Have you ever opened the doors of your wardrobe only to find yourself feeling like you have nothing to wear? Cue, the "Capsule Wardrobe", our saviour for busting decision fatigue, reducing our footprint on the planet, saving us money, and overall de-stressing our relationship with clothes.
Here are our top tips to help you create the perfect capsule wardrobe:
1. Declutter your existing wardrobe
To begin the process, you will need to pull everything out of your closet. Be ruthless - if you haven't worn something in the last two years, chances are you won't wear it again.
Try everything on to see what fits you - this will take some time but is key in helping you decide what suits your body shape and what your likes/dislikes are.
Categorise your items into four piles:
- KEEP: What fits you and what you like, you keep.
- SELL: Pieces that have higher value but you don't wear, you sell.
- DONATE: Pieces that are still in good condition, you donate.
- REPAIR: A simple hem or waist tuck, torn seam or loose button, repair.
2. Make a list
Make a list of what your capsule should contain. The content of your capsule wardrobe will vary depending on the season and your personal style. Perhaps it's a classic black blazer or a timeless trench, or a simple white tee. But importantly, you want to have a balance of tops, bottoms, layers, accessories, and shoes.
When it comes to colours, a mainly neutral and monochrome palette is recommended for a capsule wardrobe - they are easy to style, easy to wear, and will give you the most longevity.
Bold prints and colours have a place in a particular capsule style, too. Generally, having core pieces in neutral tones and selecting a few accent colours per capsule helps to simplify the mix-and-match process.
3. Fill in the gaps
Cross-reference your wish list with what you already own so you can identify gaps and fill accordingly.
Once you have exhausted everything you already own, consider shopping second hand or swapping with friends. Chances are you’ll be left with only a few missing pieces after all that, and then you can consider supporting some ethical brands to round out your closet.