To get dressed effectively is a problem women still face. Here’s how you can solve it with capsule wardrobes.

How big is your wardrobe? Do you know the exact number of clothes you own? May be you had a count, but lost track of it after an impromptu shopping spree. Fast fashion along with our consumerist culture have convinced us that we must own everything. As a result we are left with closets crammed with clothes and accessories, which we might never look at again.

Enter capsule wardrobes, which started as a niche practice have been pushed into spotlight as a general minimalistic aesthetic. Today, capsule wardrobes may seem like an innovative or a trending way of minimalism, but it actually dates back to the ‘70s.

What is a capsule wardrobe?

• The term ‘Capsule Wardrobe’ was coined by Susie Faux, owner of a London boutique, ‘Wardrobe’ in the 1970s.
• Growing up Faux was surrounded by high quality fashion, since both her parents and grandparents were women’s tailors. There she got to witness first-hand, the power of a well-stitched garment and how well-fitted clothing can inspire confidence.
• In 1973 she opened ‘Wardrobe’, a boutique in west London, with the primary mission to help women build style and confidence.  
• Susie brought on board designers like Jil Sander to the UK and built a reputation for a minimalistic aesthetic.
• Later in the years, she pioneered the term ‘Capsule Wardrobe’. She also came up with a book called Wardrobe: Develop Your Style & Confidence, which she used as a platform to define the parameters for this new and interesting concept.
• In her book, Faux stated, “The basic idea is simple: by building a capsule wardrobe you will buy fewer clothes of a higher quality that you will wear more often. You will look and feel confident and successful because the quality will show and because you know that the overall look works.”

More than anything capsule wardrobes were associated with how to get dressed with ease and still look put together and professional.

Evolution of a capsule wardrobe

• At the time, the concept of capsule wardrobes was developed with career oriented women in mind.
• More than anything capsule wardrobes were associated with how to get dressed with ease and still look put together and professional.
• Faux did define some of the core pieces for a capsule wardrobe as a skirt, a blouse, a jacket, trousers, a bag, a dress, shoes, tights, and a belt.
• The capsule would encompass an individual’s style, there are no hard and fast rules. But there is a principle, less is more. She believed in quality rather than quantity.

In 1985, capsule wardrobes were made mainstream by American designer, Dona Karan with the introduction of her capsule collection of parallel work wear called ‘Seven Easy Pieces’.

• The foundational item of this collection was the black bodysuit. The collection also featured pants, short and long, wrap skirts, tailored jacket, sweater, scarves and gold jewellery. T

In recent years, the capsule wardrobe has made a comeback, due to the rise in fast fashion and its subsequent effects on our wardrobes. Fast fashion made clothing cheap and accessible to all such that now it is a global environmental issue.

Now the question is why should someone adopt and maintain a capsule wardrobe? What is in it for them? At first the thought of an edited closet maybe daunting, but it is quite liberating, and here is why we think it is an ideal choice.

It saves money, time and energy

• While this may seem obvious, it is an important aspect of a capsule wardrobe. It will save you a ton of money in the long run.
• You may disburse some extra cash, investing in high quality pieces for your wardrobe, but it will be an investment. Those pieces will be durable.
• Since the concept of a capsule wardrobe is to makes the pieces in your wardrobe count (not just as one-time use), you’ll be much more careful and thoughtful in the pieces you invest in.
• Instead of having a wardrobe filled with clothes that don’t fit well or you don’t like to wear, you’ll have a well-curated wardrobe, with pieces you will actually wear, the pieces that fit you well and give you confidence.
• Cutting through all the noise of the unwanted pieces in your wardrobe you will be able to create an outfit you love every day, without any hustle.

A solicitous wardrobe supports the environment

• The idea behind fast fashion is to have designs move from runway to the stores as soon as possible to meet the trends.
• It enables mainstream consumers to buy trendy clothes at affordable prices. To make these clothes cheap, the quality of these products is poor and hence they are discarded sooner than their expensive counterparts.
• This has led to major environmental problems such as landfill overflow and pollution. To serve the need of the ever changing trends the manufacturers utilize cheap labour and often neglect the basic human rights in the process.
• By the simple act of refraining from purchasing these cheap clothes of poor quality and making a well-curated wardrobe for yourself, you join hands for ethical practices in the fashion industry.

Spread your creative wings

• Cutting down on the number of pieces in your wardrobe you will inevitably start the practice of experimenting with limited number of pieces.
• You may wear the same shirt in multiple ways. For example, wear it backwards and have a backless blouse, or wear it off the shoulder and have a chic look.
• It will also make you use your creative muscles not just to pick out an outfit, but to create a look.
• You might want to go monochrome and add elements to your look by accessories or makeup.
• For casual looks go for dainty jewellery and subtle makeup. On another day go for bold makeup, neutral clothes and minimal jewellery.
• A capsule wardrobe will not only transform your look but make you more confident in yourself. It help you learn new skills, polish the skills you already have and widen your horizon.

You will gain a closet that defines you

At the end of the day you will be left with a wardrobe with trends that you like, the clothes that fit you, a closet that defines you. After getting rid of the access you will gain a closet that screams you and only you. With a capsule wardrobe you will be your own trendsetter.