What is a Capsule Wardrobe?

So what is a capsule wardrobe…

There is not official definition but to me capsule wardrobe is: A curated selection of quality clothing, shoes and accessories which I love and that reflect my personal style, and can be worn interchangeably to create a range of outfits, minimising wardrobe clutter and the daily anxiety of picking something to wear.

Notice that I haven’t provided a specific formula for how many of each item you should have, what colours you should stick to or how often it should be updated. It is all about creating a wardrobe that will be sustainable for you and your lifestyle – so you get to make your own rules.

Another thing to note is that when I say ‘quality’ I don’t necessarily mean expensive. I mean well-made, well-fitting and durable. It’s all about finding those brands that work for your lifestyle and your budget.

And what are the benefits of creating a capsule wardrobe?

Putting together and maintaining a capsule wardrobe is something that can benefit everyone. We all have our own reasons behind wanting to start one, but below I’ve listed some of my favourites:

SAVE TIME

By having a curated selection of items that can be used interchangeably you will save yourself time sifting through piles of clothes (half of which you don’t even like) to pick an outfit.

SAVE MONEY

By carefully planning each item you add to your capsule wardrobe and ensuring it is a) something you love wearing b) high quality and c) easy to mix and match, you can save money on replacing poor quality items, purchasing things because they are cheap or on sale and buying items that you never wear because they don’t go with anything else you own.

STRESS LESS

You might think that anxiety is a strong word to use when it comes to picking an outfit. But for me it’s a reality. I don’t even want to know how much time I’ve spent contemplating what to wear, then getting changed a million times before I’m somewhat happy. And as embarrassing as it is to admit, I’ve even had outfit picking meltdown moments, where I feel like I either have nothing to wear (even though my wardrobe is overflowing with clothes) or I feel like nothing looks good on me. However, when you have a capsule wardrobe system you have already put together your very own look book, which makes it so easy to quickly pick an outfit.

CREATE MORE SPACE

You know that feeling you get after a bit of spring cleaning or decluttering? You feel lighter, refreshed and clear minded. That is what it is like all the time when you have a capsule wardrobe. Not only do you have more physical space in your wardrobe (or on your bedroom floor!) but you also give yourself more head space. You no longer have to spend lots of energy picking an outfit.

LIVE MORE ETHICALLY + SUSTAINABLY

By buying fewer items that are higher quality we are using less of the earth’s materials and resources. We can also be more selective about the brands we choose to shop with, giving preference to those with good ethical practices. For a full list of my very favourite (and the most beautiful) sustainable and ethical brands take a look at this post.

Wondering what the perfect capsule wardrobe formula is? Take a look here.