In principle, a Capsule Wardrobe could be described as a minimalist wardrobe. That means less is more. You only own a few essential pieces that never go out of fashion. Some talk about 33 pieces, others about 39 or 40. The extreme ones get by with 10 pieces of clothing including shoes! (Underwear, socks, pyjamas and sportswear do not count).
But how is this supposed to work?
The trick is that all the pieces in your wardrobe can be combined, resulting in a variety of outfits.
What advantages does a Capsule Wardrobe have for me?
I personally see a big advantage in the fact that it saves time and energy. You ask yourself less often: what should I wear? With fewer items, you keep track of everything and it's easier to make decisions. A minimalist wardrobe also automatically stays much tidier. A capusule wardrobe typically consists of high-quality and sustainable garments that are usually not as cheap as certain 'throwaway fashions'. Nevertheless, I think you save money in the long run because you buy a lot less overall and make a lot fewer impulse and bad purchases. This ultimately leads to another very positive 'side effect'. A Capsule Wardrobe ensures more sustainability. A rethinking of our consumer behaviour ultimately also leads to fewer CO2 emissions.
Incidentally, Susie Faux, owner of a London fashion shop called Wardrobe in the 1970s, is considered the inventor of the Capsule Wardrobe. Her idea: a collection of a few basics that do not go out of fashion and which can be supplemented by seasonal pieces. The idea was made even more popular by American designer Donna Karen in 1985. She released a collection of 7 garments that could be combined with each other.
5 steps
- What do you need for everyday life? Think about what everyday situations you need your outfits for. If you work 100% in the office, it's probably more business pieces. If you're a full-time mum, it's probably more casual clothes... think carefully about what you need on a regular basis.
- Cleaning out: just like in the KonMarie method, you empty your wardrobe completely, clean through it and then pick up each item of clothing individually. (Allow enough time for this, it will take 2-3 hours or more....) Does it still fit? Do I feel comfortable in it? Is it my style? Am I only keeping it out of a guilty conscience? Is it good for my figure? Basically: Does it spark joy?..as Marie Kondo likes to say. Only keep what you really like and what suits you at the moment.
- Analysis! Can you identify a style? Which colours, materials and cuts do you like?
- (Colour) concept! Your Caspule Wardrobe should consist of several neutral colours. Neutral colours (also called basic colours) include: dark blue, black, white, grey, brown, beige. And then you can choose 1-2 accent colours. For me, these are light blue and pink. These file colours match each other and also all the neutral colours I have.
- Change shopping behaviour: shop less spontaneously. As I said, it should be sustainable fashion of high quality that you can wear for several years. In principle, once your capsule wardrobe is complete, you only buy something new to replace an old piece.
