Your Guide to Creating a Capsule Wardrobe

By Kanishka Padhya

Intentional Living has become the new buzz word of the 21^st century. With individuals seeking to lead more meaningful and conscious lives, the less is more attitude has now found its way to the realm of fashion. With upcycling and thrifting trends gaining more traction by the day, millennials and the gen z are determined to combat the ever growing fast fashion industry. In the midst of all this, I would like to shed light on the practice of creating a capsule wardrobe, a form of closet organization that has managed to keep the careers of many a bloggers afloat. 

WHAT IS A CAPSULE WARDROBE?

A new wave of consciousness and minimalism has now gained momentum in the fashion industry. Capsule Wardrobes have been widely popularized in the recent years by advocates of slow and conscious fashion. 

The term Capsule Wardrobe was first coined by Susie Faux in the 1970. However, it gained immense popularity only in the 1980s by designer Donna Karan. Designers worldwide used Karan’s Capsule Wardrobes to showcase a condensed version of their collection. In this collection, they highlighted the functional pieces that transcend time and seasons. 

CAPSULE WARDROBES AND SUSTAINABILITY

Though fast fashion offers people the newest trends at astoundingly reasonable prices, it has detrimental effects on the environment. These low quality garments are thrown away after getting very little use out of them. As a consequence of this, they end up in a landfill and pose a hazard to the environment. Moreover, the inhuman working conditions at these manufacturing units have raised several objections from human rights advocates.

In recent times, Capsule Wardrobes have urged individuals to rethink if we really need a closet full of clothes that we hardly utilize. By making fewer, more conscious and more thoughtful purchases, we can curate a wardrobe that can be utilized to its maximum potential. 

Caroline Rector, the founder of Un-fancy, is one of the strongest advocates of Capsule Wardrobes and encapsulates Capsule Wardrobes as:

Courtney Carver, of Be More with Less has a passion project called Project 333 wherein she urges participants of this program to select 33 items that they will have to wear for a period of 3 months. These 33 items are inclusive of shoes, jewellery and other accessories. This form of a Capsule Wardrobe enables you to consciously select clothing pieces that transcend seasons, ensuring that you invest in clothing that is more durable and friendly to the environment. 

Pro Tip: There is no right or wrong when it comes to starting your own Capsule Wardrobe. You can curate your own capsule wardrobe by taking into account your tastes and preferences.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN CAPSULE WARDROBE?

1. EMPTY YOUR WARDROBE:

Yes, empty out your entire wardrobe on your bed. As you assess the various pieces on your bed, you will notice that there are some pieces that stand out to you. These pieces are your favourites and define your style. There might also be a few maybes lingering in the back that need to be sorted. 

2. SORT YOUR CLOTHES INTO 4 CATEGORIES:

Favourites: These are clothing items that you love and would wear without giving it a second’s thought. These are clothes that you will immediately place back into your wardrobe.

Maybes: These are clothes that either have some sentimental value attached to them or do not fit quite right. Having paid for them, you feel obliged to keep them in your wardrobe. Rector suggests placing such clothes in a box that you can keep in another corner of your room. At the end of the season, if they still remained unused and placed in the box, they can be donated or upcycled.

Rejects: These are items that are no longer used by you. You can sell, swap or donate these clothes.

Seasonal Pieces: These might include overcoats and woollens if you experience winters. For those experiencing mild winters, these pieces may comprise the occasional sweatshirt and/ or sweaters. You can place these items in storage elsewhere. They can make their way back to your wardrobe when the appropriate season rolls in. 

3. DOWNSIZE YOUR WARDROBE TO 37 ITEMS ONLY:

Get your clothes down to 37 items only. These 37 items are inclusive of tops, bottoms, dresses, overcoats and shoes. Rector opines that 37 was the perfect number for her as it gave her the freedom to curate a collection that lasted for the duration of a season. Downsizing a wardrobe to 37 items only may not be applicable to everyone. Hence, it is vital that you take into consideration your personal tastes and preferences and settle on a number that is best suited to your lifestyle.

STAPLES TO INCLUDE IN YOUR CAPSULE WARDROBE:

1. Classic White t-shirt
2. A pair of jeans that fit you well
3. A Blazer
4. Classic Black Pants
5. A pair of sneakers
6. White shirt/ blouse
7. Black heels
8. A skirt
9. A (little) black dress
10. Jewellery of your choice

To know more about setting up your own capsule wardrobe, watch Anna Newton’s videos on YouTube!