Making a Sustainable and Timely Capsule Wardrobe
You likely own more stuff than you need. Maybe you bought too many things on a whim you never wore, or maybe it's just time to get rid of some items that have been sitting in your closet for far too long. We frequently want to organize and simplify our lives, which may involve going through an overstuffed closet. It's probably time for a wardrobe reset if getting dressed feels more chaotic than you would like it to. Consider creating your capsule wardrobe to adopt a more conscientious attitude toward sustainable clothing.
Over time, attitudes toward purchasing and fashion have drastically evolved. A growing number of us are attempting to purchase and shop with more consideration these days, trying not to be influenced by fads and one-hit wonders. With sustainability taking centre stage in discussions more and more, people are prioritizing quality over quantity, curating their wardrobes, and making long-lasting purchases.
You're probably wondering what to include and how to put together your capsule wardrobe, so continue reading to learn everything you need!
What is a Capsule Wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a wise choice if you want to simplify your life, organize your clothing, and ensure your items fit you. A capsule wardrobe is a minimal set of clothes and accessories that can be used to create a variety of looks. Even though it's made up of fewer items, it's built around a colour palette, and all those pieces coordinate.
A capsule closet is the ideal sustainable strategy to reduce the amount of clothing in your closet if you want to save time and money when creating outfits. Despite its limited number of products, you may mix and match your pieces to create a variety of elegant and sophisticated looks on a tight budget.
How this Concept started: Some History behind it
The era of capsule wardrobes began in the 1970s. Susie Faux, who owned the London boutique Wardrobe, came up with the idea. In Faux's opinion, a capsule wardrobe consisted of a few basic, classic pieces—like skirts and pants—that could be added with seasonal pieces.
The idea took off when designer Donna Karan released her debut capsule collection, Seven Easy Pieces, in 1985. The collection included a bodysuit, skirt, fitted jacket, dress, leather item, white shirt, and cashmere jumper. It was made to transition a lady from an evening out to a day at the office.
Capsule wardrobes are popular today due to the growing public interest in lessening the fashion industry's environmental impact and increased demand for more eco-friendly clothing.
Perks of a Minimalistic Capsule Wardrobe
There are just so many perks of having a capsule closet. Capsule wardrobes have the potential to:
- Make dressing easier
- Lessen your tension
- Save money
- Spare yourself the time
- Take up less space in your closet
When you have fewer coordinated pieces, you can make better use of every piece of clothing you own and save more time by not worrying about what will go with what.
Actually, you might not have noticed, but you may have already dabbled with a capsule wardrobe. When? While packing for a travel. In order to avoid carrying extra luggage, you usually stick to a colour scheme and restrict yourself to a certain amount of pieces. You wear everything you take, and everything goes together. That practically amounts to a capsule wardrobe.
Let us look at these perks in more detail, and you will see that it is not that difficult.
Least Decision Making
Having a small wardrobe of clothes you love, know how to wear, fit well, and give you confidence makes getting dressed fun and easy. Because, hey, fewer choices mean fewer decisions.
When we have to make small and multiple decisions, like what to eat for breakfast, what clothes to pick, and what shoes to wear, we experience decision fatigue. This can drain our energy and decision-making ability. To avoid this, many successful and efficient people, like Tim Cooke, wear the same clothes every day. This way, having less to decide from the beginning of the day saves up much of our energy.
Save some Cash
When you have a capsule wardrobe, you will shop much less because the items are well-made, versatile, and you love. You'll save a lot of money. You only go shopping when a piece needs to be replaced; this is where your savings begin. You will shop more deliberately and purchase fewer items of clothing that you don't need or love.
More time
Think about how much time you spend deciding what to wear, getting organized, getting rid of stuff, getting clothes tailored, returning things, and exchanging them.
Having a minimalist capsule wardrobe allows you to focus much less time and energy on more important things rather than all of these things. These things include exercising, better health, time to think about what you need to eat daily, financial planning, etc. This way, you will eventually lead a better, more satisfying, and efficient lifestyle. You will have more energy and time to spend on an efficient lifestyle rather than deciding what clothes to wear.
Practicing Sustainability
Reduced clothing equals less trash in landfills, fewer chemicals in our water and oceans, and a smaller carbon footprint. Less clothing purchases mean a much smaller environmental impact. Moreover, how you wear and wash your clothes also makes a significant difference. Use cold water and environmentally friendly cleaning solutions to wash your clothes. This way, a capsule wardrobe will help to practice sustainability daily.
Better Quality Apparel
Reducing your needless clothing purchases will free cash for classic, well-made items. Well-made and composed of high-quality materials, clothing drapes more smoothly, maintains its shape longer, is simpler to clean, and endures several seasons.
Tips for Beginners
Are you new to the idea of a capsule wardrobe and feeling a bit lost? Don't worry! By following some easy tips, you can simplify the process and build a wardrobe that suits your style while making getting dressed a breeze. If you are starting out, we have the right tips to help you make the right decision.
Pick High Quality and Timeless Apparel
To create a capsule wardrobe, prioritize classic and versatile pieces from high-quality materials. Avoid fast-fashion styles that only last for a season. Instead, opt for sustainable, natural fabrics like cotton or wool.
Pay attention to stitching and avoid cheap, trendy, fast-fashion items. Invest in high-quality garments that can be worn in many ways and never go out of style.
Choose timeless pieces like jeans, white blouses, black dresses, T-shirts, and plain sweaters. Focus on comfort, practicality, and ease of care when choosing pieces. Versatile clothing pairs easily with other items and can be styled differently for various occasions and seasons.
Select What You Love
Choose clothes that make you look good and confident. Think of your closet as an experiment. Embrace your unique style by trying on clothes and checking yourself in the mirror. Consider your daily activities, such as office work, when selecting clothes. Keep your capsule wardrobe evolving, focusing on pieces you love and wear more often.
How to Choose the Right Colours
To create a stylish wardrobe, opt for neutral colours like black, white, grey, beige, and khaki to mix and match outfits. Accent colours like yellows, reds, oranges, and light blues can add interest and personality to your capsule. To make them easier to mix and match, keep essential pieces neutral, such as black, navy, grey, brown, camel, taupe, cream, or white. Consider which neutrals work best with your skin tone and incorporate one or two accent colours for a pop of colour. And you are done!
Setting up a Seasonal Closet
Create a capsule based on the season, ensuring you don't wear the same clothes in different seasons. Review your wardrobe at the end of each season and decide on pieces to carry over. Store unnecessary items in storage or under your bed. Focus on the current season and move items that can't be worn until the next season.
Can You Create a Capsule Closet under a Budget?
Absolutely, and a big yes! This is what it means to spend less money and energy. To create a capsule wardrobe on a budget, consider using your existing items as versatile pieces to pair with different pieces. Avoid filling your wardrobe with fast-fashion items and use them in fun ways to save money on higher-quality items later. Layer t-shirts, jackets, skirts, or pants for a versatile wardrobe.
Forget the Numbers
Most people would tell you to keep 10 items in a capsule wardrobe. Others would stress on 20, 30, 40, or even five. Well, it all depends on you and your needs. When selecting a capsule size, try not to get fixated on a particular figure. Rather, determine how many items you require to have a well-rounded wardrobe. To keep track of important components, such as clothes, colours, and essentials, make your own checklist or use one that already exists.
Declutter, Define, Decide
To build a capsule wardrobe, start by decluttering your current wardrobe by removing unnecessary items, focusing on one season at a time, and defining your capsule wardrobe by colour. This will help you see each item and put together different looks.
Identify one or two base colours (black, grey, white, beige, and navy) and one or two favourite accent colours. Remember that the items you currently wear the most reflect your true preferences.
Next, decide which pieces to replace or add. If you need to replace worn-out pants or a favourite tee, consider investing in a more premium pair that will last longer and get considerable wear out of them. Remember that the fewer items you have, the easier to see different outfit combinations will be.
Some Must have Basics
When reevaluating your wardrobe, identify areas that need improvement to maximize the wearable pieces you already have. Bold wearers should dress down staple pieces like T-shirts and jeans, while minimalists may need stand-out pieces like jewellery or coats.
Style existing favourites and only invest in new items that will help you wear them more. For now, accessories are not included in this list, but try to keep that minimal. You can add or remove items as you feel comfortable.
- 10 Shirts, T-shirts, Tops, Blouses
- 2 Blazers or Jackets
- 5 Bottoms
- 4 Footwears
- 2 Dresses
What do you need NOT worry about in the Capsule?
Now, this is where you do not need to limit yourself—at least not for variety’s sake. Accessories, scarves, undergarments, swimwear, etc. To add variety to your outfits, consider adding accessories like jewellery, undergarments, sleepwear, fitness gear, and special occasions. Keep a separate drawer for undergarments and have a comfortable number.
Sleepwear, workout attire, and special outfits can be kept in your capsule wardrobe, even if you only wear them for specific activities. These items can be kept in your closet for special occasions and to keep your look interesting.
Can you still look Trendy with a Capsule Wardrobe?
Although a capsule wardrobe should reflect an individual's style, trends can occasionally give an impression of freshness. Rental and resale services can help you keep a capsule wardrobe without sacrificing selection. Renting interchangeable accessories like jewellery, shoes, and bags enables you to try out new looks and add new pieces for a much lower cost. You can also give things a second life by reselling them or investing in things you love. Plus, you can swap dresses and jewellery with your friends and family to keep your wardrobe afresh. You can get some trendy stuff from thrift stores to practise this on a budget.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article. Another article will soon provide a more detailed explanation. It will guide you through the process of creating a capsule closet.
Meanwhile, you can read these related articles by our founder Lola:
- Bride’s Dress Hunt: Finding Glamour On A Budget
- Diy Fashion Is In! How To Start A Sustainable Closet
Hi, I am Jahnvi Vyas. I have a Master’s in environmental science and my love for nature inspires me to be a more sustainable person. I am also an editor with a passion for graphics and video editing trying to learn new things.
