I’ve been practicing capsule wardrobes for a few years now and in that time, I’ve adapted the process a few times to suit my evolving fashion journey. When I first started doing capsules, I did so with the intent of streamlining my wardrobe, locking down my initial color palette and figuring out my true style.
Since that first capsule, I’ve learned what works for me and what doesn’t, and even though my original advice is still true, I now approach capsules with a looser framework. In fact, over the last few years I’ve tried traditional capsules, The 10 Item Wardrobe, Project 3-3-3 and every other version of minimized wardrobe curation and throughout them all, I’ve found a few basics to always be true.
Today, I thought it would be helpful to share those with you so I’ve outlined my top tips to get you started, as well as what I recommend for good foundation of pieces that can easily be mixed and matched all season long.
Plus, if you’ve never tried a capsule before this can be a great opportunity to because many of us aren’t going out or even into the office so it can give you a chance to see how different outfits and pieces truly make you feel before adding in the external influence of others.
GETTING STARTED
If you’re just getting started with capsules or your personal style journey, you may be feeling overwhelmed. I know when I first started, I was so overwhelmed and worried I wouldn’t do my first capsule “right” and that would render it ineffective.
As time went on though, I realized that it’s impossible to mess it up and there’s no one right way to do this. Not only is personal style incredibly personal, but capsules or any other wardrobe curation tool you use should be too. That said, below are the basic steps that have worked every time for me and I think can be customized to suit any capsule method you choose.
CHOOSE YOUR COLOR PALETTE: I think I mention color palettes in every blog post and video I make about wardrobe curation and it’s for good reason. In my experience, you can’t build a wardrobe or figure out your true personal style unless you have a color palette that you stick to. I have a few posts all about building a color palette and how you can find the perfect colors for you but if you’re looking for a very easy place to start, I recommend 1-2 base colors and 1-2 accent colors.
The base colors should make up the majority of your items and serve as a good foundation while the accent colors should make up fewer pieces and be used to add some interest to your closet. I think the easiest way to get started here is to look in your closet and take note of the colors you already wear and then build your color palette around those. Typically, your base colors will be colors like black or navy, white or cream and even grey or taupe and your accent colors can be anything else you have from pink to purple to orange or green.
PULL OUT YOUR FAVORITES & SEASONAL APPROPRIATE ITEMS: Next, I recommend pulling out all of your closet regulars. These will be the pieces you automatically picture when you close your eyes and imagine you’re packing for a trip or the items you reach for every week and always feel amazing in.
From there, you can narrow in on your wardrobe favorites that will suit the season you’re planning your capsule for.
Everything that doesn’t fit the current season and/or isn’t an automatic favorite can be moved either to the back of your closet or into another closet if you have it or a container that you put under your bed, in your closet or somewhere else out of site - but not decluttered.
SEARCH PINTEREST, YOUR FAVE BLOGS, YOUTUBE CHANNELS & REAL LIFE: Once you have your color palette selected, and your wardrobe favorites set aside, I recommend looking to Pinterest, your favorite blogs and magazines and even the individuals you see every day for inspiration.
Take note of the images and outfits that catch your eye and why. From there, you can start planning out some outfits and new styling cues that can help you stay inspired throughout your capsule. I recommend searching specifically for the items you’ve set aside so that you can get loads of inspiration for the pieces you already have - and don’t feel the need to buy anything new.
As you’re going through your inspiration and taking note of what you love, you will not only begin to understand your own style better, but you'll also start to see the pieces you have in a new way. The most important thing about this step is to have fun and remember that you can always add or remove pieces from your capsule if they end up not working out. Just remember that the objective of capsule dressing is to eliminate stress, not cause more because you feel panicked to commit for fear of being stuck.
CONSIDER YOUR LOCATION, WEATHER & LIFESTYLE: The next thing I recommend is being truly honest with yourself about the weather you have and your lifestyle. Both of these can help eliminate certain items from the beginning and also cause you to add in some things that may not be glamorous, but will be practical and practicality is essential to ensuring your capsule actually works.
ADD ACCESSORIES & HAVE FUN: The last thing I recommend is to take time adding in personalized accessories and bold pieces that are perfectly you. These will help set your capsule apart and help you realize the things that make your style personal. I also recommend not taking it all too seriously and instead feel free to reevaluate as you go to ensure you’re getting the most out of the experience and really using it as an exercise to figure out what you actually wear and what makes you feel the most like you.
TOP 5ESSENTIAL PIECES
Now I want to share some of my personal wardrobe essentials that may be helpful if you’re just starting out. These are the things I personally love to wear and find very versatile but I recommend always customizing these to you and your own personal preferences. Also, I’ve included shoppable items here but I always recommend checking second hand and vintage shops for great deals and beautiful quality.
NO. 1 CLASSIC JEANS
First up is a pair of classic jeans. If you’re looking for something more formal I like dark wash straight leg jeans and if you want something a little more casual but also incredibly versatile, I recommend a light to medium wash with a straight leg. I’m personally very into lighter, vintage washes at the moment and I love how they instantly pop against my sweaters and tops in the fall and winter but also feel perfect for spring and summer.
NO. 2 VERSATILE SWEATER
Another piece I always have in my wardrobe is a versatile sweater. I like something in either cotton if you live in a climate with unpredictable weather or cashmere or a cashmere blend if you live somewhere that gets cold or you’re just easily chilly. I think a crew neck or cardigan is ideal in a color you love to wear that goes with your color palette. If you’re unsure of your color palette, I would stick to neutrals to begin with - colors like white, beige, blush pink and blue. I’ve linked some below but some other brands to consider for gorgeous knitwear are N.Peal, NavyGrey, Johnstons of Elgin and Pure Collection.
NO 3. EASY T-SHIRT OR BODYSUIT
T-shirts or bodysuits are perfect for layering or wearing alone and pair perfectly with pants, skirts and shorts. I love white and black.
NO. 4 CLASSIC PANTS OR SKIRT (OR BOTH)
Since we’ve covered jeans above, the next thing I always like to have in my wardrobe is a pair of classic pants. If you instead prefer skirts, something in a versatile length and material for you will be great as well. Of course, you can also always have both for even more variety.
NO. 5 PRETTY BLOUSE
Another top I like to have in my capsule is a pretty blouse that I can dress up or down. I love silk or light cotton for this and preferably something in a color that I never get tired of. For me, that’s usually white, ivory, navy or black.
