5 Things I Learned From My Capsule Wardrobe
“Some pieces just passed through - I bought them, wore them a couple times, lost my love for them, and let them go. Others seemed to stay with me year after year, and I wanted to know why.”
I started taking serious steps towards a capsule wardrobe in the fall of 2020. I was working from home for several months in the midst of the pandemic, which put me in a weird wardrobe place. I wasn’t wearing my normal work clothes, and was frustrated with my “at home” attire. I started whittling out the casual items that I wasn’t wearing even though I now had ample opportunity, and got rid of clothing that didn’t fit or feel right. I was trying to narrow my wardrobe down to pieces that felt like me and suited my life.
I probably got rid of about half of my clothes that had just been dead weight in my closet. Some pieces just passed through - I bought them, wore them a couple times, lost my love for them, and let them go. Others seemed to stay with me year after year, and I wanted to know why.
When I looked at the clothing that I kept - the pieces I really enjoyed and used - I noticed they had some things in common. While having a consistent taste can be expected, I was surprised to see how strong the patterns were in my selections. I assessed the commonalities in my favorite pieces, and will use the same standard for adopting any new clothing in the future.
here are 5 things I learned from creating a capsule wardrobe.
#1 - I’m consistent in what I keep.
I love long dark coats. I always get sleeveless blouses. The only patterns I can stand are stripes, dots, and florals. And get this - I have a color palette!
I notice patterns in the pieces that make the cut time after time, and I can learn from them. When I look at the clothes remaining in my closet, I know them by heart. They work together, suit my lifestyle, and I feel great wearing them. I know that if I find myself in the position to buy something new, I know to look for a piece that will pair with what I already own and has similar design features.
It’s also easy to note similar or duplicate items in my closet (yay, consistency I guess). For example, I have very few long sleeve tops for the workplace. Falling into the habit of buying duplicates can cause holes in your closet. To balance out my wardrobe, I’m on the hunt for a versatile sweater to keep me warm in the office, and I put a hard stop on buying more sleeveless shirts.
#2 - my needs are different for work & life.
Sure, there’s a little overlap. For the most part, I have my work clothes in my closet and the rest of my clothes in my dresser. I rarely wear a blouse on the weekends, and I won’t be wearing my jeans in the office. A capsule wardrobe only works if it’s suited to your lifestyle, so I allowed myself to have a reasonable collection of shirts for my business wardrobe as well as my casual wardrobe.
In my opinion, a capsule wardrobe should be personalized to suit everyday activities. For some people, that may mean having collections for exercise, very formal occasions, or outdoor activities. The quantity of items allotted for these categories should reflect the frequency of the activity.
#3 - I don’t need that many clothes.
It’s true - and you probably don’t either. At a bare minimum you need what, like 7 shirts to get through a week? Place a healthy boundary around how many clothing items you maintain in your closet, and stick to it. Having fewer clothing options reduces decision fatigue and prompts you to be more creative with the pieces you have. It’s easy to keep track of a small wardrobe, and each piece gets used to it’s fullest potential. Since reducing my clothing by 50%, I have never once been unable to put an appropriate outfit together. And, by reimagining items I already have, I get to choose from a variety of looks I wouldn’t have thought of otherwise!
#4 - Some pieces are hard to let go.
“...a healthy relationship with your wardrobe means that it both pleases and serves you...”
Clothing items can definitely be sentimental. I never forget where, when, and with whom I acquired an article of clothing, so every piece has a memory attached. I can also struggle getting rid of pieces that I’ve had for a long time or used for a special event. I think a healthy relationship with your wardrobe means that it both pleases and serves you, so it’s better to let go of clothes that aren’t getting worn on a regular basis. A helpful tip from Marie Kondo is to thank an item before sending it to a new home, which I find can help immensely when dealing with sentimental items.
It’s worth mentioning that I never, ever, EVER, regret removing something from my closet. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Letting go of a sentimental item is releasing a mental burden. I have two special sweaters I got from Bolivia that I once found exciting. The truth is, I don’t prefer crewneck cuts, and this leads me to neglect my Bolivian sweaters! When I pass these on to a friend who enjoys their style, I will be relieved of the guilt of not favoring them more. Even though they will no longer be in my wardrobe, I am content with my memories of my time in Bolivia!
#5 - It’s a work in progress.
After removing the obvious pieces that didn’t work for me, I still pared down my wardrobe significantly. In fact, I’m still working on my capsule wardrobe! I truly believe that it will always be a work in progress, because my life, body, and needs will change. Not to mention, things will wear out and need replacing. I plan to revisit my wardrobe every 6 months to reassess, and am not planning to add more pieces in the near future.
I still have a lot to learn from my capsule wardrobe. In the meantime, I already feel better in the clothes that I have. It’s easier for me to find what I need, make new outfits, and even keep up with the laundry.
