Have you ever found yourself staring at your closet unsure of what to wear? You’re not the only one. You know that you have outfits that you love in there, but for some reason, you’re having a hard time coming up with something that looks and feels good to wear today. 

Well, a capsule wardrobe can help you out with that.

What is a capsule wardrobe?

A capsule wardrobe is a collection of 20-40 garments and accessories that all mix and match cohesively to make several different outfits. Coined by London boutique owner, Susie Faux, in the 70s, a capsule wardrobe is a handy tool that can help you streamline your closet so that the next time you go in to pick out your look, you’re not overwhelmed with choices.

Signs you should try out a capsule wardrobe:

• You’re overwhelmed by your current closet

• You want to minimize and declutter your wardrobe

• You want to spend less time getting dressed

• You want to spend less money on clothes

• You’re seeking creativity and inspiration through style

If any of the above five points check out, you should give a capsule wardrobe a go!

Here’s how to create a capsule wardrobe in 2024:

So, you’ve decided that a capsule wardrobe sounds right for you. Here’s how to pull one that cohesively and expressively represents who you are.

1. Do an analysis of your current wardrobe

A closet mass index detailing all the garments that you have in your closet will give you a good starting point for your capsule wardrobe. By taking an eagle’s eye view, you begin to get a feel for what you have and what you like in your closet. This also helps you subconsciously prepare for the next few steps.

Please note that while this step can be extremely helpful, it’s actually optional. If you’re easily overwhelmed and archiving your entire closet will get in your way of actually creating the capsule wardrobe, then feel free to skip it.

2. Decide on the approach that you want to take

There are a lot of approaches to creating a capsule wardrobe: the 10x10 challenge, project 333 challenge, seasonal capsule methods, and lifestyle capsule methods just to name a few.

As a beginner, I’d recommend either building a capsule wardrobe with the upcoming season in mind or starting small by creating a capsule centered around a specific lifestyle activity (work capsule, going out capsule, etc).

Regardless of the approach, you’ll begin by deciding the number of garments that you want to include and then centering on some main themes, colors, or silhouettes. 

3. Get to work assembling the capsule wardrobe

The third and final step is actually putting the capsule together. A lot of people use digital planners like Closetspace or Save Your Wardrobe to visualize potential outfits but I like to go the old-school route by simply laying all the garments out on my bed and seeing what looks good together.

In this third step, you’ll begin to brainstorm potential outfits and eventually whittle down your existing closet into the specific capsule wardrobe for the next while.

Remember, there are no set rules to building a capsule wardrobe. What’s important is that it’s tailored specifically to you. Think of this as a helpful experiment to see if using a capsule wardrobe suits your lifestyle long-term. If it’s helpful, keep it; if not, scrap it. If you do end up sticking with this method of dressing, tag me on Instagram at @thesensiblefay; I’d love to see your outfits!

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