I had a fun Ask Me Anything on Instagram on my capsule wardrobe (see other related links here), and am sharing the thoughts below.
How do I get started on a capsule wardrobe?
It won’t happen overnight – for me it is still a constant process. Check out my 3-step process here: step 1, step 2, and step 3.
Do I capsule wardrobe everything?
Not really, I primarily focus on my professional clothing as that is what I spend most of my waking hours in. However, I do have some general rules for other categories:
- I use one set of clothes for working out, lounging at home, and sleeping. These are primarily old / free t-shirts, tanks, and free yoga pants from the days when I worked in retail
- I don’t capsule underwear! I keep at least a 2 weeks’ supply of underwear and socks so that I keep laundry to a minimum
- When I was pregnant, my maternity clothing was sponsored so I got maternity specific clothing. Had that not happened I would have likely had a smaller collection
How often does a piece stay in my capsule wardrobe?
Generally I aim to buy clothes to last at least 5 years. That means keeping a classic style with high quality clothes. It does not have to mean expensive! A lot of the clothes I purchase are used from people who maybe wore things “once or twice” in a year, so they often are brand new.
Does my wardrobe have seasons?
Yes, I flip my closet between spring/summer and fall/winter. That being said, there is a lot of overlap. I tend to add more short sleeve shirts and short skirts in the spring/summer, and thick sweaters and fleece tights in the winter. Everything else often overlaps, including my knits, work shirts, layering camis, jeans, slacks, and sheath dresses.
When does quality matter? What do I think about fast fashion?
The more frequently something is worn, the more quality matters. This includes outerwear / jackets, bags, slacks, and shoes. My vacation dresses? As long as they look cute, I’ll be glad to get them for as little as possible – so this includes fast fashion or buying direct from China and waiting for shipping. In general, if I can buy something used, I do, as this can reduce my footprint.
How many times do I wear an item?
It depends on the weather. Some items get worn a few times in a week and others just one day. The closer the item is to my body, the more likely it is worn one day and then put in the laundry – underwear, layering camis. However, because laundry can also shred clothing, I am careful about washing my clothes frequently. For clothing where I really do need to make sure they don’t get destroyed, I either hang dry, or hand wash and hang dry.
Do I have a favorite piece?
I aim not to have too many favorites. I do have some pieces that are more formal than others, but in general, if I have a lot of favorite pieces, that defeats the purpose of a capsule wardrobe where it is best that one wears as much of the wardrobe as possible.
How do you put outfits together? My style is all over the place
Try to commit to some kind of formula or style. Keeping classic is the easiest way to start. For me for MOST of the year, I follow a 3-piece guideline – an inner top layer, an outer layer, and a bottom layer. One example is below. My closet is primarily in terms of color, a mix of neutrals and pinks / reds / purples.
How do you know if something you buy used fits you?
I do my research! I keep to a few brands I know well such as Banana Republic, Express. Then every season or so I go to all my favorite stores to try on new merchandise – ideally I leave my credit cards home when I do this so I’m not tempted to buy. Whenever I find something I love, I take a photograph of myself in it, as well as the sizing tags, price tag + discounts, material tag, etc.. When I get home I set up alerts for it on Ebay and Poshmark (or rather, I find it and like the item), and over time I hope to be able to buy it at a more reasonable price used. I rarely try to buy blindly as that usually results in bad fit. If I have never tried on something I do ask the seller to make some measurements.
Below are some links to items that I have bought that I like. Please keep in mind that some of these are affiliate links and if you click on them, I may be compensated.
Skechers Go-Walk True Sneakers – these are my every day sneakers. I wear them to and from work and everywhere else, keeping my shoes at work under my desk so they don’t get destroyed from pounding the pavement. They are soft and comfortable and look just like Allbirds for less.
Express best-loved bra cami – I’ve been wearing these since high school and i hope Express never stops making them. They take a beating and are my go-to for inner layering
For other posts about capsule wardrobe, click here to read
