Capsule Wardrobe? But, How?
Have you heard these words thrown around? “Capsule Wardrobe”.
No, it’s not a time capsule you store your clothes in for 50 years for the next generation to uncover and look at with awe. But, actually that’s not a terrible idea… I digress.
The concept of a Capsule Wardrobe has grown in popularity over the last ten years, but the term originated in the 1970’s, a phrase and concept coined by Susie Faux. It has evolved since then, but essentially:
A capsule wardrobe is a collection of clothing in your closet, typically 25-30 pieces that you wear together exclusively.
This means you get creative with what you have and make each piece really work for you. Not only is it a highly effective sustainability tool, it also challenges you to get creative and resourceful with your wardrobe. Finding several ways to wear the same pieces becomes exciting and fun, and in the long run can make getting dressed in the morning a breeze. Even if you do not consider yourself a minimalist, this method of approaching your closet, for many, feels so much less stressful from day to day.
How do you get started?
First, DO NOT jump straight to buying all new clothing for your capsule wardrobe. Look through what you own and really think about the items you wear most regularly. Do a little experiment and keep note of what items you end up wearing over two weeks.
Do you have a favorite pair of jeans you wear weekly? A white t-shirt that is perfectly worn in and a great layering piece? Start your capsule with these obvious favorites and build around them. Once you determine what those pieces are, you can begin to identify other pieces you might want to add to your capsule.
Another key to doing this seamlessly, is picking a color palette. Head over to this blog post, and begin to determine your Closet Color Palette. Ensuring that your wardrobe item’s colors work well together is super important. You can make more outfits when more pieces work well together. Science, right?
There is no absolute right or wrong way to build a capsule wardrobe, but it is based off the idea of living your life in roughly 25-30 garments that work well together in different ways. You can become so resourceful and creative when you hold yourself to a specific amount. You end up making outfits you may never have thought of before.
My Stylist advice is to ensure you have garments in your capsule that are ‘versatile basics’, like a white button up, white t-shirt, or dark wash denim. Then, add your personality in with pieces that are unique to YOU and your lifestyle. Maybe you need to ensure you have a pair of slacks and a blazer? Or perhaps, you can incorporate a pair of fun pants that work within your color palette.
How To Make A Capsule Wardrobe Work Across Your Lifestyle?
Perhaps you live a life that takes you from a business meeting one day, to volunteering, to girls night out. Can a capsule of only 25-30 pieces span across all those categories? Short Answer; Yes, Friend.
There are so many great items that can be worn multiple ways. Identifying garments that transition from work to weekend/evening may take some time and intentionality, but it is worth it if you are pursuing this type of wardrobe. Items like a classic white button up can easily be worn under your blazer at the workplace, and then front tucked into your jeans for the weekend. A slim fitting slack can go from your weekend evening plans, where you paired them with a cool shoe and blouse, to your volunteer work, paired with a sneaker.
It is truly about taking time to look through the items you have and imagining outfits that work for multiple occasions, having them planned, and then experimenting; adding more combinations as you go.
Tips and Tricks
I highly recommend the following tips and tricks if you’re serious about getting started building a capsule wardrobe:
Be patient and give yourself time to build this. Don’t feel like you have to master it in one weekend. If you do, amazing, but you can allow it to be a journey.
If you do find the need to buy new-to-you garments, invest a bit more in higher quality. Math Equation: you will wear these pieces MORE, because you will have LESS, so they may get MORE worn over time. Tough equation, I know. Basically, look for more sturdy fabrics and better quality.
You can try capsules for particular seasons as opposed to covering all seasons. This is a personal choice, but also depends a lot on the climate where you live. A four season capsule may be more difficult for an Alaskan friend than Californian. Some pieces can, and should, definitely cross seasons no mater what. But practically, you may need heavier coats and sweaters in Winter than in Summer.
Create a Lookbook for yourself. Once you have decided on the 25 or so pieces you’re going to stick to, document your outfits! Take a day to get creative, make outfits you would actually wear, and take photos. If you’re ever at a loss at what to wear, you can refer to your handy dandy Lookbook.
Hire a stylist to help you do this. If this all sounds daunting, reach out to me, and let’s do it together. Hiring an expert in a field you may not know much about, can take the stress out and create a more enjoyable experience. Us stylists also have an endless encyclopedia of brands in our brains, and digitally, giving you more exposure to garments that could work in your Capsule. We also are masters of making outfits, which in this situation you want as many as you can get from your smaller number.
There you have it! You can get started on your own, or shoot me a message, and let’s do this together!
xx,
M.F.F.
Meghan Forest Farmer