How to Curate A Capsule Wardrobe

With good basics, you have endless options.

Ever feel suffocated by your own closet? Well that's a tell tale sign that your bored with your wardrobe and/or probably have TOO MANY CLOTHES. What if I could tell you there is a way to build your DREAM WARDROBE and spend less money and time on clothes. Building a capsule wardrobe is both refreshing and an easy way to save money!

But first of...

What is a capsule wardrobe?

A capsule wardrobe is essentially a well curated collection of clothes that is versatile and able to be mixed and matched however you want. Day or night, these pieces can be styled for any occasion and any season. Usually, the pieces in a capsule wardrobe are from quality or thrifted brands (great for sustainable fashion fanatics) that will last which is such a money saver in the long run. Plus, capsule wardrobes make coordinating an outfit much quicker!

If your a person who may not have the money to buy clothes 24/7, but want to be fashionable, or you want to limit your spendings/ closet space, a capsule wardrobe is your #1 solution.

Heres how to get your capsule wardrobe started:

1. figure out what you want

Assess your current wardrobe. Do you like the vibe it gives off, or do you want to go in a new direction. I recommend going on Pinterest and creating a board for inspiration. Plan out what style your going for and what types of pieces you want to get. Make sure you plan a COHESIVE and TIMELESS style. You want to make sure that you wardrobe remains wearable as the years pass by and can blend with statement, and seasonal pieces.

Here is a formula I recommend trying out:

3 T-Shirts
4 Blouses
6 Sweaters
4 Dresses
2 Skirts
6 Trousers/Jeans
3 Jackets
2 Bags
5 Shoes

It's also important to go through your wardrobe and decide what you want to sell or keep before even thinking about your capsule wardrobe. The whole point is to cut down on the clothes your buying and making sure no piece in your closet goes unworn.

TIP #1 :

Try the Marie Kondo method when sorting out your closet. Trust me, I've been using it for a while now and I wear pretty much EVERY SINGLE piece in my closet.

Heres how it works -

Put ALL your clothes in one spot (shoes included)
Go through pile item by item
make a "maybe pile" (try to limit it)
Does the item "bring you joy" when worn, when was the last time you wore it? (if you haven't worn it in at least 9 months, it needs to go)

Lastly, make sure your "vision" aligns with the pieces you decide to keep. You don't want your wardrobe to be in-cohesive and have clothes sitting in your closet unworn.

2. lets get down to the BASICS

Before you begin building your capsule wardrobe, establish your base. Your base consists of the necessary clothes you need in your closet

Such as:

Athletic (workout tops and bottoms)
Loungewear (pajamas, sweatshirt, sweatpants)
Outerwear (swimsuits, hats, mittens)

I recommend limiting your base to 10 pieces per category, just to ensure that your closet remained uncluttered.

The point is to reduce until you have a completely clear objective for each piece and find yourself wearing every single thing in your closet.

To be clear: Your base is NOT for your everyday clothes. It is for extra things you do in your day to day, such as exercise, sleep, or go out in the summer or winter.

TIP #2 :

Store your "base wardrobe" in a separate area from your capsule wardrobe in order to help yourself distinguish the two as separate "closets". For example, keep each category of your base wardrobe in a different dresser drawer and hang your capsule wardrobe in your closet. Or, if you do not have/ cant afford a dresser. Put your capsule wardrobe on one side of the closet and your base on the other.

3. building you capsule wardrobe!

Go back to that formula from the beginning of the article, and look at your inspiration board. See what you already have and shop for what you think you need. Thrifting and shopping online at places like Depop are a great sustainable way to find longlasting, good quality pieces.

Heres what I recommend when building your wardrobe:

select a neutral color palette (if your more into color, than make sure you choose a pallet that is easy to mix & match)
don't go with the trends that will go out of style fast, choose timeless pieces that you love
go with pieces that fit YOUR day to day lifestyle and are practical
go with pieces you LOVE (don't buy on impulse)

4. wan't to learn more?

There are so many fashion bloggers and influencers who swear by capsule wardrobes. Here are some I recommend checking out to get more tips and tricks to begin your minimalist fashion lifestyle.

thinking independently together