Have you ever wondered how you can maximize your morning routine? How you can save money on clothing or how you can elevate your style? 

If the answer to all these questions is yes, then you’re in the right place. We can help you learn how to build a capsule wardrobe and resolve all these problems. 

But before we start, we should tell you what a capsule wardrobe really is and what are the benefits of having one. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.

The origins of a capsule wardrobe

A capsule wardrobe is not a new concept, although it may be new to you. It was first created by Susie Faux in the 1970s. Susie, a boutique owner in London, wanted to encourage women to create a wardrobe with only essential clothing pieces.

Today, a capsule wardrobe is a relatively new trend. It was brought back to help raise awareness of the negative impact the fashion industry has on our planet and to increase interest in reducing that impact. 

To put it simply, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of versatile yet classic clothing pieces. With these pieces, you should be able to make numerous amount of outfits for any occasion. 

What does a capsule wardrobe consist of?

Usually, the capsule wardrobe consists of 25 to 50 clothing pieces. Those pieces include outerwear, tops, bottoms, dresses, shoes, and accessories such as belts and bags.

Other accessories such as jewelry, as well as activewear and underwear don’t form part of this number.  

The clothing and accessories that make part of the capsule wardrobe should be high-quality so that they can stand the test of time because that’s the goal of this kind of wardrobe – to last a long time.

Benefits of having a capsule wardrobe 

Now that you’re aware of the meaning of a capsule wardrobe, we can talk about its many benefits. 

Versatility 

One of the greatest benefits of a capsule wardrobe is versatility. All the clothing pieces in the capsule wardrobe are chosen so that they can be mixed and matched with each other. 

Combining items allows you to create a thousand different outfits for various occasions. It’s this versatility that keeps the wardrobe fresh and you can wear the pieces for a long time.

Space-saving

Huge closets with countless pieces of clothing that you mostly don’t wear take up a ton of space. Space that you might be able to use differently if you had less clothing. 

By building a capsule wardrobe, you make quite a bit of space in your closet. Since a capsule wardrobe consists of fewer pieces, not only will you gain more space, but you’ll also be able to see all the items you own more clearly and remember to wear them more often.

Longevity

Because the capsule wardrobe consists of classic pieces, no matter how much your style changes over the years, these pieces will always work for you.

That’s the other reason why you should invest in a capsule wardrobe and only buy quality items that will last a long time and that will be timeless.

Time and money-saving

With a capsule wardrobe, you don’t have to worry about coming up with outfits every day. This can significantly boost your morning routine. Since all the pieces in your capsule wardrobe can be mixed and matched, it will take very little to come up with a perfect outfit for whatever occasion. No more getting up early to create an office outfit.

This means that a capsule wardrobe can save you quite a bit of time. And it can also save you quite a bit of money. 

Having this kind of closet is much cheaper than a regular one. First, because you don’t need that many pieces and second, if you do need something new, you know exactly what you need. No more over-buying and over-spending. 

Eco-friendly

A capsule wardrobe encourages less consumption. With this wardrobe, you will own fewer items and thus consume less. Not only does this make your closest more eco-friendly and sustainable but it also helps our environment. 

The fewer clothes you buy, the fewer clothes will end up in landfills. So, you’re reducing your carbon footprint.  

Less stress

For some people making outfit decisions every day is quite stressful. Once again, by building a capsule wardrobe, you’ll be saving yourself a lot of stress. Getting dressed and coming up with outfit combos will be much easier and at least one less stressful situation for you.

What are some of the capsule wardrobe essentials?

As mentioned, a capsule consists of 25 to 50 pieces, but there are some essentials that every wardrobe should have. The best part is that these essentials work for both female and male closets, so everyone can work with them.

Let’s see which essentials we’re talking about.

Tops

When it comes to tops, some of the staples your wardrobe should include are two button-up shirts, an oversized T-shirt, a vest top, knitwear, and a blouse.

A standard white button-up shirt is a must-have in your capsule wardrobe. This item can be dressed up or down, worn differently over and over, and layered in many different ways. 

A satin button-up shirt is another type of button-up that should make part of your closet. This piece can either be a neutral color or it can be a piece that provides a pop of color in your wardrobe.

A simple T-shirt is also an essential piece of clothing. Just like a white button-up, this item can be dressed up, down, accessorized, and layered however you like. Just make sure you stick to neutral, or muted colors.

The back vest top is also a piece that can serve a great purpose in a capsule wardrobe. You can wear it during warmer weather and layer it with sweatshirts, button-ups, and so on. 

Knitwear is ideal for warmer weather, and here you can choose something that fits your style and body shape. Neutral colors are a good option.

And finally, a blouse. A blouse is a piece that can bring some color into your wardrobe. You can choose any color or pattern you like.

Bottoms

A pair of blue high-waisted jeans, a pair of dark jeans, tailored trousers, black leggings, a pair of jean shorts, and a skirt. All these bottom pieces are what you need to have in your capsule wardrobe.

A good pair of blue high-waisted jeans that fit you well is a must. You can choose the cut that fits you best, whether that is slim fit or mom-style. Dark jeans are another pair of pants that you should own. This pair is ideal for many reasons, but mostly because they are so versatile.

Also, make sure you invest in a pair of tailored trousers. They are dressier and can be perfect for formal occasions or business-related functions. 

A pair of black leggings is another staple that can be dressed up or down. Similarly, a pair of jean shorts for warmer weather can be styled in many different ways.

And at last, a skirt. The kind of skirt depends on your preferences. You can go for a mini, midi, or long skirt.

Suits

A fitting suit is something that everyone should have in their closet. It doesn’t have to be an expensive or tailored suit, just something that fits you well.

When choosing the color of the suit, make sure it’s something neutral either black, gray, or beige. The great thing about suits is that you can wear them both for your corporate job and formal events. And you can break them into a blazer and trousers or a blazer and a skirt. You can find great skirt and blazer sets online, so make sure you check on the internet as well.

Outwear

Everyone needs a good denim jacket, a faux leather jacket, and a trench coat. Beyond that, a hoody, black blazer, and an overcoat are also capsule wardrobe essentials.

Denim jackets are very popular again, which makes them perfect capsule wardrobe pieces because they don’t seem to really go out of style ever.

Similarly, a faux leather jacket is a timeless item, and having it in your wardrobe can come in handy. 

A beige trench coat can protect you when the days become chillier. It’s a staple, waterproof piece that will keep you warm and elevate your style. Just like an overcoat, preferably a woolen one. A must for winter months.

The last two outwear items you need in your capsule are an oversized hoody that can be very useful to throw on when you’re cold and a black blazer that can be dressed up or down.

Dresses

Besides an essential little black dress that every woman should own, you also need a maxi or midi dress and a mini one. Depending on what you like and your body type, you can get a flowy maxi or midi dress. And a mini-dress that can be used for different occasions.

Also, add a tailored dress to your capsule wardrobe. You can wear a tailored dress either to an office or for an evening out.

How to create a capsule wardrobe

Now that we know all the capsule wardrobe essentials, we can move on to actually creating this sort of wardrobe. And that’s an easy process that will require a bit of your time.

1. Try everything on and declutter 

The best way to start curating your capsule wardrobe is by taking everything you already have in your closet out and trying it on. This will help you organize your clothes and sort them into piles.

You should have at least three piles – keep, donate, and a maybe pile. The things you decide to keep should be pieces you love wearing and that fit you well.

The pile of clothes that you no longer like or that don’t fit you, you can donate, sell, or recycle. The most difficult will be the maybe pile. This is the pile of clothing that may have sentimental value, or that doesn’t fit you perfectly but you just can’t get rid of. 

This type of clothing you can put in a box and store it somewhere. If you notice that you’re reaching for some of the pieces from this box, put the clothes back in the closet. And if you never reach for them, donate or recycle the clothes.

2. Let the ‘keep’ pile help you create the capsule wardrobe

The keep pile will help you realize which items are your core capsule items. Meaning they will help you realize what your style is and where you have holes in that style.

This means that certain pieces you’ve chosen initially won’t make the cut. The best option is to choose classic and timeless pieces that are on our essential capsule wardrobe clothing list.

Additionally, make sure that those pieces are in neutral or muted colors. These colors are great base colors for a capsule wardrobe. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you can’t incorporate colorful or patterned pieces. However, try to eliminate duplicates, you don’t need two similar pairs of blue jeans, for example.

3. Invest in high-quality clothing

Separating clothes and choosing what you want to keep will also help you figure out which items you’re missing. This means that you’ll need to invest in some pieces.

When doing this, make sure you invest in timeless high-quality clothing. You can splurge on shoes, outerwear, and suits that will last for a long time and that won’t go out of style.

Trendier items, ones that aren’t part of the essential clothing list, don’t have to be too expensive or high-quality.

 4. Create outfits

Once you have the capsule wardrobe ready, you can start creating outfits. The goal would be to create at least 10 everyday outfits with the items you have in your capsule.

To help you with this you can go online and see what’s popular, which trends work with your pieces, and so on. And remember that accessorizing your clothing is what will give it that ultimate flair.

Bottom Line

Creating a capsule wardrobe is a great way to downsize, save time and money, and unleash your inner fashionista. A capsule wardrobe can also help you elevate your style and become more eco-friendly.