My 12 Piece Capsule Wardrobe
How do you define a capsule wardrobe? Is it an effort to combat the world of fast fashion? A creative challenge you’ve posed for yourself? Does it consist of 30 pieces of clothing or 100? Is it a wardrobe to last you the entire year, or is it based on the seasons? I think all of this is up for debate, but what’s clear is that the capsule wardrobe is a popular fashion “experiment” that’s simple in appearance, but daunting in practice.
For lots of people, knowing where to start when building a capsule wardrobe is confusing and understandably so. Limited resources of time, energy, and money to spend on fashion are great motivators to start a capsule wardrobe, but which pieces should you start with or keep from your current wardrobe and which should you buy? How do you define your “look” and how do you go about selecting pieces to articulate that?
In today’s post, I’m going to share a bit of my own journey with capsule wardrobing, as well as a personal list of 12 pieces I’ll be including in my closet this Fall.
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One tiny closet. That’s all I’ve got. So for me, having a capsule wardrobe is just as much about practicality as it is being frugal, minimalist, etc. I also enjoy the creative challenge to figure out how to express my personality in as few items of clothing as possible. Another fact about myself to take into consideration: I get bored easily.
While I love the idea of having a capsule wardrobe that lasts me the entire year, the truth is I can’t stand it in practice. Trends change quickly and I love following along. But I also want to be smart. I try to fill my wardrobe with 80% classic pieces that never go out of style and 20% something quirky, new and fun. This way I avoid spending a ton of money and can be more ethically minded when choosing what to spend my money on.
I choose to edit and build my capsule wardrobe with each new season and here are some steps I follow to help me craft my perfect closet:
Pull everything out of my closet and set aside what I love to wear/wear often.
Sort the remaining pieces into donate, sell, or recycle piles.
Go on Pinterest for inspiration for filling the gaps in my wardrobe.
Make a list of what I want, then go to my favorite thrift stores to purchase.
Whatever I can’t find at a thrift store, I will then purchase online from ethical fashion brands I like. Most of the time, I always find what I need secondhand.
If you are new to ethical fashion shopping, here are a few brands to check out to get you started:
Krochet Kids (has great accessories + bags)
This fall season, my capsule wardrobe is 12 pieces. Last year I think it was 50. There are no hard and fast rules I follow. I just try to keep it simple and include items that will serve me best for the season of life I’m in. Last year, I was working in an office for part of the day, so I needed some business casual pieces to go along with my everyday wear. This year, I’m a full-time stay-at-home mom with the occasional consulting gig, so I don’t need as much variety in my closet.
With all of this in mind, here’s what I’ve selected for my Fall 2019, Capsule Wardrobe:
note: all of my clothes this year are thrifted/items I’ve owned for several years already. To find similar items for your own closet, check out your local thrift store or shop the ethical fashion brands I linked above.
Gray striped dress
Chambray shirt dress
Mustard yellow striped button-up shirt
White long sleeve shirt with black stripes
Classic gray t-shirt
Classic white t-shirt
Classic beige t-shirt
Classic black t-shirt
Beige slip on shoes
Maroon colored skinny jeans
Black skinny jeans
High waisted jeans
I also have some classic tank tops in white, gray, and black. However, I usually wear these as added layers of warmth underneath what is mentioned above. I also own some classic sweaters in gray and black, but decided not to wear until winter because the temperature where I live is still 90+ in the afternoons. I don’t usually count leggings (because these are more lounge, bedtime wear for me), but in case you’re wondering, I have a black and gray pair I’ll be wearing around the house.
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If you’re more of a “see it in action” type of person like me, you can check out this video I made to see how I prepare + put together my capsule wardrobe.