How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe

The summer I turned twelve, I went uniform-shopping for the first time.

After seven years of wearing whatever I wanted (mom-approved, of course) I was staring middle school at the only uniform-enforcing public school in our area. Two years of pleated skirts, khaki pants, and monogrammed polo shits stretched out endlessly before me. It wasn’t exactly the entrance to my tween years I’d been dreaming of.

But secretly?

It was kind of awesome.

Sure, I had to get creative to express my sense of style (blue suede Sketchers and a puka shell necklace–oh, the 90’s!) but it made everything so easy.

I had hardly any laundry.

It took almost no time at all to get dressed in the morning. (More sleeping in! Yay!)

And because of the quality and construction of the fabrics, it was also really easy to look neat, tidy, and well-kept.

Sounds kind of dreamy, huh?

Now, I’m not going to suggest you start wearing the same thing every day. (Though art director Matilda Kahl does,–and she rocks it.) And front-pleated khakis definitely shouldn’t be your go-to. But building a capsule wardrobe is the perfect way to decrease your laundry, decrease your clothing anxiety, and increase your capacity for personal style.

Even if you have three kids and not much time to yourself. (Like this girl!)

What is a capsule wardrobe?

I’m so glad you asked! A capsule wardrobe is:

1. a collection of a few “essential” pieces that don’t go out of style, plus
2. some seasonal and trendy pieces

…which can all be mixed and matched together.

It focuses on getting high-quality basics into your closet that you can use year-round. And some things you pull out for seasonal use as the weather changes.

My Take

I first gave this a try last year, when I read about one of my fav bloggers trying her own capsule wardrobe experiment. I loved the idea of having a very low-maintenance way to feel more stylish. So I gave it a try.

Now? I’m totally in love.

It has taken me some time to build my closet up with good quality, chosen-in-advance clothes. (I’m a recovering sale-and-thrift-a-holic, prone to grabbing things just because they’re under $10 and not hideous.)

But thoughtfulness before shopping has made it is so easy to effortlessly dress in a way that reflects who I am. And that makes me feel more confident.

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe

If you (like me) are starting with a closet full of clothes that don’t match each other, curating a 33 or 37-piece put-together wardrobe out of that probably sounds crazy. Or overwhelming. Or both.

To help you find your groove, I’ve put together a list of fantastic resources to help you get started! Don’t be intimidated–I promise you can do it!

Oh… and word to the wise? Please, don’t throw away all your clothes at the start. I got over excited and ended up with almost nothing to wear while I re-built my wardrobe. Whoops. But you have these great links, so you won’t make that mistake!

Ready?

Dive in!

• First read this (at least the parts titled “On Mistakes” and “How to Start a Capsule Wardrobe”: How to Create a Capsule Wardrobe via everygirl
• Second, use this article to start with what you already have: How to Shop Your Closet for 47 New Outfits via Beauty Mommy
• Third, check out this book full of great “recipes” to help if you’re new to putting together outfits: What I Wore
• Fourth, if you’re visual like me, I recommend you snag the Stylebook App. It’s $5, which is kind of a lot for an app, but it lets you photograph your actual clothes and then create & save outfits. It is a great visual way to apply what you learn from reading the articles above. (The screenshot above this section is from my iPad–those are my clothes, lined up so I can see how just a few pieces can become TONS of outfits!)
• Fifth, check out Greater than Rubies, Project 333, and Un-Fancy, all blogs entirely dedicated to capsule wardrobes.
• And if you’re on Pinterest, you can follow my evolving capsule wardrobe ideas: my general capsule wardrobe board (how to’s, stuff I like, & etc.), my spring/summer board, and my fall/winter board. 🙂

Would you ever consider trying a capsule wardrobe?