Six ways to create a wardrobe capsule

If you always find yourself with nothing to wear from an overflowing closet better grab a seat and a cup of tea because you my dear, are about to get de-cluttered and organized.

But just before we give you that slap of reality you seriously need, if you answer ‘YES’ to any of these questions then you are overdue for a wardrobe capsule.

Do you find yourself buying clothes just because they were on sale or the price was too irresistible? Do you have a closet full of clothes but always find yourself wearing the same outfits? Do you find it impossible to find anything in your closet? Do you find clothes in the back of your closet that are new and still have tags? Ooops looks like someone forgot to wear that. Do you always run late looking for something to wear?

Now that we have established there is a problem, let’s hit the road.

What is a wardrobe capsule you may ask? Coined by British fashion icon Susie Faux in the 70’s, this refers to a collection of practical and versatile pieces of clothing you love to wear to create an entire wardrobe for a season. This could be three months, or a whole year. It’s all upto you to decide. Bottom line is to assemble a collection of timeless pieces that work seamlessly together come rain or sunshine.

While it may sound like too much work to begin with, this may be one of the best things you did for yourself. Trust me.

Sorting

The first step is to remove everything from your closet and take stock. Set aside pieces according to this checklist.

-When was the last time I wore it?

-Does it fit into my everyday lifestyle?

-Can I pair it with something?

-Will I wear it?

This will help you decide what to keep and what to bin.

Settle on your style and aesthetic

By now you should have a rough idea of what you like and what you don’t. Identify what elements heavily impact your style and the best way to express yourself. If you need more inspiration create a digital inspiration board like on Pinterest, and start saving style ideas you love. This will work as a visual roadmap to create a wardrobe you will adore.

Get your colors right

Pick a base color. You can choose between black or navy and if these don’t appeal to you, brown works too. Pick one color and get essentials in that shade. Essentials in this case refer to tops and bottoms in solid colors. These are classic pieces that never go out of style. Once that is done, choose your favourite accent color and pick tops and bottoms in that shade too. While doing so, make sure the accent color coordinates with your base colors.

Create your base wardrobe

Categorize your outfits according to occasion, formality etc. For example, you can have workout, layering, formal, chill outfits etc. In each category, have at least 10 items and ensure each item is wearable. If you have lots of closet space, store these separately as these are pieces you will be wearing all year round.

Pairing

Now that you know which pieces you need and which you don’t, take mental notes or write down the different ways each piece can be worn. Alternatively, you can arrange them according to how you would wear them for ease of picking. This will also help you determine whether you need to purchase a few items or not.

Determine your budget

Once you have it all figure out, chances are you may have to buy some things. Set a budget so that the next time you go on your shopping excursions you don’t over spend and buy unnecessary things. That would beat the purpose. Align your finances to your taste and stick to it. At this rate, it wouldn’t hurt to invest in a few good brands. Remember you get what you pay for.

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