The New Year is all about making fresh starts – getting rid of the old and bringing in the new.
With that in mind, most of us are no stranger to squishing our clothes into closets and drawers, pressing all our weight against them with the delusional hope of making them fit. As the years go by, we accumulate more clothing than we throw out or donate, which turns our closets to cataclysms and our drawers to disasters. It was for this reason the “capsule wardrobe” was created, centred around the concept of minimalism and the idea of *quality*, over *quantity*.
Capsule wardrobes live by the belief that less is truly more, and typically consist of only 30-odd pieces of clothing (including jackets, shirts, skirts, pants, dresses and shoes). Though some have managed to create capsule wardrobes with only a dozen items, if you’re just starting out, aiming for the thirties is a far more attainable goal.
For those looking to downsize their wardrobe, the first issue that needs to be addressed is your current collection – specifically, what should stay and what needs to go? A time-honoured rule that often helps is if you have not worn an item for more than a year (meaning all four seasons have passed and you still haven’t unearthed it) or the item no longer fits you, it needs to go the way of the dodo bird.
Items in good condition can be donated to friends, family, a local thrift store or a charity that accepts clothing. But those on the verge of disintegration or disgrace (nobody wants your peach taffeta bridesmaid dress) should probably be tossed out.
If you’ve followed this rule and still find your closet is on the brink of busting open, a second round of cuts can be made: any items not easily paired with others should also find their way to your “donation” pile.
Capsule fashion often highlights neutral colours that easily pair with each other (for example: grey, blue, black, white and brown are the most popular combos), which is the entire point of this fashion trend. The goal is not to wear the same outfit over and over again, but rather, keep pieces you can switch out with others to create a multitude of different outfits.
So now that you’ve completed these steps, another important issue is quality. When buying for your capsule wardrobe (which most do every new season, thus retiring the previous capsule until it is needed again), you’re going to want to invest in quality pieces that have longevity. Make sure any items you purchase are classic and timeless (like the “little black dress,” straight-leg trousers and pencil skirts), and made with distinct craftsmanship and from durable materials.
Remember, you’re going to be wearing only these pieces for the next three months (at least), so you do not want to replace them after only four weeks of regular wear-and-tear.
Though downsizing can seem like an near-impossible task (especially for those who have mastered the art of zipping suitcases while sitting on them), the benefits of it can be enormous. Capsule fashion takes away much of the indecision when getting dressed for the day, as well as (literally) freeing up space in your home. Less clutter means more room for your life, and not a single ounce of your fashion sense will suffer for it.
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