If you’ve been online a lot, you’ve probably seen a few things about a capsule wardrobe. Maybe you’ve been specifically looking up how to streamline your clothes or your lifestyle, maybe you’ve just seen capsule wardrobes around here and there. Or maybe you don’t know what one is, and this is the first time you’re hearing about it.
Well, fear not, we’ve got the best ways to make a basic capsule wardrobe and how to keep your lifestyle and capsule closet clear and easy, meaning that dressing for the day goes from an array of choices, to simply pulling something out, wearing it, and being happy about it.
About the Wardrobe
So, what is a capsule wardrobe? To keep it simple, a capsule wardrobe is a closet of a few clothes, usually thirty to thirty-five at most. So, if you didn’t know what one was before, don’t worry. This is a DIY article, but you won’t be out at the hardware shop buying planks of wood and nails!
No, instead, it refers to what you have inside your wardrobe. A quick search on google may look confusing at first, but when you find a different set of clothes instead of a sturdy project, it’s because of what the capsule wardrobe actually is.
Why Should I Make One?
The reasons are many and simple. Why should you make a capsule wardrobe? Not only does it make your life easier, but it also means that you’ll be able to get dressed sooner and have less choice of what you want to wear and when.
This does not mean at all that you won’t be wearing something you want. There’s a bit of craving for choice in all of us. Bringing a choice of clothes overnight may mean that you end up bringing a suitcase with you on a trip rather than a backpack, which can cause all kinds of problems, especially if it’s crowded or if you want to go places before you check into the hotel.
With a capsule wardrobe, this is no longer an issue. As well as this, you’ll actually have a wardrobe instead of a “floordrobe”. To have the most basic capsule wardrobe or to have one that’s a bit more complicated will mean that your room is a lot tidier, which will help both you and anyone you may live with breathe easier.
It also has a lot of ethical benefits, as fewer materials mean less energy usage, and it means that you’re doing your part to reduce underpaid hard labor.
How to Make One
Making a capsule wardrobe is quite simple.
There are steps you can take to make sure that you still have enough clothes and you still have enough choice that you’re happy with.
The first step is always planning. You know what kind of lifestyle you lead, so you know the number of clothes that you need. While it is possible to make your capsule wardrobe work by looking at the clothes you already have and scaling back, picking out favorites, this can also mean that you don’t end up discarding much.
If you’re creating a capsule wardrobe by scaling clothes back, then make sure you go through the clothes you often choose and end up with thirty to thirty-five things to wear, including accessories and shoes.
As this may mean throwing out your favorite things; however, it may be better to look at your wardrobe, shrug, and donate everything you own or throw it away and then start again.
When you’re making your capsule wardrobe, you can also put things aside to see how much you need them and try out only using the capsule wardrobe instead of old clothes. This way you won’t waste anything and the decision of what stays and what goes may be easier.
Color Palette
When you start again, the first thing to think of is the color palette. Of course, you’ll want to keep this simple and minimalist, much like the capsule closet itself. Start with muted whites, roses, blacks, and pinks and then work your way up to the more colorful if you think you’ll need to.
You may want two capsule wardrobes if you’re indecisive about what you need. This is because your colors will depend on your lifestyle as much as it depends on your taste and preference. If you love going to festivals and love wearing vibrant clothes, but never wear them on a day to day basis then you won’t want them in your primary capsule wardrobe.
After you’ve filled a quota of colors that suit you and colors that are practical, you can bring in more reds and blues at the end if there’s space. I suggest arranging the clothes like a spectrum, so there aren’t random vibrant colors popping out here and there amongst the more practical colors.
Amount of Clothes
Keep to the capsule wardrobe essentials. One of the best things about a capsule wardrobe is how much it is up to you, but also how much it helps you make decisions and keeps your room, and your life, tidier.
Think in terms of proportions instead of amounts. Set a limit of, say, thirty-three pieces of clothing and then ask yourself what your lifestyle is like. If it’s to do with coffee culture then warmer, muted, and more comfortable clothes will always come first. If you’re busy working most of the time then most of the clothes should be shirts, blouses, and smart trousers.
Keep to the capsule wardrobe essentials. One of the best things about a capsule wardrobe is how much it is up to you, but also how much it helps you make decisions and keeps your room, and your life, tidier.
Think in terms of proportions instead of amounts. Set a limit of, say, thirty-three pieces of clothing and then ask yourself what your lifestyle is like. If it’s to do with coffee culture then warmer, muted, and more comfortable clothes will always come first. If you’re busy working most of the time then most of the clothes should be shirts, blouses, and smart trousers.
Thinking About You
The next thing to do is think about your own individual style. A way to help with this is to think of the music you love and work backward. If you love post-grunge, then there’ll be more lumberjack-chic shirts in there amongst loose-fitting hoodies or jumpers.
If you’re more of a Swiftie, then there’ll be more shades of pink mixed with a few dark clothes for contrast.
Remember, this capsule wardrobe is about you and it’s about the styles you love as much as it’s about making your style more consistent whilst making your life a little easier.
What this means is that it’s not recommended to make one after throwing old clothes out if you’re redefining or reinventing yourself, as a taste in music won’t necessarily last and you may be back to square one.
However, having ten to twenty clothes in an identical style and the rest as practical work or night out extras can help you get a grip on your style a bit more, and your washing up.
Extras and Accessories
Finally, to shoes. Accessories such as bracelets, earrings, necklaces, etc. don’t have to be part of the numbers that create your wardrobe, and shoes don’t either. However, you know yourself so you know if you need more or fewer shoes.
If you need less, then add them up in the total so that you’ll end up with shoes for work, shoes for exercise, casual shoes and party shoes. If you’re happy with the number and don’t want to throw them away, simply treat the capsule wardrobe as if it is just for clothes.
This does apply to things like watches, hats, and jewelry as well. Depending on how streamlined you want to be and how much you need, decide whether or not to add them to the numbers.