Capsule Wardrobe

Making the Most of a Capsule Wardrobe

By Dylan Roche

Ever feel as if you have so many clothes and yet nothing to wear? Looking your best for any occasion suddenly becomes stressful, overwhelming, and sometimes even a little disappointing. The average American—whether man or woman—often has more clothing than they need, sometimes even hundreds of pieces.

But there’s a fashion trend that’s gaining more traction, especially as consumers put more of an emphasis on mental well-being and sustainability. That trend is the capsule wardrobe.

There are no hard-set rules about a capsule wardrobe, but the general idea is about paring your clothing collection down to just the essentials—and yes, essentials means essential. You keep a minimum number of pieces that you can easily mix and match for any occasion.

If you’re a fashion-minded person, this might sound like a terrible idea. “Why would a person want to own as few clothes as possible?” you’re wondering. A capsule wardrobe actually offers a few mental health benefits. First of all, it makes getting dressed in the morning a lot easier: You have fewer choices you have to make when it comes to what you’re wearing, so you’re able to focus your mental energy on what matters. Secondly, a pared-down wardrobe means much less clutter in your closet and around your bedroom, and clutter is a well-known contributor to stress levels.

Plus, you’re more likely to look your best. There’s no holding onto clothes that only look kind of good on you on your best days. When you’re investing in only a few pieces, you’re able to focus on flattering favorites.

WHAT TO INCLUDE

If the idea of a capsule wardrobe sounds appealing but you don’t even know what to include (or more importantly, what not to include), let this be a good starting point. Remember that there are no hard-and-fast rules:

Consider your lifestyle and what sort of dress codes you’re frequently up against. If you work in a casual office, there’s no sense in owning too much business attire. On the flip side, if you’re always working and tend to change straight into loungewear as soon as you come home, you probably don’t need as many casual outfits.

Try to limit yourself to 50 items maximum—this includes your shoes, formalwear, and accessories. Focus on items that are versatile and are easy to mix and match. The right pair of jeans could be dressed up for a casual day at the office, for a Saturday afternoon of running errands, or for a night out on the town.

Stick with colors and textures that are neutral. Black, gray, brown, tan, and blue usually pair well with just about anything. If there are specific colors you really like (maybe you love the color red), choose pieces that you know will be easy to mix and match.

Most people need about five outfits they can wear to work, two or three casual outfits, and one dressed-up outfit for a special occasion. You can easily achieve this with:

• 2–3 business slacks • 1–2 pairs of jeans • 2 button-down shirts or blouses • 2–3 T-shirts • 1 sweater • Women could consider 2–3 dress or skirt options • Men could consider 1–2 tie and/or blazer options

Remember to take good care of your clothes. Because you have fewer of them, you want to get the most life out of them that you can. Follow all laundering directions printed on the tag, and try to get as many wears out of something as possible between washes.