wardrobe that is put together with purpose and thought makes you feel confident in your outfit choices.
- Creates less clutter: Generally, like the minimalist lifestyle, a capsule wardrobe reduces clutter in your home.
Creating a Capsule Wardrobe
Now that we understand everything there is to know about a capsule wardrobe, let’s talk about the steps to create one. First things first:
Declutter Your Wardrobe
You can’t start a new wardrobe until you clear out the old stuff. Follow these steps to declutter your wardrobe:
- Clear out your entire closet and dresser.
- Separate your clothes into piles labeled donate, trash, and keep.
- Bag up the clothes you aren’t keeping and take them to a donation or recycling center (get rid of clothes with many stains or tears).
- With what is left, look at each piece of clothing one at a time. Ask yourself these questions: Do I look and feel my best in this piece? Have I worn it often in the past few years? Does it coordinate well with other tops, bottoms, and accessories? Reconsider its place in your new capsule wardrobe if you answered “no” to any of these questions.
- After pairing everything down, put clothing away according to each type. Put bottoms together, tops together, and so on.
Decluttering is sometimes the toughest part for people. How many times have you looked at a top or dress and thought, “Well, I might wear it someday,” only to find it collecting dust year after year? Remember, you’ll get new clothes after this step, so be courageous and ruthless when getting rid of things. After completing this step, it’s time to choose new pieces.
Bottoms
Finally, the fun part. Out with the old and in with the new! Go shopping for clothing that is high-quality and easy to coordinate. As you shop, keep in mind that you need classic pieces that will last for years. A great place to start is with the bottoms. You need a mix of denim, trousers, skirts, and shorts, in the following amount:
- Denim: Three pairs of jeans in light, medium, and dark wash.
- Trousers: One black and one light (tan or white) pair.
- Shorts: One to two denim pairs and one cotton or linen pair.
- Skirts: A midi, a maxi, and a knee-length, preferably in black.
Tops
The next area to cover is your tops. Tops consist of blouses, short and long-sleeve tees, button-ups, sweaters, and tanks. Here are some helpful tips for choosing yours:
- Tees: One or two in white, black, colorful, cream, gray, and graphic styles. You may like a graphic tee for each holiday.
- Tanks: One or two in white, beige, and black.
- Blouses: One short-sleeved, one silk, one white button down, one linen, one flannel, one denim.
- Sweaters: One to two lightweight, mid-weight, chunky knit, and cardigan styles. Choose neutral colors.
Jumpsuits and Dresses
Jumpsuits and dresses are two of the easiest things to dress up or down, which makes them useful in a capsule wardrobe. Choose sleeveless dresses when possible so you can layer them with a cardigan, and switch between flats, sandals, and boots depending on the occasion and season. A black sleeveless dress is one of the most versatile things in your closet. Consider the following for your capsule wardrobe:
- One black sleeveless dress, midi-length
- One light-colored sleeveless dress, midi-length
- One sweater dress
- One maxi dress
- One classic A-line dress
- One black jumper
As you choose new pieces, consider how they will help create more outfits as they mingle with your other clothes. It’s not useful if it doesn’t coordinate or offer flexibility.
Shoes
Choose shoes with the seasons in mind and keep them classic so they go with everything. The following are some ideas to get you started, and you only need one pair of each:
- Black heels
- Nude heels
- Ballet flats
- Tennis shoes (or sneakers)
- Black knee-length boots
- Brown knee-length boots
- Blank ankle boots
- Brown ankle boots
- Wedge sandals
- Flat sandals
Creating your capsule wardrobe can be fun. The result is a closet with possibly more choices than you had before and less clothing. At Tees2urdoor, we choose the highest quality tees so you can be confident when you add them to your wardrobe. Our graphic tee shop is a great place to start building your capsule wardrobe. Have fun browsing our selection and contact us with any questions.
