Many Colgate students are perplexed by the inconsistent weather here in Hamilton, N.Y., where it ebbs and flows between cold and hot–especially during the months leading up to winter. Instead of overpacking and facing the consequences of an overflowing wardrobe, a capsule closet is a perfect remedy to maximize a few staple pieces and cut down on the number of items in your closet. By creating a capsule wardrobe, it makes getting dressed in the morning easier, it allows for you to donate or sell clothing that no longer aligns with your ( season-specific style?), and it allows for you to save money by only buying items that truly fit the criteria for being in your closet. With that being said, everyone’s “rules” for their capsule closet is different. However, the first step to creating a capsule closet is deciding on the number of clothing categories of item, like shirts and shoes, to keep yourself limited to. From there, the rest of the process is based on picking and choosing the items that will most benefit your warmth as we approach the chilly weather, as well as the pieces that will be most useful to your comfort and fashion sense.
A Guide to a Colgate Student’s Capsule Closet
- jacket
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A jacket is a must-have item on campus as the temperature drops here in Hamilton. When deciding on a jacket, think about warmth, comfort, and style. As hard as it might be, don’t keep a jacket that will fit the criteria for fashion but not warmth, because that will just set you up for a cold winter season. Think about this parka from REI.
- shirts
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When deciding on a couple shirts, try limiting yourself to about 8 or less tops. For the cold, layering is important, so include tanks, short-sleeved, and long-sleeved shirts to put on top of each other. Think about keeping thermal T-shirts, as well as cotton and other more fashionable materials so that you have an array of options for any occasion. I recommend stocking up on thermal long-sleeved shirts, like this waffle knit T-shirt from the Gap.
- bottoms
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When thinking about what to wear on the bottom, try to include about 8 pairs of pants as well. A combination of jeans, sweats, and leggings is a good idea, because you never know how you’ll feel in the morning about what to wear for class. Typically, it would be advisable to keep two pairs of leggings, two pairs of jeans, two pairs of sweats, and two pairs of another type of pants, so that you can swap between them without repeating an outfit. Try purchasing these Cotton On sweatpants in a few colors to last you the winter.
There are certainly more items to think about when creating your capsule closet, like shoes, dresses, sweatshirts, and more. Again, try to really think about the usefulness of the item, as well as how it will serve you in things like comfort and style during the colder months ahead.