How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe
Staring at an open closet full of options can make the idea of a hand-selected capsule wardrobe feel a bit daunting. To make it easier, we’re offering some tips about how to pick each piece by group, top to bottom.
From the Top
When it comes to building a capsule wardrobe, you’ll want more tops than any other piece, because they often get more wear and tear over the day: makeup stains, coffee stains, sweat stains.
When selecting tops, think of your daily schedule: do you work from home? Is your day-to-day dress code casual, or more formal? If you have a dress code, you’ll want to incorporate more professional tops accordingly. When considering colors and prints, use the rule of thirds: one third in neutral shades and blouses, one third prints, and one third bold colors/casual items. Solid tops will naturally be easier to match with every other option.
Unless you’re wearing dresses every day, you don’t need many. Depending on the weather where you live, you can also rotate dress lengths and fabrications by season. For every four tops, go with one dress. To make this really count, select one dress option from three categories: casual, business casual/transitional, and night out/dinner appropriate. The idea is that by mixing and matching with other capsule pieces, you can transform each dress to suit your needs. A little black dress can be changed with just the right jacket.
Camisoles, tank tops, and bodysuits are helpful building blocks for any wardrobe. Choose a handful of these to place in your capsule in neutral colors like white and black, enough to last until laundry day.
Moving Down
Compared to tops, bottoms are often hardier from a laundry standpoint and material makeup. Because of this, you’ll need fewer of them. Don’t pick one pair of pants for every single top; that defeats the idea of the capsule.
When it comes to skirts, ask how often you wear them: are you someone who wears a skirt several days a week for work, or only for special occasions? Be realistic, because you want to have a capsule that you’ll actually enjoy wearing.
Take a similar approach to how you selected dresses: one casual, one more professional style that can go to dinner, and one that’s in-between.
Extra Layers
Sweaters are like bottoms in terms of care. After all, they’re on top of your first layer, meaning they’ll likely come into less contact with sweat or deodorant. They’re also usually thicker, bigger, and sometimes only seasonally necessary.
Because of this, go back to that rule of thirds, and apply it to your sweaters and cardigans: 1 layer option per every 3 tops, bonus points if the sweaters can work with 75% of the tops.
This will vary with your schedule and level of workplace formality, but a nice blazer is generally a great piece to have on hand in any closet. Try having at least one blazer in a neutral, solid color like black. They look particularly cool over jeans and casual tops.
If you wear blazers often for work, use the same rule of thirds that was applied for bottoms: 1 blazer for every 3 outfits. If possible, try to choose blazers that will work with 75% of your tops and dresses combined.
When it comes to outerwear every single day, this should be the smallest number of pieces in your capsule. You only need 2 at the max: one for weather, one for special occasions.
Final Touches
For shoe-lovers, it can be hard to pick a few favorites, but that’s the point of a capsule wardrobe, right? Try combining our rule for bottoms ( rule of thirds) with seasonally appropriate knowledge. For example, if you live in a city that stays cold and wet most of the year, three pairs of sandals aren’t going to work. A nice pump, a water-ready boot, and a cute flat will do the trick.