Buy less , choose well

Vivienne Westwood

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the phrase- Minimalist fashion? You probably picture those pinteresty neutral-filled wardrobes with everything basic and aesthetic. 

All of these represent just a part of the whole minimalist fashion scene which also follows the approach of picking classic ,high quality , long lasting pieces and building a wardrobe which is high on quality and not quantity.

One closet-redefining plan that has been buzzing around lately on our feeds is – The capsule wardrobe. To understand what a capsule wardrobe is let’s start from the start and learn where the concept came from. The term was first coined by Susie Faux, owner of a boutique in the 1970s to refer to a collection of essential items of clothing that would not go out of fashion and could be worn for multiple seasons. The aim was to update this collection with seasonal pieces to provide something to wear for any occasion without buying many new items of clothing. However, the idea became mainstream when American designer Donna Karan in 1985 created her first “7 Easy Pieces” capsule collection and was popularized by magazines like Elle and Marie Claire among several others.

Today , I have decided to give you an insight and help you learn more about building a capsule wardrobe!

Before building a wardrobe always remember 3 things – Buy less, wear more, and find high-quality. 

Capsule wardrobes are all about your personal style . The concept pushes you to edit your wardrobe down to your favorite clothes , remixing them regularly, and shopping less often and more intentionally while staying in fashion.

How to build your own personalized closet –

I have listed a five-step approach to building your own capsule wardrobe.

1. Start De-cluttering

The best way to start building a wardrobe is by emptying it.  After that , start segregating your clothes into different piles of Yes, no and maybe.

• Yes pile is for any piece that you are most likely to wear and completely adore.

• No pile are for the ones that you are done wearing or don’t fit you anymore.

• Finally , the maybe pile are for the ones that are either seasonal wear or pieces that you wear less frequently.

After this is done , set aside the no pile and start looking for pieces in your leftover piles.

2. Figure out your style

Always remember, capsule wardrobes are all about your personal style. Therefore it’s very important for you to figure out what looks best on you and what classifies as your style. 

To figure this out , try on your favorite pieces and create different looks while making a note of the colors or patterns you’re drawn to the most.

3. Experiment with your existing wardrobe

Once you’ve figured the colors and patterns you like the most start pairing them with staple pieces like a white shirt , solid t shirts or blue denims. Find pieces that could be mixed and matched with other pieces to create different looks. 

Start experimenting around with pops of color, or styling techniques you always wanted to try. 

After this try and accessorize your wardrobe by adding statement pieces like – metallic jewellery, scarves, hats etc to elevate your wardrobe.

4. Making a wardrobe

Now , after following all these steps we’ll have a list of must haves for your wardrobe which should include – basic like solid tees , white shirt , pair of jeans , pencil skirt , nude pumps , blazer , sneakers, an LBD along with unique printed and colored pieces that you paired with them. Apart from this there will be some of your loved and unique pieces that will reflect your style. 

After this is done , make sure you prepare a list of items you need to buy for your existing capsule collection.

5. Completing the collection for next few months

Your wardrobe is now complete after you have shopped for the required items .Now , all you have to do is stick to what you have and create different looks for each day and you are good to go for next 3-4 months. This way you’ll shop less , save time and gain a better sense of what your wardrobe truly needs.

Your capsule wardrobe is now complete!

You’ve completed creating a capsule wardrobe. Now, enjoy getting dressed faster, having many outfits to wear and and having a neat closet until the last two weeks of the season when you can revamp your closet by planning and shopping for your next capsule.