What is a capsule wardrobe? How to build your first one

Staying on top of fashion trends can be expensive, exhausting, and unsustainable. Building a capsule wardrobe may be the perfect antidote to a revolving door of fast fashion, fads, and fatigue.

A capsule wardrobe is made up of 20-50 pieces of clothing, focusing on quality materials and long-lasting style. You’ll invest in higher-quality garments which will translate to savings over time. 

So let’s get into the ins and outs of what a capsule wardrobe is all about, how to build one, and what you should be looking for.

What is a capsule wardrobe?

In short: a minimal collection of wardrobe essentials. Hardcore capsule wardrobe enthusiasts keep their number to just 28 pieces, but more flexible collections accommodate up to around 50.

The idea is that each piece you pick is versatile and will work with many other pieces. This means you’ll have a maximum number of outfits with the fewest pieces.

It’s not only a great way to live more sustainably and opt out of buying fast fashion, but you’ll save money too.

Your capsule wardrobe can be as strict or as flexible as you want it to be, depending on your lifestyle and personal taste.

Why build one?

Perhaps you’re sick of trying to find something to wear or feeling like you have nothing you like (despite having mounds of clothes). With fewer, versatile pieces, you’ll have a collection of outfits you can mix and match that don’t give you decision fatigue.

From a sustainability perspective, you’ll be moving away from fast fashion and short-lived trends that involve cheap clothes you have to replace often. 

Investing in quality capsule clothing made of fibres like cotton and linen reduces your carbon footprint and means your stuff lasts longer. 

As a result, you’ll save money long-term, as your wardrobe will be full of staple pieces that are minimal rather than trend-focused.

A capsule wardrobe doesn’t mean you won’t look good, either. There are plenty of options that can be stylish throughout the years without relying on changing fads.

How to get started

If all of this sounds daunting, don’t worry. The key is to start slowly and take it step by step.

Step 1: Have a clear out

There’s something satisfying about paring down your wardrobe. Dedicate some time to going through each and every article of clothing you own and assessing how much you really love it.

Try on items you’re not sure about: are they a good fit, does the colour work for you, how often do you wear them, do they bring you joy? 

Don’t hang onto items you’d need to change your body to look good in, or pieces that are similar to each other.

Donate anything (in good condition) that you don’t love, or sell them on Etsy, eBay or Vinted to make a little money back.

A simple tip is to create ‘yes’, ‘no’, and ‘maybe’ piles. 

 ‘Yes’ = keep and put back in your wardrobe

‘No’ = donate or sell

 ‘Maybe’ = keep and assess how much you wear them (next step)

Step 2: Assess what you wear

Now you need to figure out what you actually wear in your everyday life. Give yourself a generous timeframe of a month or so and make a note of the items you’re consistently picking. Add a sticker/mark to the hanger every time you wear the item on it.

You can have an aesthetic that you’re aiming for, but that should be built on your current habits. There’s no point building a wardrobe of things you think you should wear if you’re completely ignoring what you actually will wear.

After the month is over, you might find you have a few more ‘maybe’ items you can donate without hesitation. 

Repeat this test in different seasons and make a note of any pieces that work all year round; these are capsule clothing essentials.

Step 3: Sort existing wardrobe into categories

Create some space and start gathering your clothes then group into these categories:

Jeans

Trousers & leggings

Skirts

Shorts

Tops

Shirts & blouses

Dresses

Jumpers & cardigans

Jackets & blazers

Coats

Shoes

 Accessories (belts, bags, hats, scarves)

These groups aren’t hard and fast; feel free to tweak them based on what you have or don’t have. You can work within the current season and put aside any out-of-season pieces for now.

As you’re grouping, try to single out items from each category that you like and wear regularly. Which pair of blue jeans do you love the most? Which jumpers and tops can you wear with the most bottoms? Which skirts can you add tights to for winter wear?

Step 4: Try it with what you’ve got

Gather the items you’ve singled out for the current season and start building your capsule wardrobe. This is your trial period, so you don’t need to worry about getting rid of any more items. 

Mix and match outfits, experiment with pairings you haven’t tried before, and take photos of fits you like. Have fun and take as much time as you want – this is the bit where you get to experiment and be creative.

The list below is a rough guide of what you’re aiming for, although you might have more of one category and fewer of another. It’s all down to your lifestyle and the aim is to simplify your wardrobe (and your life).

Jeans: 2-3 pairs

 Trousers & leggings: 2-3 pairs

Skirts: 1-2

Shorts: 1-2

Tops: 5-6

Shirts & blouses: 3-4

Dresses: 3-4

Jumpers & cardis: 3-4

Jackets & blazers: 1-2

Coats: 1-2

Shoes: 3-5 pairs

 Accessories: 2-3 (each) bags, belts, scarves, hats

Step 5: Slowly add in pieces

Once you’ve started trying out your capsule wardrobe, you might identify gaps in your categories. This is where you can start picking up pieces to round out your collection.

Remember, you’re not looking to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe – that would defeat the sustainability and money-saving element. 

Instead, shop mindfully for good quality staples that you know will go with what you already have and can be worn to create multiple outfits.

Capsule wardrobe examples

So, let’s talk examples. Since capsule wardrobes are a more sustainable alternative, we’ve gathered some of our favourite items from our Green Cashback retailers. Some of these include Nobody’s Child (which you can find at M&S), Seasalt Cornwall (at M&S and Next), Ninety Percent, Komodo, Rapanui, Plain and Simple, and Omnes.

These are sustainable fashion brands who pass rigorous testing under Ethical Consumer guidelines, from labour laws and production to quality materials and ethical farming. 

As a result, you may find prices are a little higher, but remember that you’re focusing on quality over quantity. What you’re investing in should last you much longer than fast fashion pieces made from poor-quality materials. (And you can always wait for a sale!)

Jeans

Aim for two or three pairs (or you might be happy with just one if you’re not much of a jeans-wearer), and make sure each one is different. Mix up styles like straight leg, wide-leg, high-rise and low-rise, and colours like classic blue, light blue, or black.

Trousers & leggings

Your two or three pairs of trousers and leggings should cover your comfy days, everyday wear, and one pair of tailored trousers that you can dress up a little. As with jeans, you should aim for slightly different styles and/or colours.

Skirts

Skirts can be just as versatile as trousers – pair a smart black mini with tights in the winter or wear as is in spring and summer. A loose linen midi skirt can be ideal for a cool summer fit or to balance out a small top.

Shorts

Are shorts everyone’s least favourite summer clothing piece? Fortunately, there are lots of different options, like classic denim, loose linen, paperbag, and culottes. Keep it simple so you can wear these with lots of different tops.

Tops

You can of course keep any bold prints and patterned tops that you already have and wear a lot, but you also want to make sure you have enough plain tops. Patterns can include stripes and polka dots (which basically never go out of style), but stick to colours that will go with what you already have.

Staples you want to have include: plain vest top, plain tee, plain long-sleeved top. Vest tops and tees are ideal for layering under a button-down shirt, and long sleeves will come in handy when it gets cold.

Shirts & blouses

Blouses and button-up shirts are great for layering with other items. If you love a statement top, here you can invest in a blouse that can dress up an outfit and goes with at least three bottoms.

Dresses

You might think that dresses are only for the summer, but some of our examples above can be versatile and evergreen. Pinafores and strappy dresses can be worn alone in summer or layered with a long-sleeved top and tights for winter. A wrap dress and shirt dress can also be versatile, with adjustable sleeves and a light, floaty quality, perfect for in-between seasons.

Jumpers & cardis

Jumpers and cardigans are an easy layer to add to skirts, trousers, leggings, and even dresses. Build a mix of bold and neutral colours, based on what you already have. You have lots of options for styles here: cropped, chunky, long, oversized, fitted…whatever suits you best.

Jacket & blazers

Bomber jackets, oversized denim jackets, leather jackets, shackets, blazers…there are lots of choices here. Try to avoid trends and stick to what you know you’ll wear again and again. Jackets are best in neutral or basic colours, as you’ll be wearing them over lots of other clothes.

Coats

Ideally, you should have just one coat, but that of course depends on where you live and what the weather’s like. You might find that a classic trenchcoat is enough to get you through the whole year with enough layering underneath. For colder climates, you might need one lightweight coat (like a trench), and one more heavy duty, like the padded coat featured above.

Shoes

Shoe addicts may find paring down this category difficult. Capsule wardrobes should usually include one of each: trainers, sandals, boots, flats. For formal events (or just because), you might need one pair of heels, too.

Tip: Shop ex-display shoes at Schuh and Office to save items from landfill and get a bargain!

Accessories

Which accessories can’t you live without? Aim for one or two of each: bags, belts, hats, glasses, and scarves. The bags featured above are examples of genuine leather found second hand on Oxfam Online Shop. You can also pare down your jewellery collection and start working with a handful of your favourite everyday pieces.

Tips for your capsule wardrobe

Building a minimalist capsule wardrobe takes time but not only does it pay off, it can be fun too. To help you get started, we’ve got some tips to help you stick to your guns.

 Know your colours

You might not know exactly whether you’re a light autumn or a deep winter, but you should have some ideas of what suits you. Take this opportunity to really examine colours next to your skin, hair, and eyes. 

 Pick styles that suit & avoid trends

It doesn’t matter if it’s wide-leg, skinny, or straight-leg jeans that are in; it’s about what suits you and what you feel good in. Fashion trends are fleeting, so avoid anything ‘new’ and not necessarily flattering.

 Keep patterns minimal

You’ve gotta say goodbye to graphic tees and busy florals, unfortunately. The more colour and pattern within one piece, the less it will go with. You can still hang on to bold colours that fit your palette, but make sure you have plenty of neutral or basic shades that are more versatile.

 Rent pieces 

Sometimes, special events pop up that you need a one-off outfit for. Clothing rental means you can wear a gorgeous piece of clothing without adding an item you won't use as much. You can even rent designer clothing that you wouldn't have the budget to buy normally.

 Shop second hand

We’ve included some examples from Oxfam Online Shop, where you can find good-quality second hand and vintage designer items. Second hand gives a second life to clothes that are still in a good condition. It’s not only a sustainable way to shop, but often more budget-friendly. Check out second hand shops in person, as well as online platforms like Vinted, eBay, Thrift+, Depop, and Rokit Vintage.

 Opt for quality materials

Polyester and synthetic materials aren’t naturally sweat-wicking or long-lasting, and will deteriorate faster. Materials like linen, cotton, denim, and leather are much more durable. So, while you may find prices for these materials are higher, you’ll save in the long run as you won’t need to replace as often.

 Layers are your friend

One of the tricks to ensuring your capsule clothing works all year round is layering. Even thin layers trap air and heat between them, and two thin layers can be just as effective as one thick layer. Look out for pieces that can be worn alone in warm weather and layered in cold weather.

 Take photos of trial outfits

Found a new pairing you like? Take a photo and keep it in a separate album. The next time you’re shopping and can’t remember what goes and what doesn’t, you can use these as references.

 Don’t aim for a number

The most hardcore capsule wardrobe enthusiasts keep their number to just 28, but you don’t have to. You might find over time that you stay consistently around a certain number, but to start out, don’t aim for a number.

 Add to your basket and wait 

It can be hard to kick a strong shopping habit. But the buzz you get is usually from the act of shopping, not buying. So next time you’re online shopping, add what you fancy to your basket, then wait a couple of days.

When you go back, you might find you don’t need those items after all. (But if you do, you might find an email in your inbox with a discount on your forgotten items.)

Get cashback 

The brands we’ve pulled examples from all feature on our site. We offer free cashback for our members who shop at these brands via our site. All it takes is an extra click and you’ll get free money on your purchases.

So, how does it work? Brands pay us a commission for sending you to them. We pass 100% of that commission to you as cashback. For example, if you find Nobody’s Child on our site and we offer 5% cashback, then you click the ‘get cashback’ button, spend £40 on their site, you’d get £2 cashback.

Sew long, fast fashion

The key to success when building your capsule wardrobe is starting small and slowly. Your aim is to curb spending and reduce what you own, so don’t rush out and buy a whole new collection!

Don’t aim for perfection or for a number, but curate your wardrobe to what suits you. Everyone’s will look different, and it’s all about your personal style.

It can be hard to ignore trends and curb your shopping habit, but the more you practise, the easier it will become.