How to Create a Chic Capsule Wardrobe in 3 Steps

“New Year, new you” right? Well, your closet could probably use some refreshing, too. Enter: The capsule wardrobe.

A capsule wardrobe is a highly curated selection of clothing that are essential to your everyday style. Many contain about 30 pieces- yes, just 30 pieces. The idea is to mix and match these staple items all year long. 

Why would we ever limit our wardrobes? Good question. The capsule wardrobe accomplishes several things. It eliminates waste by encouraging people to buy only what they really want and will wear regularly. It also minimizes the amount of time spent standing in front of your closet not knowing what to wear. (Which can be pretty time-consuming and not to mention, stressful.)

Keep reading for our step-by-step guide, plus get inspired by our favorite minimalist outfits and see how you can get the look yourself.

Step 1. 

Organize your clothes and accessories into four categories: Love It, Like It, Donate It, and Toss It. Pretty self explanatory, right? Well, it’s easier said than done. It’s important to be honest with yourself: Is your “Love It” pile filled with clothes you wear a lot and will wear in the next several months? 

Step 2. 

Narrow down your Love Its to about 20 pieces (we won’t judge if you’re over a little). Make sure you’ve chosen a team of staples and take note of any pieces you might need to purchase. 

Step 3. 

Here’s a general checklist:

1. Basic shirts (short sleeve, long sleeve, and turtlenecks.)
2. Jeans that fit and can be dressed up or down. 
3. Neutral trainers to be worn while running errands or in a business casual setting. 
4. Leather booties for cold weather and nights out.
5. Heels for special occasions. 
6. An LBD for literally any season or occasion. 
7. A Leather jacket (splurge for a nice one, it’s always worth it!)
8. A blazer (for professional purposes).
9. A button-down shirt to be dressed up or down.
10. An everyday purse.

These are just 10 examples of some core pieces for any wardrobe. The key is that all of your clothes can be paired together and fit you well. Once you have a core selection, you can add to it/swap out items at the end of every season: Need a winter coat? Add that. Need shorts? Add those, too. 

And that’s it! Just remember: It’s not a trend, it’s a lifestyle. 

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Written by Mia Zarrella