From Project 333, to the 30×30 Wardrobe Challenge, to my own take on a seasonally curated wardrobe – the fluid capsule – minimal closets and capsule wardrobes in particular have been two words on everyone’s lips recently. I’ve spoken a little bit about why I decided to build my first capsule wardrobe in my recent Q&A video series, but I thought it was worth elaborating a little further on all the positive benefits that I’ve encountered while on this journey of living with less.
TO LIVE SIMPLY
Before I really started to consider what I had, my closet was overflowing with pieces I seldom wore, and most days I would find myself struggling to find something to wear that I actually like, or felt good in. I was stuck in a cycle of buying clothing only to wear it once or twice, which left me with more items that I can count that I really could have done without (and if I’m being honest, that I didn’t really like all that much).
What I’ve found throughout my own experience is that having a carefully curated selection of garments allows you to focus on the things that are really important. It could be as simple as having more time to get through that stack of books you’ve been meaning to read for months, using that time to learn a new language or even just spend it with your loved ones. I’ve found that these days, my energy is focused much more on enjoying my free time, and using that effectively to lead a much more fulfilling life (as cliche as that sounds!).
WEAR WHAT YOU LOVE EVERY SINGLE DAY
When faced with the prospect of wearing the same 30 pieces for 3 months, the last thing you want to find yourself stuck with is a closet full of pieces that don’t give you enjoyment. My own process has always been to include items of clothing that I really, truly love, and that I would wear every single day of the week, not only if I had to, but also if I wanted to.
With a capsule wardrobe, there’s no reason not to choose your favourite pieces, and no reason why you shouldn’t be wearing something that makes you smile every time you pull it out of your closet.
ALWAYS FEEL & LOOK GOOD WHEN YOU WALK OUT THE DOOR
Going hand in hand with wearing what you love every day, is that the pieces that you absolutely, cannot, and will not be without, are typically the ones which you feel the best in and that are the most flattering styles for your figure.
You might have less to choose from, but what you do have should be pieces that make you feel confident, and really help to set the tone for your day.
MAKE MORE MINDFUL PURCHASES
One of my primary motivations behind building my own capsule wardrobe was that I wanted to shop less. I was stuck in a cycle of shop, buy, wear and sell and it was eating away at my time and costing me a lot of money. With a capsule wardrobe, I found myself being a lot more practical; opting to splurge (read: invest) in undeniably classic pieces that would stand the test of time, while also being extremely versatile.
When you start to ask yourself the question: will this go with my capsule wardrobe? can I wear this more than three ways? and will the quality see me wearing this in six months time…? then I think you’ll find yourself on the right track to making those purchases that you find yourself reaching for all the time. For me, it’s things like my Acne Studios leather jacket, my Dries van Noten simple white cotton shirt, and my impractically practical velvet kitty flats from Charlotte Olympia.
TRULY BECOME AWARE OF YOUR PERSONAL STYLE
Finally, narrowing down your closet to the things that you love can really help you to define and understand your own personal style. You’ll start to get a sense for the silhouettes that flatter you, the proportions that you feel most at ease wearing, and the go-to combinations that you can reach for on those days where you just don’t want to think about what you’re going to wear.
I think it also challenges you to experiment a little more with the little that you are wearing on a daily basis, giving you an opportunity to truly find out what works, and what doesn’t.
Why would you build a capsule wardrobe?
For me, it is all about appreciation of fashion and building a ‘relationship’ with pieces. I’d always buy mass-produced clothing before, but I saw how unloved the product was by its manufacturer. Usually with a rough finish, these pieces wouldn’t last a season due to their respectively bad quality fabric and sewing. I hated the idea that I couldn’t have a piece by my side for a longer time. I started buying multiples of these fastproduced pieces I’d truly love. Of course, this approach worked for a while, but it made my closet into a jungle of copies. Also, when something that initially had struck a cord with me turned out to be a mistake, the first piece could have gotten some wear where the copy of it would remain in my closet. These ”cheaper” pieces turned out to be quite expensive and addictive for me. It was only until recently I decided to change. I took out everything I didn’t love and donated it or sold it. While travelling, I came across the flagshipstore of Acne Studios and fell in love with their design and quality. I do own some pieces and have worn them many times. They do not show any wear, and only one piece had a litte hole in it after months because of a defective washingmachine. I repaired it and it looks brandnew. I do not need to buy doubles and I can finally shop once in a few months and be content with this.
What I am trying to say, is that a capsule wardrobe for me holds pieces that I hold very dear. These are the pieces in which I present myself on a daily basis. They have to be of high quality to be worn that much. It doesn’t mean they have to be expensive, since I own some vintage pieces that weren’t very pricey. I took capsule wardrobing to the next level, and now own about 50 pieces in total, no spares. I live in an environment with four seasons. For me, this is more than sufficient. It’s not about the numbers, but about what works for you as individual. The goal remains the same: having less pieces but a higher happiness from each piece. For me, this is only the begin of my journey! 🙂
Author
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful comment and share your journey with me. I think that while price isn’t an indicator of quality, it so often tends to go hand in hand. Wishing you the very best as your journey continues! x
I absolutely agree with you that price isn’t always a good indicator. Usually I’ll end up doing some research on the label of the clothing I am interested in and check the fabric that was used. How do you decide on quality? I have to say that before I found your blog, I didn’t really grasp the idea of a capsule wardrobe. A lot of blogs write about downsizing, but don’t really describe how you could combine clothing for an effective capsule wardrobe. Your blog inspires me to make the best of everything I own! 🙂 Thank you for sharing your journey with us!
Author
I find a lot of it has to do with feel, an experience you can only get in store. Some brands I will just know from previous experience, but the density and feel of a fabric can tell you so much. The other thing is to check the stitches are tight and even etc.
Thank you so much by the way, that’s so sweet! x
This is great, really honing in and investing in the pieces have forever is something I truly believe in. Quality over quantity.
Xx
Lauren
Author
I totally agree with you Lauren!