How to Create a Capsule Wardrobe — And Be Dressed in Under 5 Minutes
Who doesn't want more time back in their day? Capsule wardrobes are based on the idea that “less is more.” They allow you to effortlessly choose your outfit each day, ultimately saving you some serious time and energy. Here are five tips for creating your own!
Editor’s Note: September is such a fun, distinctly transitional time of year. We thought this was the perfect time to spruce up and re-share this article about streamlining our wardrobes as a way to get some time back in our days. Cheers to keeping it simple!
You’ve seen the movies — the ones where the women have rooms full of clothes and closets full of shoes. And sure, living like you’re Carrie Bradshaw seems like fun, but have you ever considered how many hours stylists put into making on-screen fashion look so effortless? Or, more practically speaking, how much time do we spend deciding what to wear each week? In this day and age, there’s enough to worry about. It’s time to quit over-purchasing the things we don’t need and invest in quality pieces, creating a capsule wardrobe that will save us time and energy and, ultimately, give us a little bit of our lives back!
If you haven’t heard the term capsule wardrobe before, it’s not as utilitarian as it sounds. A capsule wardrobe is a collection of quality pieces that are timeless and versatile, and they usually revolve around the concept of “less is more.” This allows you to effortlessly pick out what you’re wearing each day, confident in the knowledge that you actually love each piece you’re putting on your body. The term was technically coined by Caroline Joy on her minimalistic blog Un-Fancy, born from a desire to overcome her mindless shopping habit and stop staring down a closet full of clothes thinking, “I have nothing to wear.”
As we head into a new season, it’s a great time to streamline! Below are five tips to start creating your own capsule wardrobe.
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#1 Hoarding Isn’t Helping — Give It Away
Step one of building a capsule wardrobe: Give away or sell the items in your closet that don’t reflect the values of a capsule wardrobe (we’re looking for pieces that are high-quality, timeless, and versatile). How long has that lace, floral-print dress with the cutout shoulders been hanging in your closet untouched, but you hold onto it “just in case”? Give it to Goodwill.
Purge the old to allow space for the new. Say goodbye to the polyester and make some room for organic fabrics, including oh-so-comfy cotton.
SB Note: We’re heading into a 3-day weekend … it’s a great time to purge to get ready for the crazy busy next four months!PinWe know, we know. Purging is so hard! But look at it this way — hanging on to wardrobe items you don’t actually wear is costing you time and energy.
#2 Quality Over Quantity
It probably goes without saying, but if we are going to narrow down our wardrobes, then we need to make sure we are implementing quality items. This can be swapping out our worn-out fast fashion tees for higher-quality tees. They last longer and feel better on the body, so you’ll actually want to wear them when you’re trying on outfits for the day ahead (yes, trying on your outfit for the following day helps save time, too!).
The Reset is a fantastic source of capsule pieces and inspiration. They even offer pre-organized capsules! Check out their pre-fall collection HERE. *We have partnered with The Reset and most orders (not final sale items) will be discounted by 10% using code STYLEBLUEPRINT10 PinThe Reset’s Essential Pullover, $178 (25% off through Labor Day weekend) is a favorite of StyleBlueprint’s Marketing Manager, Bailey Torkelson. “The fabric is soooo good, and you can wear it with anything,” says Bailey. “It’s such an easy, quality piece.” Plus, it’s available in 16 colors! Extra discount with code STYLEBLUEPRINT10 Image: The Reset
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#3 Keep it Neutral
A little pop of color never hurts anybody, but when it comes to capsule wardrobes – as that’s what we’re talking about today – it’s best to make sure everything fits in the same color scheme as much as possible. While you’ll undoubtedly bring in new pieces here and there as trends and seasons change, most of your wardrobe will last a while if you implement the rule above. Think neutral or earthy tones, such as white, black, beige, navy, forest green, and gray. If a majority of your wardrobe pieces fall into these easy-to-match tones, you won’t need to spend half an hour just trying to match your blouse with your pants.
PinThis is “Capsule 4” from The Reset. They have six to choose from, and you can see the color palette is three colors: stone, black, and olive green. Add some jeans and you have practically every situation covered with endless possibilities of outfits. Shop The Reset or look through their capsules for ideas to inspire your local shopping. It’s all about pairing down and making things EASIER. Save 10% with code STYLEBLUEPRINT10SB Note:We really love looking at online capsule options as it’s an easy way to start comparing what we already have on hand while giving us a “blueprint” of what we’re trying to build. Online options to gather ideas for capsule wardrobes include:M.M. LAFLEUR: Loved by women who need an office wardrobe that also works on the weekend to keep her polished. See capsules hereEverlane: While they don’t necessarily sell capsules, their collection of quality basics makes it easy to fill in missing pieces at an affordable price point. See ideas here. J.McLaughlin: This longtime favorite has recently added their “Collected” edit, which is a paired-down capsule wardrobe shopping destination. Find it here.Vetta: This brand offers plenty of capsules for a wide variety of styles. See ideas here.The Reset: As stated above, we really like this brand for its quality and idea inspiration. See The Reset here. If you see something that is a must-have, save 10% with code STYLEBLUEPRINT10Once you have your ideas, remember to give some love to your local shops!
#4 Denim is Forever
Two fashion pieces have yet to go out of style: men’s suits and denim. Invest in a great pair of jeans that fit you perfectly. We’re a big advocate for the Parisian look of jeans and a tee. Consider purchasing a few different pairs to aid in creating versatile looks. Our favorite right now are these straight-leg Everlane jeans, as they seem to flatter just about every body type. Mix it up with a black pair of skinny jeans or a reliable pair of high-waisted mom jeans (also universally flattering), and you’re good to go!
PinThese Everlane jeans reflect the values of a capsule wardrobe — quality, timeless, and versatile. For more on current denim trends, check out The Denim Guide: How to Branch Out from Skinny Jeans. Image: EverlaneSB Note: if you are actively ignoring the return of the lowrise jean, we are, too. We have a whole article about hating the trend right here. But, cutting to the chase, here are a couple of our favorite jeans styles from Joe’s Jeans:PinHere are a couple of examples of Joe’s Jeans with a cut we really love – so flattering! Jeans on the left ($168) are found HERE and on the right ($179) are found HERE. Sizes are 23 to 34.
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#5 The Dos and Don’ts of Building a Capsule Wardrobe
DO be yourself!
Caroline Joy herself says that building a capsule wardrobe is meant to be fun and invigorating! Don’t try to change your style — stay true to what makes you feel the most beautiful.
DON’T count undergarments.
You’re allowed to have a plethora of underwear if you so choose.
DO experiment!
Narrowing down your wardrobe to key favorite pieces allows you to really see what your personal style is.
DON’T be so hard on yourself.
It’s okay to have more items in your wardrobe than Caroline Joy has in hers, and it’s okay if you can’t bring yourself to give away every worn-down item in your closet. Give yourself grace, and keep the concert tee if it means something to you.
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Since moving to the South in 2016, Ellen has written for several websites, blogs, and magazines. She can often be found working from a local coffee shop or hiking.
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