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For those of you new to the sustainable capsule wardrobe, it consists of a small selection of high-quality, timeless essentials that are designed to be mixed and matched and updated only by way of seasonal accessories. The aim is to provide something that won’t go out of fashion and can be worn for any occasion. The term ‘capsule wardrobe’ was originally coined by wardrobe consultant and author Susie Faux in the 1970s, but it peaked in 1985, when Donna Karan introduced the first capsule collection called “Seven Easy Pieces,” perfect for the working woman.
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Fast forward to fast fashion taking its toll on the environment. The sustainable capsule wardrobe appears to be one solution to our consumerist woes. While fast fashion and marketing campaigns have tricked us into believing that we must acquire things immediately, capsule wardrobes do the exact opposite. They push us to think more about what clothes we actually wear and need in our closet: Buy less, wear more. A capsule wardrobe will encourage you to wear the things you love every day, not necessarily what’s trendy and stylish.
Tip 1: Stop Mindlessly Buying Clothes / Quit Shopping Cold Turkey
Before you build a capsule, you have to evaluate your spending habits. Assign a time slot (a week, a month, or several months) and vow not to buy any new clothes during that period. Take note of feelings that arise. Below are some tips to help you on this new adventure:
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Avoid aimless browsing
Have you ever bought things that have never seen the light of day? Or, maybe they still have the tags on them? Your closet may be full, but you stare at it feeling uninspired every morning. And, even though we know that filling the hole in our hearts with things won’t make us happy, we continue to do so systematically. If you have the tendency to splurge on non-essential items, don’t tempt yourself by going to the mall or aimlessly browsing on the internet. Avoid it by thinking of another activity that could distract you such as a walk in the park, curling up with a book, a visit to the library, etc.
Find like-minded supporters
If you feel like you need help with adjusting to this new simple life, there is a plethora of supportive materials available online. For example, there are many minimalist bloggers on YouTube sharing their experiences. You can try checking out Lavendaire, Jenny Mustard, and Break The Twitch for some capsule wardrobe inspiration. Caroline Joy’s blog Unfancy is another useful source if you’re thinking of trying out a capsule wardrobe challenge this fall, especially her 10×10 season guides.
Tip 2: Define Your Style
Before you can start putting together your dream capsule wardrobe, it is important to define your style. The better you do so, the easier it will be to stay away from the items you’ll never end up wearing and only select the ones which are perfect for you. There’s no reason to sacrifice your unique style and personality for the sake of simplicity. You will learn to express yourself even with fewer daily choices.
Identify your closet’s dead weight
Scan through your current wardrobe and make a list of clothes that you were attracted into buying, but never really wore. These items have wasted your space, time and money. Now that you are aware of those, you can stop adding them to your wardrobe.
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Identify your style tribe
Scan through your current wardrobe again, but this time identify several of your style icons. Make a list of things you wear all the time, things that bring you joy, confidence and never feel old. Spend time to find the fabrics and styles you like. What are the specific things you like about this style? Is it modern or classic? Bohemian? Feminine? Loud or Subtle? Create a Pinterest board called ‘My Style’ and save the outfits you’re most drawn to. Aim for 30-50 images that cover outfits for all seasons and occasions and group similar outfits in to categorized folders.
Tip 3: Declutter Your Wardrobe
Limiting your wardrobe to a specific number will make building a capsule much easier. Review clothing by category, e.g. T-shirts, dresses, jeans, accessories, shoes, etc. Piece by piece decide whether to keep, sell, donate an item to a charity shop, or recycle it. Consider for example what clothes you would pick if you had to pack a suitcase. Keep your new personalized lookbook on hand as a guide and make sure that everything you keep fits within the style of your cookbook. These are the items you absolutely love, and the only ones that deserve a privileged space in your wardrobe.
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You might find Marie Kondo’s bestselling book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up helpful. Based on the KonMari method, a Japanese art of decluttering, the book offers tips for organizing your clothing/accessories/shoe storage spaces.
While it may be tempting to hop online or head to the store, give yourself some breathing room before refilling your wardrobe and try to live with it for a week, a month, or however long you like. Just see what it feels like to live with less clothing.
Tip 4: Go Shopping, with purpose and intent
Once you have emptied your wardrobe and put back only what you love, you can consider whether there are any gaps that need to be filled. If and when you decide to go shopping, browse with purpose and intent. And don’t forget to have your look book in hand.
Everyone’s capsule wardrobe will be different depending on lifestyle, but aim for 30-50 pieces. Vetta Capsule suggests going as simple as possible, with colors such as black, white, grey, nude, taupe, tan, brown, khaki, navy and denim, in order to make mixing and matching a daily possibility. Pick five of these neutral colors to form the base of your color palette. Then pick two to three accent colors that work together and what you think best highlights your skin’s warm or cool undertones. These include: blush, pink, coral, red, lilac, baby blue, forest green and mustard. As well as defining your color palette, it is important to also think about what textures and patterns you would like to incorporate in your capsule wardrobe. Some examples of texture and print include lace, chunky knits, pleats, ruffles, florals, stripes and geometrics. Pick a total of five of these that work together.
Choose pieces you would like in your capsule, and if you don’t have them in your wardrobe write them down on a shopping list. Include some combination of the following:
40% of your capsule should include staple pieces
These are your everyday items and they should be good quality, timeless and in mostly neutral colors. Pick a couple of pairs of tailored pants and skirts in navy and black; dark denim jeans and white jeans; a classic, black V-neck sweater; several basic T-shirts and tanks; a short/long-sleeved blouse; a jacket; a smart blazer to stay everyday chic; a black dress; a trench coat but also hats/beanies and scarves.
30% of your wardrobe should be your feature piece
These pieces should incorporate your accent colors, patterns, and textures. Make sure these pieces go with at least five other items in your capsule.
20% of your capsule should be your shoes
Choose a versatile pair of sandals and sneakers, black pumps and flats. You should try and stick to neutral colors and pick items with quality materials.
10% of your capsule should be other accessories
These items include jewelry, handbags, clutches and sunglasses. Similar to your shoes try to stick to neutral colors and high-quality materials.
Go through the list below to see the kind of pieces that you can add to your wardrobe.