Let’s start the New Year in new ways. If you haven’t heard the phrase capsule wardrobe, then continue reading. I’ve been following this system for more than two years now, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s worked for me, and I hope it works for you. If you’re looking to cut down on your shopping, curate a wardrobe that meets all your needs, be a more conscious consumer and save time, I am happy to tell you that you’ve come to the right place.
WHAT
First things first: a capsule wardrobe is a collection of carefully chosen clothes that meet your personal and professional needs. There are many ways to do it, but one of the most popular ways and the one I follow is Project 333. The numbers serve a function: you’re meant to live with 33 items of clothing every three months (season). So you would essentially have four capsules: summer, spring, autumn, and winter. Your clothing items include outerwear, shoes, and accessories, but not workout gear or pyjamas. The number is there to guide you. Many of the clothes you choose are basics that will appear from season to season.
So every three months, you gather your clothes, choose the appropriate ones for the season and pack the rest. Simple.
WHY
Why bother with a capsule wardrobe? Here are my reasons:
- Environmental reasons: I choose quality over quantity to reduce waste.
- Ethics: choosing clothes made with people, animals, and the planet in mind means I pay more. And so I buy and add pieces to my capsule with a lot of consideration and avoid fast fashion.
- While I pay more for some of my pieces, I save money by hardly shopping throughout each season.
- I have clothes that I love and wear, rather than a wardrobe filled with items I don’t even like.
- I actually have a sense of style that is unique to my lifestyle.
- Getting dressed in the mornings has never been this easy. I save lots of time.
- My capsule has helped me with travelling.
- Because I have fewer items, I cherish them more and take care of my belongings.
HOW
The best way to get started is by looking at your needs. What is your lifestyle? For example, if, like me, you rely on walking and cycling to get from A to B, then heels may not be the right kind of shoes for your capsule.
Next, ask yourself what your personal style is. Over the last two years, I have realized that I like wearing neutral colours – mainly black. I like my wardrobe to be simple, classic and versatile. How about you? Do you prefer minimalist styles, or do you like bold patterns? Figure it out.
Finally, invest in the right basics. Buy ethical, well-made and quality pieces that will last for years and can be included in your wardrobe from season to season.
My Top 10 Items this Season
I’ll end this blog by sharing the top 10 pieces in my winter capsule wardrobe. These items are either second-hand or purchased responsibly. They are classics that come up again and again in my closet and are versatile so that they can easily be dressed up or down.
Tops
- Black turtleneck
- Striped long-sleeved top
- Black jumper
- Deep red bamboo long-sleeved top
Bottoms
- Tailored black skirt
- Black skinny jeans
- Dark blue skinny jeans
Shoes
- Black boots
- Sneakers
Outerwear
- Patagonia winter coat
All the pieces in my capsule wardrobe can be worn together because I have carefully chosen them to be versatile and flexible. I can dress them up and down. They take me to campus, dinner parties and meetings. How about you? What are your favourite pieces?
