Is your closet bursting with outfits and accessories that you don’t wear? Are you tired of spending your hard earned money on pieces that you’ll probably only wear once? If you answered ‘yes’ to both questions, you are someone who would certainly benefit from a capsule wardrobe. The concept of a capsule wardrobe has been gaining popularity in recent years, and for good reason. A capsule wardrobe is a collection of versatile, high-quality clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of different looks and outfits. It’s a minimalist approach to fashion that allows you to simplify your wardrobe and focus on quality over quantity.
By cleaning out your closet, choosing core pieces and shopping intentionally, you can create a wardrobe that you love and that reflects your unique personal style. If you’re a minimalist girl looking to build a capsule wardrobe, here’s a guide to get you started.
- Analyse Your Style & Lifestyle
Before you embark on creating the ultimate capsule wardrobe, it is essential to take some time to analyse your style and lifestyle. The ideal capsule wardrobe will differ depending on a variety of factors, including your job, your personal style, your favourite activities and more. When building a capsule wardrobe, it can be helpful to ask yourself a series of questions to guide your choices and ensure that the pieces you select align with your personal style and needs.
To get started, ask yourself these important questions:
- What is my primary activity?: For example, if you are someone who works in the professional field, your capsule wardrobe should consist of work-friendly attire such as shirts, dress pants, blazers and accessories. If you are on the hunt for high quality work attire, you can earn Qantas Points when you shop at THE ICONIC via Qantas Shopping
- What are my favourite leisure activities?: What do you enjoy doing when you have some downtime, and what type of clothing items do you need to fulfil these needs?
- What is my budget?: Determine how much you can afford to spend on building your capsule wardrobe and prioritise high-quality items that will last over cheap, trendy pieces.
- What colours do I like?: Consider the colours you feel most comfortable and confident wearing and use that to guide your colour choices for your capsule wardrobe.
- What items do I need to replace or upgrade?: Take a look at your current wardrobe and identify items that are worn out, no longer fit, or no longer align with your personal style.
- Clean Out Your Closet
Now that you have determined exactly what you will need in your capsule wardrobe, it’s time to start making room in your closet for your new outfits. This can be a daunting task, but it’s an essential first step. We recommend starting by removing everything from your wardrobe or closet and sorting it into piles: keep, donate, and toss. Be honest with yourself about what you actually wear and what you’re holding onto for sentimental reasons or because you feel guilty about not wearing it. Remember, the goal is to simplify your wardrobe, so it pays to be a little ruthless here. Doing this allows you to clear the clutter so that you can focus on building a capsule wardrobe with pieces you truly need and love.
Top Tip: If you live in a four-season climate, we recommend only keeping in-season clothes in your wardrobe. Store your other items in vacuum bags, or in boxes where they are out of sight until you need them. Doing this, you should have 4 different capsule wardrobes a year.
Explore 7 tips for decluttering your wardrobe here.
- Choose Your Core Capsule Pieces
Now that you have cleared your closet of pieces that no longer serve you, it’s time to start rebuilding your wardrobe. To begin, start with your core pieces – the ones that you’ll wear the most often and that will form the foundation of your wardrobe. These are typically basic, versatile items such as a white t-shirt, button down shirt, black pants, blazer, and a quality pair of denim jeans. Of course, you are not limited to just these items and there are no hard and fast rules, so be sure to consider your lifestyle and personal needs when choosing your core staples. Either way, aim for pieces that are high-quality, comfortable, and fit you well. These items should be able to be worn in a variety of outfits and styled in different ways.
Another helpful tip to take on board is to choose neutral colours when selecting your core pieces. Having most of your clothes in indeterminate hues will make them all interchangeable and easy to mix and match. You should also avoid trend-driven pieces in favour of timeless styles that won’t go out of fashion. This will ensure that your core pieces will be in style for years to come and won’t need to be replaced frequently.
Learn how to style neutral coloured clothing here.
- Start Thinking About Accessories & Accent Pieces
Once you have acquired your wardrobe staples, it’s time to start thinking about accessories and accent pieces that will put the finishing touches on each and every look you curate. Accent pieces and statement accessories are a fantastic way to inject variety and personality to your wardrobe with minimal effort. Generally, we recommend choosing accessories that are versatile and can be worn with a variety of outfits. This could include a statement necklace, a classic watch, or a high quality designer handbag. These items should stand out and add a unique touch to your outfits. More importantly, it’s vital to consider how your accent pieces will work with your core pieces and how they fit into your personal style. By choosing items that complement your core pieces and reflect your personal fashion preferences, you can create a capsule wardrobe that is both versatile and unique.
Find out more about how you can style statement pieces in this informative article.
- Create 10 Everyday Outfits
Now that you have your core capsule items, accessories and accent pieces in your arsenal, it’s time to have a little fun by creating 10 everyday outfits. The purpose of this activity is to prepare some pre-planned outfits that will make you feel exponentially more confident with your smaller wardrobe. Not to mention, it will also save you a monumental amount of time and mental energy when getting dressed. If you’re not sure where to start, consider the following tips:
Seek Inspiration Online: Online resources such as fashion blogs, Instagram and Pinterest are great sources of inspiration because you can search for outfit ideas for the clothes you already have in your closet.
Mix & Match: Experiment with different combinations of your neutral and colourful pieces to create different outfits. For example, you could pair a white blouse with black pants one day, and then pair the same blouse with a red skirt the next day.
Identify The Gaps: During the process of curating your everyday outfits, you may identify gaps and items you need that you didn’t earlier. Don’t worry, it’s all part of the process. If this is the case, note them down and plan to purchase that item in the near future.
- Shop Intentionally
Last but not least, when building a capsule wardrobe, it’s important for minimalist girls to shop intentionally. You can do this by avoiding impulse purchases just because something is on sale or because it’s trendy. The truth is that trends come and go in record time, and the last thing you want is to spend your money on something that will inevitably look tacky six months down the line. Instead, focus on buying timeless, high-quality pieces that you love and that will last. Moreover, you can even do your part for the planet by investing in pieces that are made from sustainable materials and that are produced ethically. This will not only help you build a wardrobe that you love, but it will also help you reduce your environmental footprint.
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And there you have it — 6 simple steps to take towards building the ultimate capsule wardrobe that reflects your own personal style and values. At the end of the day, building a capsule wardrobe doesn’t have to be a challenging affair. In fact, it can be an incredibly fun and exciting way for a minimalist girl to simplify her wardrobe and focus on quality over quantity.
What are some of your must-have closet staples? How has your style benefited since you switched to a capsule wardrobe? Be sure to share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below!
