Most fashion lovers have heard of the term ‘capsule wardrobe’. It has come into our glossaries with terms such as ‘slow living’, ‘minimalism’ or ‘sustainable fashion’. But what is a capsule wardrobe, and how does one achieve it? I have been familiar with the term for as long as I’ve been into intentional living, and for the past two years I have kept a capsule wardrobe myself. From my ‘early 2022 10-piece’ closet to my current ‘4-item-per-clothing-type’ one, I have attempted to implement a capsule wardrobe in my own life, and can now confidently decide whether it is worth it or not to have one, as well as share some tips I’ve learned along the way.
So, what is a capsule wardrobe? A capsule wardrobe is a small collection of clothes that can all fit with each other, minimising the space used in the closet as well as maximising the versatility and use of each piece. Traditionally, a capsule wardrobe should contain ‘2 pairs of trousers, a dress or a skirt, a jacket, a coat, a knit, two pairs of shoes and two bags’ according to Susie Faux who coined the term ‘capsule wardrobe’ in the 1970s. However, it can be whatever amount of clothing you desire as long as the garments match each other and can fit into a ‘capsule’. A capsule wardrobe should include versatile items that could be worn to a casual outing, work or a lecture, as well as a fancy dinner date, concert or event. The concept was brought into mainstream fashion (in the English-speaking world) in 1985 by designer Donna Karan when she released her collection ‘Seven Easy Pieces’; seven interchangeable items following the concept’s premise.
Hooked? You’re in luck! The capsule wardrobe can be achieved by anyone, although for some fashion lovers, its curation may be quite a challenge. A compact wardrobe implies downsizing, and it is no secret that many people have strong emotional attachments to the clothes in their closets. To begin a capsule wardrobe, one should always identify the end goal. I’ve had the issue of jumping into it with no clear purpose which ended with me getting new clothes to replace the old ones, or reducing my closet until there were no more wearable options left. I would recommend not being haste to get rid of pieces that would not fit your ideal wardrobe. Instead, put them aside in a box you cannot easily access, open it in six months and if there are clothes in there that you missed while they were not in your closet, keep them, the rest you can part with. This is particularly useful if your reason for having a ‘capsule wardrobe’ is sustainability or mindful ownership.
One major benefit of a capsule closet is that it can be curated to reflect your lifestyle, no matter how unique it may be; my reason for curating one was to allow myself to move overseas more conveniently. Ever since the beginning of 2022, I have not spent longer than a few months at a time in one place, so I needed a closet that would reflect my lifestyle. Another big concern for me was sustainability, which not only motivated me to take the concept seriously, but also made me conscious of the items I already owned and mindful of how I could incorporate them instead of buying new clothes to create a wardrobe from scratch. It is always more sustainable to create something out of the things you already own, than it is to buy new clothes just to have the ‘perfect’ capsule wardrobe. There are many reasons why one could consider downsizing their closet, and any reason is valid. Your capsule wardrobe should speak to you, and not to anyone else.
My biggest struggle in keeping a capsule wardrobe is the pressure surrounding it to be ‘perfect’. While many emphasise sustainability and mindful shopping, some people approach a capsule wardrobe the same way they would any other lifestyle and fashion trend; by seeing it as a style of clothing rather than a mindset. Akin to the aesthetic understanding of ‘minimalism’, the capsule wardrobe is often portrayed as a collection of white, black, beige, neutral coloured, striped, leather and knit pieces (also known as ‘Scandinavian style’) and one Pinterest search of the term reveals how uniform the representation of the concept is. This portrayal of the capsule wardrobe as one specific style was something I used to struggle with, as my style was never even remotely similar to the clean, crisp, minimalistic Scandinavian one. Through trial and error, I have curated a wardrobe that not only is compact and comfortable to travel with but also reflects my voice and likes in fashion. I cannot emphasise enough how much of a process discovering your style is, and in a capsule wardrobe curation it is more important than ever to have a strong sense of what you want it to be.
Once you have identified your goals as well as put aside clothes you don’t want to be part of your wardrobe, now what? I believe the trickiest part of creating a ‘capsule wardrobe’ is sticking to it. It may be tempting to add new items because ‘what harm can one more shirt do?’, or to think that since your closet has downsized there isn’t anything for you to wear anymore. If a closet is downsized thoughtfully, finding what to wear should not be an issue. If you find you feel worse about your closet now that you have gone through with the downsizing, you can always add additional pieces, or modify the concept to fit your own life and way of dressing. It is okay to not immediately fall in love with your collection once you’ve downsized, instead try again. Vary the pieces and if you feel like you are missing something from your closet, buy the new piece (but do that mindfully as that is risking going against the concept). Whatever you do, remember that you should do it for yourself and yourself alone, and if you find that a capsule wardrobe does not work for you, there is no shame in skipping this movement and sticking to what you like best. While curating a capsule wardrobe has worked for me, it does not mean that it will for everyone. Fashion is primarily self-expression, and for some, keeping a more maximalist wardrobe is the best way to go about it.
WORDS: Agne Kniuraite
