How to Create the Ultimate Capsule Wardrobe (That You’ll Actually Love Wearing)
Do you ever go to your wardrobe stuffed to the brim with clothes and think, ‘I have nothing to wear’? Yeah, us too, until we discovered the art of how to create a capsule wardrobe. We love this method of building a wardrobe full of pieces that mix and match so much so, we created an entire capsule edit with our favourite collections.
What is most important though, is that your capsule wardrobe is built around you; your lifestyle and your style, so it can actually work in tandem with you. If you’re tired of spending too much time choosing what to wear, this guide is for you. You’ll discover exactly how to dissect your current wardrobe and what to add to curate your own perfect minimalist wardrobe for work, play and everything in between.
What is a capsule wardrobe? Find out if it works for your lifestyle
Elsbeth Collared Neckline Mini
A capsule wardrobe prioritises well-chosen, timeless pieces of clothing that can be mixed and matched to create different outfits from just a select group of clothes. While it’s a minimalist wardrobe, it focuses on quality, versatile clothing that can be worn many ways, reducing the number of items needed for a stylish wardrobe that’s easy to work with.
The term ‘capsule wardrobe’ was coined back in the 1970s by London wardrobe consultant, Susie Faux, who saw a need for fashion that never goes out of style. It was then popularised in the 1980s by Donna Karan and a collection framed around just ‘7 Easy Pieces’. This concept of carefully curating a wardrobe that goes beyond seasons and trends is more popular than ever, especially with the rise of eco-conscious fashion.
Building a minimalist wardrobe that doesn’t compromise your personal style
Now, how to build a capsule wardrobe that actually works. We personally use a three-step process for our own wardrobes here at Selfie Leslie whenever we think our outfits need something fresh and new. It helps ensure we’re actually curating a purposeful wardrobe, not just adding to the morning chaos of getting dressed.
Take a good look at your current wardrobe.
Before you buy a single item, you need to get cutthroat with what you already have in your wardrobe. To make it easy, start by getting rid of anything that doesn’t fit, is worn or damaged, uncomfortable or you haven’t picked up in more than a year. You can sell, donate or recycle these items, depending on their condition.
Curate your perfect, versatile pieces.
Onto the fun part—creating your capsule wardrobe checklist. Keeping in mind what you already have, narrow down items your wardrobe is missing in basic, well-fitting styles and neutrals colours, such as:
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Tops: Sticking to basic tops, like plain t-shirts, button-downs and long-sleeved tops in neutrals will give you more outfit options that all look ultra fashionable and put together.
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Bottoms: Opt for quality and fit over quantity when it comes to bottoms, narrowing it down even to just a tailored pair of black pants, jeans to suit your body type, and a versatile shorter and longer skirt to suit different occasions.
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Dresses: Investing in a few carefully selected dresses can act as basics that you can turn to when you’re in a rush, or for dressier occasions. You can never go wrong with a little black dress, a tailored white dress and a wrap or maxi dress.
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Outerwear: When buying outerwear, consider what can be easily layered or go with more pieces, such as lighter cardigans, a leather jacket and a blazer for smarter outfits.
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Accessories: This is where you can really transform your outfits, using a carefully selected number of earrings, necklaces, belts and bags, or even scarves, to elevate your outfits if they’re feeling a little plain.
What is in a capsule wardrobe is personal to your taste, style and lifestyle, so choose what feels right for you. Creating an inspiration board (on somewhere like Pinterest) can help you put together the colours and styles you like, before building a capsule wardrobe that’s truly your own.
Mix and match pieces to create different outfits.
We know how easy it is to find an outfit that works and wear it to death every week until you can’t stand it anymore. One of the best parts about a capsule wardrobe for women is how everything works with nearly every other piece, so you can have endless possibilities.
Take a few hours to snap photos in some of the mixed and matched outfits to store in a Notes tab in your phone, or even make your own Pinterest board so you can easily turn to it when you need fresh ideas. Try everything together. The coat you normally only wear with jeans can be draped over your shoulders while wearing a dress, instead. The idea is to make getting dressed not only super easy, but fun, too.
Step into your new capsule wardrobe. It’s not just an era — it’s a lifestyle.
A capsule wardrobe isn’t just a minimalist wardrobe women have been raving about for over half a century. It’s a way of life, helping you find your style and embrace your individuality while taking the stress out of getting ready with practical, comfortable outfits you genuinely love.
This is what we had in mind when we built our capsule edit. Every piece you see has been selected for its versatility, making it easier than ever to build a capsule wardrobe that works.
