So many people are looking to create a capsule wardrobe, full of timeless and impeccable quality pieces that will last for years, as opposed to trend pieces that will go out of style, are bad for the environment and are of poor quality. When you buy better quality clothes less often, the quality of your wardrobe will go through the roof. It can be tempting to continue with the cycle of buying cheaper clothes that will last temporarily but break the cycle now and you will reap the benefits for years to come!
Start With A Closet Clear Out
The first thing you should do when creating your capsule wardrobe is to start with a really good closet clearout. You’re likely to have so many pieces tucked away in your wardrobe that you never wear, that can easily be sold to help you fund the new pieces you’re going to buy. Plus, it will clear some really valuable space for everything that will be added over the coming months and years.
Take everything out of your wardrobe and drawers, give them a really good clean and then start creating piles of what you will be keeping or donating/selling. Just as you might find pieces you want to get rid of, you may also find that you find lots of pieces you forgot you had and you think you can get more use out of in your new staple wardrobe! Create a pile of “maybe’s” that you can come back to if you’re unsure.
Go For Simple Patterns
Whilst often patterns are what really grab our attention and can draw us in, often we get bored of very bright and bold patterns. So, when you are just starting out creating your capsule wardrobe, stick to more simple patterns. This doesn’t mean you can’t add pops of timeless color elsewhere, but when it comes to the pattern, keep it simple. This also helps you to make sure that the pieces you are buying can all easily be mixed and matched, so you don’t need to buy an entire new wardrobe at once.
Get Your Basics
Everyone’s style is different, but there are a few basics that you need to get you started with your capsule wardrobe. Some basic tees, a great pair of high-quality jeans, a trench coat, an oversized blazer, gym wear, hoop earrings, a classic white shirt, a black handbag, loafers, a little black dress, a silky slip dress, high-waisted tailored trousers and your favorite pair of quality trainers should all be the first things in your wardrobe. You will find it really easy to then add pieces to this core set of clothing over the years to come.
Track What You Wear
For the next 30 days, take a picture of your outfit every day. When we head out clothes shopping, we often have an idea of what we would want and what we wear most, but often this isn’t accurate. You want to make sure you are investing more money in pieces that you really will wear all the time, like blazers, good quality jeans and t-shirts. Before you head out and buy something on a whim, knowing what you actually will wear is a key stage in creating your capsule wardrobe.
Try On Your Current Clothes
When we decide we want to create a capsule wardrobe, it can often be tempting to throw everything out and start from scratch. However, sometimes all you need is to go through your wardrobe in a new refreshing light and see if there are different ways you can style some of your clothes before you get rid of them. It’s likely that you will still need to get rid of some stuff, but you may just fall in love with something you’ve had the whole time when you style it with something new!
Invest In Quality over Quantity
Our last tip might be an obvious one when it comes to a staple wardrobe, but you should always invest in quality over quantity. You might be able to buy less often, but the value for money you will get out of better quality pieces is a game-changer. They will last for so much longer and during that time, you will be able to enjoy the impeccable quality that you simply don’t find with cheaper clothes. The fast-fashion market is so damaging, so if you can do your bit by stepping away and creating an exceptional capsule wardrobe that you love, then you should. When you’re starting out it can be overwhelming, so go back to the photos you took of what you wore for 30 days and prioritize what you wear most. This might be investing in luxury women’s tracksuits, classic blazers, or some great quality accessories.
