Creating a capsule wardrobe can feel overwhelming and daunting, especially if your current morning routine is to stare blankly into a wardrobe brimming with clothes you just can’t seem to put into outfits you like.
If you wish you had a collection of clothes that you feel excited about, that is easy to use and fun to wear, but you don’t know where to start, or what you need to do to pull together the right capsule wardrobe for you, I have the answers!
Over the past 20 years, I’ve sourced custom capsule wardrobes for thousands of women like you, that fit and suit them, and create a whole host of fail-safe outfits so they don't have to think about what to wear! This post shares all my tried-and-true tips and advice.
what is a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a hard-working collection of clothes consisting of staple pieces (preferably timeless) that fit you well, align with your lifestyle, and that can be mixed and matched (with very little thought) to create a whole host of outfits for all the occasions you need.
The concept of creating a capsule wardrobe is nothing new. You can trace its origins back to the 1970's, when Susie Faux (the founder of Wardrobe) came up with the concept of a capsule wardrobe. This was then championed by Donna Karan in the eighties, when she launched her 7 Easy Pieces collection, consisting of 7 staple pieces that could be layered over black body suits and opaque tights to create outfits for a variety of occasions. The emphasis was on a chic, pared-back collection of clothes that mixed and matched effortlessly.
The capsule wardrobe has continued to be around over the last 40 years, albeit in the background, but over the past few years, there's been a real resurgence in the desire to create a capsule wardrobe. I think in part due to the fact that there is more choice and variety than ever, and prices are reducing - we're overwhelmed by choice, and buying more than we need because it’s cheap..so it’s low risk. As a result, our closets are full of clothes that we don't really like that much, that we don't wear often, and so we're craving a fresh start and an easy-to-use wardrobe that’s fun to use!
why is it a good idea to create a capsule wardrobe?
If you want an easy-to-use, fun-to-wear collection of clothes that saves you money and time, then creating a capsule wardrobe is a great idea!
A well-considered capsule wardrobe can help you:
- Feel less stressed because you’ll know what to wear for each occasion…which means no more turning down invites!
- Save money by shopping with more focus, purpose, and clarity, and avoiding purchases that don’t get worn
- Save time so you can spend more of it doing things you actually enjoy
- Reduce decision fatigue because you’ll instinctively know what to reach for
- Make getting dressed feel easier, calmer, and more enjoyable
- Have one less thing to worry about day to day
And all of these benefits matter, because each one of them will have a positive knock-on effect on effect to other aspects of your life. I've had clients tell me that sorting out their closet gave them the confidence and motivation they needed to improve other areas of their lives they'd been neglecting.
how long does it take to build a capsule wardrobe?
I’m not going to lie, a capsule wardrobe takes time to create. Especially if you are starting from scratch. But that’s a good thing. You shouldn’t rush the process, because if you do, you’ll end up back at square one - with a disjointed collection that doesn’t look right on you, and is difficult to use.
Take your time to understand what you need in your capsule wardrobe, and when you think you’ve got a handle on that, take even more time to carefully select items that fit you well and complement each other.
Take it step by step. Move at a pace that is right for you. And keep tabs on where you're at, and what you need to do next.
Putting in some organized, focused effort into creating your capsule wardrobe will pay dividends in the months to come when you open up your closet and feel excited about deciding what to wear.
If you’re struggling to decide which pieces to include in your capsule, it can help to step back and clarify the essential items your wardrobe actually relies on, and why. This won’t just help you see what’s working for you now; it will also give you clearer direction moving forward. I’ve created a free Essential Items workbook to help you do exactly that:
seven important things to consider when building your capsule collection
Yes! There are seven important things you should avoid doing when you start creating your capsule wardrobe:
1/ Avoid following pre-made templates to ridgedly.
There is no one-size-fits-all capsule wardrobe, because what you need in your collection depends on YOU. So use with caution the ‘must have items for your capsule wardrobe’ type posts; use the information as a guide and mold it to suit you.
2/ Avoid including high-trend items in your core collection
The key to a hard-working capsule wardrobe is that it stands the test of time. You want your capsule to serve as the foundation of your wardrobe, on which you can build and develop your style as and when you want. So avoid including high-trend items, especially fleeting trends. Granted, some trends move into classic’s territory (wide leg pants/jeans are one such trend), so use your instincts and only include clothes you know you will still want to wear in a couple of years.
3/ Avoid cheap or fast fashion where possible
Invest in the best quality that your budget will allow, rather than wasting it on lots of cheaper, poorer quality items that won't last and will need to be replaced often.
4/ Don't rush - take your time.
Try to get out of the habit of buying clothes in a rush, on the way to the checkout at Target. Take your time to make more considered purchases - try the item on before you buy it, check the fit properly, ask yourself if the item can be worn with at least 3 items you already own. If you hear that voice in your head telling you “it’s not quite right, but it doesn’t matter because it’s cheap!” leave it!
4/ Build a capsule collection for your current life
Be realistic and create a capsule wardrobe for the life you do have. There's no point in having a wardrobe full of clothes waiting for an event that may never happen. Take the time to consider what you need your outfits for, then proportion your collection accordingly. Otherwise you will struggle to create outfits for the life you actually lead...and so continues the frustrating cycle of buying clothes, but having nothing to wear.
5/ Only include items that fit you and work for you
If an item doesn’t fit quite right, or doesn’t look right on you. Don't include it. Even if you love it, or love the idea of it. It will only end up hanging unworn in your wardrobe.
If you don't know which clothes fit you and work best for you, check out my instant guide to dressing your shape for only $67
6/ Stick to a small color palette
unless your confident mixing colors, it is much simpler to build a capsule wardrobe around a limited color palette. If you try to introduce too many colors, you may find it hard to know what to pair with what, and end up wearing only a small percentage of your collection. If you want some ideas to base your collection on, I've created 8 different palettes for you.
7/ Focus on one season at a time
Don't try to include all four seasons in a single capsule collection. Focus on one season at a time - and source a capsule for each one, building on the season before. And shop for the season you're in (obviously), otherwise you'll struggle to source the items you need.
Four important things to do before you start creating a capsule wardrobe?
There are a few important steps to take before you even start working on your capsule collection:
1/ Get to grips with what works for your body shape
You might not be especially focused on wearing clothes that are traditionally “flattering”, and that’s fine. But having a basic understanding of which clothing styles tend to work well for your shape (and why) makes it much easier to build a capsule wardrobe that actually works. Without that clarity, it’s easy to keep buying pieces you like in theory, only to feel disappointed once you start wearing them.
If you’re unsure what your body shape is and would like a few tips to get you started, I recommend taking my free body shape quiz. It’s more nuanced than most and takes into account that your shape may overlap with more than one body type.
2/ Clear some space in your closet
Remove the clothes you don’t like, that are tired or damaged beyond repair, and that don’t fit.
This will make space for the new, ‘right’ pieces to be added, but more importantly, it will help you rediscover what you have in your wardrobe, spur you on to make further improvements, and ultimately make the process of creating a capsule wardrobe easier.
If you need guidance on how to do this, I've created a simple online tutorial for only $47 that walks you through my tried-and-true process.
3/ Choose a color palette to guide your capsule collection.
Having a rough colour palette in mind before you start makes building your collection much easier, as it gives you a clear reference point while sourcing pieces for your capsule wardrobe.
It’s entirely up to you what that palette is; it doesn’t have to be a collection of neutrals. If you love bold colours, choose a small selection that harmonise and build your collection around those.
The key is that the colours complement each other, as this is what will give you the most versatility.
If you’d like to take it a step further, try creating a simple colour palette board like the one below and keep it nearby as you work on your collection. Here are a few more if you need a little inspiration.
4/ Give yourself time to focus on you and your collection
I know it can feel hard to carve out time for yourself, but it helps to treat your wardrobe as something worth scheduling, much like you would an appointment with your hair stylist. Block out a few short, manageable slots in your calendar (even just 30 minutes at a time) and work through the process methodically, rather than trying to do everything in one go.
A good place to start is by downloading my free Essential Items workbook (here) and spending half an hour getting clearer on your current collection and the life it needs to support. Over time, we all collect clothes for different versions of ourselves, and those past versions tend to linger in our closets, making it harder to put outfits together for who we are now.
Once you’re clearer on what you actually need your capsule wardrobe to do for you, you can start removing the pieces that no longer support that, and gradually introduce items that do — building a collection that feels more aligned, intentional, and easy to use.
How many clothes should be in a capsule wardrobe?
There isn’t a single “correct” number of items in a capsule wardrobe, because a capsule isn’t meant to represent your entire wardrobe. Instead, it’s a focused foundation: a considered group of pieces designed to work together easily, and to be built on gradually over time. Think of your capsule wardrobe as something fluid and organic; a collection that grows and develops with you.
When I create capsule collections for my clients, I typically work with two starting sizes:
A mini capsule, made up of around 10–12 carefully chosen pieces, usually designed to cover a single season (spring, summer, autumn, or winter) and a specific purpose, such as workwear, weekend wear, or vacation outfits.
A standard capsule, which includes those 10–12 core pieces, plus an additional 10 supporting items. This creates a larger, more versatile collection that often spans two seasons, such as spring/summer or autumn/winter, and can be mixed and matched across a couple of different settings, for example, work and evening.
If you’re creating your own capsule and would like a number to guide you, a good place to start is around 15 items. This gives you enough pieces to cover the essentials you rely on most, with a little room for variety, without feeling overwhelming.
The most important thing to remember is that a capsule wardrobe is never really finished. As your confidence, awareness, and needs evolve, so will your capsule. If you put some focused effort in at the beginning, you’ll find it relatively simple to refine, expand, and adapt your collection over time.
Four things that influence the size of your capsule collection:
1/ Your budget
If you’re working with a limited budget, starting with a smaller capsule collection is often more effective. A well-chosen 10–12 piece capsule can take you surprisingly far, and you can build on it as your budget allows.
2/ Your available space
Your wardrobe size matters. If you have the space (and want to use it), a slightly larger capsule may feel more comfortable. If not, a tighter edit can make getting dressed feel simpler.
3/ Your lifestyle
If your days require you to dress for several different contexts, such as work, casual time, events, travel, etc., a larger capsule will naturally give you more flexibility. If your lifestyle is more consistent, a smaller collection may work perfectly well.
4/ Your confidence level
If building a capsule wardrobe is new to you, starting with 10–15 items is often ideal. It allows you to experiment, learn what works, and build confidence before adding more.
How many colors should be in a capsule wardrobe?
If you’re someone who struggles to put outfits together or you’re not confident wearing or mixing colors, then I recommend limiting your color palette to around 5 colors that work together, in a variety of different shades (by 'shades' I mean a lighter and darker shade of each of the 5 colors). It's a simple way to give you 15 colors to play with!
I've created some example color palettes, in a variety of tones, to give you some ideas:
what should a capsule wardrobe include?
There’s no universally right or wrong item to include in a capsule wardrobe. What matters is that the pieces you choose work for you and work well together.
Rather than thinking in terms of a fixed checklist of items, it’s much more useful to think in categories or areas your capsule needs to cover. Within each category, there will usually be one or two core pieces: your essentials, alongside a small number of supporting items that add personality and variety.
When I build capsule wardrobes for clients, I focus on making sure each collection includes the right categories to support how they get dressed day to day. The exact items within each category will vary from person to person, depending on their lifestyle, preferences, body shape, and needs.
Below are the key areas most capsule wardrobes need to address. Use these as a framework, not a shopping list.
Twelve key capsule wardrobe categories to consider
You won’t need something from every category listed here. The aim isn’t to tick boxes, but to make sure your capsule wardrobe covers the areas you actually get dressed for. Some categories will matter far more to you than others, and some may not be relevant at all.
1/ A selection of everyday bottoms
These are the bottoms you find yourself reaching for most; the ones that form the base of your go-to outfits. This might be jeans, pants, or a skirt, depending on what feels most natural for how you live and get dressed.
In my own capsule wardrobe, these pieces consist of jeans in various styles and a pair of fluid, wide-leg pants.
2/ A selection of dressier bottoms
Bottoms you pull when you want to look a little more put-together. These might be items you wear for work, evenings, or dressier occasions when your everyday items don't quite cut it.
In my own wardrobe, these pieces consist of a satin maxi skirt, dark denim, and velvet wide-leg pants.
3/ Everyday lightweight tops
Easy-to-wear, everyday pieces that can be worn alone or layered. They're simple and understated, usually consisting of a mix of long- and short-sleeved tees and tanks in various necklines.
In my own capsule, I have a selection of good-quality short-sleeved tees in different styles (boxy, cropped, fitted, etc.) and tanks, as well as a variety of long-sleeved layering tops with different necklines ( square, v-neck, turtle-neck).
4/ Everyday heavyweight tops
These are easy-to-wear, everyday pieces that can be worn alone or layered over your lightweight tops. Again, they're simple and understated, but may be slightly more structured. Examples include knitwear, sweatshirts, and jersey tops.
For example, in my own capsule, my everyday heavyweight tops are chunky and lightweight cashmere sweaters, a denim button-up, knitted turtlenecks, etc...
5/ A selection of polished tops
Slightly more elevated tops you reach for when you want to look a little more polished. This could be a blouse, a refined knit, a tailored vest, a button-up, etc.
In my own wardrobe, I have some pretty blouses, a couple of vests - denim and linen, and some dressy jersey tops.
6/ A few one-and-done outfits
Single pieces that create an outfit with minimal effort. This might be a dress, jumpsuit, or matching set that can be styled in multiple ways.
In my own wardrobe, I have a couple of jumpsuits and dresses, but my core one-and-done outfits are my matching separates.
7/Relaxed layers
Every day, casual outer layers that you wear regularly and can throw over any outfit. Examples of these include a shacket, cardigans, a denim shirt, a flannel, and a kimono.
In my own wardrobe, I have a couple of denim shirts and flannels that I can style on their own, layer over my everyday lightweight tops, and wear under my heavier-weight knits.
8/ A selection of dressier layers.
Elevated layers that instantly pull an outfit together, and that feel more polished or structured than your everyday layer. Good examples include a blazer, a structured cardigan (jardigan), or a tailored jacket that finishes an outfit.
My lifestyle doesn't call for much of this category - in my wardrobe, I have a couple of relaxed blazers I can dress up or down as needed.
9/ Everyday outerwear
The coat or outer layer you reach for most often. It should work with the majority of your capsule outfits and make sense for your climate and routine. Items that fit this category could be a quilted coat, a parka, a denim trucker, a trench, or a moto jacket.
My own wardrobe consists of a moto jacket, a trench coat, and a quilted coat.
10/ Dressier outerwear
An outer layer you rely on when you want to look more pulled together. It might be a slightly fashion-led coat, something tailored, or more classic, and in more premium fabrics such as wool, faux fur, or leather.
In my wardrobe, my essentials are a faux-fur coat and an oversized wool coat that fits over everything.
11/ A selection of footwear
When you've got a handle on your key categories and the essentials within them, you can start focusing on footwear. Be guided by your lifestyle, location, and climate; then consider your personal style preferences within those categories.
12/ A few handbags
Handbags are part of how your outfits function day to day, so it’s worth thinking about them as part of your capsule. Most people find it helpful to have one or two go-to bags they use regularly, and perhaps a more polished option for dressier outfits or occasions. Focus on styles, sizes, and colours that work with the clothes you wear most often.
Frequently asked questions about building a capsule wardrobe
Can I build a capsule collection on a budget?
Yes! You absolutely can. In fact, if you have a tight budget, I 100% recommend building a capsule collection. The whole concept of a capsule wardrobe is that:
- It contains only what you need
- Each item is right for you (so it will be worn)
- Each piece in the collection is versatile, so it can be worn in multiple ways
- And the items in the collection are of the best quality your budget will allow, which means they last longer = value for money.
Creating a capsule wardrobe is quite literally an exercise in spending your money wisely!
Is a capsule wardrobe going to limit me?
Let me ask you this:
- How many different outfits are you putting together with your current collection? 6? Maybe 8?
- What percentage of the clothes in your wardrobe are you actually wearing? 20% - 30%
- And how long does it take you to put an outfit together? I'm guessing it's...too. damn. long.
You see, it’s not the size of the collection, or the amount of clothes that you have in the wardrobe that dictates how fun or easy it is to use - you already have a closet bulging with clothes, but you're wearing the same few outfits. It’s the actual items themselves that determine how limiting a collection is.
A capsule collection is the opposite of your current collection - it’s small, easy to use, fun to wear, and can be developed each season effortlessly, as and when you want.
Is a capsule wardrobe boring?
I can forgive you for worrying about this, given that the majority of the capsule wardrobe templates floating around Pinterest consist of plain, neutral, bland clothes that don't really excite.
The truth is that your collection can be whatever you want it to be, in any color and any style you like…the only proviso is that each piece in your collection works for you, and compliments the other items in the collection.
How can I make a capsule wardrobe work for me?
Align your capsule wardrobe with your lifestyle
The clothes you have in your capsule wardrobe must work for your lifestyle. There’s no point in having a large proportion of your closet devoted to dressy occasions if you rarely get dressed up. Think about what you do day to day, and proportion your closet accordingly.
Consider your body shape
The clothes in your capsule collection need to fit you really well and make the most of your shape. If they don’t, you’ll end up questioning why you struggle to put outfits together from your capsule collection that look as good on you as they do in your head.
Keep your shape in mind when you're shopping for your pieces, and only let into your collection the ones that look good on you and make you feel good.
Want to know what works for your shape?
Get instant access to everything you need to know about dressing your shape and putting outfits together that work. So you can finally start creating outfits that look as good on you as they do in your head!
Consider your personal style
Many of the capsule wardrobe examples you’ll see are quite neutral or minimal. This is because it’s easier for others to copy (and it’s trending) - but if that’s not your style, don't replicate it.
Make your capsule collection a reflection of you, so you feel good wearing it and enjoy putting your outfits together. If you need help uncovering your personal style, this post might help
Ask yourself what you truly like.
OK, this might seem obvious, but with social media and retailer newsletters ramming the current popular styles down our throats every. single. day. You can be forgiven for succumbing and purchasing something you might not usually buy.
Put the latest trends (and your Instagram feed) to one side and remind yourself which shapes, styles, colors, and prints you really like, and then add more of this good stuff to your collection.
these are the best stores to head to when you're creating a capsule wardrobe
These are some of the stores I regularly use when I'm sourcing a capsule wardrobe for my clients. Their clothing is good quality, their pieces are typically very versatile, and the brands compliment each other which makes it easier to mix and match from them.
Can I get a pre-made capsule wardrobe?
If you can’t face building a capsule wardrobe on your own, or don't have the time, there are some retailers and companies who can do it for you:
conclusion
Ultimately - if you want to open your closet each morning, feeling excited about deciding what to wear, and to spend only a few minutes putting together an outfit that looks good on you, then a capsule wardrobe is for you!
Yes, it takes time to create, but the effort you put into creating your wardrobe will yield HUGE benefits in the months to come.
In the words of one of my clients, after I sourced her a standard capsule collection:
"I really love my closet now, it's a joy again because I now know my style and feel confident in how to put things together that I like. I always find something I love to wear, and I have way more confidence to add to it. I know the combos that work well and feel good on my body. I also have way less decision fatigue. I just know what to take out - simple!"
- ZOE LAVENDER
If you have any questions about pulling together your capsule wardrobe, get in touch - I'm here to help!
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product via these links I will earn a small commission. I NEVER link to products that I wouldn’t recommend to my clients, or purchase myself, in fact I own many of the styles linked here so can vouch for them! To find out more CLICK HERE
