Fashion plays a crucial role in self-expression. However, most mornings I used to wake up and throw open my closet doors, finding I had nothing to wear, even as a pile of discarded clothes engulfed my room. That’s where the capsule wardrobe comes in. The capsule wardrobe focuses on basic seasonal pieces, helping to rid you of your daily outfit crisis. Creating a capsule wardrobe will leave you with a timeless wardrobe curated to your personal style, all while helping to cut down on unnecessary spending.
1. Declutter
You probably didn’t click on this article with cleaning in mind, but decluttering is an essential step in establishing a capsule wardrobe. I would highly recommend the KonMari style of decluttering: take everything out of your closet and ask yourself, “does this spark joy?” If you answered no, get rid of it. For a more in-depth process check out Marie Kondo’s show and book. While you declutter, separate the items you keep into seasonal piles. The number of seasons you divide your wardrobe into will depend on your where you live. For instance, if you live in a place like Colorado, you might want to try 4 seasons: fall, winter, spring, and summer. Whereas if you live in a place like South Florida, you could probably get away with two: summer and that one day a year the temperature drops below 70 degrees. After you’re done separating into seasons, pack all the items that don’t fall into the current season in storage containers and put them under your bed.
2. Find Your Style
When curating your capsule wardrobe, it helps if you have a specific style in mind. All your pieces will then coordinate, and you will have a larger number of outfit choices. One of the best ways to find a style that suits you is by looking at different trends on social media. Instagram will do the trick, but I decided to make a board on Pinterest. I started out by finding 3 to 4 outfits that I absolutely loved for each season. Then I pinned outfits that went well with those three outfits. I tried to stick to a color scheme and find outfits that featured the same basic pieces. If you’re feeling really inspired you can even make a mood board!
3. Determine Your Wishlist
From my Pinterest inspiration, I created a wish list. This wish list was comprised of pieces I didn’t have that kept reoccurring in my pins. For instance, a lot of my outfits included a white sweater, so I added it to my wish list. Make sure to think hard about your wish list; only add something to it if you need it for multiple outfits and it fits your style. Even after you create a wish list, wait at least two weeks before you buy anything. The capsule wardrobe is designed to minimize unnecessary spending, so it’s important that all your purchases are well-thought-out.
4. Test It
Now that you have all the necessary items for your capsule wardrobe you can start using it. It’s important to note that you’ll likely come across changes and that’s okay! Feel free to experiment with the process until you find one that works for you. If you’re thinking about adding a new trend to your wardrobe, test a cheaper version of the item out before you buy the most expensive version, or even worse, buy it in bulk only to discover that it doesn’t fit your style.
5. Adopt the Lifestyle
Congrats, you made your capsule wardrobe! But your journey doesn’t stop here. While creating a capsule wardrobe is a great start, none of this does any good if you continue to shop impulsively. Shopping intentionally may be hard at first, especially if you’re used to shopping socially. Instead of spending the weekend at the mall with your friends, go out and try something new!