How to build the perfect capsule wardrobe!

Sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us.

Over the last few years, I tried to be more conscious of what I buy. Whether it’s clothing, skincare, food, or technology, I try to keep it as minimal as possible. I realized that clothing-wise, it was a bit difficult, as a big part of someone’s personality radiates from the way they dress. And minimal was not working out for me. So instead, while researching different technics, I found the concept of a capsule wardrobe. There is so much freedom and options offered to you in a capsule; it resonated with me enough to try it myself.

I will be showing you my different capsules throughout the year but for now, let’s just deepen our knowledge of this concept. Let’s see if you would ever be open to trying something like that! Let me know in the comments section if you have a capsule wardrobe or if you would be interested in starting one!

What is a capsule wardrobe?

In theory, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of clothing that you absolutely love, and you feel great about, that you can mix together. It’s a great way to keep your wardrobe uncluttered and your mornings more peaceful. What is great about it, is that it’s custom to your needs. The only rules are the ones you set for yourself, and you can change them with time to fit your evolving style. I will be sharing with you what I decided to do personally and give you some other options if you want to try something else.

Is a capsule wardrobe worth it?

For me, it does. For many reasons, if it was created correctly. To make it easier on me, I have 4 different wardrobes depending on the season. I live in Canada, so we get the extremes of heat and cold. Having fewer clothes and making them more basic allows me to save time and become more creative with how I style them. I don’t have to wander in my closet for 30 min, trying to create an outfit, knowing that everything matches and fits well together.

It also saves me money! I always think twice now about buying a new item to make sure it fits with the rest of my clothing. One thing that saves money is purchasing a good quality clothing item rather than something cheaper with a short life span.

How to build a capsule wardrobe?

There are a few steps you can follow to build your own capsule. This is my way of doing it.

First off, choose a base color. It’s the general color of your closet. It will differ depending on the season (or could stay the same!). My personal favorites are black in winter, blue in spring, white in summer, and brown/beige in fall.

Then choose essentials clothing in your base color or in a neutral color. I like having bodysuits, and pants; makes it easier for me to add to them later on.

Now you got to select your accent colors. Something that will make you stand out. If you want to be on-trend, you can check the colors on runaways and use that as your accents. Usually, your accent colors will be on some of the clothing or in the accessories.

The last step is to add patterns, layers, shoes, and accessories to your capsule.

I wrote a post last year on how to look expensive for less that can also help you in creating your capsule wardrobe.

How many clothes should be in a capsule wardrobe?

Typically you can have 25 to 50 items. But the number of clothing is not really important in this case. What matters is how you feel about each piece and how it simplifies your closet. That way, you have everything you love in reach, but you avoid having an excess of clothing. Also, a capsule is usually seasonal therefore, you might want to reuse certain items for more than 1 season (I always do!).

If this is even too much, for now, you can start by simply decluttering your closet. I read this book by Regina Leeds titled “One Year to an Organized Life”. She talks about decluttering your life one room at a time. There is a section about your closet specifically that I really enjoyed! She understands the emotional part of decluttering, which can be extremely hard for the mind, and she changes your vision of decluttering slowly but surely!

Capsule wardrobe vs. Minimal wardrobe

Having a minimal wardrobe is quite literary a capsule wardrobe but more narrow, in my opinion. I really enjoyed reading Emma Irene’s opinion on a minimal wardrobe and how she goes about creating it.

I hope this post helped you a little bit, and I can’t wait to share with you my capsule wardrobes shortly!

Until next time,

Sofyah,