What’s a Capsule Wardrobe and do I want one?

So…

A Capsule Wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that don’t go out of fashion (skirts, trousers, and coats) which can be supplemented with seasonal pieces.

The term was coined by Susie Faux, the owner of a London boutique, in the 1970s. And while I’ve known about this concept for years, and appreciate its smartness, I’ve never actually created one of my own. But now I find myself more intrigued.

Okay, so firstly, what are the benefits of a Capsule Wardrobe?

Well…

1. You’d spend less money on clothes in the long run.
2. You would avoid wearing the same outfits day in and day out.
3. It would be easier to put together a variety of different outfits.
4. It would take less time to get dressed.
5. You could clarify your style.
6. And it could eliminate the ‘I have a full wardrobe but I don’t have anything to wear’ dilemma.

But do we really need a Capsule Wardrobe to achieve this?

To my mind, the biggest problem when shopping for clothing is that you succumb to trendy, fashion items before you’ve bought your basic classic pieces. You are then limited as to how often you can wear those items. And you frequently end up spending a lot of money on clothes that clog up your wardrobe and don’t go with anything else.

Therefore, it makes sense to first assemble your capsule pieces, so that you start off with a well-curated wardrobe of classic pieces. These good foundation pieces will then form the basis of all of your outfits and you’ll be able to create several different outfits with them. This is not rocket science, but a simple, structured way of setting up your wardrobe.

This all sounds pretty good - I want a capsule wardrobe! Who's with me? Share on X

Okay, so how do you start a seasonal Capsule Wardrobe?

Step 1: Whatever season you’re in, pack away all the other seasons’ clothing in a different location

This will clear your wardrobe of clothing that you won’t be wearing this season and allow for more space and clarity.

This is a great start for this new endeavour. (I don’t know why I have never done this before!)

Step 2: Clarify your lifestyle and the clothing that would suit it

If you have an office job you would need to include clothes that you could wear in an office environment.

If you are a SAHM, you might need more casual and comfortable pieces that would suit your on-the-go lifestyle.

Be sure to include something formal or semi-formal if you go on date nights or to shows etc.

Step 3: Decide on a budget

Your capsule (classic) wardrobe could require an initial investment of a decent number of essential pieces that will need to look good and last for years. This initial investment cost may be high (many items) and take some time to assemble, but I think that if you have a well-constructed plan and list, you will ultimately save money in the long run. Remember that once you’ve bought your essentials, you may only need to buy a couple of seasonal pieces every 3 months.

Of course, you might already own a few good pieces that would work perfectly, in which case, you don’t need to spend much money.

Top tip: Your capsule wardrobe could include a real leather jacket or a faux leather jacket – to achieve a similar look. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Step 4: Decide how many items you will have in your Capsule Wardrobe

Since its inception, people have interpreted the number of items in a capsule wardrobe in various ways. Someone came up with the idea that you had to have 37 essential items in your capsule wardrobe while others thought fewer items would suffice. I feel this is an entirely personal choice depending on your lifestyle and your budget. Decide on a number that you feel will do the job. And remember – it might take a bit of trial and error.

I’ve decided on the following numbers: (Remember to only ever have your designated number of items in your wardrobe every season, and that most of these items should be used across more than one season.)

5 pairs of trousers

This could include – Light-weight trousers | Jeans | Leggings | Corduroys | ¾ trousers etc. – depending on the season.

4 dresses

This could include – Knit dress | Striped dress | Print dress | Black dress. I’m including a formal dress.

4 jackets/coats –

This could include – Leather jacket | Denim jacket | Coat | Puffer jacket | Summer jacket | Black jacket | Cream jacket etc.

11 tops

I’m looking at – White T-shirt | Black T-shirt | Grey T-shirt | Graphic T-shirt | Long white T-shirt | Long grey T-shirt | White button shirt | Denim/chambray shirt | Colourful/print jumper | Neutral jumper | Neutral cardigan etc.

2 skirts

I’ll be including – Midi skirt | Long skirt. Miniskirts no longer feature on my list! Hah.

2 pairs of boots/booties/sandals

Black | Camel coloured etc.

3 pairs of trainers

Converse | Vans | White Adidas | Nikes | Golden Goose sneakers.

2 pairs of slip-on’s/mules

Black | Print/camel.

Total: 33 items.

(To clarify: Every season you will only have 33 items and you will, for example, swap out a thick winter coat for a lighter spring jacket to keep within your total of 33, as the seasons change. You are not looking at 132 items of clothing in your wardrobe because don’t forget that most of these items should be used across more than one season. Layering is important!)

Step 5: Decide which items you will include

And here’s where you get to the good stuff. You get to choose whatever you want to include.

The pieces you choose will be personal to each individual and will be strongly influenced by your lifestyle, budget and style.

Remember to only include items that fit well and are comfortable. Keep in mind that you’ll be putting together outfits from whatever you have chosen, so make sure you have decided on the best, most versatile pieces.

Step 6: Decide which items you might swap out for different seasons

Summer – Possibly more dresses and fewer pairs of trousers | Sandals | Jumpsuits | Shorts etc.

Autumn – Include a chunky long cardigan and replace shorter T-shirts with longer ones | Closed shoes, perhaps.

Winter – Include a puffer jacket and thicker coats | Longer boots, possibly.

Spring – Include more cardigans | More dresses/skirts | Light-weight jackets etc.

Step 7: Don’t forget about your ‘other’ items

Pyjamas, gym clothes and accessories are not included in your capsule wardrobe.

Use accessories wisely as they can make a huge impact on an outfit.

Accessories to think about: sunhats, sunglasses, swimwear, cover-ups, beanies, wool hats, scarves, tights, gloves, socks, belts and handbags.

Top Tip: Choose a colour palette

I think you should aim to have a colour theme running through your wardrobe so that you can mix and match more easily. Remember, variations of the same colour work well together.

Related: Do you want to see my Autumn Capsule Wardrobe?

Some ‘Final’ Thoughts

After having done lots of research on this topic now, I have learnt that my ‘final’ capsule wardrobe will not, in fact, be final. It is going to be a work in progress.

And I love this because I don’t think we need to put pressure on ourselves to get a perfect capsule wardrobe up and running immediately. It’s definitely going to take some trial and error. If you find that something doesn’t work, change it. Did you choose a piece that you never end up wearing? Well then, replace it with something you’ve realised you’ve been missing when you’re putting your outfits together. It’s as simple as that. Be intentional. (And then make note of that improvement so that you end up with a wardrobe that truly works for you and your lifestyle for the next season.)

So, will you create a capsule wardrobe? Or do you already have one? And if you do, how many items do you have in yours?

Photo by Lauren Fleischmann on Unsplash

This post may contain affiliate links - if you buy something through these links, I may earn a small affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you. I only feature things I truly love. Thanks for your support.