When I was younger, I used to grab whatever sparked my eye while walking through the mall. I subscribed vehemently to fast fashion and had overflowing closets. I would have to clean out my closet frequently due to overflow. When I cleaned, I would find clothing with tags on them pushed to the back that I forgot to wear. It was overwhelming, wasteful and expensive. I didn’t understand the concept of staple wardrobe pieces, investment pieces, or capsule wardrobes. Capsule wardrobes have become more popular in the last decade or two. They encompass minimalism, style and organization. I want to share my fashion journey from chaos to calm for others. This is all about how to create a seamless closet with an example of the perfect neutral capsule wardrobe.
If you’re already a capsule wardrobe pro and want to peruse the links to my neutral capsule wardrobe, feel free to scroll to the bottom.
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What is a Capsule Wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a collection of clothing that works together. It isn’t a collection of outfits but more a collection of pieces you can put together in a variety of ways. They tend to include basics like tees, jeans and tanks. They often include a variety of different clothing types like pants, dresses and shirts to mix together. They reduce the need to go out and “buy a new top to go with those pants”. Everything you need is already in your neutral capsule wardrobe.
Capsule Wardrobes help minimize the amount of clothing in one’s closet. You won’t be finding forgotten clothing pieces pushed to the back of your closet. They are all organized in front of you and not crammed into a small space. Capsule wardrobes can extend along different seasons, although you may have a few pieces that are dedicated to one season in particular.
How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe for Women
The easiest way to start your capsule wardrobe is to decide what style you wish to wear and where you’ll be wearing it. Do you work in an office and need a few more pairs of slacks in your wardrobe? Are you a stay at home Mother who needs clothing that are comfortable like leggings, yet stylish? Once you figure out what you want and what you need this wardrobe for, you can begin to piece together some items.
Slow vs. Fast Fashion
An important part of building capsule wardrobes is investing in slow fashion. But, what is slow fashion? Slow fashion is a concept that challenges the fashion industries wasteful and exploitive practices. It is adopting a more sustainable approach to clothing and fashion. By focusing on staple pieces and investment pieces, you are choosing clothing that will go beyond the test of time. Unlike fleeting trends, slow fashion encompasses the notion that each piece is timeless and will be loved for years to come.
Fast fashion on the other hand is an unfortunate result of heavy marketing and cheap quality. Many larger brands manufacture overseas where the labor to make these items does not equal the pay received. It is often a process that heavily follows latest trends and survives off of clever marketing and people feeling like they “must have it”.
This isn’t to make anyone feel guilty. Many closets, mine included, are a blend of slow and fast fashion. My personal goal is to slowly move over to more timeless pieces. I would much rather invest in a nice leather jacket that I will love and wear for years to come than grab a quick trending jacket that will be out of style in a year and sitting in a landfill.
Slow fashion has been easier for me to achieve as an Adult. Adults are done growing so purchasing more pricey timeless pieces makes the most sense at this age. We often know our style and what we love. We are less prone to jumping on trends. I loved a good trend in my youth, but there are only a handful I subscribe to these days. I am most focused on high quality, neutral, minimalist and timeless fashion.
What items you’ll need in a Capsule Wardrobe for Women
A capsule wardrobe is comprised of a handful of each type of clothing item that all work together. You can create a variety of different outfits with these clothing items. It’s like a sophisticated mix and match situation. These capsule wardrobes can often extend across a variety of seasons as layering is a priority. You may need to add a few items here and there for the most extreme seasons like Summer and Winter depending on where you live and the climate. But, for the most part, a capsule wardrobe comprises of the staple basics that will carry you through the majority of the year.
There are a few items that you should have in each capsule wardrobe. I have listed the most important items below. You will see that there are different sleeve length, different fabric weights, and many items for layering over each other. Ideally, you want around 4-6 pieces for each category. Here is what you need to get started building a capsule wardrobe for women:
- Basic Tees + Camis
- Sweaters + Blazers
- Pants, Denim + Leggings
- Dresses
- Shoes, Bags + Accessories
- Jackets + Outerwear
The Best Neutral Capsule Wardrobe for Women
I am a neutral lover through and through. I love the ease and sophistication neutrals bring. Crisp white tees, medium wash jeans, black leggings and pants, soft beige merino wool sweaters. It all excites me. It all goes well together. In fact, one of the easiest wardrobes to build is a neutral capsule wardrobe. Neutrals are very popular too which means brands are focused on making the best pieces in gorgeous neutral colors. You can also easily add a random pop of color anywhere within a neutral wardrobe.
Shop my Neutral Capsule Wardrobe for Women
I built this neutral capsule wardrobe using one of my favorite brands: Everlane.
Everlane has become a favorite shop of mine for a few reasons. With keeping in the wellness space, it is a sustainable brand that uses better materials. They also ensure they are working with fair trade factories and list information about their factories on their website. They are very transparent about their entire process. Their dedication to sustainability makes them a top choice for fashion. Beyond this, they create very high quality pieces.
They craft modern essential pieces for your wardrobe. I am always looking for staple pieces and neutral modern style. Everlane has been one of my favorite places for this and I could be happy just wearing their clothing alone. This is why I created the entire neutral capsule using their brand. It can be a lot easier putting together a capsule wardrobe from one store if possible. You can certainly add or swap out pieces to suit your style, but this capsule is a perfect starting place and example of what you can do for your closet.
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