Ever look through a wardrobe full to bursting with clothes and yet find nothing to wear? Maybe you feel like you’ve got too much to choose from, or maybe you like items individually but you’re struggling to find an outfit that matches. If this sounds familiar, there could be a solution.
What if you had a small collection of clothing you loved that could be easily mixed and matched and updated for the seasons? You could spend less time picking out what to wear in the morning and you might even fall back in love with the clothes you already have.
In this post, we explain how both men and women can create a capsule wardrobe that’s perfect for year-round use.
What is a Capsule Wardrobe?
The basic idea of a capsule wardrobe is to curate a simplified collection of clothing that can be mixed and matched to create a much larger variety of outfits. Instead of having a huge range of items you sort of like, you’ll find yourself with a smaller selection of items you truly love.
The term was first used in the 1970s but it became even more popular when American fashion designer Donna Karan released her “Seven Easy Pieces” collection in 1985. Karan wanted to create a basic collection of workwear for women of all ages and sizes.
Depending on your aims, there are different versions of the capsule wardrobe you can create. Variations include:
- Clothing category – some people include all clothing in the capsule, whereas others exclude items like activewear, footwear, accessories, pyjamas and formal eveningwear.
- Size – you may opt to follow a strict code of how many tops, for example, you’ll include, or you may work to a looser guideline of simply having fewer clothes overall.
- Season – some choose to create a capsule for summer and winter separately, while others may roll it all into one.
There’s no one ‘right’ way to make a capsule wardrobe. The options are endless – and the most important thing is choosing the method and rules that will work best for you.
Where do I start with a Capsule Wardrobe?
Again, there’s no right or wrong when it comes to capsule wardrobes, so feel free to experiment a little and choose the steps that suit you. But usually, the key first steps to creating a capsule wardrobe are:
- Deciding on your parameters – e.g. size, seasonality, which clothes do or don’t count
- Decluttering your existing wardrobe
- Shopping for any additional items your wardrobe lacks.
Let’s take a look at this in more detail.
- Define how big your capsule will be
While you don’t have to have everything figured out just yet, it’s a good idea to have at least a general guideline in place as you begin the capsule wardrobe creation process. To get you started, one very simple, common capsule formula is this:
- 10 tops
- Five bottoms
- Five pairs of shoes.
You don’t have to follow this if it feels like too big of a difference to what you have now, but giving yourself a figure to aim for can really help you to think about what you need and what’s just nice to have.
If a specific figure doesn’t work for you, then it may be better to think of it in practical terms. For example, you might want to downsize enough that all your clothing fits in one wardrobe rather than taking up drawer space as well.
- Pay attention to what you really wear
Creating a capsule wardrobe doesn’t have to be done in a weekend – in fact, it can be more rewarding to take your time over it.
One popular decluttering option is to turn all your hangers the same way and turn them the other way when you wear that item, creating a visual representation of what you do and don’t naturally wear. This can give you an insight into what to keep and what styles you should be shopping for in future.
- Get comfortable with being an outfit repeater
Many of us feel self-conscious about wearing the same outfits repeatedly, but with the exception of special occasions, most people don’t really remember what you wore the last time you saw them.
If this is something that particularly worries you, there are also techniques you can use to help. For example, set out outfits in an eight-day rotation, so you don’t end up wearing the same thing every Tuesday – especially if you have regular weekly meet-ups.
For those you see less often, simply take a photo (either at the mirror or while you’re out and about) so you can easily refer back to what you wore. You might even notice that they are wearing the same outfits too – in which case, you’ll be able to see how little an impact it has.
- Hide away removed items
Decluttering is a key part of the capsule wardrobe process, but for many of us, it can be hard to let go of certain items. Whether it’s because we spent a lot of money on them, we were gifted them or even just that we used to love that outfit, making the choice to donate or sell the item immediately can feel drastic.
To help resolve this issue, take any clothes that would go into your donate/sell pile and store them away somewhere out of sight and out of mind, such as your attic. You can go back in at any time to retrieve an item if you need it.
Put a reminder in your calendar for six months’ time to reassess the fate of those clothes. If there’s anything in there that you didn’t retrieve or you even forgot you owned, it’s time to send it on to a new home.
- Turn it into an exciting challenge
The whole idea of a capsule wardrobe is being able to create lots of different outfits without needing lots of different clothes – and that means creativity is required. So, why not have a little fun?
One thing you could try is to pack a suitcase of clothing as if you were going on holiday or a business trip. Then, see how many different outfits you can put together with that limited wardrobe – remembering to take photos for future inspiration!
Alternatively, if there’s an item you love but you’re not sure it’s versatile enough to remain in your wardrobe, why not set yourself a challenge to make as many outfits as possible with it?
Your phone’s camera can be a really helpful tool when it comes to downsizing your wardrobe, because often we don’t realise what’s possible with the items we have. Something as simple as switching jeans for a pair of smart trousers can have a big impact on how an outfit looks – and the only way to really recognise that is to see it for yourself.
How to create a summer Capsule Wardrobe?
As we’ve mentioned, some people choose to include all of their wardrobe in the capsule, meaning that their chosen limit has to cover them for the whole year. If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere with consistent temperatures all year round, then that’s an easier proposition – but here in the UK, it can often be more practical to capsule for winter and summer separately.
Top tip! Creating a summer capsule wardrobe to switch to when the temperatures rise can help to keep your outfits feeling fresh and enjoyable.
So what do you need in your summer capsule wardrobe? Well, let’s say for example that you’re a lady who wants to reduce your summer rotation to 20 items. Here’s one way you could do that:
- Nine tops – three vests or T-shirts, three blouses and three lightweight layers
- Six bottoms – three pairs of trousers and three skirts or shorts
- Three one-piece outfits – i.e. dresses/jumpsuits/co-ord sets
- Two coats – one light jacket for early mornings and evenings, and one waterproof for rainy days.
This is just an example, and you can adjust the proportions and amounts to suit your lifestyle. But while 20 items might not sound like a lot, it can look much more substantial once you consider how many outfits you can create.
Creating a capsule wardrobe isn’t the only way to simplify your clothing, but it’s a tried-and-tested method that many have found helpful. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to do it – so why not take the plunge, get started and wear what makes you feel good?
