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Show of hands! How many of you have a massive closet filled with tons of different pieces yet STILL have trouble coming up with comfortable/stylish outfits to wear each day?
Between sorting through the array of different colors and patterns, it can be super frustrating to have what should be an easy task become a challenge that gives you premature grey hairs. But here’s a little secret for you; What if I told you that it doesn’t have to be this way?
That’s right, in the world of fashion, there is a renowned approach to helping you achieve your ultimate personal style fast and effectively. There is a clear-cut way you can dress with minimal pieces in your closet and be able to create countless outfits that reflect each fashion season as they come.
Even more, there is a way to make the whole ‘getting dressed’ process seamless, quick, and a whole lot of fun. And it is called none other than a capsule wardrobe.
This post is all about how to create a capsule wardrobe.
What Is A Capsule Wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a spearheading fashion approach that is designed to make getting dressed for any season or occasion downright easy. A capsule-style consists of wardrobe essentials that you love to wear and can intertwine with other pieces to form well-put-together outfits without much extensive thought needing to go into it.
What this means for you is saved time trying to put together an outfit (literally transforming a 10-minute ordeal into a 10-second reality) and helping you gain the purest confidence knowing that regardless of what you wear, you will look and feel amazing every time. I know that can sound too good to be true, but I promise it’s not and anyone and I do mean ANYONE, can learn how to build a capsule wardrobe from scratch to gaining these fruitful fashion benefits.
Photo by Alyssa Strohmann on Unsplash
Now, you might be wondering where this capsule wardrobe thing came from in the first place. Better yet, how did it become such a popular closet hack in the 21st century? As a quick history debrief, the whole idea of a capsule wardrobe was actually brought to light back in the 1970s by a woman named Susie Faux based in London.
She created the capsule-style as a way to sell minimalist-looking clothing that could be mixed and matched with ease. Once the USA got wind of it in 1985, the capsule wardrobe spread like wildfire here and is still one of the most popular trends going on to this day. Funny enough, capsule-style is always trending because it entails using wardrobe essentials that do not follow the trend waves, enabling you to wear them all year round.
How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe?
Keeping the minimalist concept in mind, capsule wardrobe essentials usually consist of just 25 to 50 items in total that can be worn all year long. With that being said, the very first thing you need to do in order to build a capsule wardrobe is clean up what you currently have.
Sort through your closet and toss things that you never wear or are don’t love. To help here, ask yourself the question of whether or not you would wear that piece today. If the answer is no, then it does not belong in your capsule. The point here is to see if you can begin building your capsule-style with items you already have, which can reduce time and money in the long run.
What’s next?
Capsule Wardrobe: Layers
From there, the next thing you will need to do is develop a capsule-style base. The base pieces that you choose are what sets the foundation for you to build your outfits from during the changing seasons. For this one, stick with neutral colors that can be easily paired with anything like browns, blacks, beiges, grays, and even navy-colored items. In total, you should have about 5 or 6 tops, 5 bottoms, and 1-2 dresses. Remember, when done right, just a 10-item wardrobe can form 40 or more unique outfits! Below are some essentials that you should focus on first when building your capsule wardrobe. Also, you can adjust the sleeve lengths based on your location. If you live in a warm and sunny place, invest in more short sleeves and sleeveless pieces.
Capsule Wardrobe: Essentials
1. Modern Crew Neck – The Essential Base Layer
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2. Sleeveless Vest Tank – For Summer Capsule Style
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3. Long Sleeve Henley Top – The Winter Base Layer
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4. Classic Black Top – The One You Will Always Reach For
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5. Little Black Dress – The LBD Never Goes Out Of Style
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6. Slip Dress – For Any Event Or Party
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7. Classic Denim – Pair It With Your Modern Crew Neck Or Henley
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8. Sweater Dress – Easy And Chic
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9. Puffer Jacket – For Fall Capsule Style
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10. Camel Coat – The Most Classic Coat
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{ RELATED ARTICLE: TRENDY JACKETS AND COATS TO KEEP YOU STYLISH ALL YEAR ROUND }
Color & Patterns For Your Capsule Wardrobe
Once you have your base, you can then get a little fierier by adding color into the mix. It’s totally optional here, but adding some color to your capsule wardrobe can make it much more vibrant and uplifting. Here, think about integrating some tops and bottoms in your favorite color. In addition (and again, optional), add 1, 2, or 3 patterned items as well.
For example, plaid, floral, and believe it or not, leopard are all wonderful choices that can really put the cherry on top of your capsules style. As long as you choose ones that accentuate the base color you lined up above, you are good to go.
Some questions to ask yourself during the process:
- Can this new item I want to buy match with at least 3 other items in my capsule?
- How many outfits can I make with this piece?
- Does it fit my personal style well?
- Does the fabric and the fit work for me?
- Will these items work well with my lifestyle?
1. Floral Dress – For A Feminine Touch
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2. Cute Cardigan – Layer Over Base Layers + Jeans
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3. Leopard Layers – For A Bold Accent
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4. Midi Skirt – Holiday Party Appropriate
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5. Casual Swing Dress – For A Cute Daytime Look
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Accessory Time
With your capsule base and wardrobe essentials out of the way, you are about 90% done by this point. This is the stage where you can start accessorizing with things like jewelry, hats, and of course, shoes. For shoes specifically, go ahead and add a pair or two featuring the same base color like black or navy along with some more neutral-colored heels, flats, boots, and sneakers. Keep note that the number of shoes and types is very versatile and really depends on the type of lifestyle you have.
Capsule Wardrobe: Shoes
1. Standard Black Heel – For Any Outfit
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2. Beige Heeled Sandal – Blocked Or Stiletto, Your Choice
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3. Statement Flat or Loafer – For A Bold Statement
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4. Black Bootie – For Any Fall Outfit
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5. Over The Knee Boots – Fall And Winter Essential
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{ RELATED ARTICLE: BLACK OVER THE KNEE BOOT OUTFIT IDEAS }
Capsule Wardrobe: Bags
1. Crossbody Bag – Quick And Easy
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2. Tote Bag – For A Shopping Day
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3. Statement Bag – Best Holiday Season Accessory
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As for accessories, choose hats, trench coats, and jewelry that will go well with your outfits, perhaps some fashion scarves, and some dainty (or statement-making) necklaces, bracelets, and earrings to complete your capsule look. I think the best part about the accessorizing factor here is that you can dress it up or down as much as you’d like using the same pieces. For instance, when coupled with a patterned top, your accessories can be used to balance it out.
On the other hand, intertwining accessories with a neutral top can help bring more life and vibrancy to the entire look. That is the beauty of accessories when it comes to a capsule wardrobe, as there are so many pairs and looks you can achieve with just a small selection to choose from. Talk about the ultimate win-win situation!
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Ridding Your Vocabulary of “I Have Nothing To Wear”
Are you ready to finally stop saying you have nothing to wear even with 100+ miscellaneous pieces hanging up collecting dust? Don’t get me wrong, having some items for special occasions only is certainly nothing to be frowned upon. However, when the majority of your collection consists of favored ‘go-tos,’ then you can finally through the noise of outfit-making and get ready each day knowing what you will be wearing is something you will love.
In summary, and despite mainstream belief, high-quality fashion does NOT have to be a huge ordeal to master. By adopting a capsule wardrobe and having the right capsule wardrobe essentials on standby, you can effectively save time and money, all while unlocking a new level of wow-factor fashion unlike ever before. Overall, if you truly want to upgrade your personal style, make mornings 10X easier to navigate, and become an intentional shopper, then you bet a capsule wardrobe is an ideal way to make that happen.
Happy styling, and above all, have fun!
