Capsule Wardrobe: What is it really?
Society has trained us to believe that the key to looking good is to buy and collect as many clothes as possible. The truth is, that the average person only wears 20% of their wardrobe on a regular basis, which means that the other 80% is just a waste of closet space. Owning too many clothes can cause decision fatigue and fast fashion trends that don’t last will never satisfy in the long run.
“The truth is, the average person only wears 20% of their wardrobe on a regular basis...”
Enter the capsule wardrobe, a small collection of versatile pieces that you really love to wear and will always look great.
The capsule wardrobe originated as a method for women to express themselves in their workwear, which was traditionally similar to men’s suits. The term “capsule wardrobe” is credited to Susie Faux, who was a fashion advertising expert in the 1970’s. She focused on fashion for the career woman, built around high quality clothing that promoted confidence and success. The capsule wardrobe idea gained popularity through the mid 1980’s when designer Donna Karan created her Seven Easy Pieces collection, which included such staples as the LBD (little black dress), cashmere sweaters, and a blazer.
The modern capsule wardrobe has been influenced by cultural minimalism, meaning it is softly rooted in simplicity, reducing clutter, non-consumerism, and is often built around neutral colors. The basic principle behind a capsule wardrobe is that a finite number of curated pieces is sufficient. Period. It can be limited to specific number of items (25, 33, and 37 are popular), based around a color palette, or even specific to each season!
A quick search online will show the variety available in a capsule wardrobe. The perfect capsule wardrobe looks different for every individual, because not everyone likes or looks good in black and maybe owning more than 25 pieces is not excessive for your lifestyle. The point is that the closet is limited within unique boundaries that suit you, which simplifies your life without sacrificing style, and encourages creativity using what you already have.
The key to great style is to populate your closet with select pieces that fit well, look great, and feel fabulous.
