Statistically men and women own 100 pieces of clothing and wear only 20-30% on a regular basis. The concept of a capsule wardrobe is a minimalist approach to fashion, emphasizing quality over quantity and encouraging individuals to find a personal style that reflects their values and lifestyle. The idea behind it is to curate a small collection of versatile, high-quality clothing items that can be put together to create a variety of outfits for any occasion. This is achieved by focusing on essential and timeless items, typically in neutral colors.
Step by step instructions:
1. Analyze your closet: go through each item and keep only colors, patterns and silhouettes that you feel comfortable in, that are in good conditions and that you’ve worn in the last 6 months.
2. Check combinations: make sure that all items can be combined, focus on neutral colors and only keep highlights that can easily be matched.
3. Invest in high quality pieces that match your personal style
4. Care for your clothes: make your capsule wardrobe last as long as possible. Follow the care instructions, avoid using a dryer, as it damages the fibers and can cause items to shrink. Learn about swimwear fabric care in our care guide.
There are many benefits to embracing a capsule wardrobe. From saving money and time to reducing clutter and encouraging conscious consumption, a capsule wardrobe can be a great way to simplify your life and align your fashion choices with your personal values.
1. Saves money
By choosing timeless, versatile pieces that work well together, a capsule wardrobe makes it easy to spend less money on clothes. Instead of constantly buying trendy items you might only wear once or twice (or not at all), you invest in fewer, better-quality pieces that last longer and that you can mix and match.
2. Saves time
A smaller wardrobe can also help you save time when getting dressed in the morning. With fewer clothes to choose from, you will find it more easy to put outfits together.
3. Reduces clutter
A capsule wardrobe helps keep your closet and home free of clutter. By choosing versatile pieces that mix and match, you can let go of clothes you rarely wear or that no longer suit your style. This frees up physical and psychological space and brings a feeling of calm and simplicity to your living environment.
4. Advocates conscious consumption
Fast fashion pushes us to keep buying new clothes, fueling overconsumption and waste. Building a capsule wardrobe helps you take a more mindful approach to fashion, choosing quality pieces that last and reflect your personal style and values. To avoid getting swept up in trends, it’s important to understand what truly suits your body type and your own style.
The concept of capsule wardrobe was popularized in 1985 by Donna Karan in New York, when she designed her "7 easy pieces" collection.