How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe

Are you looking to revamp your wardrobe? To make use of every piece of clothing you own? To have less, but be happy with the “more” that you can get out of your clothes?

Those were the very questions that I was looking to answer when I decided to create a capsule wardrobe. Building a capsule wardrobe is going to look different for everyone. Just look below. Here are some examples from others who have built a capsule wardrobe:

www.theeverygirl.com

www.coastersandcoastlines.com

www.thelovelylauralife.com

Now you could go ahead and choose one of these “diagrams” and buy everything on it. The thing is, would it define YOU? I see a capsule wardrobe as being:

simple and basic coordinating clothes that are essential to YOU

Those pictures filled all sorts of beautiful clothes and basic clothes that coordinate, but they do not define the last part of what I think a capsule wardrobe is – that those clothes are essential to YOU. Personally, the second picture from Coasters and Coastlines is most like my style, but the shoes are FAR from what I wear. You will find me in either tennis shoes, chacos, my second-hand Sperrys, or my boots. Also, I own jeans. That’s about it. I have a nice pair of khakis but have yet to wear them this year. I have a pair of dark and light skinnys and that is about all I wear. I own one skirt, but is now in the donation bag because I haven’t worn it in almost 2 years.

The reason I tell you about those little details is because it is easy to look at one of those pictures and think THAT is what I want my wardrobe to look like. And certainly you could go ahead and find those clothes and I am sure, be very happy. The thing is, even the best designed picture still doesn’t define ME and isn’t essential to ME. In my next post I will talk about what my capsule wardrobe includes, but in this one, I want to help you build your own capsule wardrobe!

I am no pro. I am just starting out and I know it takes awhile. In all of this, remember that you have to keep going back to what YOU wear. What do YOU feel comfortable in? Without further ado…

How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe:

1. Declutter your closet.

Ask yourself:

– Does it fit?

– Do you wear it?

– Do you like it and enjoy wearing it?

– Does it need fixing?

Decide

*Have 2 boxes

– Donation Box

– Garbage Box/Bag

1. Collared shirts – Missing buttons? Do they fit?

2. Sweaters – Are they too small? Too big?

3. T-shirts – Do you wear every single one of them? Stains?

4. Long-sleeve shirts – Are they too small? Stretched out?

5. Jeans – Are you saving a few pairs for when you lose weight? Do any of them have holes? In general, do they fit?

6. Sweatshirts – Do you wear every single one of them?

7. Exercise pants/shorts – Do you wear them all? Or do you wear them just because they are an option?

8. Tank tops – Stretched out? Faded? Stained?

9. Dresses – Do they fit? What occasion would you wear it for? Will you ever have an occasion like that again? Is it a multi-purpose dress?

10. Socks – Do they have holes? Are they worn out? Do you have too many pairs?

11. Underwear/Bras – Is it stretched out? Worn out? Itchy?

12. Belts – Any of them worn out?

13. Shoes – Worn out? Still fit? Do they squeak? Dirty?

Whatever is left, is what you have to work with for your capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe will not work if your closet and drawers are filled with clothes that you will never wear again, need fixing, or just plain do not fit.

2. Figure out what you spend of your time doing.

Where do you spend most of your hours and what are you doing? Working? Working out? In an office? Working around the home? Sitting and crawling around on the floor with the kids? Wherever or whatever you spend most of your time doing, is what you should center you capsule wardrobe around. So, make a list of your activities in order of most often to least.

3. What do you enjoy wearing most? If you walked into your closet right now, what would you grab? Your yoga pants? Skinnys? Pajama pants? Make a list of your favorite pieces of clothing.

4. When looking at your favorite pieces of clothing, what color scheme are they? What are your favorite colors to wear? What other clothes do you have that you could pair with your favorites? THAT will be the beginning of your capsule wardrobe!

5. Decide what you are missing. This is where you make your capsule wardrobe YOU. Yes, you can look at the pictures above and get some ideas of what you could maybe pair with what you have, but remember, the beauty of a capsule wardrobe is that it has to be essential to YOU. Some things to think about:

Do you have enough clothing for each season?
Does each piece pair with another?
What pieces of clothing do you need yet to make it well-rounded?
Make a list of what you need yet.

6. Buy what is on the list, but stick to a budget. You may not be able to get all of the clothing items you are “missing” at once. Let it be a work in progress. In fact, the more you wear what you already have, the more you may realize that what you already have is enough.

I am not ashamed to admit that I like finding a good deal. Clearance racks are pretty fun to peruse through for me. The thing is, it is easy to buy cheap in price, but also sacrifice quality at the same time. Don’t get me wrong! YOU CAN FIND CHEAP WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY! One thing about a capsule wardrobe is that the quality of clothes you have can make a difference. I am not saying that you need to buy all name-brand clothing. What I am saying is that if you plan and hope to use a piece of clothing for multiple outfits, investing in a higher quality will make it last longer. For instance, I have an Under Armour spring-type jacket that I have had for 8 years. I was not going to buy it because of the price tag, but my husband convinced that I will get my use out of it. He was exactly right. I still wear it every week to this day. Times that by 52 weeks in a year and times that by 8 years. No need to do the math. It was worth the purchase.
My sister once told me a good rule of thumb. Think of a dollar per wear. For example, if a shirt cost $50, will you wear it 50 times? If a shirt costs $10, will it only last 10 wears? That has really offered some perspective for me in buying clothes.

Now the fun part…actually CREATING the wardrobe:

7. Enjoy mixing and matching, wearing clothes that define and are essential to YOU. It might help to write down what goes with those favorite pieces of clothing you have. For example, if you have a pair of skinnys, boots, and favorite tank top or shirt, what else can you pair with it? A cardigan? Blazer? Sweater?

Make a list of all of the clothes you have and what you can pair with what.

Now it’s your time to enjoy spending less time trying to decide what to wear. Enjoy spending less since you have all you need for the time being. Enjoy living with less.

If you are looking to start your own capsule wardrobe, hopefully this gives you some ideas on how to do so. Again, there is no magic number of items you should have in my mind because everyone is different. Everyone has a different “living with less” mentality. In my final post about capsule wardrobes, I will explain what my personal wardrobe looks like.