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Are you struggling every morning to come up with an outfit you’ll feel comfortable wearing? Or do you think you have nothing to wear in your wardrobe? Don’t worry you’re definitely not alone! 

When we have such a hard time deciding our outfits every morning,  how are we supposed to start the day on a positive note? 

As a frantic college student, I realized I was spending too many mornings weary and frustrated — and far too on items I’d never wear. I know it seems ridiculous, but my shopping (and wearing) habits have gotten the best of me.

So what do we do? Chill, I’m here to give you a simple solution: start a capsule wardrobe! Building a capsule wardrobe will enable you to offer yourself to the world with a carefully picked collection of garments that you love.

Because you only have so much space in your closet, you can’t keep buying new clothes to add to your collection. Your outfit picking procedure will take three minutes instead of 30 minutes because you have fewer options to choose from.

While everyone appears to have their own set of rules when it comes to capsule wardrobes (and you can, too! ), there are a few pointers, strategies, and recommendations for getting started (and staying with) the notion.

Here’s everything you need to know about capsule wardrobes, including what they are, why you should start one and how!

Capsule Wardrobe Is All About Living With Less

A capsule wardrobe is a small, carefully picked collection of apparel, shoes, and accessories that can help you simplify your life while reducing decision fatigue.

It usually comprises 30 to 50 items that are worn exclusively and serve as your whole wardrobe for a set amount of time. (See? The regulations are a little vague, but you can make it work for you.)

Capsule wardrobes force you to consider if each item in our closet is actually needed. The philosophy here is “buy less, wear more, and find high-quality.”A capsule wardrobe is a technique of cutting your collection down to your favourite one (things that fit your lifestyle + physique right now), remixing them periodically, and shopping less often and more thoughtfully,” says Caroline Joy of Unfancy, who was one of the early adopters of this method.

Capsule Wardrobe- Living with less

Susie Faux, a London boutique owner, is said to have originated the term “capsule wardrobe,” according to internet fashion legend.

She made it her job in the 1970s to assist women to discover their distinctive styles by sharpening and focusing their wardrobes. She discovered a magical recipe that seemed to function as a result of her efforts.

She would tell her clients to start with traditional, neutral basics that they could mix, match, and reuse, then add a few statement pieces to add flair and provide some wiggle space for seasonal changes.

The capsule wardrobe was born as a result of this.

A capsule wardrobe consists of a small number of interchangeable clothing pieces that work well together. Classic pieces that never go out of style and are generally made up of neutral colors are common. A capsule wardrobe allows you to put together a range of ensembles with a limited number of items.

Capsule Wardrobe- A More Sustainable Way To Think About Clothing

Building your capsule wardrobe is a huge step towards sustainability. You mostly own evergreen outfits that you will wear for years, which won’t ever go out of style.  Choosing to have a capsule wardrobe means investing in quality pieces that last long, resisting the catastrophe of fast fashion

Capsule wardrobes are about personal style, but they’re also about thinking about clothing in a more conscious, ethical and sustainable way. Fast fashion and our consumerist culture have persuaded us that we need to buy everything, resulting in a wardrobe overflowing with things we may never wear.

“It’s all about personal taste when it comes to capsule outfits.” Our consumerist society and fast fashion have led us to believe that we need to own everything.

While capsule wardrobes were designed to provide an air of exclusivity and artistic expression for designers, most people who have become capsule wardrobe masters got into the game because they are wary of “choice fatigue” and want to be more sustainable.

So when it comes to shopping for clothes, capsule wardrobes are all about cultivating awareness and intention i.e analysing what we need and how much.

WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE A CAPSULE WARDROBE 

There are many reasons why you may want to build a capsule wardrobe! 

Less Decision Fatigue

Have you ever heard of the term “decision fatigue”? Briefly telling, our brain is only wired to make a specific amount of decisions. After then, it becomes exhausting, and we find it difficult to make new decisions. 

Now, thanks to a capsule wardrobe, you have fewer items, they go well together and you absolutely adore them.

So in short, it’ll be easier for you to decide what to wear for the day when you’re getting dressed in the morning, and it won’t add to your decision fatigue!

More time in hand

Having a well-curated wardrobe also saves you time! You know exactly what you need to wear because you know your style and what works well for you.

You don’t waste time shopping idly when you go to the store or get an item online. And, as I previously stated, you do not waste time burying yourself in the endless pile of clothes, thinking you have nothing to wear.

Save a dime

You can also save a significant amount of money! Because your clothing pieces are interchangeable and versatile, you won’t need to go shopping as often as you do. This means you actually repeat your clothes and don’t invest money in the ones that won’t last! It’s a win-win, for you and the environment

Less Stress

Why reduced stress? You don’t have to be concerned about the clothing items not fitting you. Less garments= less maintenance and repair. When you travel or move places, you’re more inclined to choose easy-to-care-for apparel that’s also easier to pack. 

How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe?

How to build a capsule wardrobe?

Okay. so you’ll have to level your current closet before you can put together your capsule wardrobe.

Begin by taking everything you have, out of your closet and piling it on your bed. I’m referring to your entire wardrobe, from your clothing to your accessories, everything.

After that, sort everything into four piles: likes loves, donations (or sales! ), and trash (or recycling!).

Sort everything into these piles, giving yourself plenty of time to try items on and see how they make you feel. If you’re being honest with yourself, you won’t wear it again. And trust me, honesty is the key here.

Believe it or not, it’s probably time to let it go if you haven’t worn it in more than six months or wouldn’t be willing to wear it out in public tomorrow due to a size/style issue.

After you’ve divided everything into these four heaps, bag the donation and trash piles and place them in the trunk of your car – out of sight, out of mind!

It’s time to make your first capsule now that you have your “like” and “love” piles. Choose one or two of your favourites from each of these categories (based on your personal style):

Once you’ve got a handful of nice basics in each category, start filling in the gaps until you’ve reached your target number.

Choose pieces that can be dressed up for a night out or down for running errands on a busy afternoon, such as a sweater that can be worn on a slouchy Sunday and in a meeting on Monday, or a pair of flats that can be dressed up for a night out or down for running errands on a busy afternoon.

Keep in mind that you’ll want to be able to mix and match across categories frequently, so the colour palette and style should be consistent.

Take a break

Before you go shopping for new clothes, take a break. Give yourself some breathing room by not buying new clothes right away and living with your current wardrobe for a week, a month, or however long you choose. Just imagine what it’s like to live in a world with less clothing.”

Don’t sweat it if it’s not perfect

Allow it to be flawed. There are people who have been doing this for years and still don’t have the perfect wardrobe. It’s never going to be, and accepting that fact will help you find peace in both my clothing and my life.”

If you’re hesitant to commit, go for a trial run

Want to try a capsule without committing to it? Try a remix challenge for ten days. Choose 10 items from your closet and wear them exclusively for the next 10 days. Let’s see how it goes!

Be open with yourself about your lifestyle and what you need from a wardrobe.

If you’re not honest with yourself, you’ll end up wearing fantasy-life clothes instead of real-life clothes. Do some introspection and bring in some transparency. It’s high time.

Capsule Wardrobe Essentials

Capsule Wardrobe Essentials

Building a capsule wardrobe isn’t always simple because you have to try a lot of different things before you figure out what works best for you.

Here’s an example of a 32-piece spring capsule wardrobe made entirely of sustainable brands!

3 BASIC TEES

2 TANK TOPS

3 SHIRTS

2 SWEATERS & 1 CARDIGAN

A 2-PIECE SKORT

A JUMPSUIT & A PAIR OF DENIM SHORTS

2 DRESSES

2 JEANS & A PAIR OF PANTS

2 JACKETS

3 PAIRS OF SHOES

HANDBAGS

ACCESSORIES

EVERYDAY JEWELRY

Conclusion

GETTING DRESSED BECOMES SO EASY ONCE YOU HAVE A CAPSULE WARDROBE. This is something I cannot emphasize enough. Every morning, the dreaded standing-in-front-of-the-closet moment transforms into a ten-second decision.

Having a capsule is amazing. Love love love. If you enjoy not having to worry about clothes and looking nice while (not) doing so, the capsule is for you. Trust me on this.

A capsule wardrobe is a great way to own your style and learn how to express yourself — as long as you don’t use it as an excuse to go on a large shopping spree every few months. Lol.

Building a capsule wardrobe for yourself will make your life so much easier, I can’t stress it enough! With time, your capsule wardrobe will evolve and change. You will add and remove items as the seasons’ change and your choices shift, and that’s okay. But the benefits will remain, and that’s the best part of it! So start building your own unique capsule wardrobe today! What are you waiting for?

capsule wardrobe infograph

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Dr. Divya Goil

Dr. Divya Goil

Dr. Divya Goil is a Sustainability Researcher at Ecowiser. We empower individuals to make sustainable choices. I am a medical doctor with a passion for environmental conservation and have dedicated my career to finding solutions for a more sustainable future.

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