Have you ever thought of creating a capsule wardrobe? Well, if you have the clothing essentials like skirts, coats, and trousers, you can create one at any given time. The key is owning essentials that do not go out of fashion and pairing them with seasonal pieces.
When I was looking at the party wear, I wondered how a capsule wardrobe would be created. But that is for another day. Today I will guide you on how to create a capsule wardrobe with your current regular clothing items.
Reduce
To begin with, you need to get rid of all the clothing pieces that you can conveniently label as ‘extra’. The best way to reduce is to go through your wardrobe every 5-6 months and discard what is not necessary. However, there is a rule that you need to follow before discarding anything. You cannot just start by dumping every item that does not please your eye.
In order for you to begin your journey towards creating a capsule wardrobe, bring all the pieces that you think you should eliminate to another room. Do not throw them right away. Now you have a reduced amount of clothes to deal with in your wardrobe. This will make the whole process easier for you.
Establish Base Wardrobe
After reduction, now is your turn to establish a base wardrobe. However, the whole concept of the base wardrobe is more complicated than it sounds. To begin with, you need to create categories of accessories and clothing. For example, the five categories that I have my wardrobe sorted into include:
- Workout
- Layering
- Formal/Accessories
- Loungewear
- Outwear
The categories are pretty much self-explanatory. All you have to do after making your own categories is to add 9-10 pieces in each category. And these pieces will remain with you throughout the year. So, you need to plan well. I am not giving you a fixed number; you can add 15 items in each category if you like. But anything more than that will just kill the purpose.
You would want to store your base wardrobe separately. Do not mix your base and capsule wardrobes up. That will create a mess.
Build a Capsule Wardrobe
Finally, it is time for you to build your capsule wardrobe. And creating the capsule wardrobe is much more fun than the base wardrobe. Because this is where you get to decide your day-to-day outfits. Here is a step-by-step guide that can aid you in creating a capsule wardrobe:
Identification of Outfit Categories
To begin with, identify 3-4 outfit categories that define your lifestyle. Some examples include:
- Active
- Dressy
- Lounge
- Work
- Fun
- Daily
Once done, imagine yourself getting ready for the categories selected. Whatever looks come to your mind, you will have to pick up the essentials according to that.
Selection of Base Items
You should then invest in jeans, tops, and shoes based on the following:
- Usefulness in each outfit category
- How well do the items go with today’s vibe
- Ease of you creating a whole look with these items while keeping the other pieces in mind
Once you figure out the answers to these questions, it will become easy for you to select the jeans/pants, blouses and shoes.
And that is about it. Once you think you have sorted your base wardrobe, categories for your capsule wardrobe, and the lifestyle that defines you, you are ready to create your own capsule wardrobe.
Here are some examples to help you.
Example Looks
Case in Point#1
Just imagine that you have a very cute sequined top and you rate it 8 out of 10. This brings you to the confusion of keeping it or abandoning it. You should make the decision based on the categories created, fit, and the ease of matching it with other items in your wardrobe. Let’s assume that you selected active, daily, and lounge as your categories. Moving on, the top is a bit short and does not fit you well. To add to all this, you do not have any shoes to go with as well.
Verdict: Throw the sequined top.
Case in Point#2
In this scenario, you are the owner of an expensive, long-sleeved shirt. And you do not want to discard it because of… price tag. Go through the categories. For instance, you selected work, daily, and fun as your preferred categories. However, the shirt is a bit too tight. Nevertheless, on the other hand, you can wear it with almost anything. What do you do?
Verdict: You decide if the tight fit bothers you or not. Otherwise, it is all good.
See, this is how you go about creating a capsule wardrobe. I visit stores that display women’s dresses near me. And every time I stop myself from spending too much on buying clothes that are not a necessity. And even if I have to, I think of all the pieces lying in my wardrobe and invest in only the clothing items that will go well with them. Adopt this strategy and you will thank me later.
