What is a Capsule Wardrobe? How to Build a Collection That Lasts

“What do I wear today?” is perhaps one of the most universal everyday questions of all.

If you struggle with too many choices when it comes to picking your daily outfit, having a capsule wardrobe can greatly streamline this decision-making for you.

Today let’s explore exactly what a capsule wardrobe is and how it can simplify and organize your wardrobe like never before!

What is a Capsule Wardrobe?

Simply put, a capsule wardrobe is a minimalist collection of clothing items that all work together. These pieces can be easily interchanged and worn with each other, maximizing the number of outfits you can create from them.

With just a small selection of clothes, this approach allows you to utilize each item and create a wide variety of unique looks using just those.

However, not every capsule wardrobe has to look the same. Although there are a few good rules to help you put it together, bear in mind that your capsule wardrobe can be as unique as you are!

Rather than sticking to a textbook definition of what it should contain, the perfect capsule should make you feel good in your skin. Ideally, it should have staple pieces that you find yourself returning to time and again and are your go-to for any occasion.

This way, your wardrobe is aligned with your personal sense of style and lifestyle.

The Benefits of a Capsule Wardrobe

Whether you are a busy bee or someone who gets overwhelmed at the thought of picking outfits every day, a capsule wardrobe can offer several benefits:

• Simplifies Decision Making: We’ve all been in a situation where we have a closet full of clothes and feel like there’s nothing to wear. Sometimes, having too many clothing items can cause ‘choice paralysis’.

  This happens when we face difficulty in making a decision simply because we have too many options before us. Having a capsule wardrobe eliminates this problem because you only have a few, thoughtfully curated pieces that already go well with each other.

• Excellent Time Saver: With only a few well-picked clothes that already complement each other, a capsule wardrobe can save you a lot of time and mind space!

  Whether you’re trying to decide what to wear to work or at an evening do, a minimalist wardrobe can take the guesswork out of the equation and help you decide on your outfit within minutes.

• Minimizes Clutter: An overflowing wardrobe not only clutters up your closet but also makes it hard to spot the right piece when you need it. A minimalist wardrobe, by contrast, allows you to see all your pieces at a glance and works perfectly for a compact closet.

  Similarly, minimizing clutter in your everyday life can extend beyond clothing. Practical staples like reusable bags, neatly folded cotton kitchen towels, or even warm blankets stored in an organized manner contribute to a minimalist lifestyle.

• Enhances Quality & Sustainability: In the world of fast fashion, most of us are encouraged to shop and discard clothes at a lightning pace. The result? Most clothes end up in the landfill within a matter of months.

  On the other hand, a capsule wardrobe made with quality pieces is more sustainable and works better in the long run. Since we only must pick a few pieces for such a wardrobe, we end up being more mindful of what we pick and reduce our environmental footprint.

Related Article: How to become more sustainable?

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe Collection? A Stepwise Guide

At first, the concept of a minimalist wardrobe with only a few items can appear daunting to many of us. This is why we are here to help with an easy process that guides you step by step on how to put together the perfect capsule wardrobe you’d be proud of!

Step 1: Do a Thorough Audit of Your Closet

The very first step in your capsule wardrobe journey is to conduct an audit - pick out the items that you love, organize the remaining ones and remove those you no longer need.

This is also an excellent time to streamline essentials in your home. For instance, store versatile items like reusable canvas grocery bags in an accessible spot or rotate out seasonal items like blankets to save space.

This will help you clearly decide which items you’d like to include in your new wardrobe, and which ones need to be decluttered.

• Select Your Go-To Pieces: First of all, pick out all the pieces that you find yourself wearing on repeat, as these are the ones that will most likely feature in your new capsule wardrobe.

  Seeing them all in one place will also help you identify a pattern when it comes to style choices, ie. whether you find yourself favoring specific colors, fabrics, cuts, etc.

• Sort the Remaining Items: Once you’ve safely put aside the pieces you really love, it’s now time to sort out the rest. Start by organizing the remaining pieces into various categories such as T-shirts, jeans, shorts, sweaters, skirts, jackets and more.

  This will give you a clear idea of how many pieces you have in each category, which ones you’d like to retain from the rest and which ones you are ready to part with.

• Store Away Items Not in Season: Your new minimalist wardrobe is not going to be helpful if it is mixed in and stored together with stuff you don’t need right away.

  So if it’s summer time, make sure to store all your winter clothing in a separate space, away from your to-be capsule wardrobe.

• Declutter: Now that you’ve shortlisted your favorite pieces and stored away the items that are not in season, now is the (somewhat) hard part.

  Take a good look at the remaining pieces and decide what to get rid of.

  These are items that you don’t find flattering, no longer wear or like, or anything that is worn out, faded or irreparably damaged.

We know it can be hard to part with clothes, even if they’re ones you’ve barely worn! But this is an important step towards decluttering and creating your capsule wardrobe. You can go on to donate, sell or recycle clothes to make sure they are responsibly used.

If you have extra items like blankets that don't fit into your capsule wardrobe plan, consider smart storage solutions like blanket storage bags, under-the-bed organizers, vacuum-sealed bags, or decorative baskets. These ideas can keep your space tidy while ensuring these items are easily accessible when needed.

Related Article: Blanket Storage Ideas

Step 2: Select Your Capsule Wardrobe Items

With your audit wrapped up, the next step is picking out your staple items.

• Categorize: Remember your most loved clothes from Step 1? Make sure they are organized into various categories (T-shirts, jeans, shorts, sweaters, skirts, jackets) so you can easily see what you have to work with.

• Choose your capsule pieces: Now, methodically go down one category at a time, and add your staple pieces to each category, starting with the pieces you loved in Step 1.

• Pick out base and accent colors: During this process, you might end up identifying one or maybe two base colors that form the foundation of your wardrobe.

Some of the most common base colors we come across are beige, white, grey, black, or navy. Then, make a note of one or two of your favorite accent colors.

Note that the clothes you currently wear the most are most indicative of your true preferences.

Step 3: Figure Out What to Replace or Add

You might realize that some items are too worn and need replacing, or a key piece is missing such as a top or cardigan in a base color.

This is a good time to see what you’d like to add or refresh in your new collection.

But remember when it comes to capsule wardrobes, less is more!

Step 4: Create a Few Ready-to-Go Looks

Now that you’ve finally put together your edited wardrobe, you can now put together 5 to 7 everyday outfit looks from your capsule staples!

This will go a long way in cutting down decision-making time and make it easy for you to pick out an outfit without having to overthink it.

The Ultimate Capsule Wardrobe Checklist

To help you get an idea of what a capsule wardrobe could look like, here’s a sample wardrobe edit example pieces.

Bear in mind that this is just a sample to help you get started - you are free to personalize it depending on your preferences, season and lifestyle!

1. Tops

• 5 to 7 T-shirts, Tank Tops and Bodysuits: Tees and organic tank tops are great for wearing by themselves or layered with other items. Go for classic base hues and maybe 2 in an accent color.

• 2 Shirts or Blouses: You can’t go wrong with a couple of buttoned-down shirts or blouses that you can wear loose, tucked in, closed or open over a tank top or body suit.

2. Bottoms

• 2 to 4 Jeans: Jeans form the core of many capsule wardrobes, and can be worn dressed up or casually. Stick to timeless cuts like light blue, dark blue, white and black.

• 2 Shorts: Consider a pair of linen and denim shorts to add versatility to your summer wardrobe.

• 3 Skirts: Go for versatile silhouettes like a pencil skirt, a neutral midi or a long boho skirt.

• 2 Pants: A pair of well-fitted pants can be a wonderful core piece for your collection, be it summer or winter. Look for black or khaki pants in a classic silhouette for a timeless look.

3. Outerwear/Layers

• 2 to 3 Sweaters and Cardigans: Depending on the season, go for light cardigans, pullovers and turtlenecks in light or dark neutrals for versatility.

• 2 to 3 Jackets and Coats: Jackets and coats can be effortlessly worn over jeans, pants or skirts for a touch of style. Go for a quilted coat and trenchcoat for winter, and a bright linen jacket or cotton blazer for summertime.

4. Dresses & Jumpsuits

Brighten up your summer with a couple of sundresses and a jumpsuit, while for winter you can go for a bodycon dress paired with stockings and a jacket or coat. And don’t forget the timeless little black dress!

Related Article: Baby First Winter Tips & 18 Essential Gears to Stay Warm

5. Footwear

Make sure to have some all-season staples such as sneakers, a pair of heels and ballet flats. Plus, you can consider open-toed sandals for the summer and boots for the winter.

6. Accessories

Pick versatile accessories, such as scarves, handbags, and jewelry like earrings, rings and necklaces that reflect your personal style.

Final Thoughts

A capsule wardrobe can go a long way in simplifying your closet as well as your daily outfit choices.

Remember, your first capsule wardrobe doesn’t have to be perfect! Start by curating your desired wardrobe and keep refining it as you go along.

And don’t forget to store your capsule wardrobe in a separate space from your other clothing items to avoid confusion.