Capsule wardrobe 101: How to build a minimalist closet

Creating a well-put wardrobe that screams stylish comfort yet is still sleek takes a lot of work. It can be cluttered at first, but once you find clothes that define you, it shouldn’t be hard to think about your everyday wear.

That’s why in this blog post, we’re going to talk about 10 capsule wardrobe tips that will help you put on clothing combinations of your choice. We’ll help give you ideas for a minimalist closet guide, no matter the occasion. 

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What’s a capsule wardrobe?

What is even a capsule wardrobe? How can you use it to your advantage? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the definition of a capsule wardrobe is ‘a small collection of clothes that can be put together in different ways.’ It’s your everyday clothing, but you can style it based on your #OOTD. 

Choosing and putting on clothes is a challenging task at first, but it will definitely be your go-to wear in the long run. Plus:

• It simplifies daily choices, so you can do a mix-and-match with what you have.
• You won’t even need to declutter so much after finding the perfect pair to wear.
• Believe it or not, it’s more cost-effective as you’ll stick to your personal style most of the time rather than rely on fast fashion.

Still not convinced? We should expand on the minimalist closet trend, then!

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Benefits of a minimalist closet

High-quality clothing that you’ll use in your everyday life versus buying low-quality items that you’ll use in the meantime can make a whole lot of difference in how you spend your money wisely. If you haven’t absorbed minimalism in your life yet, there are benefits associated with minimalist fashion. 

First, it saves time. You won’t need to go through every piece of clothing like finding a needle in a haystack because each piece already matches well with the other. Incorporate it into your daily routine. In no time, you’ll pick up different clothing combinations with your go-to capsule wardrobe essentials.  

Second, it saves money. Building and maintaining a capsule wardrobe takes careful effort and a lot of patience. But, you need to think about the long run. Buying high-quality clothing that you’ll use in your everyday life versus low-quality items that you’ll use in the meantime can make a whole lot of difference in how you spend your money wisely. 

Lastly, it’ll reduce decision fatigue. Say yes to comfort and no to stress! You won’t get overwhelmed with the clothes you have in hand, as each piece is picked thoughtfully and carefully. Plus, you’ll end up strutting outside confidently as you know what you’re wearing screams YOU. 

Now you know the advantages of putting up a well-thought-out capsule wardrobe, it’s time to discuss how to curate one.

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10 tips for building your capsule wardrobe

1. Assess your current wardrobe.

To become a capsule wardrobe connoisseur, try doing a ‘current wardrobe evaluation’ first. This helps in making the process a whole lot easier. To sort everything out, try assessing your wardrobe into three piles:

• Keep: You love wearing these clothes every day. Make sure they’re still in good condition and stylish.
• Donate: These clothes may have outgrown you, both literally and mentally. They’re still suitable, but you don’t use them anymore.
• Discard: Clothes like this are beyond repair and tattered. Use them as wiping cloths, but you CANNOT give them away or wear them anymore.

2. Learn about capsule wardrobe essentials.

Keep your capsule wardrobe essentials minimalist yet versatile. Make sure that the pieces you choose are timeless and classic. Some of the primary, must-have minimalist pieces are:

• White shirt
• Black trousers
• Versatile dress
• Neutral outerwear

These clothes can serve as the basis, but you can choose other types, with muted colors.

3. Determine your personal style.

Ask yourself these three questions:

• What do I like to wear every day?
• What do I do on a day-to-day basis?
• Am I comfortable and confident in what I want to wear?

If you know the answers to these, then you’re on your way to creating a capsule wardrobe with your own personal style. Defining your fashion style makes or breaks your capsule wardrobe, so you need to know what you’re doing often. 

Make sure to pick outfits that you’ll definitely use frequently. Still, keep them diversified to create unique flavors. 

4. Choose a color palette.

It’s hard to strut your chosen pieces confidently without deciding on your capsule wardrobe color palette. Think hard about the colors that you’d like to wear. 

To start with, one of the go-to minimalist color choices is neutral shades. Go for white, gray, taupe, and beige as your base colors. Then, highlight your look with cognac, coral, or metallic silver. There are plenty of choices, so be sure to consider the colors representing you to make your wardrobe more extensive than it actually is!

5. Invest in quality over quantity.

Consider how you can ‘recycle’ your clothes and make sure each fits with events and occasions you need to go to. Investing in wardrobe staples that will serve you in the long run saves time and money, and you get to be more environmentally friendly. 

Start with the classics, clothes that never go out of style, and select each piece carefully by checking the fabric used, the stitches, and durability. It may be a bit more expensive, but we prioritize quality over quantity here, as the clothes you pick should stand the test of time. 

6. Arrange your closet logically. 

Organizing a capsule wardrobe makes your closet aesthetically pleasing to look at, and it’s easier to look for something specific when you need it. Here are some closet arrangement tips to keep in mind:

• By season: Start with something general. You can start off a little messy, but make sure to categorize each piece of clothing by spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
• By category: Next, group them by category, such as shirts, dresses, jeans, etc. You can even make a subcategory more specific.
• By frequency of use: Finally, make sure that the clothes you wear are the most easily accessible so that it is easy for you to pick one out. 

7. Store off-season items elsewhere.

Focus on the pieces that you’d need to actually wear. Off-season items you’ve not used for a while should be stored in a separate capsule wardrobe, such as bins, vacuum bags, and under-bed storage. 

Practice storing seasonal clothes to make your capsule wardrobe easier to maintain. It helps make your time more accessible, and you get to choose the pairs you want to wear during the season you’re in. 

8. Mix and match basics.

Mixing and matching clothes may be one of the hardest decisions. However, with a limited number of items, you can wear a piece repeatedly but with a different style. Look different every day! To make your versatile outfit ideas come to life, here’s a quick guide:

• Choose a neutral color for your base. Earthy and monotone colors, for example. 
• Add a layer. A sweater, leather jacket, scarf, etc.
• Play with your clothes! Layer your tank top with an open-buttoned polo, perhaps.

9. Add accessories for variety.

Accessories definitely become the cherry on top of your finished look. Accessorizing your capsule wardrobe adds flavor to your base. Or, in simple terms, using accessories highlights your overall look. Some accessories to use are:

• Scarves: You can use these mainly during winter, but they give a pop of color to a neutral base. 
• Belts: Highlight your waist and add color to a plain pair of pants or skirt. 
• Jewelry: One of the classics! You can use silver or gold pieces with pendants to compliment what you’re wearing. 

10. Style for different occasions.

One of the strengths of a capsule wardrobe is that it adapts quickly to different kinds of situations. With proper capsule wardrobe styling, dressing up for various events is a piece of cake. You can categorize them based on this:

• Casual Wear: What you wear in everyday life. It’s simple shirts, pants, and maybe a jacket if it’s cold.
• Workwear: For professional settings. Add trousers, a pencil skirt, a blazer, and a polo.
• Formal Wear: Pick a classy set of dresses, ranging from black and red to gray and black for suits. Pair them with some accessories to top it all off. 

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How to maintain your capsule wardrobe

Once you know how to build a capsule wardrobe, maintaining a minimalist closet is necessary. Nothing is constant, and there are bound to be changes happening in your life from time to time. So, regular reviews and maintenance allow you to ensure that all clothes are still in good condition and let you see if there are any changes in your fashion taste. 

Let’s see some capsule wardrobe upkeep tips to help you:

• Inspect your clothes if they are damaged. Make sure that no matter how small the problem is, like a loose thread or a missing button, it is fixed immediately to use it longer. 
• Do a quarterly or bi-monthly review. Reviewing each piece is important to ensure that it still aligns with your personal taste and is still in season.
• Evaluate what you do daily. What’s your profession? Where are you usually? Your clothes should match your everyday life. Adding a hobby or entering a new job will change your wardrobe. Make sure to change your clothes and your lifestyle.
• Balance everything. Avoid putting on too many casual clothes that you have no formal or professional clothes to wear. Make sure to keep at least some sets, even if you use them rarely, so you won’t have to stress about them. 
• Do small updates. It’s not bad to add or reduce a few clothes and accessories; you just need to make sure they match the color palette you choose. Doing this will actually keep your closet fresh and ready for the season. 

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Embracing minimalist fashion

Remember these final capsule wardrobe tips: know your personal style, choose your palette, invest in quality, and never forget to categorize each piece of clothing. Embracing minimalist fashion may take a while to be completely absorbed, but once you do, it’s hard not to let go of your capsule wardrobe. Make sure to invest in and practice these tips to make your capsule wardrobe work and last for a long period of time. 

Enjoy a stylish, clutter-free wardrobe!

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FAQs about a capsule wardrobe