If you’ve started to delve into the world of stylistic minimalism, it’s likely that you’ll have come across the concept of the capsule wardrobe. While it’s by no means new, it does seem to be having a bit of a renaissance, but what does adopting this specific approach to clothing actually consist of? Below, we take a quick look, to help you decide if it might be something worth trying out.
The core concept
The original idea behind a capsule wardrobe is to have a small selection of clothing items that both fit together and do not go out of style. This concept was around from the 1940s, but was popularised by London-based Susie Faux in the 1970s.
The main goal was to have a minimalist selection of items that wouldn’t need to constantly be updated, but that would still work in pretty much any social context, personal or professional.
As with other minimalist styling concepts, the overarching goal is to achieve a high level of versatility, while also spending less energy trying to decide what to wear each day.
What to put in one
The basic idea behind a capsule wardrobe is organisationally oriented, and quite fluid in terms of what you actually place inside. That being said, they work best if they contain relatively neutral, timeless pieces that all work together, rather than as part of specific outfits.
That will differ from person to person and across climates/seasons, but could include some jeans, plain t-shirts from somewhere like Screen Textiles, some nice knitwear, and a couple of pairs of neutral shoes.
Of course, you don’t have to go that neutral. If you have a more personalised aesthetic, you can still pare that down to a more limited selection of your favourite items and then transform that into your own capsule wardrobe.
How many pieces can you have?
Some approaches, like Project 333, adopt a relatively strict approach to minimalist wardrobes. This specific approach consists of using 33 items or fewer for at least three months, and some people (especially those who struggle a little with minimalism) find that having a strict cap can be quite useful.
That being said, you absolutely don’t have to be this rigid. Some may find that they can halve that number, while others (especially if you play sport or have a strict work uniform) may find that they need more. The core idea is to basically not have items that you don’t wear, or that you only intend to wear for a few weeks.
The capsule wardrobe might not be for everyone, but it is worth trying out. Even if it just helps to thin out an excessive wardrobe before you go back to a slightly more maximalist approach, anything that prompts you to declutter a little is worth it in our eyes. Making physical and psychological space free from excessive stuff can make it easier to focus on things that are ultimately more rewarding and fulfilling, and it doesn’t take much time to get started.