“My wardrobe is stuffed with clothes, but I still cannot decide what to wear”
How many times have you been in a situation like this? Do you struggle every morning to decide on an outfit you will feel good and comfortable wearing? Or do you not have anything to wear despite having so many clothes in the closet?
Well, you are not alone!!!
The decision of what to wear when or where may take minutes and sometimes hours to complete. Imagine the situation where you are running late for work but still cannot decide what to wear. The whole day begins on a bad note, and how!
But do you know there is one solution to all these problems?
CAPSULE WARDROBE.
Building a capsule wardrobe will help you present yourself with a selection of well-curated outfits that you love. These outfits are comfortable, chic, and elegant. Here is everything to know about the concept of a capsule wardrobe and why you should build one.
What is a Capsule Wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe refers to a limited selection of interchangeable outfits that complement each other. A capsule wardrobe doesn’t swear by the fad. It includes all the classic pieces that never go out of style and are primarily composed of neutral tones. When you maintain a capsule wardrobe, it allows you to create different outfits with a selection of clothes.
Background of Capsule Wardrobe
Although the idea of a capsule wardrobe has become popular lately and is over all the social media platforms, its history dates back decades ago.
1n the 1970s, Susie Faux, launched a boutique Wardrobe in London. She used to sell all the minimalist-looking clothing that was versatile, high in quality and could be mixed and matched. She opened this boutique to help women gain confidence about how they dressed and looked, even with minimum options in their hands.
After this, the concept of a capsule wardrobe started spreading to other places. It reached the US in 1985 when Donna Karan, a fashion designer, created her Seven Easy Pieces Line. All her models were dressed in bodysuits and showcased seven clothing pieces by creating different outfits with them. The fashion show was a huge success. It also popularized the concept of an interchangeable minimalist wardrobe.
A capsule wardrobe is trending once again, and many people are adopting this trend to maintain an easy-peasy, comfortable, and classic wardrobe.
Why is Having a Capsule Wardrobe a Great Idea?
There is not one but many reasons why you should prefer maintaining a capsule wardrobe.
No More Decision Fatigue
Decision fatigue is a real thing. The human brain is programmed only to make a few decisions during the day. We are sure you would not want to rack your brains over deciding what to wear and would save the decision-making for more serious matters.
Having a capsule wardrobe means you have fewer clothes, all of which work well on you. They can be paired with anything and everything and would make you look good.
Makes You Creative
Having a capsule wardrobe makes you more creative. You start thinking out of the box and experiment with clothing to create a classic and chic outfit on your own. Having a curated wardrobe also saves you ample time. You know exactly what to buy and how to style it.
A Sustainable Approach
A capsule wardrobe is a sustainable way to maintain your closet. Under this, you mostly own timeless pieces that you will wear for years. The good news is that these clothing pieces never go out of fashion.
As you do not have plenty of clothes, you wear every piece you own. Thus, no clothing gets wasted. Once you have built the habit of maintaining a capsule wardrobe, you also stop buying from brands that create fast fashion. Ultimately, you do your part in saving the environment.
It Saves you Money
Building a capsule wardrobe not only helps you conserve nature but saves your hard-earned money. When you have a capsule wardrobe, you do not feel the need to shop more. All the clothing pieces are versatile and interchangeable. It means you can wear each of them multiple times without needing to buy new ones.
There’s No Stress
In general, a capsule wardrobe means less stress in your life. You do not have to stress over the clothing pieces that would not fit you. There is no maintenance and repair as you have fewer clothes. You are more likely to select clothing that is comfortable and easy to take care of.
How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe?
Now that you are convinced that creating a capsule wardrobe is a great idea, here is how to start the process.
Analyze your Style and Lifestyle
The first step to building your capsule wardrobe is to figure out your style and lifestyle. Ask yourself a few things like what your primary activity entails, what staples predominate in your closet, and what you love wearing the most.
Finding answers to these basic questions will help you get started on your project. You will also become aware of everything you have and build a better understanding of shopping for clothing pieces strategically.
Track What You Like to Wear
Once you have figured out your clothing style, track what you like to wear for the next 30 days. You can do it manually. You can also track it by clicking pictures on your phone every day.
Clean Your Closet
After tracking down everything for 30 days, the next step involves cleaning out your closet. It is one of the essential parts of the process. Tracking your style will give you enough idea of what to keep and dump.
There is no magic number when it comes to creating a capsule wardrobe. Everything gets reduced to the things that you love to wear. It is vital to mention that your capsule wardrobe doesn’t include the outfits you would wear to a wedding, sports event, or sleep. They aren’t a part of your capsule.
Your capsule wardrobe is your go-to rack of things you love to wear every day and a part of your routine.
- Create a pile of everything you wear frequently. This pile should also include clothing that makes you look comfortable and happy within your skin.
- Create a pile of everything you find excuses to wear.
Once you have made these piles, it’s time to organize everything categorically. Before you sort it out, check each item and ensure you love wearing it. Now you can collocate your clothes under the categories like All Year Basics, Spring and Summer, Fall and Winter, and Donate/Thrift.
After documenting items you have in each category, move forward to build a capsule for all year long. Alternatively, you can also create a seasonal capsule. Keep everything that you would like to wear.
Create a Color Palette
It is a good idea to define your colors and create a color palette that helps you guide your future shopping. After experimenting with wearing 30 items for 30 days, you will find out what colors you would like to rewear more often. It becomes a part of your color palette and helps you shop wisely the next time.
Create a Wishlist for the Missing Items
Once you have selected your essentials and discarded what you do not like, map out your capsule to help you shop less.
For instance, if you have divided your clothes into different categories, you will realize that one section includes all your clothing that you may use all year round. Now you do not have to buy such pieces. Even when you do not have enough clothes to rotate all year, mapping out will help you create a wishlist of how many extra outfits you need.
Rewear Before You Buy New Ones
The thumb rule of maintaining a capsule wardrobe is to rewear your clothes in different forms. Every time you urge to shop more, open your closet, look at each piece of clothing closely, and decide how creative you can get with wearing it in a different way than before.
For instance, if you have a basic tee and you often wear it with denim, try wearing it with a pair of loose trousers or a slit skirt this time. If you have a dress and don’t want to look plain, pair it with an overshirt in your capsule wardrobe collection, and you are good to go. You can also accessorize each outfit with funky bags and accessories like earrings, bracelets, and neck pieces to make them look more stylish.
Mixing and matching are fun, and you will realize it when you create a capsule wardrobe.
Consider Quality over Quantity
Never fall for the quantity of the clothes you can buy while building a capsule wardrobe and prefer quality over everything else. If you want to become a more intentional shopper, it is vital to educate yourself about the quality of fabrics of clothes you buy. Every year, 70 percent of textile waste goes into landfills, thus harming the environment in ways you cannot fathom.
When you consider quality over quantity, you reduce your fashion footprint. It is because buying quality clothes means wearing them as many times as you can, for they do not wear out soon. Choose brands that support sustainable fashion. It may look more expensive than traditional fashion, but it would help you save money in the long run. Many celebrities and social media influencers, too, have started vouching for sustainable fashion. Paying the fair prices of things is not bad, after all.
Shop with an Intention
Brands and stores will often lure you to shop for their clothes. But do not let the marketing gimmicks like Flat 50-70 percent off get to you. The next time you see something on sale, ask yourself if you need it or not. You will soon get an answer.
Fashion trends keep on coming and going, but the clothes that make you feel good and comfortable in your skin are the ones that matter! Buy something only if you need it and do not want it. Do not let these stores define your style and what you should wear. After all, you are a creative genius yourself, and you have the power to decide to take or leave a piece of clothing.
What to Include in Your Capsule Wardrobe?
Here are the essentials that you must include in your capsule wardrobe
A Classic Jean
Denim trends come and go, but there is one style that remains forever – straight-leg jeans. They are a new essential denim silhouette suitable for all body types.
A Go-to Shirt
Pick your favorite color and buy a go-to shirt suitable for everyday wearing. You can never underestimate the importance of a good-looking shirt.
A Blazer
A blazer is a piece of power clothing, and you must include it in your capsule wardrobe. It looks elegant and also boosts your confidence. Buy some standard clothing pieces such as black crepe or even a tweed fit.
Pleated Trousers
Just like denim, pleated trousers remain timeless. On the days when you have nothing to wear, pick your favorite t-shirt and pair it with pleated trousers. Tie a sleek bun and wear your heels. Nothing beats this look.
The Staple Sweater
Including this staple in your wardrobe is a must. You can choose any pattern you like, turtleneck, cowl neck, round neck, crewneck, and even V-neck. On the days when it gets nippy, tuck this sweater under your blazer and wear high-waist jeans.
The Slip Dress
Another timeless piece of clothing to include in your capsule wardrobe is a slip dress. The silky fabric of this clothing itself speaks elegance and sensuality alike. You can also pair it with a blazer or sweater.
A Jumpsuit
A jumpsuit is a versatile piece of clothing that you may carry on various occasions. Thus, having it in your capsule wardrobe is mandatory.
While you are on a mission to create a capsule wardrobe, remember one thing. It can be what you want it to be. There is no right or wrong way to attempt a capsule wardrobe collection. You can choose anything you like. Get going!
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