Creating a Capsule Wardrobe
Do you ever look at your full wardrobe and think, “I have nothing to wear…”? In reality, you’re just struggling with something you’re comfortable wearing. Don’t worry, you are not alone!
We tend to fall into the trap of inertia-driven shopping. Constantly looking for the next piece that will elevate our style, the next piece to add to our collection, or just an impulse buy.
Rarely do we stop to look our essentials, the pieces we can wear with everything. The blue jeans of our wardrobe. Thankfully there is a term for this group of core pieces, a simple solution to building your dream wardrobe, it starts with creating a capsule wardrobe!
Building your capsule wardrobe will thread a sense of confidence into your everyday outfit choices. Here is your guide on how to build one and why!
What’s a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a limited selection of interchangeable clothing pieces that complement each other. These are often classic pieces that do not go out of style and are primarily composes of neutral colors. A capsule wardrobe allows you to create a variety of different outfits with a smaller selection.
Why should you have a capsule wardrobe:
Less decision fatigue
More Time
More Sustainable
Save Money
Less Stress
How to build a capsule wardrobe that you’ll love
Step-by-step process
1) Do an audit of your current wardrobe
Now this is something I’ve written about before: make three piles, KEEP – TAILOR – DONATE . Go through every piece of your wardrobe and assess. Be honest with yourself, about when the last time you have worn that piece and does it need to have a future in your closet? Even its something essential like a white shirt, does it really fit, can it be upgraded?
Think about the lifestyle you have now. We carry clothing over from past jobs, past relationships, past style preferences. Who are you now? And who do you want to be going forward? What is the story you are trying to tell with your wardrobe? (this process should be done every few years)
2) Plan your capsule wardrobe
Now that you have completed a successful audit, you can start planning your capsule wardrobe! Look for the holes in your wardrobe. Treat your wardrobe like your home. You do not need to buy everything at once, but you should plan out how to improve it. Do you need more basic work shirt? What about your casual wardrobe? Is it full of Nirvana T shirts and cargo shorts? But your lifestyle has been elevated, so maybe look for better T shirts you can wear out.
The colors you should look to add: white, black, grey, navy and cream. These colors work with each other and every piece in your wardrobe.
3) It’s time to get to work!
You’ve purged. You’ve seen what your style is now, and you have found the room for improvement. It’s time to build that capsule wardrobe. Let go of all the clothing in your donate pile. Take care of the items that need tailoring.
When looking to purchase keep certain things in mind: what’s important to you? Look at what you’ve kept and figure out why you did, was it the fit, the style, the country of origin? That is a great place to start when looking for pieces to add.
Use your money wisely, don’t go to Walmart and grab a bunch of t shirts. Level them up. This is a time to elevate your style. A T shirt that is $40 will last you much longer than one that is $12. You will also see your lifestyle change. Your grimy garden t shirt wont be the same one you wear to an out door event. You CAN have a nice casual wardrobe.
Getting dressed is one of the first things every human on the planet does, and something that sets the tone for your entire day. For whatever reason we have become complacent with, “eh, this’ll do”. You shouldn’t settle when it comes to your potential. You have no idea what each day will bring, and getting up, putting on clothing that you are proud of and confident with can change the course of your day and life. — Below are just a few recommended links.
Bards Knitwear (Mens & Womens)
T Shirts - Huckberry.com (Mens)
