We all love to indulge ourselves in some retail therapy from time to time. But, if we’re being honest here, most of them fall under impulsive buys, or just questionable pieces that you now need to get rid of (you’re not gonna be wearing that parka in Malaysian weather). More often than not, we end up with more items than we really need, and dressing up feels more like a chaotic experience rather than a fun one.
Besides, now that more and more people are starting to embrace sustainability, there has been a shift of focus to quality over quantity. So instead of having one of everything, people are opting for a more curated edit, investing in pieces that will stand the test of time. If you feel overwhelmed by your wardrobe, it might be time for you to consider downsizing, and start building a capsule wardrobe instead.
What Is A Capsule Wardrobe?
When you think about capsule wardrobes, the first thing that might come to your mind are plain white tees and jeans. But it’s far from that! A capsule wardrobe is a limited selection of versatile clothing pieces that complement each other. This makes sure that no clothing pieces go unused. It ranges from 10 to 30 pieces of clothing which includes t-shirts, pants, jeans, dresses, comfortable knitwear etc., that go with anything and can be dressed up or down. But of course, capsule wardrobes look different for everyone, since it’s about getting pieces that fit your lifestyle.
How to build a capsule wardrobe that you’ll actually wear:
Step 1: Declutter Your Wardrobe
The first step is always the hardest, but it’s necessary! Start getting rid of pieces from your wardrobe that you would never wear. This is so you can get rid of all the messy clutter and actually focus on building a capsule wardrobe with pieces you actually love.
Ask yourself when was the last time you’ve worn something, and if it looks similar in colour of style to something else you own. You should also take your day-to-day activities into consideration, since this provides information on what type of clothing you would wear most often.
Step 2: Plan Your Capsule Wardrobe
Next, you can organize what’s left in your closet into categories. i.e. bottoms, denims, tops, sweaters, dresses and jackets. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to choose your core capsule pieces that are both functional and versatile. For this, you can look at the fabric, silhouette, colour, and pattern. Can you wear it to different events or in different weather? Is it easy to clean? While a capsule wardrobe is all about having pieces that go with anything, it doesn’t mean that you can only have one of each. We still wanna have options, just better ones!
Some key pieces that you can consider:
- A good pair of denim jeans (light wash, medium wash, dark wash, straight-leg, flared, bootcut, etc.)
- Basic tees & tanks
- Tops (silk & linen button downs are good options)
- Sweaters (everyday cardigans and knitted sweaters)
- Dresses (classic black dress, maxi dress, a-line dress)
- Jackets (classic blazer, leather jacket, denim jacket)
Thsi TikTok by @stylebylovisa gives you a general idea of some essential pieces in a capsule wardrobe:
@stylebylovisa 15 capsule wardrobe essentials 🤎 #capsulewardrobe #capsule #capsulewardrobestyle #ootd #haultok #haul #modestfashion #modestfashioninspo #fyp #fy #fypシ #foryoupage #fördig #fördigpage #fördigsidan
♬ Kacey Musgraves Cant Help Falling in Love Remix – Mark Ronson
Step 3: Start Creating Outfits From Your Core Pieces
Now that you’ve picked out your core pieces and edited your wardrobe, it’s time to put it to the test, and start creating outfits that you would wear daily. This is so that when you actually start to use your capsule wardrobe, you won’t have to stress out on what to wear while you’re getting dressed. During this trial and error process, you may identify gaps in your wardrobe that you may need to fill, or pieces that you realize aren’t all that versatile and need to swap out.
If you’re having trouble letting go some of your clothes:
Many of us form an emotional connection with the clothes we have, and it can be hard to give them away. So if you’re finding it hard to part ways with your wardrobe, move the clothes you don’t want to a separate space and out of sight for a month. If you miss something, feel free to reclaim it back to your wardrobe, but, if you’ve forgotten about it, you can consider donating or selling it. You don’t need it after all. Of course, this excludes the items that contain sentimental value, or something you really like and you just don’t wanna get rid of. Dressing up is all about feeling good about yourself after all!
