Capsule wardrobe 101: The essentials
What is a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe refers to a small number of essential items that compliment each other and can be used to create endless combinations of outfits. The idea behind a capsule wardrobe is to invest in good quality pieces that have longevity and will never go out of style.
The term capsule wardrobe was invented by Susie Faux in the 1970’s, who opened a minimalist boutique in London, selling luxury fashion pieces that customers could mix and match to create different outfit combinations.
In a society that has become all-consumed with consumption (literally), going back to basics and creating a capsule wardrobe can have positive benefits for both people and the planet.
So, what are the benefits?
Cost savings over time
Whilst it may result in a higher upfront cost than buying fast fashion, investing in high-quality capsule wardrobe pieces will actually lead to cost savings in the future. Spending more on durable items means they will need to be replaced less frequently. Having a good range of capsule items that can be matched with anything will also result in you needing to buy less clothes overall in the long run.
Less decision making
We’ve all been there, looking aimlessly in our wardrobes for something to wear and, despite having loads of clothing items, being unable to find an outfit that goes together. By creating a capsule wardrobe, you are narrowing down the options you have to make because you will have a set number of capsule pieces that can be paired with anything.
Less clothing ending up in landfill
By opting to buy less but invest in good quality items that can be worn with multiple outfits, you will actively reduce the amount of clothing ending up in landfill. You are also less likely to impulsively buy into short-lived trends, because you already have most of the items you need in your capsule wardrobe, meaning you will produce less clothing waste.
How to get started
So how do you get started? First things first, it makes sense to have a look at what you already have in your wardrobe. What are the items you find yourself gravitating towards on a daily basis? For me, I live in flared trousers and comfy knit tops, so I like to make sure I have a couple of pairs of good quality flares and one or two comfy knit tops that I can rotate between on a daily basis.
The clothes you like to wear day-to-day should inform your capsule wardrobe to begin with. Once you know what you already have, you can start making a list of any gaps there may be of items you think you could do with. Then, do some research to find some good quality options to bridge these gaps.
Top Tips
The overall idea of a capsule wardrobe is to be able to make the maximum amount of outfits using the minimum amount of items. To do this, you must think strategically when making new purchases, asking yourself some simple questions like:
Will this go with at least 5 other things I already own?
Do I already have something similar?
Can this be dressed up and down to create lots of different looks?
Although everyone’s capsule wardrobe is personal to them, basic items are usually a good place to start when building one.
For example, having some plain, basic t-shirts, dresses, bottoms and jackets will mean you can pair these with lots of different things in your wardrobe and you can style them to be casual or more dressed up (i.e. pairing a basic t-shirt with jeans for everyday wear or dressing it up with a skirt, heels and jewellery).
People often assume a capsule wardrobe has to be full of black and white but it totally depends on personal preference and style! If pinks and blues are more you, reflect this in your capsule wardrobe!
It is not about the colour of the items but rather how much you wear them and whether they go with other things you own. So don’t be scared to incorporate colours and patterns into your capsule wardrobe if this is more your style.
Even if you don’t want to build a whole capsule wardrobe, investing in some good quality basics is a great way to ensure you always have something to wear.
So, instead of panicking every morning that you have nothing to wear, despite having a wardrobe full to the brim with clothes, start building capsule items into your wardrobe and you will notice the difference!
