Tips for Creating a Capsule Wardrobe Collection

Tips for Creating a Capsule Wardrobe Collection

Are you starting to feel overwhelmed by the amount of clothes you have in your closet? Perhaps you have hundreds of items in your closet but often times it feels like you have nothing to wear.

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So many options, but what to wear??

We have all had that issue. In fact, that has become one of my biggest resolutions for 2017: To buy less and choose well. I want to make sure that everything I own I WEAR and absolutely adore. In fact, I kind of took Marie Kondo’s philosophy of “if it doesn’t spark joy, toss it.” In The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, she kind of puts it all into perspective.

I won’t be too hard on myself because I am a fashion industry professional, so naturally I would have a lot of clothing. However, I hate to admit that there was a time when I literally owned over 65 pairs of jeans! Eventually they all had to go. And I’m getting rid of approximately 100 pcs. of vintage clothing as we speak. It’s crazy how much we can accumulate when we aren’t paying attention.

It’s easy to give into cheap and trendy, and I’m not saying that’s a bad choice. But for me, it always seems like I end up with about 20 pcs at the end of the season (some of which barely withstood two washings) and  a big bag of clothes that’s on it’s way to the Goodwill. I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of getting tired of spending my hard earned cash on throw-away clothing :/

Needless to say, 2017 is my year to totally downsize and start being more mindful of my clothing and buying choices. I think the capsule collection wardrobe movement is definitely a good choice if you want to simplify your wardrobe and not think about what you have to wear from day-to-day. Obviously a night out on the town or an event will warrant a special occasion dress. But again, if you have a great black dress, it can easily be dressed up or down. A lot of people embracing the capsule wardrobe movement say they don’t miss having 100’s of clothing options.

A good way to start with a capsule wardrobe is to trade in a lot of your trendy pieces for more classic items that can balance easily, intermix easily and be dressed up or down.

For example, take this basic February-inspired capsule collection I’ve created:

February 2017 Capsule Collection

Pictured:

Miss Selfridge black dress / Pullover sweatshirt SheIn / Miu Miu cashmere cardigan / Proenza Schouler silk floral shirt / Chinti and Parker striped sweater, $410 / Marc Jacobs cotton white shirt, $200 / MadeWorn vintage Rolling Stones tee / Geox coat / Topshop ripped jeans / Tulle skirt, $26 / Alexander McQueen cuffed pants, $695 / 10 Crosby Derek Lam slim jeans / Sweaty Betty activewear top / Jimmy Choo flat shoes, $520 / Converse Limited Ed. gray shoes / Black booties / Dooney Bourke Florentine Satchel / Round frame glasses

This little collection consists of literally 13 clothing pieces and 3 pair of shoes – all of which can be interchanged with each other easily. For an entire 3-month season, you’d be set with only 13 pieces. Kind of hard to believe, right?

But here’s the interesting part:

Of just these 13 pieces, there are probably about 70 different outfit combinations you can create!  
Some fashion bloggers have downsized their wardrobe collections from 100’s of pieces to 12 pieces and some to 33. It really depends on how simple you want to go, and what you include. The above example doesn’t include much in the way of accessories or jewelry. So, you’ll want to take that into consideration as well.
“I did a rough count of 33 items — it would cover four pairs of shoes, and this many shirts, this many pants, etc.,” explained Carver. She kept her favorite pieces that were flattering and fit her best, and decided she would not allow herself to shop or buy new clothes for three months unless she switched an item out with something else: If she bought a new shirt, she’d have to get rid of another one. – Courtney Carver, Business Insider

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Capsule Wardrobe Benefits

The benefits of creating a capsule wardrobe are many! One, the freedom it creates. You will still be able to refresh your wardrobe seasonally as needed but you will have peace of mind knowing that you won’t be spending so much energy and time over thinking your clothing choices while getting ready in the morning. For me, this has always been an issue. I spend waaaay too much time overthinking an outfit. When I have nothing but a grey sweater that I LOVE and a pair of jeans that fit me perfectly, I don’t have to second guess anything.

Take for example Matilda Kahl, the 27-year-old Art Director living in New York, who went viral after sharing her story about wearing the same outfit to work for three years.

 

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“I have realized how much more efficient, productive, and happy I can be when I don’t let myself get distracted by the small things in life,” Kahl told Business Insider. “The uniform has become a great everyday reminder that I (and only I) decide what is important.” -Marie Kahl, Art Director
It’s a lot cheaper. If you choose well and buy less, I think you’ll find that you’re spending less on clothing per year and saving a lot of $$ for other things like a vacation, or a nice handbag you’ve always wanted. For me, my dream bag is a classic black Prada. And I know it will happen someday, especially if I’m thrifty and save my money for quality items that I can use for several years as opposed to  a season or two. Differentiating the items I really want and less on things that are just Okay for now are important for building a good capsule wardrobe.

Have you tried a capsule wardrobe? If so, how is it working for you?