How to Create a Capsule Wardrobe That Works for You

Whenever friends ask me for style advice, the first step I recommend is building a strong capsule wardrobe. Having a foundation of timeless, classic pieces that pair well with each other will ensure you always have go-to outfit combinations to fall back on. After that, you can start to add in your statement pieces. However, there’s not necessarily a foolproof list of specific pieces from particular brands that work well for everyone’s capsule wardrobe. You have to think about the basic principles of a capsule wardrobe, and then frame those principles with your own lifestyle. Keep reading for 9 tips all about how to create a capsule wardrobe that works for you.

1. Understand your lifestyle

Take a long, hard look at your current lifestyle before you start shopping for any new capsule wardrobe pieces. In fact, this is a great place to start after you finish the decluttering process. It can be tempting to dive right into acquiring new pieces because, let’s be honest, shopping is one of the most exciting parts about creating a capsule wardrobe. However, it’s important to first think about the lifestyle that you’re shopping for.

Too often, the appeal of shopping is choosing pieces for a lifestyle that we wish we had, or that we daydream about. Whether it’s frequent vacations to tropical locations, fancy dinners every night of the week, or maybe even just staying at home and reading more often than not, fantasizing about this dream lifestyle while shopping is a trap that any of us could easily fall into. However, the danger in shopping for this idealized life is that you’ll end up with a wardrobe that doesn’t serve your basic, daily wardrobe needs. At the end of the day, you’ll be right back where you started – staring at your open closet and feeling like you have nothing to wear.

Instead, think about your average day as it stands today. Maybe you’re a work-from-home parent, and often on the go with young children. Perhaps you’re working in an office five days a week, and have a strict professional dress code. Maybe your job is in the trades, and you’re frequently working outdoors. Or, maybe you’re retired. Whatever your situation is, think about the occasions you’re dressing for each day. This will help you start to realize the gaps in your wardrobe and narrow down your capsule wardrobe shopping list.

2. Take your climate into consideration

It’s important to take your home climate into consideration when you customize a capsule wardrobe that works for you. Depending on where you live, the items in your ideal capsule wardrobe could look very different than mine. I live in the Midwest, which means we have four very distinct seasons. However, if you live in the north or south, you might need to prioritize more cold-weather or warm-weather pieces, respectively.

3. Factor in your best colors

Although capsule wardrobes are typically comprised of neutral shades, there are some variations that you can tailor to your own personal style. Whether you’ve had your color season analyzed or just know deep down that you prefer cream and navy to black and white, you can pick and choose three or four neutral shades to prioritize when it comes to your capsule wardrobe. This will ensure you still feel great in all of your pieces, and that they’ll pair well together!

Try choosing 3-4 base neutral shades when you create your shopping list. Typical capsule shades include white, navy, black, beige, sage green, or gray. Then, add 2-3 accent colors that you love to wear often, and that could pair well with the neutrals you’ve chosen. These accent colors could include red, burgundy, light pink, light blue, yellow, dark green, etc.

4. Narrow down your personal style adjectives

One of my favorite tips when it comes to pinpointing your personal style is to create a Pinterest board. Name it something general, like “My Aesthetic.” On this board, you’ll pin everything from photos that inspire you, outfit ideas you’d love to try, individual products that catch your eye, and general lifestyle pins that feel like your essence. This Pinterest page will become the moodboard of you. It will not only supply outfit ideas for the future, but also embody the visualization of your style.

From this board, you can start to pinpoint common themes throughout your pins. Maybe your aesthetic is clean, modern, and sleek. Or, maybe it’s more along the lines of curated, eclectic, and maximalist. Try to boil your board down to three or four adjectives, and use those words to tweak the capsule wardrobe list you’re using. You’ll end up with a tailored list of capsule pieces that truly do fit your own personal style.

If you don’t have Pinterest, no worries. You can always do this process the old-fashioned way! Grab a large sheet of paper or a poster board and some old magazines. You can physically cut out images from newspapers or magazines and glue them to your physical canvas.

5. Prioritize a good fit

Clothes with a great fit could mean something a little different to everyone. For example, I have a friend who has a short torso and long legs. However, we rarely swap clothes. Even though we’re similar heights and have overlapping tastes, I’m her exact opposite – I have short legs and a long torso. My capsule pieces with a great fit don’t necessarily translate to a flattering fit for my friend, because of our proportional differences.

Keep this in mind when you’re selecting your capsule wardrobe pieces. If you’re like me, you might gravitate toward tops that are slightly cropped and bottoms that are high-waisted. If your build is more similar to that of my friend, you might lean toward longer pieces that accentuate your waist, and go for more mid-rise to lower-waisted bottoms.

6. Invest strategically

While you’ll often hear about investing in quality pieces over quantity when it comes to a capsule wardrobe, the reality is that investing in each piece you buy isn’t always feasible. You might have a budget when it comes to purchasing new pieces, especially if you’re starting a capsule wardrobe from scratch.

The trick to keeping your clothing bills low is to invest strategically. Think about cost-per-wear when you decide what to spend a little more on. If you’re constantly in a white tee and jeans, don’t be afraid to pay a little more for these items, and then go for a more budget-friendly version of something else. Or, if you live in a warmer climate and can’t go without a great pair of linen pants and sandals, you can spend a little less when you’re purchasing heavyweight pieces, like thick sweaters.

7. Think about fabrics

You’ll want to go back to tips one and two, and then really think about what fabric choices are best for your capsule wardrobe. If you’re often on the go and live in a warmer climate, linen pieces might be a great place to start. On the flip side, if you live somewhere very cold, you’ll want to think about cozy, warm materials like cashmere and wool.

Besides the obvious climate factor, you’ll also want to think about your lifestyle when it comes to choosing your primary fabric contents. You might not want to take the time to constantly be hand washing or dry cleaning cashmere or 100% wool pieces. However, if you don’t mind spending a little more on dry cleaning or devoting the time to hand washing your pieces, you could certainly consider more delicate fabrics when you’re shopping.

8. Add select signature pieces

Your select signature pieces will really help you to customize a capsule wardrobe that works for you. Capsule wardrobe pieces are typically very basic and formulaic. There isn’t much variation from list to list. While that makes for a versatile, easily styled wardrobe, it doesn’t often exactly fit your specific personal style.

A small number of statement pieces won’t detract from your capsule wardrobe styling abilities, but will ensure your closet contents still feel like you. Maybe you have a bold handbag in a bright color that you absolutely love (I have an emerald green crossbody bag that was a gift from my husband that I frequently incorporate into my capsule looks). Or, maybe you have an edgier style and love a leather jacket. Whatever your personal style, make sure it’s still represented once you make the transition to a capsule wardrobe.

9. Go out of your comfort zone

Finally, don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone when it comes to creating a capsule wardrobe that works for you! It can be tempting to only select capsule wardrobe pieces that feel familiar, like a t-shirt and jeans. However, the fun part about capsule wardrobes is that they give you guidelines about how to select pieces that are outside of your comfort zone, but that are still easy to style with the other pieces in your closet.

If your style leans more casual, don’t be afraid to try wearing a little black dress. Or, if you prefer a more elevated, feminine style, mix in more traditionally masculine pieces now and again to challenge yourself. You might just love the look you create!

Customize a Capsule Wardrobe That Works for You

A capsule wardrobe is the perfect place to start if you want to make getting dressed in the morning a breeze. However, one size does not fit all (literally and figuratively). Before you start your shopping spree, you’ll want to think about how to customize the capsule wardrobe formula to fit your lifestyle, tastes, and environment.

Ready to move on to accessories? Up Next: These Are the 9 Handbags That Every Woman Should Own

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