Capsule Wardrobe-Why I Love It
My journey towards a more simplistic and minimalistic life started a couple years ago after moving and downsizing. I felt it appropriate to evaluate everything I owned and what its benefit was to me and my family. I have learned that there is much that we don’t need and are much happier without. The process has been slow, but I feel materialism and its hold on our lives is less and I can focus on what is more important. I also love less cleaning, organizing and storing of such said things. So being introduced to a capsule wardrobe resonated with me completely.
A capsule wardrobe is a carefully thought out and coordinated selection of clothing that you absolutely love. A specific number of pieces (like 40) that includes: tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, and shoes. It does not include items like intimates, accessories, and formal clothes for special occasions. Each item should be able to work well with all other pieces in the collection.
How do you even start a capsule wardrobe?
Realize it’s a mindset. This practice does not have to be restrictive. It’s more of an exciting challenge where you can develop your own personal style that works for your lifestyle. You’ll probably notice that you tend to wear your favorite items over and over, while skipping several items for months, if not longer. What if everything in your closet was your favorite item and it took you half the time to pick out your daily outfits? Win win!
Start by pulling everything out of your closet and drawers. I know, it seems drastic, but it will help you come to grips with what you really do have.
Separate items into four categories. Non-negotiable keeps, seasonal items, maybes and give away. I’m not into spiritualizing everything, but we can have weird emotional ties to certain pieces of clothing that can’t be put into words easily and The life Changing magic of Tidying up by Marie Kondo was an interesting perspective about getting rid of unnecessary items.
Plan your wardrobe out for three months. Find a base color palette that you like. I prefer a base of black and white. Next find your complimentary colors for that season, whether its jewel tones or pastels or what not. Then see what items you already have and love that go with your scheme. Find out what pieces you are missing or would use and write them down. Your list may be very specific, ( i.e. yellow mustard pencil skirt, navy cardigan, black and white striped long sleeve tee or floral blouse) and that’s great as long as you can mix and match many pieces. Also realize there may need to be a few transitional pieces from one season to the next.
Before you go shopping, test your wardrobe for a few days to a week. It will be easier to see if you are missing something on your list. Also, notice what a normal week involves. Do you need casual clothes during the day that can easily be dressed up for going out? Do you have a work environment that calls for a certain standard of dress? Do your weekends involve hanging out with friends and also dressing up for church?
Plan your shopping. This is the most exciting part! Because your list is very specific, consider shopping online, though this may not be a great option for everyone. Keep your list and goals in mind while shopping. Also look for pieces that will hold up since you will be wearing them consistently for the next few months. If you have a clothing budget, I would take your yearly amount and divide that into four amounts. Then use that allocated money at these specific times. Once all your pieces are found, plan to not spend any more for the next 3 months on your wardrobe. I know… an exercise in restraint!
Coordinate your wardrobe. Now that you have all your items together, place them where you can easily match them together in your closet. Use accessories to dress up a look. Layer, tuck in a blouse, wear leggings underneath, a scarf with the sweater, be creative with making different outfits with the same pieces.
I love not having to riffle through clothes and wasting time thinking through outfits each day. I hope you can find this as inspirational rather than a chore. I personally do not separate out my clothing by season because of storage issues, but I do place groups of outfits that I am wearing in a section to easily see what I can wear. As of right now I am in full blown maternity wear, so my wardrobe is limited to certain selected pieces. There are many resources out there for ideas and color schemes for the capsule wardrobe. Find what you’re drawn to and what works practically for you.
Does anyone else use a capsule wardrobe? If so what do you love or hate about it? Here are just a few staples from my maternity capsule wardrobe.
