How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe on a Budget
If you are a woman who spends most days paralyzed about what to wear, you may need a capsule wardrobe. This kind of clothing collection helps cut down on decision fatigue and makes it easier to get dressed in the morning. Best of all, there are ways to create a closet that makes getting dressed easier and is kind to your budget. Read on for how to accomplish all of this.
What is a capsule wardrobe?
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When you create a capsule wardrobe, you’re purchasing clothing that you can easily mix and match. The idea is to have a small number of pieces that work well together. There are so many benefits to approaching your clothing this way.
For starters, it’s a great way of decluttering your closet, bedroom and even laundry room by having fewer pieces of clothing in rotation. Fewer pieces means less laundry piling up. Also, it will help you with closet organization.
Where did the term capsule wardrobe originate? I got following from The Washington Post, in an article entitled “Life is easier with a capsule wardrobe.” The concept started with a single designer in London in the 1970s but became part of the fashion lexicon “in 1985 when designer Donna Karan introduced a capsule collection of interchangeable workwear attire called ‘Seven Easy Pieces’,” The Washington Post reported.
Elements of the capsule wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe is a collection of versatile, timeless and high-quality clothing items that you use interchangeably to create a range of different outfits. When I talk about high-quality clothes, I’m talking about the kind of clothes that last. So you want to shop at stores and with brands that stand behind their products with a guarantee or warranty.
So, what do you need for this new approach to your wardrobe? I would suggest every woman own at least one of the following:
- Classic white shirt. That could be either a t-shirt or buttoned blouse or both.
- Tailored blazer or jacket.
- Pair of dark-wash jeans. Straight-leg jeans tend to be timeless.
- Little black dress.
- Versatile skirt, such as a pencil or A-line.
- Comfortable pair of flats.
- Pair of black pumps.
- Neutral-colored sweater or cardigan.
- Trench coat or a classic coat.
These items can be dressed up or down so that they are appropriate for a range of settings. Some might even call these minimalist clothes. These are all suggestions but aren’t to-die-for rules. For instance, I don’t like to wear skirts but I love wearing dresses. So if I want to approach the look of wearing a skirt without actually wearing one, I’ll choose one of my favorite black dresses — usually a faux wrap since that style works well for my body — and then put a sweater over it so it appears like I have a sweater and a skirt on.
“A capsule wardrobe isn’t complete without a few killer accessories,” said Harman Arwal of Your Girl Knows. She suggests working neck chains, earrings, bracelets and rings into your capsule collection.
Lifestyle and work environment
A young stay-at-home mother, a rising corporate executive and a woman approaching retirement age can all benefit from a capsule wardrobe. However, what they buy or wear may differ. For example, if you work in a corporate environment, you’ll have to reserve those dark-wash jeans for weekends only. And one dress and skirt may not be enough for five days in the office. So, you may want to add an extra pair of trousers or some other more formal pieces to your closet. Of course, you’ll want them to fit seamlessly with what you already own so you can still do easy mixing and matching.
Plus, if you travel for your job, you’ll find that a capsule wardrobe makes it easier to pack. “I used to travel every week for work,” Michelle Price of Honest and Truly recalled. “I chose simple color palettes that allowed me to create complementary outfits where I can mix and match rather than packing five full outfits with shoes each week.”
On the other hand, there is someone like myself. I work from home. I’ve worked from home for years. Therefore, I’m dressing casually most of the time. That’s why, if we met in person, you’d probably find me dressed in my workday uniform of dark-wash jeans and a simple top. Currently, I have on three pieces from my capsule wardrobe — dark-wash jeans, neutral top and neutral sweater.
Where to shop for wardrobe essentials
Chances are you may already have some of these wardrobe essentials in your closet, which is the best way to put together a capsule wardrobe on a budget. It’s like shopping for gifts first from your gift closet as a way of saving money. However, if you need to add items, you have a variety of shopping options.
Shopping thrift and consignment stores
There are a few reasons you might want to look for capsule wardrobe elements at a thrift store or resale shop. If you’re trying to build an eco-friendly closet, then buying used at a thrift store makes the most sense.
Also, you likely did a closet cleanout to make room for your new way of getting dressed. Did that happen to be by using a closet cleanout bag from ThredUp? If so and the clothes you sent in have sold, you could have credits waiting for you to buy new clothes for free. This has been my go-to way of cleaning out my closet of late. I’ve been able to refresh my capsule wardrobe for practically free using the credits I earned on ThredUp.
Places like ThredUp will give you a higher-value store credit for your clothing versus paying you directly in cash. It’s the same with resale chain Buffalo Exchange. You get twice as much in-store credit than you would if you walked away with cash in hand for the clothing you consigned to them.
Brand resale sites
Some regular brands sell their clothing used on their own sites. And if you own these brands, you might even be able to sell pieces back to them to make money you can use on new pieces. One such example is Levi’s.
You can take your old Levi’s jeans (and jean jackets and denim shorts) back to a Levi’s store to trade them in. This is all done in person. So, first locate a Levi’s store near you. Then, make an appointment for your trade in. Keep in mind that you’re limited to five items per appointment. Make sure they’re still in good, wearable condition.
If Levi’s thinks they’ll be able to resell them on their Levi’s resale website called Levi’s Second Hand, they’ll give you a gift card between $5 and $30. However, if the items aren’t worth anything in their minds, then they’ll recycle the denim.
Buying brands that stand behind their products
If you’re going to invest in new clothing and aren’t interested in buying used, then you’ll want to choose brands that last. And if something goes wrong with the clothing — due to no fault of your own — then you’ll want to give your business to brands and retailers that stand behind their products.
For instance, I’ll only purchase brands that offer guarantees on their clothing or shop at a retailer with an exceptional customer service reputation. These are the stores that will stand behind what they sell, regardless of the brand you buy. For the longest time, my go-to store brand has been Nordstrom.
Just take a gander at the Nordstrom return policy:
“We stand behind our goods and services, and want customers to be satisfied with them. We’ll always do our best to take care of customers — our philosophy is to deal with them fairly and reasonably.”
Using a personal stylist
If all of this clothes shopping feels overwhelming, you can always work with a store’s personal stylist. And you don’t have to pay for it either. Many national stores offer styling services for free, done in person or virtually, based on your preferences. These stores include:
For my last birthday, I treated myself to a free styling session at Nordstrom. I was able to save money on my purchases in a couple of ways. One, I have a Nordstrom credit card and had earned Nordstrom Notes, which I could apply like a coupon or gift card. Two, also because I have a Nordstrom credit card and am a member of the Nordstrom rewards program called The Nordy Club, when I needed a new pair of wide-legged jeans hemmed, Nordstrom did it for free.
Trends and the capsule wardrobe
Even after you’ve built your capsule wardrobe, you can still have fun with fashion trends. Just don’t overdo it. For example, if designers are sending animal prints down the fashion runway, you could add a leopard print scarf or a pair of animal print flats to your capsule wardrobe. The idea is to choose one or two trend pieces that can be mixed and matched with your existing wardrobe to create new outfits.
Even better with regards to animal prints: InStyle magazine says that you can use them as a neutral in your capsule wardrobe. Overall, you want to be comfortable in the clothes you buy for your capsule wardrobe. So, choose well-made pieces that fit and flatter your body. By focusing on quality over quantity, you can save money, reduce waste and simplify your life.
Finally, if you’re inspired to create a capsule wardrobe, here is a minimalist wardrobe checklist you can use to get started.
Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.