Minimalism as a movement has begun to gain traction. There’s a documentary on it and countless Youtubers covering why it’s a preferred lifestyle (not to mention architecture and fashion adopting its aesthetic).
Art director Matilda Kahl isn’t shy about her experience wearing the same outfit to work for three years. She cites this choice as hugely time-saving, as well as putting her in control instead of the world.
And we all know about Steve Jobs and his fixed look (black turtleneck, blue jeans).
Here you can find several instances of successful people sticking to one set of clothes. The assumption is it’ll spare you time and energy coordinating everything, which is time and energy that can be devoted to more “productive” pursuits.
Now to the capsule wardrobe. The capsule wardrobe is a collection of essentials that are both stylish and very functional. It should suit your day-to-day life and also provide comfort and confidence for any occasion.
To build and refine your capsule wardrobe, here are some general guidelines to follow.
Do organize
The first step is to have all your clothes in front of you. Throw them on your bed and get sorting. Which items don’t fit anymore? Which don’t flatter? Which are ruined? Which are not “me”?
Once you’ve removed all that you don’t love or need, push even further. You probably have more than enough clothes. The point is to trim. Now whether that’s to a bare minimum or until the number is just right (meaning the lowest number you’ll go) is totally up to you.
An important tip: Think hard and long about what you wear and don’t wear.
Really think about that for a second. If you never wear it, feel free to let it loose. If you wear something occasionally, don’t toss it just yet.
I realize I have some clothes saved for specific occasions (wedding, opera night) and specific seasons (as if summer will last forever). Consider retaining a few items but not all of them. Focus on what’s most functional and can be added to depending on the occasion or season.
Do prioritize
Now that you’ve figured out what you can do without, move on to your staples. Since you’re on this journey, you’re more probably about fit and utility than style.
If you have a favorite pair of jeans or some t-shirts that you tend to wear all year round, set them aside. They’ll be your foundation.
Pick a light jacket and a heavier one, in addition to a pair of sneakers and a pair of boots that are in good condition and that you’ll be happy to rock for the foreseeable future.
A tip here is to opt for conservative colors that can match with everything. Blacks, whites, browns and blues are usually safe. These are base colors. You can splash some “accents” (red, green, hot pink) in due course.
At this point, you might be torn between, say, two winter coats. Each is nice in its own way and you’d rather not part with either.
In this situation, you can table the decision for later. If still you can’t make up your mind, try to be conscious of (if it’s winter) which coat you gravitate more towards. That’ll be the one you hold on to.
Do swap
Exchanging one item for another — or, if you’re really about having less, one for two — is perfectly fine.
Your capsule wardrobe isn’t frozen in time, even if the items in it are supposed to work regardless of the year and the time of year. You’re more than welcome to usher in the new and usher out the old. If you’ve lost interest in one particular parka, there’s no point keeping it. Buy a fresh one — but be sure what you’re buying isn’t a passing fad.
I’ve had my same array of ties for a while now. I was loyal to the idea that changing things up because of boredom was off-limits. But I bit the bullet, sold those outmoded ties and treated myself to a handful of ultramodern ones.
And you know what I learned? Replacing items that I didn’t care for and was forcing myself to wear embittered me towards the whole project of a capsule wardrobe. But as soon as I ditched the rulebook and spent a little money, my motivation to continue soared.
Don’t overedit
You can definitely overdo it and trash almost all your clothes. The surge to be a minimalist, and the pleasure of decluttering, just might convince you that everything must go.
But that’ll end up a disaster. You’ll be out of clothes, one, and most likely relapse, two. Although the initial satisfaction of purging is spectacular, slow your roll. For hygiene’s sake, having a sufficient amount is pretty necessary.
Barraged by media, I myself have cracked and wanted to run away. Carry a backpack with some rolled-up t-shirts and underwear, and disappear.
But that feeling calmed down soon enough, and I had to face the fact escaping isn’t super realistic. Instead, live within your means, but not so sparingly that you’re sacrificing personal cleanliness.
So, while you’re dividing what to save and what to toss, don’t forget you have a 9–5 and weekends to hit the town. Those 7 days a week can’t be pared down to largely nothing.
Don’t waste
When you’ve fished out the items that’ll no longer be part and parcel of your closet, refrain from trashing them immediately. The temptation (to get the sense we’re really cleansing our souls of material goods) is to head right for the dumpster.
But there are several alternatives that are much better.
The first is to donate or recycle old clothes. There should be organizations in your area that would love to relieve you of your old duds. If not that, selling is a second option. Vintage is always hot on the market, so there’ll be no shortage of shops that invite drop-offs.
If you have siblings or friends, they might be interested in your castaways. Give your clothes to someone who can make the most of them.
Maybe you’re on the fence with one specific item. You finally resolve to detach yourself from it. You don’t, however, have to get rid of it the instant you do. Store it in a drawer. You might revisit it later on.
Don’t be in a rush
Creating a capsule wardrobe isn’t a race. This is especially true if you have a heap of clothes which can’t be bulldozed through. Or, with however much you do have, shedding anywhere from 25–85% of your current wardrobe seems difficult.
If you’ve committed yourself to a leaner closet, it’s okay for it to not transform into one overnight. You can gradually plan your outfits and the items that make those outfits.
When I got wind of this capsule wardrobe trend, I didn’t achieve a version of my own just like that. It was months before I could honestly say I had no more than 30 items.
Today, I have about 25. That number fluctuates but never exceeds 30. By capping it, I have a firm notion of what sales I can take advantage of, and what sales I should bypass.
And again, this all happened over time. Lift the weight off your shoulders and let it come to you as it does. That’s when the reordering is most fulfilling.
If you’re gearing up for a life-comprising overhaul, a capsule wardrobe is a great place to start. It’ll be there for you to economize and clear out space in your home. Equally as important, it will draw out mental gunk from having too much, and determining how you’ll use everything.
By slowly reducing the amount of clothes I had, I gained a lot more time. Of course the extra padding to my wallet was nice, as were the many streamlined mornings where I didn’t have to worry about blending colors and fabrics.
But most of all, it’s the thorough feeling of clarity that’s been the ultimate reward. Being able to count what I own communicates that I’m in charge. Ignoring malls and online ads is empowering. Packing light for trips is a surprising delight.
There’s plenty to work with when you have a capsule wardrobe. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll enjoy the creative mixing and matching. All the rest is an added bonus.
