If you have ever stood in front of a wardrobe packed full of clothes, and thought “I have nothing to wear”, then this guide to creating a capsule wardrobe could be for you!
Read on to find out what a capsule wardrobe is and how to create one that works for you
What is a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a group of garments that work together and can be mixed and matched in order to create multiple looks.
This is ideal if you want a small, curated wardrobe that takes the stress out of getting dressed and it is also perfect for travel.
Capsule wardrobes are usually built around a small palette of colours, and contain a limited number of clothes, shoes and accessories, which all go together, making getting dressed so much easier!
The key to creating a capsule wardrobe
The key to creating a capsule wardrobe is that all the pieces must work together, so you will need to pick 2 or 3 neutrals and 1 or 2 colours that all work together.
And don’t forget your accessories. A couple of different coloured scarves and shoes can totally change the look of your outfits.
How Many Items Should You Have In Your Capsule Wardrobe?
This varies according to personal preference, but the key is to make sure that you love and wear everything in your wardrobe, and that every piece in your capsule can be worn with at least 3 other pieces so you don’t create wardrobe “orphans” (pieces that cannot be worn with any other item in your closet)..
Capsules and Lifestyle
Capsule wardrobes are basically little wardrobes within your wardrobe. You can create them for every function / aspect of your life.
Try and create at least one capsule for each of your activity types/ roles. It could be that what works for you is to have one casual capsule, for example, and then one capsule wardrobe for work or more formal wear.
Depending on where you live and what the weather is like, you may also want to think about creating capsule wardrobes for each of the seasons.
I also like to create a capsule “travel” wardrobe each time I travel, which makes packing so much easier, and saves on an “excess baggage” charge.
As you’re creating your capsules, take photos of each of the outfits, so that you can quickly figure out what you’re going to wear each morning and know that you look great
The Ultimate Guide to creating a capsule wardrobe
i) Start with the right balance of basics to “hero” pieces
The hero pieces are the ones that stand out. They bring colour, print and originality to your wardrobe, and make creating outfits fun.
Heroes are the items we cannot resist, the pieces that scream ‘buy me’ when we see them and we often buy them on impulse!
However, hero pieces need to be matched with the right basics. That stunning sequin jacket needs a good basic top underneath.
These essentials are more boring to shop for, but they are worth investing in to get timeless style, good quality and the perfect fit. .
ii) Choose your colour scheme
Choose a colour palette : generally 2 or 3 neutrals and 2 or 3 colours is a good starting point
You can choose a palette from your colour swatch (if you have had a colour analysis) or just choose a range of colours that you love and that work well together.
Similarly limit your capsule wardrobe to just one or two prints that go with the other pieces (unless you are an expert at print mixing)
iii) Create different capsules for different areas of your life
Plan your capsules thinking about the different areas of your life:
- Work
- Casual at home/weekend wear
- Smart casual/going out
- Exercise
- Formal/Dress Functions
These capsules may have garments that overlap. And some of your capsules will be larger, some smaller, depending how you spend your time.
Update your capsule wardrobe each change of season
You will need to update your capsule wardrobe each season, as you declutter your wardrobe.
You’ll need to remove pieces that no longer serve you and add new garments to keep your capsules fresh and working well for you.
You don’t need to update your entire capsule each season, but you will want to refresh it with a few new pieces here and there.
By working with the capsule concept you’ll avoid buying “orphans” which can be costly mistakes
A Capsule Wardrobe Example
The capsule wardrobe below comprises 12 items including accessories, and I created a different outfit for each day of the week with it, although many more looks are possible
Capsule Wardrobe Shopping Checklist
- Does it fit and flatter me?
- Does it reflect the colour scheme of my capsule wardrobe?
- Is it a basic or hero piece and does it enable me to maintain the right balance?
- Does it go with at least 3 other items that I already own?
- Does it fit with my style personality and my lifestyle ?
- How many outfits can I create if I add this to my closet?
So, why not try a capsule wardrobe test to see how it works for you?
Select 12 pieces to mix and match and create 7 different outfits for a week.
Make sure to pick a range of good basics and tops that you can just mix with one another. But, don’t play it too safe either, and make sure you also include a few “hero” pieces!
I hope you enjoyed this Guide to Creating a Capsule Wardrobe and have a look here for more of our style features.
I love using this formula for my wardrobe it makes things so much more versatile.
It definitely makes it easier to put outfits together xo
I love a capsule wardrobe ❤
It’s so practical x
Thank you so much for sharing all of these tips. It is very helpful when you sit and write down all of things which you need and start with color coordination and seasons.
http://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com
So glad you found the tips helpful!
So much great advice here. Creating a decent working wardrobe can be harder than one would think. And got to love those hero pieces!!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
So glad you liked the advice Allie! Hero pieces are so important and so fun!
It looks so fun to create a capsule from time to time.
It sounds like it’ll save me time when I don’t know what to wear.
xx
Margot
Thanks Margot! It’s really great for travelling; and it can definitely save time putting together outfits as the idea is that everything goes together!
Great Tips Julia, especially loved the concluding tip about choosing 12 items for a week to apply what you speak in the post. I need some hero pieces though to make it happen effortlessly. Thanks
So glad you liked the tips, Hasin! Hero pieces are really essential to add interest to the look 🙂
Oh nice! I feel like choosing a general color scheme can really help 🙂
have a great day,
Tiziana
http://www.tizianaolbrich.de
Thanks Tiziana! It’s definitely easier if you stick to a small range of colours 🙂
These are great tips and I have definitely been there when I just have no idea what to wear. As someone who repeats my clothes more often than I can count, I am glad that a capsule wardrobe can help me maintain a fresh look without breaking the bank. I also love how you defined “hero” pieces. Very true, indeed!
Maureen
I’m so glad you liked the tips, Maureen! xo
This guide is so detailed! I love it! Capsule wardrobe is a must!
So glad you liked the guide 🙂
These are such good tips! I ended up with a pregnancy capsule wardrobe, but more because the growing belly limited my options, haha! I keep thinking I need to try plan out a proper capsule wardrobe one day – I just like having a lot of choice!
Hope you’re having a wonderful day 🙂
I actually like to have a lot of choice too! I’m more careful about what I buy these days, but I still keep a lot of pieces (because I still love them!, so I really use the capsule wardrobe idea for travelling! x
This is something that would be fun to try out. Would require a lot of guts for me because I love clothing shopping and having lots of colorful pieces.
http://www.fashionradi.com
I must admit that I don’t use the concept all the time, as I have a lot of clothes that I love already even though I am trying to shop less! However, I always use the principles when travelling 🙂
I like capsule wardrobe ❤
They’re so practical! 🙂
This guide is so good- capsule wardrobes can be really confusing, but this makes it easy to tackle!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
So glad you found the guide helpful, Ashley xo
great tips! I do like the idea of the capsule wardrobe and how much space it also saves! xx
Elegant Duchess xx
https://www.elegantduchess.com/
I’m so glad you like the tips, and I agree that capsule wardrobes are really practical x
I should definitely follow these ideas. I have way too many things and a lot of unique pieces, but whenever I am required to pull out something basic the problems start.
Sometimes it can be overwhelming if we have too many pieces, and we can feel like we have nothing to wear, just because we can’t see everything! Having a capsule wardrobe can help to streamline your wardrobe and make it easier to see what you have! x
Such a great post! Hope you’re having a great week so far.
Nina
http://www.stylingwithnina.com/2021/06/smocked-floral-dress.html
Thanks Nina! So glad you liked the post!
So cool post!!!
thanks for sharing this!!
I´ll keep in mind these info!!
So glad you liked the post! x
Capsule wardrobes make getting dressed so much easier. I never thought to create separate capsules for work, etc. Love your tips for putting one together!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thank you so much Jill! I’m really glad you like the tips! xo
Love these tips Cris
http://www.photosbycris.com.au
Thank you Cris x
great tips, very inspiring
Sonia
http://www.soniaaicha.com
Glad you liked them Sonia x
You explain this so well Julia!!
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thank you so much Jodie 🙂
This is a wonderful guide! Fab tips!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
So glad you like the tips, Lovely xoxo
Love the combinations and ideas. Thanks for sharing!
So glad you liked the ideas 🙂
Capsule wardrobe has become a huge deal recently and I absolutely love the idea! Thank you for sharing these awesome and very useful tips and guidelines on how to create one. <3
http://www.couture-case.com
Thank you for your feedback! So glad you loved the tips and guideiines !
What a great post for creating capsule wardrobes! These tips and suggestions are wonderful. Thanks for sharing Julia!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you so much Kathrine! I’m glad you found the tips and suggestions helpful x
I love how in-depth this post is! I’ve been seeing a lot of posts about capsule wardrobes recently, and this is definitely the best one I’ve read. 🙂
Make Life Marvelous
Thank you so much Ashley! I’m really glad you liked the post 🙂