How To Build The Perfect Capsule Wardrobe

If you’ve ever stared at your closet and wondered what you’re going to wear, overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options in front of you, you might want to consider creating a capsule wardrobe. It’s a selection of key items that you can wear interchangeably with each other, or that serve as fashion staples. Typically, a neutral color is sought so that the outfit goes with everything, making finding something to wear easy and painless. It’s become increasingly popular among those who prioritize minimalism and sustainability in their fashion choices.

“A capsule wardrobe is a concise, curated selection of timeless clothing. It can vary from person to person based on our different lifestyles, but the best pieces are ones that can be worn to work, during cocktail hour, and casually on the weekend,” designer Misha Nonoo tells InStyle. She explains that you want to tailor garments to the person, based on their needs. Not every clothing collection will look the same, but the functionality behind it will always be similar.

Deciding to create a collection of wardrobe staples may sound amazing, but it can also feel overwhelming. If you think you could use one, we’re here to help. Here’s everything you need to know to create the perfect capsule wardrobe so you can always find something to wear.

Why You Should Create a Capsule Wardrobe

As well as making your life easier when it comes to choosing an outfit, a capsule wardrobe will save you time and money. You can choose pieces that suit your personal style and, in the end, you’ll have a wardrobe full of clothes that you’ll actually wear. After all, how many of us have hangers of clothes in our closets that we always pass up because they don’t fit, don’t go with anything else or just aren’t practical? Caroline Rector of Un-Fancy explains that a capsule wardrobe means “more time, more money and more energy for the things in life that really matter.” Basically, by simplifying your wardrobe, finding an outfit to wear is much easier and you minimise spending money on clothes you won’t end up wearing.

Rector says you don’t have to give up shopping altogether when you experiment with a capsule wardrobe – it just makes buying clothes more useful. A collection of wearable items helped her find her personal taste and made shopping for stylish pieces more fun as a result.

Every Closet is Different

We all have different needs when it comes to our wardrobe. There’s no point in having a closet full of work clothes if you’ve transitioned to working from home, nor should you be storing items just in case they come out in the future. Your lifestyle, job, and personal needs will help you determine which items will benefit you the most.

Sustainable fashion blogger Natalia Gomez explains on Seen that asking yourself a few questions can help you take the first step toward creating your own capsule wardrobe: “What is my main activity? What do I like to do in my free time? What staple items dominate my closet?” Your answers will help you determine how to best build your closet and decide what you should add to your go-to clothing collection.

If you’re finding it difficult to answer these questions, or still feel like you have too many items to choose from, Gomez suggests tracking your items for 30 days before adding or removing any items from your closet. Make a note of what you wear the most and what you haven’t worn at all during this time. This will allow you to more easily determine your true needs and what you can discard from your closet.

Time to Purge

The first step to creating a capsule wardrobe is to see what you’re working with. That means clearing out your closet and dresser so you can really see the clothes you already have. According to Eva Astoul of Sustainably Chic, you can take inventory to assess what to keep and what you can get rid of. This is the time to be really honest with yourself and separate your items into different piles. Have one for clothes you wear often, another for clothes you rarely wear, a pile for seasonal pieces, and one for clothes that no longer fit.

Clothes you rarely wear probably won’t be useful when creating a capsule wardrobe — they can be formal wear or items that have sentimental value. You don’t need to get rid of these items, although it can help you feel less overwhelmed when looking through your closet — but these aren’t the items you want to include in this curated collection. Astoul recommends selecting your favorite items and writing down exactly what it is you like about them. Whether it’s the color, cut, fit or style, knowing this will help you when it comes to adding new designs to your wardrobe.

Determine Your Needs

You don’t have to start completely from scratch when creating a capsule wardrobe, even though it sometimes seems easier to just start from scratch. Since so much of the purpose of one is sustainability and using what you already have, you don’t want to have to buy something to wear until you know exactly what you need.

Now that you’ve selected your favorite pieces from your closet purge, it’s time to build your signature collection. Natalia Gomez shares on Seen that it’s easier to sort the clothes you want to keep into categories, such as everyday clothes or work items, because this will help you identify what you need to add to your wardrobe, as well as what you don’t need. Even though you just saw a new pair of jeans on sale, you might find that you already have similar designs that you love, and buying another one is just redundant. However, you might notice that you need a new jacket, sweater, or pair of shoes to add to your closet, so you can focus on adding those pieces instead.

Select Your Base Color

Choosing a base color is important when it comes to creating a capsule wardrobe, as versatility and coordination are key. According to Classy Yet Trendy, most people will choose between black or navy. However, depending on your personal taste, you may lean more toward gray or brown. There are no hard and fast rules, except that you want this shade to be really versatile and neutral.

Once you’ve decided on a base color, it’s time to build your wardrobe with essential pieces first. These essential pieces will include tops like classic t-shirts, camisoles, tank tops, blouses, and sweaters that can be worn layered or with a variety of bottoms. You’ll want a few different bottoms like a great pair of jeans, joggers, yoga pants, slacks, and dress pants, or several if you need a more formal wardrobe for work.

Suit jackets, sweaters, denim jackets, and other layering pieces are an important part of a capsule wardrobe. They can help complete your outfit while also adding functionality. The key to creating a great foundation for your new wardrobe is to ensure that everything fits well and can be coordinated with the rest of the items in your closet.