How to create the perfect capsule wardrobe -

Have you ever walked to your closet and thought “I have nothing to wear!” while staring at a myriad of different clothes? You’re not the only one. Save yourself time and energy in the morning by investing in a capsule wardrobe!

Capsule wardrobes are certainly nothing new, but they have become increasingly popular in recent years. Using a limited number of clothes that are easy to mix and match, you can save money and wear your favorite looks all the time! But how should you get started? Click through the gallery to find out why you should create a capsule wardrobe and how to make it happen!

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The why -

What is so great about capsule wardrobes anyway? How can less clothing help in your daily life?

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More time -

How much time do you spend picking out an outfit? By having less to choose from, you will be quicker to pick out your clothes, whether it’s for work, a weekend out, or date night.

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Better budgeting -

We have a tendency to spend a lot of money on clothes. By sticking to a small amount of pieces, you can help out your annual budget.

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Less decision fatigue -

This phenomenon occurs when you have too many decisions throughout the day, and you begin to tire and make worse choices. Not having so many options gives your brain a bit of a break.

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Signature style -

A capsule wardrobe does not mean a bland one. By creating a condensed closet, your personal style can actually show through more, as everything will be tailored to you and your preferences.

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Better fit -

When you’re only buying a few pieces throughout the year, you can really focus on finding things that highlight your body. The longer you do this, the better your clothes will fit both you and your lifestyle.

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No buyer’s remorse -

That top you just had to buy but haven’t worn since? That’s a thing of the past. With capsule wardrobes, you avoid spur-of-the-moment purchases.

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Eco-friendly -

Fast fashion creates a huge amount of waste. By picking long-lasting pieces and only buying what you need, you’re being more eco-friendly!

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Better quality -

Spending more time and money to find high-quality basics ensures that your clothes will have a longer life span.

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The how -

Convinced that a capsule wardrobe may be right for you? Find out how to create one now!

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Go through your closet -

Step one to creating a capsule wardrobe is to find out what you’re working with. Take everything out of your closet and remove things that you don’t wear for whatever reason, whether they don’t fit quite right or merely don’t mesh with your lifestyle.

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Figuring out your lifestyle -

Plan for a few different categories. Lindsay from Pinch of Yum suggests choosing three from: active, work, dressy, fun, lounge, and daily (errands, working from home, etc.) Then plan your clothes around these activities.

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Create piles -

Create four different piles for these clothing items: the items you love and wear frequently, the items that you want to keep for no real reason (the maybes), the clothes to donate, and the clothes to trash or repurpose (that are in poor condition).

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Do a second round -

After creating your piles, then go through the maybe pile and try on your clothes. Ask yourself if you see yourself wearing this in the future and if it’s practical for your lifestyle, or if it’s just wishful thinking. Donate accordingly.

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Get the feel of it -

If you’re not comfortable committing immediately, just take your donate pile to another room and attempt a trial run. That way you can experiment with less clothing but you can still get a piece or two back if you find that you would use them.

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Pick a base color -

Now the actual creation begins! Most capsule wardrobes have a base color, typically navy or black (though you could also pick brown). This helps in the mixing and matching of all of your clothes as these colors go with everything.

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Pick out your essentials -

Think of these as your basics. Essentials are solid-colored tops or bottoms that can go with everything. This means that you should aim for neutral colors, such as black, white, gray, beige, denim blue, etc.

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Pair them down -

Once you’ve found your essentials, try to pair them down. Remember, you need things for all seasons, so try for 5-6 tops for warm weather and 5-6 tops for cold weather (there may be some crossover). Try for around 5 pairs of bottoms (pants or skirts), and a few dresses.

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Add a pop of color -

Pick one or two accent colors that you can add to your wardrobe and pick a few tops, or even a pair of pants/a skirt, in those colors. Ensure that they coordinate with your base.

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Pick a pattern -

You don’t want your wardrobe to be only solid colors, so add a few patterns to the mix. They can be any type of clothing, but try to ensure that the colors within them match most of your wardrobe (i.e. black and white snakeskin, or neutral brown leopard print).

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Opt for outerwear -

Pick just a few items of outerwear in neutral colors. Remember that you need things for every season, so ensure that you have some heavier outerwear for winter (if needed), and light options for summer.

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Accessorize -

Pick out some accessories that fit with your lifestyle and that you love. Don’t feel pressured to have some of everything. Choose a few things that go with your clothes and that you see yourself wearing regularly. This includes scarves and sunglasses as well.

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Handbags -

If you use purses, it’s important to have a few on hand. Try to aim for a black and a brown, and feel free to add a formal option if need be. The more versatile they are, the better.

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Let’s get some shoes -

You want your shoes to be able to mix and match with all of your clothes no matter which season you’re in, so plan accordingly. Try to pair down, but the number is really going to depend on what you need for your lifestyle.

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The total -

Though there are various numbers floating around that suggest the “ideal” capsule wardrobe size, it’s generally expected to be less than 50 items. Anywhere from 30 to 40 is fairly standard.

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“The extras” -

Sometimes confusingly called a base wardrobe, the extras consist of things you need but that do not count toward your total clothing count. They are things like loungewear and workout gear, which you may need regularly but that do not factor into your decision-making in the morning.

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Extra to capsule -

However, if you find that any of your extras begin to trickle into your daily wear (workout leggings frequently being used for daily life, for example), then they should be counted toward your general capsule wardrobe total.

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Pause before filling in the gaps -

You may find that after doing all of this sorting, you feel that you’re lacking a few items to make your capsule wardrobe “perfect.” Hold off on buying new items until you get a sense of what it’s like to live with this style of closet. You may find out you don’t need them after all.

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Shop accordingly -

When you finally do go shopping, however, make sure you go in with a plan. You should need very few things at any given time, whether it means a new neutral or a replacement of a worn-out item, so shop for quality and fit with a purpose.

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Evolve over time -

While having a set number of items at the beginning may help you to start with capsule wardrobes, as you get used to it you can start to expand. Just make sure that you’re still shopping smart and not returning to your old ways.

See also: Simple tips to avoid fast fashion.

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