Is A Capsule Wardrobe Right For You?
The Prelude
As money gets tighter and there are more decisions to make at every touch point in your life… a capsule wardrobe doesn’t sound too bad — I mean think about it… that’s one less decision to make every day, fewer shopping trips throughout the year, and smoother closet transitions in between seasons. To add more fuel to the fire, capsule wardrobe’s are trending right now and that’s what’s making them even more desirable. However, it’s important to remember that every thing isn’t for everyone. So with that in mind, let’s have a conversation and see if a capsule wardrobe is the right choice for you. Below I’ve outlined what it is, who it’s for, how it’s built, and I’ve even shared some professionally styled looks so you can have an idea of what your closet can potentially look like. Let’s get into it below.
So What Is A Capsule Wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a small, carefully chosen collection of timeless, interchangeable clothing that works together and makes getting dressed easier.
Who’s It For?
When the term “capsule wardrobe” is used, most people think that it’s for minimalists only or that you have to have an obsession with neutral colors (and although both groups tend to favor capsule wardrobes, they aren’t the only ones who have them). Actually, a capsule wardrobe is the perfect choice for the following individuals:
Founders + Entrepreneurs: If you’re a founder or entrepreneur, then there’s no doubt that you have a lot on your plate and not a moment to waste. A capsule wardrobe is the perfect choice for you because it limits decision fatigue (which combats mental exhaustion) and increases productivity (since it will be quicker and easier to curate outfits, you have more time to spend on money generating activities).
Corporate Career Professionals: Between meeting the demands of your employer and trying to keep your personal life in tact, having great style can fall quickly to the bottom of your to do list. However, a capsule wardrobe is the perfect choice because it won’t let style be your last priority. Opting for this type of wardrobe means that you’ll experience increased confidence (and as a result increased work performance) by maintaining a professional and fashion forward look regularly. Additionally, if you’re in a role that requires a lot of travel, you’ll find it easier to pull from your wardrobe and pack for work trips.
Moms + Dads (especially single ones!): Working, parenting, and managing an entire household leaves you with little to no time for yourself. A capsule wardrobe is the perfect choice for you because it allows you to look put together every day with minimal effort and it lessens the financial burden (capsule wardrobes are built to last for years…hence the name capsule. With this wardrobe you can finally focus on providing for your littles without depriving yourself of nice outfits as well).
How It’s Built…
If you’ve read this far, then you’re clearly still interested in seeing if this is the right direction for you to go in with your wardrobe. So in this section I’ll explain how this wardrobe is built so that you can make your final decision.
Unlike most wardrobes, capsule wardrobes are intended to be small and intentional. Of course “small” looks different for everyone, so one person’s capsule wardrobe can be as small as 10 pieces in their entire closet while another person’s capsule wardrobe can have up to 50 pieces (it just depends on the person’s lifestyle and preferences). Moreover, capsule wardrobe’s can be customized to fit your specific tastes. For example, a neutral color palette will always be beneficial for a capsule wardrobe, but you may not like wearing neutrals all the time and choose to opt for a capsule wardrobe that contains both neutrals and muted colors (and that is perfectly fine! It would still be considered a capsule wardrobe as long as everything is quality and able to work together to create various outfits).
It’s also important to note that this isn’t the type of wardrobe you build with cheap or fast fashion clothing. So if you’re a fast fashion fanatic and you aren’t ready to give it up just yet…then this isn’t the type of wardrobe that you need right now. Each piece in a capsule wardrobe needs to be quality. Does this mean that you have to spend a minimum of $100 on every piece? No. However, it does mean that you are conscious of the brands you’re shopping with, aware of the quality and craftsmanship of the item(s) before you buy them, and that you’re confident that whatever you purchase will last for years to come (this is what solidifies the “capsule” part of the wardrobe. It can stand the test of time. I like to envision the wardrobe being found underground 100 years from now and the person that finds it is still able to wear everything in the capsule regardless of how much time has passed).
Capsule Outfit Examples
Below you’ll find two examples of capsule outfits that I created for myself. These outfits were pulled straight from my wardrobe. Just to give you a little history, there were two items in my wardrobe that were barely worn (the olive green skirt and the olive green scarf), so I wanted to make an effort to wear them more (instead of toss them) as well as increase the ROI on these items. So I used them as my base pieces while styling and created two different outfits. I’ve been carefully curating my wardrobe for awhile now, so as you can see, all of my pieces work together regardless if they are neutral or not. That’s a huge indicator of a strong capsule wardrobe.
Will You Be Starting Your Capsule Wardrobe Journey?
Now that you have a little bit more knowledge about what a capsule wardrobe consists of...do you think that it’s the right choice for you? Let me know in the comment section below (also feel free to share what other topics you would like me to cover about capsule wardrobes and I’ll add it to the list!). Thank you so much for reading and I’ll see you in the next article!
