Your capsule collection

Is your wardrobe overwhelming you with too many clothes, but not enough outfits? Sounds like you need a capsule wardrobe!

What is a capsule wardrobe?

The concept is simple. A capsule wardrobe is a curated collection of clothing designed to make choosing an outfit easier. The tops all go with the bottoms, and you have shoes for every occasion. Add in some one-off pieces and you’re good to go. Some people like to set an item limit on their capsule wardrobe but the key is, try to focus on separating from the clothing that you love to wear from the impulse buys and panic “it’s in the sale” purchases.

How to start your capsule wardrobe

Let’s take it in phases.

Phase one – the clear out

Everyone dreads the wardrobe clear out. It always seems like a good idea until you’re halfway in, clothes are everywhere, and you don’t want to sort anymore. But it’ll be worth it – because you need to see what it is you’re working with.

As you sort, be on the hunt for the timeless, versatile pieces that you wear repeatedly. There’s no reason to get rid of your favourite jazzy maxi dress if that’s your go-to summer staple, but look carefully at the clothing that was bought for one occasion and never worn again. Is it something you definitely want to keep? Great! Think of ways to work it into your rotation so it gets more wear. If not, send it to the charity shop/sell it online/ ive it away to a waiting friend!

Phase two – find the exceptions

There are, of course, some exceptions within a capsule wardrobe. These include seasonal wear, specialised workwear, eveningwear and exercise clothing. You may only wear your snow boots once a year, but if you need them, you need them. This isn’t about going without. Same can be said for special occasion outfits, if you feel fabulous in that cocktail dress, keep it! Store these items away for now. They don’t need to clutter the wardrobe but have them somewhere where you can get to them easily.

Phase three – assess what you have and what you need

After you’ve seen everything in your wardrobe, now it’s time to get a little ruthless. If you have ten pairs of jeans, and only wear two of them, you don’t need ten pairs of jeans; get rid of eight or them. Have a good old try on too. Look at how things fit you. Are you comfortable? Do you like how it looks on you? Would you enjoy wearing this piece out and about? If the answer is no, it’s time to say goodbye!

Once you have your scaled down collection, it’s time to see which of the wear-with-anything staple pieces your wardrobe is missing. Is there a well-fitting white T-shirt, a classic blazer, a midi skirt, the perfect blue jeans? These are all versatile styles that will make the backbone of your capsule wardrobe. Make a list of the things you think your collection will benefit from, aiming for pieces that can go with more than one outfit. Remember to only have things that are flattering and fit you really well. The goal is to have a grab-and-go selection of clothing that’ll not only make you look amazing but feel fabulous too.

Once you have your list, it’s time to move onto the final phase…

Phase four – start shopping!

The most exciting part by far. Stick to your list, and don’t settle for clothing that doesn’t leave you feeling confident. There’s plenty of options out there, so try things out. The first shirt you try may not be the one that makes you strut down the street, but there will be one out there that does.

Got your list at hand? Check out our selection of chic fashion and start filling that capsule wardrobe!