You've heard the words 'Capsule Wardrobe' repeated in fashion circles, organisational groups and minimalist movements for years! And in this weeks post, I'm sharing what are the benefits of a capsule wardrobe and why it may or may not work for you.

When you're looking at your wardrobe, trying to get your head around how it got so cluttered, but really doesn't produce much fun when it comes to outfits - you might be considering a capsule wardrobe and trying to work out the benefits of a capsule wardrobe. So first, just to clear it up, let me tell you what a capsule wardrobe is.

What is a Capsule Wardrobe?

A Capsule Wardrobe is a selection of clothing that is interchangeable. Every piece in your capsule is there because you've really planned out how it is going to go together. It's designed to take the thinking out of getting ready and in my opinion, is a smart way to build a wardrobe and enforce smarter shopping habits.

Where it gets confusing is in the different ways people try to set theirs up, because there's so many ways to make them - I think these methods deserve their own post which I'll have for you soon!

Now, as a Stylist and someone that makes multiple capsules for clients each week, I'm a big fan, but I don't think they're right for everyone. So let's talk about who they're great for, and who's probably going to end up under a small pile of clothes feeling very impulse shoppy!

Who would benefit from a capsule wardrobe?

People who like to plan: If you love knowing what you're doing, when you're doing it and what to wear to those occasions ahead of time, you'll love capsules because they're all about planning ahead for the season and more specifically, your needs.

People who want to cut down on shopping: Whether you're thinking about your budget, wardrobe space or being more sustainable, the capsule wardrobe retrains your brain into focusing on your needs and how your clothes need to work for you. When you're planning your capsule wardrobe, you'll work out what you need and how to make the most of what you own.

People who are happy outfit repeating regularly: The capsule wardrobe is a highly interchangeable system, which means you'll likely wear many of the same items each week. As an example, with the system I teach in my Capsule Planning course, with a small capsule wardrobe of twelve items, you can make roughly thirty outfits.

People who want structure in their wardrobe: Setting up a capsule wardrobe correctly not only teaches you how to shop more effectively, but it sets your wardrobe up with core items that are versatile. If you're constantly buying things and realising they go with nothing in your wardrobe, this system will teach you how to find a balance between the statement items and basics in your wardrobe.

People who care about quality over quantity: Because of the frequent use of each item in your capsule, poor quality clothing just won't survive the wear and tear. If you want to own higher quality garments and less garments in general, this is a great way to build your wardrobe.

Who wouldn't benefit from a capsule wardrobe?

People who want to follow fashion trends: The capsule wardrobe system can become expensive and at times, wasteful, if used to follow trends or fast fashion. If you prefer to follow trends, having a good base of core wardrobe items will help you wear your trend pieces more.

People who only buy fast fashion: If you like fast fashion and most of your clothing is from retailers who make fast fashion clothing, it's likely your capsule won't be durable enough to enable the capsule wardrobe to last.

People who don't like planning: Create a good capsule wardrobe takes a little planning, you're working it towards a style, you're picking how many colours you want in your wardrobe, whether you're going to have lots of separate or one piece items like dresses. It's a planners paradise. If you don't plan ahead, you'll end up with a purged wardrobe and still, not enough to wear.

OVERALL VERDICT:

I love capsules, for the right people. If you can commit to sitting down about a month out before a new season starts to think about what you want to wear and what you'll be doing in your clothing, this planning will pay you back with saved time. I think the capsule wardrobe set up is a great way to become a smarter shopper, tackle small areas of your wardrobe and find your style.

If you want to give it a try, you can start planning your own capsule wardrobe here!