Enter: the capsule wardrobe. This small, curated collection of clothes—usually 30 to 50 pieces in size—has the potential to unlock many long-term benefits, including eliminating decision fatigue. Once you’ve pared down your closet to a more manageable list of versatile favorites, you’ll begin saving time and money, while gaining clarity and having a positive impact on the environment.
“Keeping only your favorite things is not a sacrifice,” says Courtney Carver, founder of Be More with Less and inventor of the capsule wardrobe challenge Project 333. “It really adds quite a bit of joy and relief, especially from brain fog.”
If the idea of curating your own capsule wardrobe feels unrealistic, Dacy Gillespie, a personal stylist and founder of Mindful Closet, encourages you to reframe your perspective. “I want people to know that you already have a capsule wardrobe,” Gillespie says. “It’s just buried in your closet with all the other stuff. So take away the pressure that you’re building something from scratch.”
Viewing the capsule wardrobe as an experiment is helpful, as well. Any choices you make can be undone, there are no hard and fast rules, and you’ll learn more and more with each attempt. Here, Carver and Gillespie offer their tips on how to set up your first capsule wardrobe.
If you’re looking for a quicker solution, consider jumping straight into a challenge, like Carver’s Project 333, which teaches followers how to go three months with only 33 pieces of clothing. “For me, creating a challenge was what I needed because I wanted some accountability and guidelines,” says Carver. “I wanted to make it a fun experiment, so then I would then have more information to later declutter the way I really wanted to.”
Besides style, it’s beneficial to know which colors work best for you. If you need a little help in this department, consider making a color analysis appointment with a professional consultant. Companies like House of Colour employ consultants across the country who have been trained to help clients identify the shades that best suit them. By knowing which colors work for you, you’ll be able to slim down your closet with less regret and more certainty.
RELATED: Can Wearing Certain Colors Affect Your Mood?
“We have to look at things in life that can benefit us, and if it seems like there’s a complete deal-breaker, find a way to make it work for you so that you can experience some of the benefits,” Carver says. Shoe-lovers might decide against cutting back on their footwear, while someone obsessed with floral skirts may cringe at the thought of only keeping a few. “My sister always joked that if she were to do this challenge, she would have 32 handbags and a pair of jeans in her collection,” Carver says. “Also, 33 isn’t a magical number. If your number is 35 or 44, try it like that and you may discover that you can pare it back even more, or that you found the sweet spot.”
With this in mind, begin removing any items that don’t speak to you. The goal is to visually isolate your must-have pieces of clothing, Gillespie says. “For me, I’ll keep my favorite and most-worn things, as well as anything I might need to make those items work, like basics. Everything else gets set aside so that I can just see the things I want in my capsule.” Pack those remaining items into storage bins. This way, you’re not tempted by items outside the capsule, but they’re available should you decide to make substitutions along the way. Remember, any decisions you make are temporary and can easily be undone.
Your first few attempts at building a capsule wardrobe should be viewed as an experiment. You will have learned a lot about yourself, your style, and your dressing preferences after a few weeks. Allow yourself to adjust by adding, taking away, or swapping out items as needed. “The first time you make a capsule, it’s not going to be perfect,” Carver says. “It’s like making a budget. The first time you do it, it’s a disaster, but you keep getting better the more and more you do it.”
