A capsule wardrobe is the base of a perfect and minimalist collection of clothes that you will cherish for a lifetime. Here is how you can easily create yours.
When we talk about a capsule wardrobe, we immediately think about essential clothing items that we have been told – by magazines, mainly – are things everyone must have in their closet. The reality is, the broad concept of a capsule wardrobe is great, but it needs to be accompanied by the word ‘personal’.
There isn’t such a thing as a standard capsule wardrobe for everybody. First of all, we are all different people with our tastes and preferences, but also, we don’t all have the same life.
Some of us might be required to wear certain clothes at work, maybe even specific colours, while others might be freer in their choices. No matter what we do, a capsule wardrobe should be built on our peculiarities, personalities and necessities.
A capsule collection represents key, non-theatrical looks that represent a designer’s feature. Similarly, a capsule wardrobe needs to express your vision of yourself and your style – considering your life commitments.
If you search the internet for the perfect capsule wardrobe, you will find some classic pieces repeatedly proposed: a black blazer, a neutral jumper, a white shirt and so on. But if you are not required to wear a blazer for work or just don’t like blazers, why would you have one in your capsule wardrobe? Before you can create a good capsule wardrobe, you need to understand your needs.
Capsule wardrobe: what do you need to know before you buy
Before you start hunting down all the clothes you think you need, put your life on a piece of paper. Write a list of the activities you do most in your life, like work, swim, play tennis, hiking – any activity that has a big space in your existence.
After that, write which clothes are necessary to perform those activities. For example, if you hike every weekend, you will need some shoes and clothes adapted to that activity. If you work in a very formal environment, you will need some very formal clothes.
Create a map of your life and come up with the bare minimum you would need to be functional doing those pillar activities. Taking the example of a very formal job, you will probably need a blazer, a shirt, polished shoes and a good pair of trousers. Those four things are necessary, but you might want to add a couple more shirts and a skirt for a week of work. Start from the bare minimum of what you need and build your wardrobe from there.
Where and how to buy for your capsule wardrobe
Depending on what you need, you’ll have to research and find the best brands for you. But as a general rule – especially when building a capsule wardrobe that is meant to last years – try to buy from small brands that ensure high-quality products.
We are always against fast fashion, but when it comes to buying the core pieces of your wardrobe, it is imperative to look for quality and longevity. Do you need a comfortable and stylish bag for work that you can also use in your free time? Make sure you buy one made of durable materials, and that’s big enough for all aspects of your life. Do you do a lot of yoga? Look at brands that use high-quality yarns so that your leggings won’t break after a month and will be comfortable enough to double up as leisure clothes.
You should be able to use everything you buy for multiple purposes and in different moments and settings in your life. Are you purchasing a coat? Make sure it is warm and comfortable enough to wear it for work every day but is also smart enough to wear for a nice dinner or a winter wedding. Classic and timeless should be the main characteristics when shopping for those kinds of core pieces of clothing.
Accessories are your best friends
It’s incredible how a cute belt can change an outfit completely; how a simple black dress can be upgraded with a lovely necklace and how people won’t even notice if you wear the same trousers for a week if you change your look slightly.
To dress your basic clothes up or down, you just need some nice accessories. Don’t be scared of experimenting.
If you are still not convinced you can survive with less, you can try the now famous 333 challenge. Grab your 33 favourite and most used items (including accessories) and put everything else you own in a box out of sight. Only use the 33 pieces you chose for three months and see how you get on – you might already have your capsule wardrobe!
In conclusion, the first thing you need to do when planning to switch to a minimal wardrobe is to make sure you know yourself, and you are honest with what you need. You will see that having a capsule wardrobe will help you get rid of many useless clothes, it will save you time in the morning when getting ready and will even save your brain some unnecessary stress.
Picture: Liza Summer/Cottobro
