A closet full of clothes, yet nothing to wear? Well, you’re not alone! Every morning billions of women worldwide struggle to put together an outfit that will make them feel great and pumped up for the whole day. Dressing up is more like therapy, but when this supposedly pleasing activity turns into a frustrating one, how are we expected to start the day on a productive note?
The perfect solution to this desperate need— A capsule wardrobe. With a capsule wardrobe as your fairy Godmother, less becomes sooo much more. The concept of a minimalist lifestyle is currently the rage, and believe it or not, it all starts with a place most dear to us women— The closet.
Building a capsule wardrobe with ‘YOU’ in mind will help you with a collection of well-curated outfits that represent your signature style. But, of course, a lot of good intentions for Mother Earth’s well-being are at work here too. C’mon, we all have unworn items stocked up in our wardrobes. It’s time to fix that! Are you ready?
35 Piece Capsule Wardrobe
What is a Capsule Wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a curated and concise collection of consciously designed clothing and accessories that can be mixed and matched in countless ways. These pieces usually consist of versatile styles and classic silhouettes that never go out of fashion and complement each other perfectly, maximizing your number of outfits. And Voilà! Each time you have a new well-sorted look.
Capsule pieces are essentially made in a neutral color scheme with high-quality materials to last years of use, instead of those ‘in trend’ apparel that are disposed off season after season. While it is important to stick to timeless color combinations in building a capsule closet, you can always go all out by adding different patterns that reflect your personal style.
The History of How it All Started
The term capsule wardrobe is currently in vogue and has become the most discussed topic by many brands and fashion enthusiasts in recent years.
However, its history dates back to the 1970s, when Susie Faux owned a London-based boutique named “Wardrobe,” where she offered an assorted collection of minimalist and versatile clothing items. These pieces consisted of tops, bottoms, and outerwear that could be easily paired up to create a variety of fresh looks. Susie’s idea was to help women feel confident and beautiful in the way they dressed.
Later in 1985, the concept of capsule wardrobes spread out across the USA, where designer Donna Karan introduced her first capsule line called “Seven Easy Pieces” in a fashion show. This collection consisted of a white shirt, bodysuit, skirt, structured jacket, dress, something made of leather, and a cashmere sweater. The models dressed in these pieces and showcased multiple outfits created with them. The show was a huge success, and the notion of having functional and interchangeable capsule wardrobes took off.
With the entry of fast fashion during the late 1990s, the idea of having a consciously built wardrobe did die off, but it is trending again. Because people are realizing that pop culture-inspired pieces just clutter our closets, and having an organized capsule wardrobe makes lives so much easier!
The Rewards of Having a Capsule Wardrobe
The current fast fashion culture and our consumerist approach trick us into the fear of missing out on the latest trends, resulting in a closet full of clothes that might never see daylight. However, capsule wardrobes are designed to portray your personal style by being mindful and sustainable with your clothing choices. So yes, you have every reason to build a capsule closet.
Saves on Time
The clock is ticking, and the day calls for many urgent businesses that need to be taken care of. A well-planned wardrobe saves you so much time! Because you know your style and what works for you. So, no more buying clothes mindlessly, bombarding your closet and still fretting about what to wear. When you have a minimalist curated wardrobe, you don’t waste your energy digging into piles of clothes. Instead, you know exactly what to put on.
Saves on Money
The clock is ticking, and the day calls for many urgent businesses that need to be taken care of. A well-planned wardrobe saves you so much time! Because you know your style and what works for you. So, no more buying clothes mindlessly, bombarding your closet and still fretting about what to wear. When you have a minimalist curated wardrobe, you don’t waste your energy digging into piles of clothes. Instead, you know exactly what to put on.
Decisions Made Easy
Ever heard of decision fatigue? Well, it’s very much real! With a busy life to lead, we already make a lot of decisions every day that tire us out. But having a capsule wardrobe means you already know your options. So as the day calls for it, whip up an outfit from your favorite pieces and make dressing up an enjoyable part of the day. Decision fatigue? No way!
Better for the Planet
Ever heard of decision fatigue? Well, it’s very much real! With a busy life to lead, we already make a lot of decisions every day that tire us out. But having a capsule wardrobe means you already know your options. So as the day calls for it, whip up an outfit from your favorite pieces and make dressing up an enjoyable part of the day. Decision fatigue? No way!
No Unnecessary Stress
Ever heard of decision fatigue? Well, it’s very much real! With a busy life to lead, we already make a lot of decisions every day that tire us out. But having a capsule wardrobe means you already know your options. So as the day calls for it, whip up an outfit from your favorite pieces and make dressing up an enjoyable part of the day. Decision fatigue? No way!
Build a Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe That You’ll Really Enjoy!
A sustainable capsule wardrobe is easier to build than you thought. All you got to do is keep your calm and plan out a list of clothes you want to be in your closet, including your choice of fabrics, fits, preferred colors, your lifestyle, complexion, and so on. Once you have created an outline for your capsule closet, follow the below given step-by-step process—
Audit Your Existing Wardrobe
- The first step in building a sustainable and super-chic capsule wardrobe is to audit your existing closet. Take a good, hard look at every clothing item you own and sort out pieces you wear regularly from those that you have never touched.
- When you come across clothes that you haven’t worn for quite a few months, chances are you won’t be needing them in the future as well. Also, analyze your lifestyle because that will guide you into the idea of the kind of clothes you actually love and require. Once you’re done with all the deep thinking and sorting, it’s time to create separate clusters for what you want to keep and what you want to let go.
- Go through your favorite clothes that are marked to stay and try to understand why you love them. Because this will give you a clear idea of your personal style— the silhouettes that flatter you, the colors you love, the materials that you’re comfortable in, and your overall fashion sense.
- Now, be responsible with the discarding— You can donate to a charity, sell or recycle clothes that don’t fit anymore, is outdated, don’t work for your body type or skin color, and are damaged beyond repair.
Time to Pick Your Core Capsule Pieces
- At this point, you are clear about your preferences. Now, start planning your capsule wardrobe by deciding on a number for each type of clothing item that you’d like to experiment with. These numbers must align with your lifestyle, the climatic condition you live in, and your laundry cycles. Of course, there are no strict rules to be followed here; just do what works best for you.
- Select a color palette with different shades of neutral colors, such as white, cream, beige, black, navy, or grey. These colors are versatile and compliment every other color. With most of your clothes in neutral tones, the mix-and-match game becomes easy-peasy!
- Add in some accent colors that you absolutely love and that suit your complexion because these colors will work as a highlight over your neutral-colored clothes!
- There’s a plethora of capsule pieces to choose from, as each capsule wardrobe is designed differently. Remember, every capsule closet represents an individual’s uniqueness. So be specific with the styles you want to incorporate into your wardrobe. For example, think about the type of neckline you prefer. Are you into mom jeans or skinny jeans? Or, in fact, high-rise or low-rise pants? Do cropped or fitted sweaters work, or are you more into oversized jumpers? Think, Think, Think, and zero-in on the styles you want to invest.
- Sustainable and breathable fabrics should be your priority because building a capsule wardrobe is only fruitful when your core pieces are made of high-quality, organic, and responsible fibers. These materials can be anything between linen, organic cotton, hemp, vegan leather, certified merino wool, alpaca wool, and so on.
It's Time for Some Action
- As you embark on the journey to shop for your core capsule pieces, be mindful of your favorite styles and color scheme. Start with selecting basic staples that are versatile and work well when paired together. Avoid the ‘in-trend’ items as they will soon become outdated.
- Capsule wardrobes differ from one person to another. But essential clothing pieces that will work perfectly for any capsule wardrobe are neutral-colored tees, a pair of black pants, one or two pairs of denim, a cardigan for layering, a black dress, and a trench coat. These pieces can be easily interchanged and dressed up or down.
- Add a few pieces of patterned clothes that you like to wear from time to time. Just make sure these patterns are not influenced by some latest craze that will go out of style in a few months. For example, Stripes are timeless, and so are polka dots and tiny florals!
- And once your base layers are sorted, let’s talk coats, shoes, and accessories! A structured coat in black, white, beige, or camel will pull the whole look together. Not to mention a couple of structured bags and shoes, which might include a pair of sneakers, pumps, and ankle boots. And that’s it! You’re ready to win the world with your dressing game settled.
- Oh! And if you reside in a four-season climate area, then only keep the current season’s clothes in your wardrobe for easy access. Store away the remaining lot, only to be taken out in their appropriate season. However, the base layers will be in use all year-round.
Example of a 35 Piece Capsule Wardrobe
A lot of effort goes into building a capsule wardrobe because you must experiment with different pieces to finally get what you’re looking for. The goal is to get a capsule closet that eases your dressing-up process while making you feel confident.
Here’s an example of a 35-piece capsule wardrobe that you can refer to build your own.
3 Basic Tees
2 Tank Tops
2 Shirts & 2 Tops
3 Sweaters & Cardigans
2 Dresses
A Jumpsuit
Bottoms Including 2 Pants & a Skirt
2 Pairs of Shorts
2 Pairs of Denim
2 Outerwears
3 Pairs of Shoes
2 Handbags
A Hat
Timeless Jewelry Pieces
Belt & Glares
Final Thoughts...
I cannot recommend a capsule wardrobe enough! Because building a consciously curated closet will not only make your life less hectic but also discourage fast fashion brands with their cheap business tricks. Just remember— A universal capsule wardrobe does not exist! As we humans differ from each other, so will our tastes and preferences. Your wardrobe can be whatever you want and whatever you need it to be.
Keep the basics right and experiment with pieces that intrigue you. With time your preferences will shift, and your capsule wardrobe will evolve— because nothing stays forever. But the benefits this approach brings will remain, and that’s the best part we all deserve! So stop fretting and show some creativity. You’ve got a wardrobe to put together!
FAQs
What is the point of a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe streamlines your pre-coffee closet call. It saves you from the 'what to wear' dilemma in your everyday life. It helps you make more informed and sustainable choices. You lead a classy life for the choices you make because your capsule wardrobe is built to adapt to the changing weather, seasonal trends, and special events.
What are the rules of a capsule wardrobe?
- Check for your favorite pieces from your existing collection.
- Buy neutral basics that work well with everything.
- Use informed color combinations in your tops and bottoms.
- High-quality fabrics and classic styles are the key to an evergreen capsule wardrobe.
How many clothes should be in a capsule wardrobe?
The size of a capsule wardrobe differs from person to person and their lifestyle. It can have as many as 50 pieces or as few as 15 versatile clothes. However, an ideal capsule wardrobe lies from anywhere between 30-50 pieces.
Should I build my capsule wardrobe from scratch?
No, never build a capsule wardrobe from scratch. Because not only is this approach unsustainable, but it will also be heavy on your pocket. We all have clothes that we love, so always go through your current closet and pick pieces that make you feel great. Keep them as a base for your likes, and plan a capsule wardrobe accordingly.
