jokimjorgensen

Let’s talk about the Capsule Wardrobe. There are so many definitions, rules, and manifestos on what it is, and how to curate one, that it’s easy for one to get overwhelmed by it all.

Maybe you’ve found the capsule wardrobe unapproachable because of how disciplined it sounds. Or, maybe you’re not sure you’re genuinely “minimalist enough”. Or, perhaps you love trends too much? Maybe you think you’re too much of a fashionista to convert to the capsule wardrobe life. As you keep reading let me walk you through a capsule wardrobe 101 and let you in on the golden rule I use as my guide.

If you’re new to the term ‘Capsule Wardrobe’, let me first provide some context from Wikipedia:

[A Capsule Wardrobe is] …a small collection of garments designed to be worn together which harmonized in color and line. The term capsule wardrobe was revived by Susie Faux, the owner of a London boutique called “Wardrobe” in the 1970s. According to Faux, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that do not go out of fashion, such as skirts, trousers, and coats, which can then be augmented with seasonal pieces. […] The term has come to refer to a collection of clothing that is composed of interchangeable items only, to maximise the number of outfits that can be created. The aim is to have an outfit suitable for any occasion without owning excessive items of clothing. This is usually achieved by buying what are considered to be “key” or “staple” items in coordinating colours.

“The aim is to have an outfit suitable for any occasion without owning excessive items of clothing.” This. Is. The. Key. In short, a capsule wardrobe is a highly curated wardrobe that consists of timeless long-lasting pieces that have been edited to suit your personal style. The goal is to have a wardrobe that consists of pieces that work seamlessly together in a number of combinations to create looks that always look good on you. I would like to stress that last part – that ALWAYS look good on YOU!! Who wouldn’t want a closet that only consists of pieces that look great on them forever?? Isn’t this what closet goals is??

There are many approaches to the capsule wardrobe – some that include rules that dictate a finite number of articles of clothing it should contain, and some that suggest only owning pieces of clothing in a very bland colour palette or specific classic shapes. It’s rules such as these that may sway people away from the idea of adopting the practice of maintaining a capsule wardrobe. It’s not easy to be a minimalist – especially if you love fashion trends – but trust me, you can be a minimalist and still stay on-trend!

The Golden Rule: One Of Each Thing

I, for one, am a big fan of minimalism. I’m always trying to live out the practice of not owning “too much stuff”. However, I do not agree with boxing-yourself-in to the commitment of only owning ‘x’ number of items in your closet in boring shades of neutral. When it comes to quantity, rather than committing to only owning 33, 50, or 100 pieces, I like to adhere to the idea that you only need one of each thing that you will wear for seasons to come. When it comes to trendier pieces, I like to go for an iteration of the trend that I know can be worn multiple ways, and in a colour that can pair well with many options. (Note: by one thing, I do not mean one pair of pants; I mean one pair of blue jeans, one pair of black jeans, one pair of white jeans…one-of-each-thing.)

Let me walk you through an example. Let’s say you need to add a pair of black jeans to your wardrobe, but you feel like you need high-waisted, skinny, wide, and cropped styles? Personally, I don’t. Only add the colour, fit, and fabric that look best on YOU and that you would get the MOST wear out of. If you wear skinny and wide-leg pants equally as much, then maybe your ‘one-of-each-thing’ means one pair of black skinny jeans and one pair of black wide-leg jeans. It’s your call! As long as it’s just one-of-each-thing!

Now let’s walk through an example of a trend piece. Say you want the Chanel 19 bag, but you know it’s extremely trendy. A bag that was released in 2019, it’s hard to say whether or not the bag will be a long-term classic. If you’ve decided you want to pull the trigger and add it to your closet, go for a colour that is versatile and will work with a lot of items in your closet. If you have a lot of black bags, go for a lighter shade. If you want to dive into a colour, stay away from brights – choose a colour that would pair well with the rest of the colours in your wardrobe. This way, you are thinking about the longevity of the piece in your closet rather than impulse buying.

Finally, let’s walk through an example of a repeat item. Let’s say you come across a pair of red shoes that you LOVE, but you already own a pair of red shoes. Think about the new pair you love – why do you love it? Now, think about the pair that you already own, why do you love those, or do you still love them? Do they check-off the same boxes as the new pair? If you end up leaning towards going for the new pair, I recommend you exercise the one-in-one-out rule. Either sell or donate your older item to replace it with the new item. This helps keep the cycle of sustainability moving, and avoids adding clothing to a landfill. If the new item does not replace the purpose of the existing item and more, you likely do not need the new item. Leave it.

The ‘one-of-each-thing’ golden rule and exercising the one-in-one-out rule should keep you from hoarding clothing, or ending up with closet overflow. These rules will also help you build out your core capsule – or timeless basics. Your core capsule can then be punctuated with curated, fun, trend-forward and seasonal pieces (see – I told you you can still be a trendy fashionista!).

I believe that a capsule wardrobe is personal to you, your style, your taste, and your budget. This is YOUR wardrobe – you can bend the rules to create your perfect capsule.

I also want to stress that a capsule wardrobe is not something you can achieve over night. This is a project and definite lifestyle shift. My only piece of advice to you is to take your time. I started my journey down this road more than 5 years ago, and I am still working on editing my closet!

Over the last 5 years (since watching The True Cost – highly recommend to all who have not watched), I have been whittling down my wardrobe to only the absolute essential and classic pieces that I find myself constantly going back to. I have donated more than half of my original closet, which consisted of a lot of cheap and trendy fast fashion pieces, and have slowly started to replace or add high-quality staple pieces. For me, my capsule wardrobe journey is about creating a curated closet that will last me a very long time, while also slamming the breaks on fast fashion (this is a whole other topic that I would love to dive into in separate post. A story for another day…).

I’ve rambled long enough. I hope you consider the capsule wardrobe life, and that you come back for another read. Next up: Spring Capsule Mood Board. Stay tuned!

-Jo