How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe

by Jasmine Ty August 2018

Gather Inspiration, Find a Direction 
Each season I like to create a mood board to start planning my capsule. Having an idea of what styles, patterns, colors and overall vibe you want for your wardrobe can really help you focus. You can grab inspiration from Pinterest, your favorite entertainment, magazines, or blogs. By creating a mood board, I can determine the aesthetic or style I want for that capsule wardrobe.

Create a Color Palette  
A harmonious color palette makes a collection of clothes into a thoughtful wardrobe. You will be able to look at your capsule as a miniature closet, as it wore. By sticking to a color palette, you will be able to easily mix and match your items.

For each capsule I choose between 5-8 colors, including neutrals. If you are having a hard time selecting colors that go together, look at prints such as florals or get some inspiration on Pinterest.

Create Outfits as You Go 
One of the main goals of a capsule wardrobe is to be able to style plenty of outfits from a few key pieces; so, it is important to think about your outfits as you put your wardrobe together. For each potential clothing piece ask yourself: How do I plan on wearing this? To style this item, what other pieces do I need to add to my wardrobe? Can I wear at least 3 outfits with this item? This will save you from possible frustration when you are testing and styling your outfits.

Make a wish list, listing each item along with some brainstormed outfit ideas. Start off the basics essentials (white tee, denim jeans, black skirt etc.) then add seasonal clothing pieces (winter coat, summer floral dress, fall jacket etc.), and lastly top it off with fun, possibly trendy pieces.
As a rule of thumb, I usually have more tops then pants (as tops must be washed each wear) and make room for completer pieces like cardigans, jackets etc.

Shop Your Closet
Before you go running to the mall or online shopping, take a trip into your closet. What items do you already own? Is there anything in your closet you can switch out instead of the original item on your wish list? The idea behind a capsule wardrobe is minimalism and the notion that less is more. Using a capsule wardrobe as an excuse to buy an entire new wardrobe defeats the purpose.

For my back to school capsule wardrobe I worked with items I already owned in my closet. I had to sacrifice some of my wish list pieces, but I felt satisfied with being able to make the most of what I had. I realized I didn’t have to go shopping after all!

Mindfully Shop 
There will be pieces that you will have to go out in buy, especially if you are starting your wardrobe from scratch. Use this as an opportunity to shop smart. Write out a detailed list. For example, for my winter capsule wardrobe I specifically noted I was looking for a midi, pleather skirt that was high waisted. Writing something vague like “leather skirt” even if it’s just for your personal reference, being specific helps you stay focused when shopping.

Be patience by awaiting sales and comparing similar items from different stores. You want to buy pieces you can truly wear repeatedly, so try not to compromise on quality. The pieces you purchase should be investments you’ll value forever.

Test & Document Your Outfits
Now that you have all your wardrobe pieces let’s begin the styling! As mentioned earlier, you probably already have outfits in mind, since you planned your outfits as you went along. Try on your outfits seeing what will work --- play a little dress up! You may realize that an item isn’t as versatile as you thought or doesn’t go well with the other pieces. You may have to swap piece out and in.

Document the outfits so they’ll be ready to go when you’re getting dressed in the morning. You can simply take photos of the outfits’ spread (like I love to do on my Instagram) or create a visual guide on Canva or Photoshop. There are also apps like Stylebook and Cadwell to organize your capsule wardrobe. I personally use Stylebook to manage my current capsule wardrobe, it is simple to use, and I love how it tracks how much you wear the pieces in your wardrobe --- giving you a great idea of what you truly value.

Hopefully these simple steps have helped you create your own capsule wardrobe. Have you ever tried or considering trying a capsule wardrobe? Subscribe for more posts about how to make the most of a small wardrobe. Enjoy the video accompanying this post on YouTube as well!