How To: Build A Capsule Wardrobe
Capsule wardrobes are small, curated sets of seasonal clothing. One of the newest trends when it comes to fashion and style, weeding through your entire closet and removing everything except for the essentials is not only good for battling decision fatigue, but it’s also an exercise in minimalism.
Capsule wardrobes are customizable, meaning there is no one-size-fits-all. Rather, depending on what you want to get out of it, you can set your boundaries. Some popular exercises include the “333” approach which means you live off of 33 items for three months. Others are a little more extreme with 10 items for 10 outfits in 10 days.
No matter which you choose, or if you decide to set your own standards, there are benefits beyond being stylish. Capsule wardrobes are proven to save time in the morning and save money in the long run. They’re also thought to fuel creativity and energy by forcing you to be creative with less.
How it works:
- Take everything out: Remove all of your clothing, shoes, accessories and throw them on your bed. Pajamas and workout gear do not have to be included in your downsizing, or they can, it’s up to you!
- Organize everything into piles. Look at each piece individually and organize it into “need,” “use” and “donate” piles.
- Organize into seasons. Take all the “needs” that fit the colder seasons and put them back in your closet. Then take the remaining “use” items that you have room for and pick a few to add in until you’ve hit your cap.
- Storage: Take all the “need” and “use” items for warmer seasons and put them in storage for a few months from now when you’ll get to shop your own closet for the new season.
- Throw out and donate everything else. Don’t look back.
Quick tip: Take out your jeans and t-shirts first. These are consistent through all seasons and it’s a good base. From there, pick your favorite colors in your “need” pile and build a couple of complimentary outfits to help visualize the capsule you’re creating.