If you spend more than five minutes picking out your outfit every morning and still end up unsatisfied with the result most of the time, you might need a capsule wardrobe. What is a capsule wardrobe? In short, it’s a curated set of 40-60 different pieces in your wardrobe that can all be mixed and matched together to create endless outfit options.
This method for owning and styling clothes is great for people who want an effortless way to put together stylish outfits every day of the week. If that sounds like you, or you’re curious about the simplicity of capsule wardrobes, you need to check out this guide.
Here’s every step you need to take to build your capsule wardrobe:
Choose A Color Scheme
A lot of people shy away from building capsule wardrobes because they believe the only colors you can own with a capsule wardrobe are black and white. But that simply isn’t true. While a lot of social media influencers may choose to promote black and white capsule wardrobes, that doesn’t mean it’s the only option. But the key to a capsule wardrobe is picking colors that always go together.
The best way to do this is by picking a base color—something like cream, white, brown, grey, black, or even navy blue. Once you have your base color picked it’s time to choose 2-3 accent colors. It’s a good rule of thumb to choose accent colors that work both well together and with your base color. Check the list below for some color inspiration.
- Navy Blue—Burnt Orange, Yellow & Cream
- Brown—Burgundy & Blush
- Black—Forest Green, Sage Green & Lavender
The possibilities are endless. Just make sure you’re picking colors that match your complexion and that you love because you’ll be wearing them every day!
Declutter Your Old Wardrobe
Now that you’ve picked a color scheme it’s time to get rid of items from your wardrobe that don’t fit into your new capsule wardrobe style. Go through each item in your closet and ask yourself three questions.
- Does it fit?
- Do I like it?
- Does it match my new color scheme?
If you’ve answered yes to all these questions, congratulations, you should set that item aside for your capsule wardrobe. If not, you should set it in a separate pile to donate. Now, if you already like a lot of pieces in your wardrobe it might be a good idea to start your capsule wardrobe journey with decluttering. By decluttering first, you can see what you already have and choose a color scheme and personal style based on what’s available.
Know What To Buy
The key to building the perfect capsule wardrobe is knowing what items to buy in each category. So we’ve broken down exactly how many of each type of clothing you should own.
- 15-20 Bottoms – Pants, Skirts, Shorts & Leggings
- 5-10 Tops (Casual) – T-shirts, Tank tops, Graphic Tees
- 20-25 Tops (Dressy) – Blouses, Sweaters
- 10-15 – Full Body – Dresses, Jumpsuits & Overalls
- 2-5 Coats – Heavy, Light, Rain
It’s important to keep in mind as you’re picking pieces that about one-half of your wardrobe should be your base color, while the other half should be a variety of your accent colors. Also, make sure you’re always picking pieces that you love and feel comfortable in
Don’t Forget The Accessories
Accessories are the fashionista’s best friend. Here is a list of some basic accessories you should include in your capsule wardrobe:
- 1-3 Belts
- 1-2 Hats
- 3-4 Bags
- 2-3 Sunglasses
- 2-3 Scarfs
And here are some shoes you’ll need for your capsule wardrobe too:
- Neutral everyday sneakers
- Athletic sneakers
- All-weather boots
- Strappy Sandals
- Walking Sandals
- Flip Flops
- Nude/Black heels
- Business casual flats
Remember The Basics
Now that you’ve gotten the essentials, it’s time to talk about a few basics outside the regular list. If you’re a woman building a capsule wardrobe don’t forget to include closet staples like a little black dress or a jean jacket. Likewise, men should own a suit with a neutral-colored tie.
Don’t forget to include pieces that just make you happy—even if they’re outside your color scheme. Having a few wardrobe pieces that don’t fit your color scheme isn’t going to hinder your goals. It’s more important to keep clothes you love and will love wearing than to donate something just because it doesn’t fit your overall aesthetic.