A Capsule Wardrobe: How To Do More With Less

Many can attest to sorting through their piles of jackets, jeans, and shirts to pick out an outfit they have worn time and time again. Often, it feels like there is nothing to wear, even though there is a closet full of clothes. Do you have several unique pieces that make it difficult to mix and match clothing items? You might want to consider adopting a capsule wardrobe. 

A capsule wardrobe was first brought to the fashion scene in the 1970s by Susie Faux, owner of the London boutique Wardrobe. She said a capsule wardrobe consists of essential and timeless pieces like shirts, skirts, and pants that allow any combination of clothing items to work cohesively. 

This concept has had a resurgence today as society has become wary of the impact the fashion industry has on the environment by polluting oceans and emitting greenhouse gasses from all the waste of overproduction. 

To combat the issue of taking ages to mull through your closet and style yourself, here is a guide on creating a capsule wardrobe: 

Ask Yourself The Important Questions When Starting a Capsule Wardrobe

The main culprit of the endless cycle of feeling like there is nothing to wear is hoarding pieces that hardly ever get worn. When looking to clean out your closet, as yourself: “When was the last time I wore this?” If it has been months, toss it.

Designer Misha Nonoo shared a tip in InStyle magazine to hang the hangers in your closet backward. If a hanger is still backward after six months, then odds are the clothing item will never have another wear. 

Think of You

Everyone’s lifestyle is different, so it is critical to think of the activities you participate in daily to get an idea of the clothes you wear the most. Would you describe your style as athleisure, vintage, classy, or boho? The list goes on.

While neutrals make the most sense in a capsule wardrobe for cohesive purposes, add a few colors or styles that make you feel most confident. Various statement pieces can still go with neutrals, and after all, building this collection is all about having the least amount of clothes that will give you the most amount of wear. 

Pay attention to what you reach for most to determine your staple clothing items. From there, you know where to stock up and trim down. 

Make The Most of It

All of the pieces in a capsule wardrobe should be versatile. It makes layering a perfect solution for creating new silhouettes with your outfits. 

For instance, layering tights with a skirt or wearing a sweater on top of a dress is acceptable. Fashion is moving more towards a customizable and seasonless style, meaning there is less need to worry about what is “in” and what is not.

So, while spring cleaning in the upcoming months, look through your wardrobe and assess what changes you can make. Fashion is about showing off personality and feeling confident, and contrary to popular belief—that can be done with less instead of more.