The capsule wardrobe was born in the 1970s and popularized in the 1980s with interchangeable collection of pieces for work. Over the last decade the concept has been brought back into popular culture by minimalists and by the environmentally conscious because the benefit of the concept remains the same, spend less money and maximize outfits.
In a capsule wardrobe all pieces must be able to mix and match in order to make multiple outfits and if done in classic styles, they could be worn for several years. With this much utility, an investment in higher-end pieces would be well worth it.
Of course, what we love about this concept is how much use each article of clothing gets before hitting the landfill.
Other reasons we love a capsule wardrobe is the exercise of being mindful about what colors and fit you like, have and need in order to expand your closet options as well as what pieces to consider as investments. This process also helps you to discover what basics, accent and statement pieces are missing from your wardrobe as well as accessories (shoes, purses, jewelry, etc.).
So, let’s try it; let’s build a two-week capsule wardrobe to wear for work by pulling the following from your closet that is appropriate for your work dress code:
4 tops (short sleeve, long sleeve, camisole or lightweight knit sweater)
2 bottoms (jeans, pants or skirts)
2 dresses
2 pairs of shoes
These 8 pieces make 10 outfits ((4 x 2 = 8) + 2 = 10) for a two-week period.
Now add the following:
2 outer layers (cardigan and blazer)
2 purses
2 pairs of shoes
2 pairs of earrings
1 scarf
By including outer layers, shoes and accessories, it will create variations and interest to the outfits as within this two-week period it is assumed that the same 3-4 tops and 1-2 dresses will be worn each week. So, changing the outfits up with different layers and accessories will be helpful.
Choosing the right color pallet will be important to making the capsule wardrobe work. The easiest way is to pick two basic or neutral colors and two accent colors. The bottoms are best in neutrals and the tops should be a mix of both. Prints may also be included, however for a capsule this small it’s best to keep the print simple so it has the most flexibility to mix and match—black and white print designs like polka dots or stripes are great for this. For the bottom half, a dark wash jean (most appropriate for the office), black and khaki dress pants or skirts would work best. Similarly, for the dresses, the easiest to mix and match would be in one solid color or color blocking in a classic silhouette, but again prints can be included so long as the design and colors are simple. Think of this as “Level 1” styling.
As you get comfortable with the capsule idea, experiment with bolder prints and use it as a basis for a color palette and always making sure you have a three piece outfit—this is “Level 2” styling. So, for example, select a blue top with floral print with pink and black, now you have two neutrals (black and pink) and blue as your accent color, so you pair the top with black dress pants or dark wash jeans and blush pink scarf or trench coat or duster.
If you expand the capsule by simply adding one more top and one more bottom, you will have 15 outfits (5 x 3 = 15). You now have enough for three weeks, or more options for the two weeks. It’s very easy to expand the capsule to create additional weeks, months or even for an entire season. As you mix and match outfits, make sure to catalogue them (see How to Manage your Closet blog post) so you can reference them easily to make getting dressed in the morning effortless.
Also, we’ve only created a capsule wardrobe for work so far, so create one for the weekend as well so you have some go-to pieces. Other uses for a capsule wardrobe include traveling, whether it’s a few days for work or a family vacation—they are great for packing only what you need and keeping the suitcases light.
A note on color: the capsule doesn’t have to limit your color to a single palette, you can break it up by making more than one capsule in different color palettes or have them relate just enough so you can mix and match from one to the other to maximize the number of outfits.
The process of creating a three-week work capsule or two small capsules is enough to determine what colors and pieces you have too much of or not enough in your closet. So, as you are creating the capsule and think that if you had that one cream color top or that cranberry blouse it could expand your capsule, jot it down on your shopping list. You should also determine what investments you want to make, maybe you want to invest in a high-end purse and a wool coat or trench that will last year after year; put those on the list too.
To have even more fun making capsule wardrobes, challenge yourself to include as many pieces of your closet as possible for a particular season, it will help you determine the pieces you are missing and narrow down what you need to shop for. The object here is to make as many outfits as you can from the clothes you have and understand the gaps in your closet so you can shop with intention saving you time and money.
At this point, you can also choose to level up your style to "Level 3"! You can do this several ways, by using a statement piece like patent leather boots or a big bold necklace, belting your shirt, adding a scarf, layer your necklaces, doing something different with your hair like up on a bun or straight, and maybe some lip gloss or a bold lip. Leveling up means adding a little extra to the way you style your outfit in a way that creates a focal point without losing the baseline harmony of dressing for your body type.
Contact us if you would like help curating a capsule wardrobe at info@thecloseteditco.com.
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