With summer on the horizon, maybe you think your wardrobe needs a little refresh. Perhaps you’re drowning in clothes and need a way out. Capsule wardrobes are just about my favourite thing when it comes to clothes and minimalism. If you’ve ever wondered what they are and how to set one up, look no further. This is the ultimate guide to capsule wardrobes. Strap yourself in, grab a pen and paper and get ready for a long post!
What is a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is basically a smaller, usually seasonal, selection of clothing that you mix and match for a period of time. It’s filled with what you consider staple pieces, those items that you wear all the time, the clothing that you can’t live without. Whilst the idea is to reduce the number of items that are included, don’t think you have to hit a specific number. Whilst many experts aim for 33-37 pieces, maybe 50 is the right number for you. Obviously, something like 200 is a bit excessive and defeats the point. However, you want enough wiggle room to have plenty of options but a number too small feels far too restrictive. The latter will make you want to shop after a week!
The rule of thumb in my opinion is to have enough options for around two to three weeks. Think of it as going on holiday with a mix-and-match wardrobe. You’ll need more tops than bottoms and shoes for sure.
The benefits of having a capsule wardrobe
You’ll save money
This is always my main motivation behind most things I do in life! Wearing (and appreciating) what you have means that you should be tempted to shop less. Don’t get me wrong, the first year of your capsule wardrobe journey is bloody hard! However, it does get easier if you stick with it. You’ll notice gaps in your wardrobe and will only buy items that you can mix and match a ton.
You’ll have less clutter
Again, if you have a wardrobe full of pieces that you love, you won’t have as much stuff. You might declutter so much that you have extra storage room. You can pack your out-of-season stuff away and just leave out what you’ll be wearing for the next three months. This was the main reason that I wanted to start a capsule wardrobe. My wardrobes were full of items that I didn’t wear or love. As soon as I got rid of them, my mind felt so much clearer, too!
You’ll invest in quality over quantity
Because you’re buying less, you can often buy better. I’m not necessarily saying designer clothing (I own nothing designer), but I no longer do Primark hauls. Instead, I purchase from shops with better quality, such as M&S and Uniqlo. They’re still on the high street, but even their basic T-shirts last for more than just a couple of months.
Laundry is easier
If your capsule wardrobes are full of clothes in similar colours, it becomes easier to wash. Depending on your colour scheme, you might only need to do lights and darks every week. Yes, you might have less choice so need to do a wash of each every week. However, if you can time it right, you won’t be without each piece for long. That’s why I try to have enough clothing to see me through a couple of weeks, just in case.
You’ll use what you have
My favourite thing about capsule wardrobes is that they encourage you to use what you have first. By living with what you have for at least three months, you’re basically forced to use what’s already in your wardrobe. You might discover pieces that you now love, maybe you’ll be able to style items in a new way, or maybe you’ll find you don’t like an item. If the latter is the case, you can remove it from your capsule. I’d advise against switching it for the time being though.
It forces you to get creative
Because you have limited pieces, it forces you to get creative with your outfits. That’s why you have to be cautious when selecting your items because you want every top to go with every bottom-half item. That doesn’t have to mean plain items though if that’s not your style. A lot of people think capsule wardrobes are full of neutrals when you can go crazy for patterns and colour if it’s more of your thing.
How to know what to include and what not to include in your capsule wardrobes
With the amount of research I’ve done into setting up a capsule wardrobe, my input is whatever you want or don’t want to include is up to you. For example, I usually don’t include jackets or coats because I have a small selection already. Plus in the UK, you can need a lightweight jacket in the morning, and a waterproof in the afternoon. I also don’t include extreme weather clothing, such as waterproof coats and wellies. I also work from home. Whilst I live in loungewear, I try not to include it. Again, I’ve curated a collection over the years by investing in better-quality pieces.
My point is to include categories that you want to. For you, you might want to include accessories, especially if you have a lot of them. Switching it up every season can mean you rediscover old favourites! Maybe you work out every day and don’t see the point in including your gear.
My general rule of thumb is to include tops, bottoms and shoes. Add in outerwear and accessories if you want to. I’m pretty sure I did this originally, mostly because I just had too much stuff. Now I’ve pared down my collection so there’s no need.
How to declutter your entire wardrobe
This is the step I would always recommend before you even think about capsule wardrobes. Culling what you don’t like first gives you a clearer head when it comes to picking the best items for each season. It’s an activity that I’d leave for a rainy day when you have zero plans or even a Bank Holiday weekend. You might not want to do it all in one go, but it’s best not to do it in stages either.
Step 1: Take all your clothing out and put it on your bed
This seems drastic, but trust me, it’s worth doing. Take everything out of your wardrobes and drawers and place it on your bed. Don’t worry about categorising anything yet, just get it all in one place. Don’t forget it you have shoes or jackets stored elsewhere, too. It’s overwhelming to see everything piled up, but your brain needs to see just the full extent of what you have!
Step 2: Sort into three piles: yes, no and maybe
The next step is to decide what’s staying and what’s going. Those items that you wear all the time and love, pop them straight back into your wardrobe. It doesn’t matter for right now if they’re out of season. Just getting them out of sight gives you more room to work with in your bedroom! The no pile goes straight into a bag to donate to charity or give to friends or family. It’s the maybe pile that needs most of your attention now.
Step 3: Go through every item in your maybe pile
I’d say this is usually the step that takes the longest, because I recommend trying everything on. There’s usually a reason as to why you’re unsure: it’s too short, it’s too tight, you don’t like that style anymore etc. By trying it on, you might remember why you don’t wear it anymore. If it’s now a no, move it to that pile. If it’s a yes, stick it in the wardrobe. However, if you’re still undecided, I say keep it in a box or bin in your wardrobe. If you don’t reach for it in the next six months, get rid of it, simple as.
How to set up a seasonal capsule wardrobe
Now you’ve fully decluttered your wardrobe, it’s time to set up your seasonal capsule wardrobe.
Step 1: Pull out your must-have items
You’ll know better than anyone which items you like per season. Most of the time, it’s pretty self-explanatory. Jumpers for winter, vests for summer. However, many items can be worn all year long: dresses, jeans, shoes etc. I actually find it easier to pick out these items first because they will be the figure points for most outfits. Usually, I pick out my shoes, bottom-half items and outerwear. This stuff tends to be easier to pick because I have fewer choices in these categories.
Step 2: Pick out the rest of your items
Now, you can pick out which other items you gravitate too. For some people, you might want to stick to a colour palette. Personally, I mostly wear neutral shades anyway and then add a bunch of colourful tops instead. The key here is to just choose whatever items you think you’ll wear. Pick as many as you want to, there’s no limit!
Step 3: Whittle down your choices
Many capsule wardrobe experts use the rule of three. When I first started, I used Unfancy’s method of between 35-40. She recommended choosing 9 pairs of shoes, 9 bottom-half items, 15 tops and then 4 outerwear or dresses. Personally, I usually thought nine pairs of shoes were excessive! However, that might be because I don’t own that much footwear anymore. I’m a recovering shoe hoarder! All you should do is choose enough items to have plenty of choice, but not so many that you’re overwhelmed with choice.
Step 4: Live in your wardrobe for three months
The key now is not to go shopping for at least a couple of months. You should sit with your capsule wardrobe for the season, making notes of any gaps, as well as looking ahead to the next season. Every item should be mix and match. With basic maths, fifteen tops and nine bottoms means 135 outfits. Add in just five pairs of shoes, and it’s up to 675!
My top tips for building capsule wardrobes
Think about your lifestyle
The first thing I always say is capsule wardrobes depend on your lifestyle. If you work a 9-5 and wear officewear, I’d recommend having two separate capsules, one for work and one for weekends. Maybe you wear some of your work clothes at weekends so only need the one. I work from home so don’t have that issue. However, I know that I don’t dress up very often so don’t need a wardrobe full of dresses or heels anymore.
You should also consider factors such as weather/climate, your thoughts on your style right now, and any plans you have for the season too. For example, you might have tonnes of social nighttime activities one season so make sure to include items you can dress up easily. If you live in the UK, every wardrobe needs to be weatherproof for everything. Whilst I don’t include extreme weather clothes (waterproof coats and wellies), I do include jackets with hoods and trainers that can be worn in the rain or dry weather!
Choose pieces that mix and match
This is the key to getting the most out of capsule wardrobes. For example, if you choose a pair of patterned trousers and a bunch of patterned tops, you might struggle to mix and match. Instead, I try to pick neutral-coloured bottoms (black, navy, all denim washes) and then colourful top-half items. Pretty much every top will then go with every bottom-half piece.
Stick to a colour palette
Similarly, as I said above, it’s easier to mix and match when the pieces complement each other. An easy way to do this is through a colour palette. I tend to pick three to four base colours every season (usually black, grey, white and blue). These are easy colours to style, whether on your top or bottom half. Then I pick a handful of accent colours. For example, we’re going into summer soon. I’ll probably choose brighter shades of pink, and red. In winter, I might choose khaki and burgundy. Springtime is perfect for hues of lilac and baby pink. I try to change it slightly every season but I have pretty standard colours that I like!
Try to stick to classic pieces
80% staples, 20% seasonal/trends. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised that I’m less into trends and more into staple pieces. I’d rather have a bunch of clothes that fit me well but aren’t on-trend than have to rebuy everything every single year. I used to be obsessed with having the latest trends. Maybe it’s because I’m over 30, but right now, I hate the fashion trends! Everything’s either way oversized or way too cropped. Give me streamlined and fitted any day!
Quality over quantity
I said it earlier but it doesn’t have to mean buying overpriced items. Most of my wardrobe is from M&S or Uniqlo, which are decent price points for the quality. In fact, I have a bunch of cotton vests and T-shirts from both shops that I wear nearly every day. I might add a couple of colours every year but on the whole, they last years. I’d say the only items I pay a little more for are jeans and shoes. When I find the perfect pair of jeans, I buy them in every colour! Most of my shoes are now £50+. I want comfort and function over style now! Hotter is my go-to shop for shoes nowadays!
Only include items that you know you love and wear regularly
This goes without saying but don’t include items that you might reach for. Include items that you do wear regularly. You’ll soon give up and go on a shopping spree if your capsule wardrobe is full of items that you don’t mind but don’t love. Whether it’s the style or the fit, make sure you love every item you include. If you’re only having a limited selection of clothes, don’t waste a spot on an ‘okay’ item!
Try to minimise shopping
When I first started my capsule wardrobe journey, I gave up shopping for six months. I started my autumn wardrobe in October and went right through to March without buying anything. That’s because I knew I had enough long-sleeved tops and sweatshirts to see me through. However, I had a lack of summer clothing. That’s why I made a wishlist as the seasons went on and noted down any gaps there were. I’d then saved up enough money to buy a handful of quality items that lasted for years. By banning yourself from shopping, you’re basically forced to shop your own wardrobe and be inventive with your outfits.
What works for one person might not work for your capsule wardrobe so you get to make the rules up. Do your research, try one set of rules for the season, and then review what worked and what didn’t in preparation for your next capsule wardrobe. It’s all about trial and error for about the first year as you go through the seasons. It took me at least that time to find out what worked for me!
If you enjoyed the ultimate guide to capsule wardrobes, I’ll be sharing my own summer capsule in a few weeks. You can find some of my minimalism content right here. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok too.
