This is a collaborative post.
The idea behind a capsule wardrobe is a clever one. Build a collection of clothing that can be interchanged indefinitely to create stark, wonderful outfits every day. Not only is it a good idea for your finances, but it’s also great for the environment because it reduces the amount of clothes that are bought, leading to a build up of disposed packaging. If you’re wondering how to create a sustainable capsule wardrobe, continue reading our helpful tips.
Take stock and declutter
It is estimated that around 37 items is enough to fill a sustainable capsule wardrobe. That may not seem like a lot, but with some work, that can go a long way.
To get a good look at what you already own, make some space (lots of it!) and pull every piece of clothing you own out into plain view. Your next step is to separate everything into categories (trousers, t-shirts, jackets, underwear, etc) and take stock of what you own.
Women’s clothing can include a massive variety of categories and accessories, but try to whittle down your piles of clothing into essentials that you cannot get rid of.
Think about how long it’s been since you wore that dress, or does that shirt fit your everyday lifestyle?
Once you’ve figured out some of the items that you can live without, donate them to a local charity.
Define your style and review your calendar
While still considering which clothes to keep around in your wardrobe, this is the perfect chance to define your style. Do you draw your inspiration from a certain era, or are you drawn to a specific colour?
At this point, you should also take a look at your social calendar for the year and beyond. Are the clothes you’ve got picked out suitable to wear at multiple special occasions? If so, great! If not, review your choices again and even try to bring some pieces of clothing together to make an outfit now so you can plan ahead.
Who knows, you could stumble across an old piece of clothing you’d forgotten about that brings a whole outfit together perfectly!
Base colours and neutral palette
The most important thing about building a capsule wardrobe is making it versatile, so the base colour plays a big role. Consider neutral colours like blue, navy, white, black or khaki. From there you can choose coloured pieces that match the base colour.
Mix and match, toy with certain ideas and colours and just see what suits you!
Fill the gaps in your wardrobe
Now is time for the best part – shopping! If your capsule wardrobe is missing a few items that could tie together a handful of outfits you have in mind, then head online or out to clothing stores and stock up your wardrobe.
Before you go wild, consider exactly what you need and the brand you’re planning to shop from. Some companies are better than others at using sustainable materials and are more environmentally friendly than their competitors. Some brands sell dresses for women, but their packaging is harmful to the planet and the quality of their material may not be very good.
When purchasing items for your capsule wardrobe, you have to ensure your clothes are going to last because they’re going to be worn a lot and swapped in and out of several outfits.
Now that you’ve gone through this list, we’re betting your capsule wardrobe is ready! If so, go out and show the world your outfits!
