Welcome to capsule wardrobe 101! I’m going to give you a super quick run-down of how to build a capsule wardrobe of your own. You can also download my free capsule wardrobe planner checklist to help you get started by entering your email below! That checklist will compliment this beginner’s guide to a year-round capsule wardrobe and take away some of the headache of thinking about what you may or may not want to keep or add to your beginner capsule wardrobe.

What is a capsule wardrobe?

A capsule wardrobe, in short, is a full set of clothes that are strategically planned to work together. All the pants work with all the tops, which work with all the shoes, etc. The colors and styles all complement each other, and only the clothes that are actually needed and regularly worn are included (often this works out to around 35-50 items, instead of hundreds).

The ideal wardrobe would consist of items that are ethically sourced, or at least very high-quality to reduce item turnover. Think: Pact, ABLE, Patagonia, thrifted items, etc. (a.k.a. not that $3 t-shirt from Wal-Mart if you can avoid it!).

Why should you start a capsule wardrobe?

There are several reasons to consider beginning a capsule wardrobe. Mainly, it’s a perfect starting point for a more minimalist lifestyle since a capsule wardrobe encourages purchasing only what’s necessary. This can help to curb spending and can also create extra brain-space and save time for other important decisions since you won’t need to worry about which clothes go with what outfit (they’ll all match. Heck YES).

Plus, since you’ll be purchasing fewer things, it can open up the budget for those who may not normally buy the more high-quality, sustainable, or fairtrade items. Naturally, this leads to a more sustainable, eco-conscious, high-quality, and/or minimalist wardrobe.

Like many things in life, the capsule wardrobe will be for some people and not for others. Maybe you love the idea of a more sustainable, ethical, and/or eco-friendly wardrobe, but you’re not ready for or interested in a capsule wardrobe right now. That’s totally cool! I hope you are still able to learn something or be inspired by this post.

How to start a capsule wardrobe

Download my free capsule wardrobe planner checklist if you haven’t already by entering your email above. This is a great starting point for a year-round capsule wardrobe and should prepare you for most occasions. You may need to add a few things as required by your profession, exercise routine, etc. I’ve included some space at the end for you to write in and plan for additional necessary items.
Choose your capsule wardrobe color palette. If you’re not sure which colors you want, you may find that it’s easiest to start with a black and white capsule wardrobe, then add some pops of color here and there. If you prefer a colorful capsule wardrobe, see below for a few of my suggestions, or do some browsing online (Pinterest is a great resource for color palettes!) to find the perfect one for you.

Capsule Wardrobe Color Palette Ideas:

Neutrals: cream, black.

Colors: camel, olive.

Neutrals: cream, beige, black.

Colors: blush pink, burgundy red.

Neutrals: cream, mauve.

Colors: plum, navy blue.

Neutrals: ivory, black.

Colors: dusty rose, slate blue.

Neutrals: white, grey, black.

Colors: dusty rose, emerald green, mustard yellow.

Neutrals: white, grey.

Colors: yellow, blue.

Pro Tip: add excitement to a neutral color palette by including textures such as velvet, knits, or ribbed materials or by adding simple patterns like stripes, polka dots, florals, plaid, and checks.

Decide on your style. Casual? Comfy? Professional? A mix of all three? It’s up to you! Go with what works for your lifestyle and what makes you feel like yourself. You may need to adjust a few items on the checklist to fit your lifestyle. (For example: if you’re a stay-at-home mom, you may want to swap the blazer for a second oversized cardigan. Or not. Just do whatever makes you feel confident!).
Take an inventory of which items you already have, and check those items off of the capsule wardrobe checklist.
Get to shoppin’! If you realize your wardrobe is missing something really important, start looking for a way to fill that gap as sustainably as possible. And keep the list you just downloaded nearby as you start putting your wardrobe together to ensure that you’re only adding items to your closet that you actually need.

How to transition to a capsule wardrobe

Whether you want to have your new capsule wardrobe created tomorrow, or want to just start a slow process to get there (which can take months or years depending on your schedule), there are a few things to keep in mind if you’d like to make a sustainable transition:

When rotating out old clothes, try to donate, recycle or consign items rather than throwing them away. This will help to minimize the environmental impact of each item. (Here are some ideas of where to drop off your clothes).

When purchasing new items, aim for either new items that are ethically/sustainably made and high quality, or consigned/thrifted items. This will maximize the good you’re doing with your dollars and minimize the negative impact of each new item.

Enjoy the process, and be proud of yourself! Creating a capsule wardrobe can be a lot of fun, but it can also take a lot of intentional planning and focus. You may only do this once or twice in your life, though, so be sure to take some time to enjoy the process and be proud of yourself. You’re doing something awesome.

Where to shop for sustainable capsule wardrobe items

There are some wonderful sustainable clothing brands you can shop online. We’ve done a few roundups of different places to shop for sustainable clothing that could compliment your wardrobe, which we’ve linked below. Keep in mind that these roundups only scratch the surface of the many sustainable and ethical clothing options out there. So feel free to do some digging of your own for different brands, or consider shopping at a local thrift or consignment store for items that are still in great shape. And, as always, the most sustainable thing you have is what’s already in your closet, so always consider whether or not a new item will really add value and be a long-term love before buying it!

Basics:

Professional items:

Ethical and Sustainable Clothing Brands You Can Confidently Wear to the Office

Online Consignment:

Thredup
Poshmark: poshmark.com
Depop: depop.com
Mercari: mercari.com

You can also use my guide “7 Secrets of Expert Thrifters - How to Have Successful Thrift Shopping Trips” for more help navigating the world of thrifting.

More resources for your sustainable closet

Sustainable clothing and fashion are two of my to-go/favorite topics to research and write about. If you’d like more resources, see the links below for a few of my previous articles that I think could be helpful in your quest for conscious clothing consumption.

Be sure to let me know if you have started a capsule wardrobe! I’d be ecstatic to hear about anything you’ve learned along the journey. What is your favorite outfit? Have you discovered a new conscious clothing brand? Let’s hear it!

This post was written by Amanda, a regular contributor here on The Ethical Edit. Amanda often covers topics related to tiny living, motherhood and where to find ethical and sustainable products online.

Capsule Wardrobe 101: the Beginners Guide to a Year-Round Capsule Wardrobe