Everything You Need To Know About A Capsule Wardrobe
Ladies, if you find that you wear the same pieces of clothing over and over again, have too many clothes but still nothing to wear, or spend mornings standing in front of your closet frustrated and overwhelmed, a capsule wardrobe could be the solution to your wardrobe problems. Haven't heard of a capsule wardrobe? You'll definitely want to read this post in its entirety as well as my next few blog posts that will be dedicated to creating a capsule wardrobe, the benefits of having a capsule wardrobe, and how to mix and match a capsule wardrobe. Be sure to sign up for my email list to make sure you don't miss a post and to receive a FREE copy of my mini e-book, 8 Steps To Purge & Organize Your Closet Like A Pro!
What Is A Capsule Wardrobe?
Simply put, a capsule wardrobe is a small collection of clothes that all work together. Coined in the 70's by Susan Faux, a London boutique owner, "a capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that doesn't go out of fashion, such as skirts, pants, and coats that can then be augmented with seasonal pieces". In the 80's, Donna Karan made this popular with her capsule collection of seven interchangeable work-wear pieces.
The idea is to have a wardrobe of only pieces that you absolutely love, look good in, will regularly wear, and that mix and match with each other so that you are maximizing your wardrobe. This means you will need to severely edit your closet (ie: get rid of a lot of unnecessary clothing!)
Related: 8 Steps To Purge & Organize Your Closet Like A Pro!
What Pieces Are Included In A Capsule Wardrobe?
Tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, and shoes are included in a capsule wardrobe. What's not included are accessories, purses, jewelry, pajamas, special occasion attire, sentimental pieces (ie: a wedding dress), workout clothes, or your lounge around the house clothes.
How Many Pieces Are In A Capsule Wardrobe?
Faux, who I mentioned above believed the wardrobe should consist of about 10 pieces, "2 pairs of trousers, a dress or a skirt, a jacket, a coat, a knit, two pairs of shoes and two bags". On the other hand, the popular capsule wardrobe blogger of Unfancy sticks to 37 pieces: 9 shoes, 9 bottoms, 15 tops, 2 dresses and 2 jackets. The amount of pieces and the items chosen will vary by each person. But remember, having a capsule wardrobe is all about the less is more approach.
How Many Capsule Wardrobes Can You Have?
Ideally you should have only 1 capsule wardrobe per season for a total of 4 complete capsule wardrobes. However, if you work in a corporate environment that requires a different dress code than your weekend wear, it is okay to have a mini work capsule wardrobe. I would keep this very small; maybe about 15-20 pieces. The same would go for your weekend wardrobe.
What Happens At The End Of Each Season?
Your capsule wardrobe should be rotated every 3 months to change with the seasons. At the end of each season you will either roll some of the pieces over to your next capsule wardrobe or store the pieces for next year. Don't forget to donate or toss any pieces that are worn out. You don't want to keep any clutter!
Stay tuned because Wednesday I will post how to create a capsule wardrobe. You can sign up here to make sure you don't miss a thing!
So what are your thoughts? Will you be giving the capsule wardrobe a try? I want to hear from you! Comment below or tweet me (@arteresalynn).
Want To Create Your Own Capsule Wardrobe?
Thinking of creating a capsule wardrobe but need assistance? Email me at style@arteresalynn.com to book your Create A Capsule Wardrobe service or for a free 20 min phone consultation.