Throughout my junior year, I did not repeat an outfit once (excluding weekends and holidays.) While it was a bit absurd, and I would never do it again, I successfully achieved this through the beauty of a capsule wardrobe!
A capsule wardrobe comprises clothing items specifically chosen for their versatility, ultimately reducing the number of clothes in your closet. Minimizing your shopping consumption not only helps the environment but also, with a closet only made up of your signature items, a capsule wardrobe can ease the stress of choosing an outfit each morning.
In my personal experience, I do not limit the number of items I can wear. However, I still consider my closet a capsule wardrobe because of its versatility and because I do not frequently purchase new items. So, I will use some of my favorite pieces from my closet to show you how to create your version of a capsule wardrobe!
Building Your Capsule Wardrobe
Start with your Favorite Clothes
First, I would sift through your closet to find your most worn pieces. Finding your signature go-to pieces is the easiest way to narrow your wardrobe, as you already know you love to wear them. You could create several outfits with your favorite pieces alone, but not enough to have an entire wardrobe. This is when you will start to incorporate your “basics.”
The Basics
Basics are, well, essential items of clothing. They are the most versatile items in your wardrobe that you could pair with almost all your clothes; they are typically simple in design.
In my closet, I have simple items like a black turtleneck, a beige jacket, and pairs of black and blue jeans, but also my favorite, more colorful items like my floral tank top or green overall dress. Though it is a rule of thumb to have neutral colors as your basics because of their versatility, it is by no means a requirement. Capsule wardrobes are typically advertised in a way that makes you believe you need to throw out your old wardrobe for a set number of neutral, patternless items. However, you do not need to follow the standard color palette or limit yourself to a certain number of items to benefit from the concept. If your most worn colors are neon purple and green, then you should incorporate those into your signature closet!
With your mini closet of favorites and basics, feel free to add a few items that are more eclectic or best for formal occasions: this is your wardrobe!] From my experience, I rarely wear my red floral dress, but I like how it looks on me, so I keep it them in my wardrobe for the times I want to wear it.
Year-round
If your capsule wardrobe is a bit underdeveloped, and you need to buy clothes, consider what you like about the current pieces from your closet. Do you like how specific colors look on you? Are you a fan of corduroy textures? If you have never worn firetruck red pants and only wear blue, you likely would not get optimal use out of those pants. And if you are still trying to figure out where to start, layering pieces such as jackets or flannels are a great option because they are an addition to your outfit rather than the outfit itself. Layering pieces are also great for making your wardrobe last year-round because of the added warmth. With my wardrobe, I like to wear fun tights and skirts, so I got a skin-colored pair of thick fleece tights to wear underneath to enjoy my skirts in the wintertime!
Consider getting additions to your wardrobe second-hand or invest in one to two quality items to make the most of your purchases.
You now have a capsule wardrobe that is fruitful yet simple, so how do you create outfits with these pieces? As a chronic over-dresser, I have many tips on creating outfit formulas that suit your closet and convenience!
Creating Outfits
Color Schemes
A super simple way to formulate an outfit is to have a consistent color palette. It does not need to be the same exact color from top to bottom, but different shades of the same color or tying the outfit together with a matching accessory will make you instantly look put together.
I take color matching into account, especially concerning my shoes. I tend to wear a lot of green in my outfits, so for my everyday shoes, I have basic white shoes with dark green laces to complement my outfits. During the colder months, I wear my light pink or black boots to stay warm and, more importantly, fashionable.
Layering
As I have mentioned before, layers are great for adding to the outfits you are already wearing. Adding another element to your outfit makes it more visually interesting and looks very thought-out.
Get Creative!
If you want to expand your capsule wardrobe options as much as possible or you are extremely desperate for a new outfit, try wearing clothes in a way that is not their intended purpose! Wear a sweater backwards for a different neckline, use a skirt as a flowy tube top and so on. If the vision does not come to life, it is nothing that a few safety pins or a belt can not solve. Extra gold stars for you if you have any sewing skills.
