My daughter Rebecca recently started preaching to me about the benefits of a capsule wardrobe.
Basically, you try to get your wardrobe down to only a certain number of pieces–some say 25, some say 40–and then you work with just those. You buy high quality pieces, with lots of neutral basics. You accessorize with pretty scarves and jewelry and a few colourful items. And then you’re much happier! It’s easier to choose what to wear. It takes up less space. It’s easier to pack.
And you don’t have to spend all your time clothes shopping. You purchase high quality pieces that last forever.
This spring I went on a huge purge and got rid of about half my clothes. But I’m still nowhere near the 40 pieces. I’m getting there, but I do have a lot of dresses I love and jackets I use when I speak.
But here’s what I have done. I’ve decided that for each 2 month period I’m going to choose 25 pieces (shoes and jewelry not included!) to wear. Those will include at least 5 speaking outfits. Every two months I’ll try to switch out most clothes so that I do wear most of my items. And then, after a year, I’ll look at what I haven’t worn and I’ll get rid of those items, because I obviously don’t like them enough to have them make the cut.
So most of my clothes are on my top rack, but I put the capsule wardrobe on the bottom rack, and for two months only wear it. Here are all my other clothes; you can see the capsule one below.
Here’s why I’m liking this:
- Using a capsule wardrobe helps me make up outfits
- Using a capsule wardrobe helps me accessorize
- Using a capsule wardrobe helps me use items I love but I’ve never quite figured out how to wear.
Let’s look at each of these individually!
Using a Capsule Wardrobe Helps You Make up Outfits
That’s really the point of a capsule wardrobe, actually. You choose items that coordinate, and then it’s easier to make up an “outfit”. Often we’re stuck with a lot of clothes that will look good with one skirt or one pair of pants but nothing else. A capsule wardrobe encourages you to buy a lot of neutral items and then add patterns to it.
So you choose 2 sweaters, 1 blazer, 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of pants, 2 capris, 2 skirts, 1 dress, and then the rest can be tops. (You may fiddle with the numbers a bit, but that’s roughly it). And if you have enough neutrals in the sweaters and the pants, then everything will go with everything else.
I’m still working on collecting my neutrals–as you can tell, I have too many patterns. But the nice thing is that if I think about a colour palette beforehand, and then choose clothes in that colour palette, then more of them will coordinate together. In this case, I chose a yellow sweater that works with pretty much all of the tops, and a neutral jacket that works with both. Unfortunately I still need to work on getting more plain skirts, but at least these ones have at least two tops that work with each. And, of course, all the tops work with my plain jeans and capris.
I also have a pair of shorts, two pairs of capris, and a pair of jeans. Oh, and one dress!
I just leave the pants/shorts on an open shelf so I can see them easily. The other pants I put away in drawers and don’t bother with until it’s time to create my next capsule.
Since I have these all picked out, packing for my trip to British Columbia last week was easy. I just picked up everything by the hanger, lay them all in the suitcase, and I was done. Easy peasy! Took three outfits to Little Rock this week, too, when I was recording for FamilyLife Today Radio.
Capsule Wardrobes Help You Accessorize
I’m a firm believer in fighting the frump. I want to try to look “put together” instead of just throwing on clothes everyday haphazardly. But one thing that I’ve found is that looking “put together” is often more about accessories than it is just an outfit. By choosing my tops ahead of time I can then also make it a point to choose jewelry that actually goes with the items, instead of just always choosing the same necklace everyday (if I choose one at all).
It helps me to wear more of my jewelry, too! So I just take the necklaces that I want to wear (and the bracelets, if applicable) and hang them right over the hangers, like they do in a clothing store when they try to sell you outfits.
I figure out the shoes and the purses, too, and just lay the shoes I’ll actually need below the clothes, and the purses on hangers beside everything else.
Now when I go to get dressed in the morning, there’s really not a lot of thought that goes into it! I’ve already planned outfits, I’ve got shoes that will coordinate, necklaces that tie everything together, and I know what purses I want to wear.
It made speaking really easy, too–no more thinking about what to wear.
A Capsule Wardrobe Helps Me Use Items I Love But Don’t Know What to Do With
I love knitting, and I knit pretty much all the time. But I’m not the best at wearing the things I knit necessarily. It’s much easier in the winter, when I’ve got big sweaters, but in the summer I often forget about my knitted items.
With a capsule wardrobe I can be intentional: Okay, here’s a knit top I want to wear. What can I wear it with to turn it into an outfit?
I found one green summer cotton top I knit last year, for instance. I found a necklace that went well with it, and now it looks great with both skirts and those funky green shoes!
(I couldn’t hang this on the hangers with my other tops because it’s knit and it will stretch, so I had to show it to you separately!)
I also have a large collection of scarves that I never know quite what to do with. I like them, but I always forget to wear them. So in my first capsule wardrobe, which I made up in the winter, I found a scarf that coordinated and tried to use it in interesting ways. I thought this worked well with my jacket:
So now I try to put a scarf in each wardrobe, too!
I just find that it takes the guess work out of getting dressed, and it makes sure that I looked “turned out”. I’ve got a coordinated outfit. I’ve got jewelry. I’ve got accessories. And it works. Otherwise I find that I’ll throw on some capris and a top but I won’t really create an outfit.
I’m also realizing that I don’t actually need that many clothes. I may even get rid of a few more after the summer is over! I wouldn’t mind getting down to 40 pieces, actually (well, not including dresses. I like my dresses). But I’m also going to buy sweaters that are more versatile and that go with more outfits to coordinate together. And with solids I can do more with scarves, so in the end you don’t need to spend as much on clothes to still use color and pattern.
So that’s how I’m dressing myself these days. What about you? Have you ever tried a capsule wardrobe? How did it work out? Let’s talk in the comments!
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I can’t believe you made that knit top!!! It is so gorgeous. You are so talented.
Thank you! 🙂
I don’t get to shop for myself often, but when I do, I stick with a certain color collection, solids for my bottoms and jackets/sweaters, and mostly solids on my tops (although once in a while a print in my colors). I’ve been doing this for years since it takes time to change things out when you only get a few things a year. I love the idea of a capsule wardrobe and love keeping things simple.
I am however blessed with lots of hand-me-downs that don’t always fit in. I’ve started passing most of them on right away, but sometimes I keep something that doesn’t really work because I can use it temporally. I really should stop that as it just makes things more difficult, but I feel guilty buying things while passing on stuff that is given to me. I do feel like if I’m buying something, I should spend the money to get good quality so I can keep using them for years. Foot wear is a prime example. I stick with new shoes, and for things like boots I want them to last for many season’s
I love my scarves, and jewelry for making things more interesting. I find that I feel much more put together overall. I do know I get a lot of compliment’s on my fashion choices now, and I never used to. In fact many seem to think I have a “knack”. I don’t. I just keep it simple.
Love the capsule! I know a lot of people have so much benefit from these minimal wardrobes.
I love the idea of a capsule wardrobe and think it’s great when other people make it work for them. I struggle with execution of one for myself though.
My husband and both just went through our closets and got rid of a bunch of stuff that we don’t wear anymore. It’s so fun to be able to walk in your closet and only see things in there that you actually like and want to wear. And I know I could knock down my numbers even more by only keeping my favorites that I reach for over and over. But I don’t want to because I like having the option to mix it up. I guess if I don’t have the option for variety, I get bored.
I love clothes/fashion and think it’s so much fun to see how other people handle their wardrobes. Sounds like you are having fun with your capsule and it’s making it easier for you and your outfits better overall! Yay!
I did a clothing purge a few months ago, but I still have WAY more than 40 pieces. I adore clothes and shoes, and I don’t know if I could ever make myself stick with a set number. For curiosity’s sake, how does this work with the changing seasons? Do people who implement this plan have 25 to 40 pieces for summer, and 25 to 40 separate pieces for winter?
I’m the “Rebecca” she was talking about 🙂 I have 40 items for Summer and 40 for winter, but they often overlap! For example, a nice tank top I might wear in the summer I might put under a blazer in the winter. It’s all about having a versatile, professional wardrobe filled with clothes you love and make you feel good–it shouldn’t make you feel like you have to limit yourself. 🙂 Plus I don’t stick by the 40 rule too harshly–it’s more about not having so many that I can’t think of all my pieces at once. Makes laundry easier, too. 🙂
I’ve pared down my clothes over the years. Now I find myself wearing something black every day. Either a sweater, tank top, over-shirt, something. Sure, it’s not SUPER exciting, but I’m so not a pattern person. It works for me!
I can see how the capsule wardrobe concept would appeal to a lot of people. I don’t think it’s for me, though. Making clothes is one of my primary hobbies, mostly sewing but also some knitting. And prints are what I often find most inspiring. Also, I did try out a capsule maternity wardrobe, and frankly, I was bored by the end. Not the best feeling when you already feel like you’re the size of a house. So what I’m trying instead is to make mini capsules, like a few pieces that coordinate together that also ideally go with some other things I own. So I still get the variety and the prints, but fewer “closet orphans”. Hopefully I’ll be able to incorporate more accessories before too long. I miss jewelry. But baby is in the yanking everything that dangles stage. Oh well.
I like that idea, too! And as a knitter, I know what you mean. I have so many knit items and I would never want to pare them down. I just find that by being deliberate I actually wear them more!
This is s great suggestion for those who don’t need variety in their wardrobe. I’ve tried this method over the years. Since 2010 actually, and finally figured out why it didn’t make me as happy as it seems to make others. It’s Bc I have a higher need for variety. But I’ve learned a lot from the process. I buy things I truly love, im continually purging my closet. I’ve finally figured out what I like best on my body and an sticking to that (ex: blouses over tshirts). I avoid closet orphans by making sure a new item will pair w at least 3 other items.
I’ve also learned there are many ways to build a wardrobe capsule. You are not confined to neutrals or set pieces. It’s abt exploring your life’s needs, your fashion goals, and your personality.
I do like the method of small capsules within a wardrobe and that’s what I’m working on now as I build a summer wardrobe. It has taught me to be more creative and adventurous. I also stick to basic formulas so I know what to wear and I have reliable fall back outfits for days when I need to dress without thought.
Happily, I love outfit creation! I enjoy the process and find it fun. But there is definite value in having a few slam dunk outfits when you’re sleep deprived!
Yes, I like that way of putting it–“small capsules within a wardrobe.” I think that’s what I’m trying to do, too!
I like this idea, but I’m opposite of most women. I probably don’t have 40 pieces of clothing that currently fit, lol. Wear scrubs to work 5 days a week, so I’m pretty content with my minimalist wardrobe. On a side note, I’m totally blown away that you knitted that gorgeous green tank by hand. I’m seriously amazed and cannot imagine the ability or the time to create pieces like it. 🙂
I love the whole concept of having a capsule wardrobe. That’s such a smart idea. I’ve been trying to get rid of things that don’t fit or that I don’t wear. I think this goes well with your post about thinking positively about our bodies. If we feel good in our clothes, that transcends to how think about ourselves. It’s a personal struggle of mine, and I have to remind myself everyday to comfortable the way I am. Thanks for shining your light.
Dear Sheila,
I’d read about the idea of a capsule wardobe before and I thought it meant limiting yourself only to neutral colours that go with everything and I was put off. I love to match colourful T-shirts with an interesting print with neutral trousers. When I read and saw the pics about how you organized your wardrobe I thought: Wow, let’s give this a try – and I did and I think it’s great! I put all my summer tops and trousers together in one part of my closet. It made me realize how many summer clothes I actually have and how often I really get to wear them. Now it’s the end of June already and in my part of the world we’ve only had two ( yes, 2 ! ) warm summer days to speak of. And I live I northern Europe, not Greenland or Alaska! Eight more weeks and fall will be coming. Each spring I fantasize about bikinis, summer tops and shorts and I am tempted to buy some more summer clothes. With the capsule wardrobe system I tried new colour combinations and I found out that I don’t really need that many summer outfits. Perhaps you could give us an update on your system when you change to fall/winter? I would also like to know how you wash your knitted clothes. Do you hand-wash them or put them in the washing machine? I’d love to knit/crochet again but I am afraid that washing would ruin the knitted clothes.
Annette, so glad you found it helpful! For sure, I’ll post my next capsule for fall! I did find out I need to buy more grey and brown neutrals. But the big thing is that my mom is moving in with us so she has to pare down a lot and she has a LOT of clothes. So we’re going to capsulize her! Maybe I should those pics… 🙂
Like you, I’m trying out the ‘capsule wardrobe’ concept for the first time this winter. The 25 pieces I decided to divide into two capsules, so that I have different neutrals for each which co-ordinate of course. I don’t get much opportunity to shop for myself but try to keep reasonably put together and of course, the two capsules can overlap.
I’ve found, like you, it makes me think outfits through more thoroughly and use stuff more carefully than before. I think it helps me be more creative too and as you say, packing is just SO easy.
I’m going in!! I’m planning my capsule wardrobe nearly from scratch!
I have keto’d and exercised myself from a tight 18 to a loose 14 over the past year. Once I’m a solid 12, my hubby had been warned, MOMMA’S GOING SHOPPING!
I have found 2 pastor of dark bootcut jeans but that’s it! So I’ll be on this journey with you. Great tip on the scarves!