Did you know that Americans buy over 80 billion new clothing items each year?

The worst part about this is that most of these end up in a landfill. If you want to stop contributing to this problem, building a capsule wardrobe is a good choice. But what is it exactly?

Don’t let go of that thought yet.

With this guide, you’ll learn how to build a capsule wardrobe. That way, your fashion sense becomes more consistent while keeping yourself organized. Read on and find out more:

What is a Capsule Wardrobe?

The domestic market value of the fashion industry in the United States is $406 billion. With so many choices, you have no shortage of items that can build your capsule wardrobe. After all, it’s a collection of essential clothing items you can supplement with more seasonal accessories.

This type of wardrobe has no clutter, a representative of your lifestyle. It saves you lots of money while simplifying your life. Take note, building a capsule wardrobe has no rules, that’s why the steps listed here are more like guidelines.

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe

These steps offer you a more systematic method of building your capsule wardrobe. If you want better-fitting clothes, you could also start with a keto diet. Read this guide to the keto diet to learn more.

1. Declutter

Regardless of how you build your capsule wardrobe, this is the first important step. With clutter eliminated, your closet is closer to becoming a capsule wardrobe. Never skip this fundamental step.

To start, take everything out of the closet since your goal is to wipe the slate clean. After that, arrange similar items into piles, like grouping jackets, pants, shoes, and more. This lets you know the number of items of the same type in your wardrobe.

Make a clear vision of your ideal closet. Think about your dream wardrobe since it makes deciding what to keep and eliminate easier. Your wardrobe should reflect your lifestyle, so ponder hard before rushing your vision.

Sort everything into three piles: clothes you want to keep, clothes you can get rid of, and clothes you’re unsure of. The third one is for clothes you’ll judge at a later time. Once you know which clothes to toss out, consider donating them to charities like PlanetAid.

2. Think About Your Go-To Outfit Categories

Depending on your lifestyle, picking three outfit categories can be an accurate representation. Here are six primary categories for outfits that can resonate with you:

• Work
• Active
• Casual
• Formal
• Social
• Lounge

These categories are self-explanatory, so feel free to choose among these. For example, if you work at home, your clothing preferences could be casual or lounge clothes because they’re comfortable. Take note, your capsule wardrobes should only have clothes you’ll use often.

This is because your capsule wardrobe is where you can easily find your essential clothes. This place must make dressing up each morning easy since you love everything there. Each clothing item should fit you and make you feel good about yourself.

3. Start Building Your Capsule Wardrobe

After picking three categories to represent your current lifestyle, you now have a clearer vision for your capsule wardrobe. In this step, you must choose around 35 various clothing items. These must be easy to mix and match.

Your minimalist capsule wardrobe should have items you love wearing while maintaining usefulness. It must work with your selected outfit categories. Also, the number of clothes you put in the wardrobe is ultimately up to you, but 35 is an ideal number for most cases.

Some items might overlap and fit into two or more categories. When this happens, worry not since it’s a normal occurrence. It’s always better to write each item’s proper category for proper organization.

If you aren’t sure about an item’s category, don’t stress yourself out because of it. Put it aside and think about it sometime in the future. That way, you won’t get delayed from finishing your capsule wardrobe.

4. Organize Your Wardrobe

When thinking about your capsule wardrobe, you must ensure it’s easy to reach. Do this by either hanging items in the closet or folding clothing instead. If you want a higher degree of organization, use matching hangers.

Sometimes, a clothing item won’t satisfy your requirements for the capsule wardrobe. In this case, you need not throw it away immediately. A good alternative is to store it in a box away from your wardrobe and hide it for a short while.

Give it some time to see whether you can live without these items. As a general rule, a maximum of three months is enough to assess this. If you end up not wearing any item stored in the box during this time, consider getting rid of them.

If these clothing items aren’t improving your lifestyle, it’s better if you part ways with them. Always ask yourself the reason why you keep these items in your wardrobe. Otherwise, they will take both physical and mental clutter.

Tips on Capsule Wardrobes

Now you know more about capsule wardrobes, you might feel inspired to build it. It’s especially when you want to bring more order to your life. When doing so, follow these tips to ensure you get the most out of it.

1. Don’t Get Sucked Into Fashion Trends

These trends are fun to follow, but the problem is they fade rapidly. That’s why it’s better not to stress yourself over clothing items that won’t fit certain fashion trends. It’s unlikely to last for a full season, so getting upset over it is a waste of time.

Never spend your money on investing in ephemeral trends. Spend it in timeless, high-quality fashion pieces. That way, you can wear it for lots of seasons and make the most out of your money.

2. Be Realistic About Your Discomfort Tolerance

Most people who start with capsule wardrobes often make the mistake of getting uncomfortable clothing. If you aren’t comfortable wearing high heels and pencil skirts, better not waste space. Don’t exaggerate the amount of discomfort you can handle for the sake of fashionable.

The purpose of owning a capsule wardrobe is for comfort. If you can wear something cute and comfortable, always choose that. Never sacrifice your comfort for something fashionable but ultimately annoying.

3. Assess the Weather Conditions in Your Area

The worst mistake when making a capsule wardrobe is to base it on your ideal weather conditions. It might seem silly, but making this mistake is easier than most people think. That’s why always make a wardrobe using realistic weather patterns in your area.

For example, thinking about spring makes you imagine sunshine and blooming flowers. But in reality, your area might have lots of spring rains. If you pick shoes and dresses based on this idealized version, you’re going to suffer for it.

4. Pay More Attention to Completer Pieces

These fashion items are crucial for an outfit to look great. At its core, using completer items on a basic outfit makes it more glamorous. These items are valuable for your capsule wardrobe since you can make various outfits without resorting to more clothing.

For example, a cute top and jeans can have a different feel when adding either a blazer or a scarf. Never hesitate and invest in these items for a more efficient capsule wardrobe space.

5. Get Creative

Making capsule wardrobes is all about creativity in mixing and matching clothes. This process allows you to make as many cute outfits as you can without lots of accessories and clothing items. Even when the creativity doesn’t come naturally, use blogs and picture-sharing websites to get ideas.

A good place to start is to look for images and posts that share capsule wardrobes. But it’s more efficient to search for clothing items instead. For example, searching for skirts using Google can yield ideas to match it to more outfits.

6. Try All Your Clothes On

The best way to determine whether you keep or toss clothes is to mix and match them. Move around using these clothes and do various activities with them. That way, you’ll figure out the most comfortable clothing pieces that fit your body frame.

Trying these clothes helps you find the most versatile clothes among the ones you have. When you finish, the only clothes remaining should be versatile enough to match more than one outfit. Always experiment and have fun with this task.

Remember, building your capsule wardrobe is all about making your life easier. Avoid stressing over trivial things but take note of them. That way, you know what to change the next time you reorganize your clothes.

Get a Capsule Wardrobe Today!

These are steps and tips on how to build a capsule wardrobe. Use these to ensure your first wardrobe is successful. Declutter your closet and stick to the essentials today.

Is this guide helpful? If so, we encourage you to read our other posts and learn other tips and tricks to improve your lifestyle. Boost your sense of fashion and your wardrobe by reading more of our guides right here, today!