If shopping isn’t your thing or you simply don’t like having to create an entirely new outfit every time you get dressed, you might find that a capsule wardrobe is the way to go. A capsule wardrobe is a refined version of a full closet of clothes that includes only truly essential and versatile pieces, saving space in your closet and making your outfit choices a whole lot easier.
Though the initial creation of your capsule wardrobe might save you from most shopping trips in the future, you might have to do a bit of tweaking as the seasons change. You might already have some of these pieces stored away or you could purchase them from brands you know, love and have as a part of your wardrobe already. Here’s what you need to know about updating your capsule wardrobe for each season.
A Capsule Wardrobe: The Basics
Knowing how to update a capsule wardrobe means knowing what it should include in the first place. Expert capsule wardrobe curators say the magic number is 37. This means that you should have everything you need for any given season within this number of pieces. Capsule creators are encouraged to adopt the “less is more” mentality and invest in a few great pieces instead of a hundred of lower quality that won’t see as much wear. Your capsule wardrobe might include everything from casual options and intimates like panties to cocktail attire and other nicer options based on what you wear throughout any three-month period. The idea is that your closet will be paired down, cohesive and full of only the items you love to wear during any given season.
Start Off Strong
Basics are the building blocks of a great outfit, but what if your entire closet was made up of simple, quality pieces that made you look great every time? Therein lies the genius behind a capsule wardrobe. To keep this up as the seasons change, you might think about updating one or two of your fundamental wardrobe pieces each season, especially if you’re planning to wear items for multiple seasons. While quality fabrics and materials should stand the test of time, it’s important to know when to donate or recycle something. As each new season approaches, give the fundamentals of your capsule wardrobe a once-over and see if anything needs to be replaced. This will keep things fresh and help you seamlessly move from season to season.
Be Real with What You Wear
Trendy seasonal items can be fun to wear a few times, but when it comes to a capsule wardrobe, you really only have room for what you wear most often. A few weeks before you make a seasonal capsule wardrobe change, think about what you wore the most during the previous year. Make this your starting point for filling in the holes in your capsule wardrobe and go from there. Next comes the difficult decision of getting rid of what you know you won’t wear. For instance, if you find yourself only reaching for one style of pants throughout the year, get rid of the rest to minimize clutter. Do the same with excess t-shirts and accessories as the seasons shift.
Make a List Before You Shop
Though most capsule wardrobes will require minimal upkeep and help you avoid unnecessary shopping trips, it’s inevitable that you will eventually need to buy new items. In order to keep you on track and avoid seasonal impulse purchases, plan out exactly what you need beforehand and write it down.
Stick to brands and fits that you know and love to make things even easier. When shopping for an upcoming season, buy only what you have written down and don’t settle for something just because it’s right there in front of you. For example, if you’re on the hunt for a specific shapewear garment or style of pants, it’s better to leave with nothing and keep it on your list than buy something in a similar but different style. It’s okay to be picky when it comes to your capsule wardrobe!
Get Creative with Your Capsule Pieces
Though an impeccable lineup of classics is the gold standard of any capsule wardrobe season, you can also take pieces from other seasons and incorporate them into your other capsules. Depending on the time of year and the climate where you live, this could be extremely useful and also save you a bunch of money. Think about your favorite summer capsule pieces and how you might be able to incorporate them into your fall capsule. A white sleeveless top from summer could look great tucked into dark jeans with combat boots to soften the look a bit. Your favorite white summer sneakers could do the same with a casual black sweater dress later in the year.
Try things on, put outfits together and get to creating your next top-notch capsule wardrobe!
Published on Holr Magazine