A capsule wardrobe was something that was always an interest of mine, but it felt so unattainable for so long. I would see the monochromatic capsule wardrobes with highly specific articles of clothing, and it all felt too restrictive to me. It simply wasn’t my style to wear things like blazers and camis, and there seemed to be no information on how to create a capsule wardrobe that didn’t include a rigid style.
Fortunately, after many years and many attempts at developing a capsule wardrobe, I have finally found a system that works for me. So I have developed a blueprint of sorts to help others build their own capsule wardrobes when you don’t know where to even begin.
How To Create A Capsule Wardrobe
What I love about this method is that it is 100 percent customizable to your style and preferences. You don’t have to have certain articles of clothing or follow a specific color scheme to have a capsule wardrobe. You just need to figure out what clothes fit you (physically fit and but also fit your personality and personal style).
You see, what held me back from having a capsule wardrobe for all those years is that I was trying to fit myself into someone else’s box. I finally began to have success when I started building a wardrobe around the types of clothes that I liked, looked good on me, and felt comfortable. That is the blueprint I want to share with you. A system for unveiling your personal style.
Maybe you are that person who likes to have a consistent uniform with the same basic style of clothes in slightly different colors or patterns. Or maybe you’re someone who likes to wear something a little different depending on the type of mood you are in. Maybe you don’t even know which one you fit into and maybe it’s something else entirely. That is the beauty in this system. You will discover all of this and more without wasting money on clothes that were never right for you.
Step One: Create Three Piles
The first thing to do when starting a capsule wardrobe is to take a look at each piece of clothing you own. Some people like to physically pull every item out of their closets and dressers. Personally, I think that’s an extra unnecessary step and prefer to grab each item at a time. But go with whichever method works best for you.
Your goal in analyzing each item you own is to separate each article into one of three piles: keep, maybes, or get rid of. Here are my criteria for each of those categories.
Get Rid Of
We’ll start with simplest category to define and that is the items that NEED to go. Whether you decide to donate, sell, or just toss these items is up to you. Although I would encourage you that if you’re feeling overwhelmed, selling may not not be the best route. While it’s nice to make a little money, I have found selling clothes to be time consuming and often times not very fruitful. Sometimes, the best option is to just let them go if the process of selling keeps you from getting started. Items in this list should include….
Anything with holes, stains, or that are overly worn or stretched out.
Items that don’t fit right. You won’t want to wear them over and over again if they don’t fit well.
Anything that still has a tag on it (if you haven’t worn it yet, you’re not going to).
Clothing that isn’t comfortable. Again, if it’s not comfortable you won’t reach for it regularly.
Things that you’ve gone through all four seasons without wearing.
Keep
Your “keep” pile should have very high standards. These should be the items you absolutely love and always feel good in when you put them on. I like to use the rule of 7 here. The rule of seven states that if you rate an article of clothing at a 7 on a scale of one to ten, then you don’t truly love it. It’s likely an okay piece but not something you will want to wear again and again which is so important in a capsule wardrobe.
The “keep” pile should be reserved only for your very favorite items. The ones you reach for over and over again. They are the articles that you know you will enjoy wearing without trying out the outfit first to see how it feels.
Maybes
The “maybe” pile is your safety net. Some people believe this to be unnecessary or a waste of space, but I actually think it is quite practical if you are new to starting a capsule wardrobe. You are likely to make mistakes when you’re working on figuring out what types of clothes look and feel best.
The “maybe” pile prevents you from getting rid of clothes only to turn around and buy something similar because you regret getting rid of it. I have definitely put articles of clothing away to later pull them out and rediscover how much I love them.
This pile is also very helpful on the other end as well, as I will put something in my “maybe” pile, put it away and find it a year later to realize I didn’t miss it at all. It them becomes much easier to let go of something once I see that I am perfectly happy not having it in my wardrobe.
It is totally okay to have a big “maybe” pile at first. It will dwindle with time as you discover that which you like and works best for you.
Step Two: Find The Number That Works For You
Once you’ve created you piles and let go of the clothing in your “get rid of” pile, you can begin to assemble what will actually become your capsule wardrobe. This is where I see a lot of people get caught up in a specific number for the capsule. While, I love a 10 item wardrobe, that number probably isn’t right for everyone.
Start with a loose goal for yourself like 33 items recommended by Courtney Carver in her book Project 333 or try out Jennifer Scott’s 10 item wardrobe if that feels better for you. Don’t get too caught up in the exact number. While I love a ten item wardrobe, sometimes it contains 8 items and sometimes that number is closer to 12. The idea is to be more intentional about clothing purchases you make not to achieve the magic number. Once you have a general number in mind, you can start picking from your “keep” pile to assemble your capsule wardrobe.
Step Three: Analyze Your Color Palette
When looking at you “keep” pile, what colors show up most? Are you someone who gravitates towards neutrals or enjoys more color? Do you have more warm colors or cooler colors? There are plenty of resources to help determine what color palette works best for your skin and hair color. There are tests and books that some people love to dive into.
However, even if you don’t want to take the time or spend money to determine your color pallette, you can still get a pretty good idea for what colors look best on you. What color are the outfits that you get the most compliments on? What colors make your face pop when you put them on? Those are likely the colors that work best for you.
Choose a couple of neutrals and 2-3 colors that mix and match well. This will make your individual items more versatile and able to be paired with several other articles of your clothing. For example, I have a warmer color pallette, so the neutrals I like best are a brown and a cream color. I then like to include blues, greens, and deep reds or oranges as my pops of color. These colors can all be worn with each other and make mixing and matching easy.
Step Four: Do Your Clothes Work For You?
The next question to ask yourself is whether or not the type of clothing fits with the kind of lifestyle you live. Do you work in an office and need more formal clothes? Do you need clothes that are loose and easy to move around in? Maybe you need a mix of both.
The biggest criteria here is that you feel comfortable in the clothing you’re wearing. It is hard to put your best self forward when you’re constantly pulling at and adjusting your clothes.
Pay attention to the types of fabrics and styles of clothing that you feel best in. Do you prefer more natural fibers because synthetic ones leave you feeling itchy and sweaty? Do you like looser clothing that is more flowy or a more fitted feel?
Step Five: Pick Your Wardrobe
Now that you’ve got your color pallette in place and an idea of what clothing fits your lifestyle, personality, and personal style; you are ready to assemble your capsule wardrobe! Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. See it as more of an experiment more than something that has to work permanently. Just start somewhere.
It is best to shop your own closet when getting started. You will likely have everything you need to complete your capsule. Then as you get more familiar with what items you truly love, you may discover there are pieces that are worth investing in and adding to your wardrobe.
Some people like to choose their items and place the hangers in the closet backwards. As they wear an item, they will turn the hanger the correct way to show that item has been worn.
Step Six: Put The Rest Of Your Clothes In Storage
Once you’ve assembled your capsule wardrobe, put all your “maybes” and off season clothing in storage. You can always pull them out later if you decide you really miss a specific item. But most often, I find that it’s not worth the effort to pull the item out and end up letting it go after 6 months to a year.
Step Seven: The Trial Period
As I said, this is all an experiment, so allow yourself a trial period. Maybe that’s a few months or one season of the year. Since I like a 10 item wardrobe, I will typically rotate items seasonally anyway as I find that is about the time that I want or need different clothing options.
Pay attention to how often you are wearing each item. If there are things that you are consistently passing up on, consider letting them go or moving them to your maybe pile. Maybe there is something that you put away and end up really missing. Swap it out for an item you haven’t reached for as often.
During this trial period, you can also begin to consider if you feel you have any significant gaps in your wardrobe. Maybe you find you like wearing skirts more than you thought and want to add one more instead of the multiple pairs of pants you have. Just be sure that any purchases are intentional, well thought out, and fit into the parameters of your capsule. The last thing you want it to re-clutter your closet only to have to declutter it again in a few months.
More Capsule Wardrobe Posts You Might Enjoy….
10 Item Winter Capsule Wardrobe
5 Reasons To Love A Capsule Wardrobe
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