When capsule wardrobes initially became a trend, I was not their biggest fan. Many of the ones that I saw were full of bland outfits that, while all going together, lacked any sense of personal style. If you’ve never heard of capsule wardrobes, they can best be described as minimalistic, opting for timeless and classic trends rather than fast fashion to create a wardrobe of clothes that can be rearranged into a variety of outfits for any occasion. As a concept, this trend seems overwhelmingly positive, as it contributes to more sustainable fashion, but I initially disliked how it played out in practice. However, while packing my bags to study abroad, I realized that a capsule wardrobe was exactly what I needed to pack minimally and efficiently.
The first thing that I needed to tell myself when committing to my capsule wardrobe was that it did not need to be boring. Packing minimally does not necessarily mean that everything has to be neutral and go with every single other piece. I strongly believe that incorporating fun and unique pieces into your wardrobe is crucial for keeping it interesting. The one important thing to remember is that your fun and unique pieces should still be able to be styled with a few different outfits, so they are not taking up vital space in your bags and closet.
When it came to actually building my capsule wardrobe, the basics remained a compulsory component. To start, I looked at jeans. I packed two pairs of blue jeans, one in a dark wash and one in a lighter wash. I also included a pair of black jeans and a pair of brown jeans because I wear both of these very often and they go with many of my outfits. A black mini-skirt was also an absolute necessity in my capsule wardrobe. This can be worn with almost anything and in almost any season, either by itself in the spring or summer or with thermal tights in the winter.
Moving on to tops, I tried to make sure that I had some basic black, white, and somewhat neutral options for sweaters, long sleeves, and short sleeves that would go with most things. Next, I expanded to my more colorful and distinctive tops; I just made sure that they would go with at least two pairs of jeans and that I could style them in multiple ways. Including pieces in a capsule wardrobe that can only be worn in one particular outfit wastes space, so it is best to ensure that you can style each piece in a variety of ways.
For jackets, I included two coats: one light puffer jacket and one warmer trench. For shoes, I packed boots, a couple pairs of everyday tennis shoes, hiking boots, Birkenstocks, and Mary Janes. All of these were very well thought-out based on my everyday outfits, the seasons in which I would be abroad, and my travel plans. I also brought a couple of light jackets that were more colorful and unique to my personal style, allowing me to mix and match with different outfits.
For loungewear, I included a couple of pairs of leggings, sweatpants, and sweatshorts, as well as a few T-shirts and tank tops. These are less difficult to plan, and they don’t necessarily need to follow the rules of matching depending on what you’re comfortable with and how often you wear loungewear. Just make sure to remember to have plenty of things that are comfy and cozy in your closet as well!
Lastly, once I had the basics, I included many of my favorite pieces that I wear a lot, but don’t exactly fit the rules of a capsule wardrobe. This made my wardrobe unique and gave me a lot more variety in my outfits. I included some long patterned skirts, fun tops, and cute T-shirts. Although it took a lot of time, thought, and planning, I am very happy with how my capsule wardrobe turned out. If you are planning on studying abroad and needing to pack light, or even trying to minimize your overall wardrobe, take these ideas into consideration. Start with the basics, then include your more fun and interesting pieces to keep your wardrobe minimal and functional but also personal and unique.