How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe

Fewer clothes, more outfits and a wardrobe that actually works for you.

We've all done it. Stood in front of a wardrobe full of clothes, running late, convinced we've got absolutely nothing to wear. There are the jeans we bought because they looked great on someone else, the shirt that's never quite fitted properly and the dress we're saving for an occasion that never seems to arrive. Meanwhile, we reach for the same handful of favourites every week.

It's funny how having more clothes doesn't necessarily make getting dressed any easier.

That's where the idea of a capsule wardrobe comes in. And before you imagine a rail of identical white shirts and beige trousers, don't worry. It doesn't have to be quite so serious. A good capsule wardrobe should make your life easier, but it should still feel like you.

What exactly is a capsule wardrobe?

Put simply, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of clothes that work well together and that you genuinely enjoy wearing. The idea is to have fewer pieces that you can mix and match to create different outfits, rather than a wardrobe full of things that only work with one particular item.

You'll often see capsule wardrobe guides suggesting you need exactly 30 or 40 pieces. Some even give you a strict list of what you're allowed to own. We're not particularly interested in that approach.

If you love clothes, there's no reason to stop enjoying them. And if your wardrobe needs to accommodate everything from working at home to weddings and weekends away, a fixed number probably isn't going to be very helpful.

Think of it as making better use of what you already have, rather than following another set of rules.

Start with the clothes you actually wear

Before you buy anything, have a proper look through your wardrobe. Pull out the pieces you wear regularly. The jeans that fit perfectly. The jumper you always reach for. That favourite T-shirt you've washed so many times you've lost count. Lay them out and see what they have in common.

You might notice that you prefer relaxed shapes, darker colours or clothes that don't need ironing. Perhaps you love oversized shirts but never feel comfortable in fitted jackets. These are all useful things to know.

It's also worth thinking about how you spend your time. There's little point building a wardrobe around tailored office clothes if most of your days involve working from home, walking the dog or running errands.

Your clothes need to suit the life you're living now, rather than some imaginary version of it.

Find your everyday colours

One of the easiest ways to make a wardrobe work together is to choose a few colours that you enjoy wearing.

That doesn't mean everything has to be black, white or beige.

Navy, chocolate brown, olive green, burgundy and denim can all work beautifully as everyday colours. You might prefer warmer tones, or perhaps you feel your best in blue. Start with two or three colours that make up the majority of your wardrobe, then add a few others that work alongside them.

For example, navy trousers, a cream knit, a striped shirt and brown trainers can all be worn in different combinations without much thought. But if you love a bright red jumper, keep it. A capsule wardrobe isn't supposed to remove all the interesting bits. The aim is simply to make getting dressed less complicated.

Build around a few reliable pieces

You don't need to go shopping for an entirely new wardrobe. In fact, we'd strongly suggest you don't.

Start with what you already own and identify any gaps. Depending on your lifestyle, a useful everyday wardrobe might include:

• A couple of well-fitting T-shirts

• Your favourite jeans

• A pair of relaxed or tailored trousers

• A shirt you can wear open or buttoned up

• A comfortable knit

• A jacket or coat that works with most outfits

• Everyday trainers or shoes

• A few accessories that bring everything together

  
  

This isn't a shopping list. You might wear dresses every day and hardly ever touch a pair of jeans. Someone else might live in chinos, sweatshirts and trainers. The important thing is choosing pieces that work for you.

A classic trench coat, for instance, can be worn over jeans and a T-shirt for a casual afternoon or with smarter trousers when you want to look a little more polished.

A simple cotton T-shirt can be worn with almost anything. It's one of the reasons we love them at Maison Kasbah. They're easy to style, comfortable and don't require much thought.

Try creating outfits before buying anything new

This is probably the most useful part of building a capsule wardrobe. Instead of looking at individual clothes, start putting together complete outfits. Take your favourite pair of trousers and see how many tops you can wear with them. Try changing the shoes or adding a different jacket.

You might be surprised by how many combinations are already sitting in your wardrobe. It's also a good way to spot what's missing. Perhaps you've got several lovely tops but only one pair of trousers that works with them. Or maybe you own plenty of clothes for summer but struggle every time the temperature drops.

Once you know where the gaps are, shopping becomes a lot more straightforward.

You can look for something specific instead of buying whatever happens to catch your eye.

Don't confuse timeless with boring

There's a tendency for capsule wardrobes to look very similar online. Neutral trousers. White trainers. A cream jumper. Repeat. And while there's absolutely nothing wrong with that look, it isn't everybody's style.

A wardrobe should have some personality.

Maybe yours includes a vintage leather jacket, colourful knitwear, a favourite football shirt or a beautifully patterned scarf you bought on holiday. Keep those pieces.

Sometimes it's the things that don't quite match everything else that make an outfit feel more interesting.

The trick is finding a balance between clothes that do the everyday work and pieces that you simply enjoy wearing.

After all, getting dressed should still be fun.

Buy less, but buy with a little more thought

Once you've worked out what suits you, it's easier to resist buying things you don't really need.

Before purchasing something new, ask yourself whether you'd wear it with at least three things you already own.

Think about the fabric, too. Does it feel comfortable? Will it be easy to wash? Is it something you'll still want to wear next year? And perhaps most importantly, would you buy it if it wasn't on sale?

A bargain isn't much of a bargain if it spends the next two years hanging in your wardrobe with the tags still attached.

You don't necessarily need to spend more money, either. Charity shops, vintage stores and second-hand platforms can be brilliant places to find good-quality clothes. Some of the best pieces are the ones that have already had a life before they reach you.

Let your wardrobe change with you

One thing we don't particularly like about strict capsule wardrobes is the idea that once you've created one, you're finished. Life doesn't work like that.

Your taste changes. Your routine changes. Sometimes your body changes, too.

The clothes that worked for you five years ago might not feel quite right anymore, and that's perfectly normal.

It's worth having a look through your wardrobe at the start of each season, putting away things you won't need for a while and bringing out pieces you've forgotten about.

You might rediscover something you love.

And if an item no longer fits your lifestyle, there's no obligation to keep it simply because it was expensive or because you once wore it all the time.

Clothes are meant to be worn and enjoyed, not stored indefinitely out of guilt.

A wardrobe that makes mornings easier

The best thing about building a capsule wardrobe isn't necessarily having fewer clothes.

It's opening your wardrobe in the morning and knowing that most of what's inside is something you'd actually like to wear. No rummaging through piles of things that don't fit. No buying another top because you can't find anything to go with your trousers.

Just a collection of clothes that feel comfortable, suit your life and make getting dressed a little easier.

And if that means you end up wearing your favourite jeans and T-shirt three times a week?

We really don't see a problem with that.

Looking for a little wardrobe inspiration? Explore The Style Edit, where we share clothing and accessories that have caught our eye, alongside everyday favourites from Maison Kasbah.