What is a capsule wardrobe?
It is a small wardrobe where the clothes all go together. You own fewer clothes, but you can make more outfits.
The idea is old. Susie Faux, who owned a shop in London in the 1970s, is usually named as the person who started it. Designer Donna Karan made it famous in 1985 with a set of seven items that worked together.
The good part is simple. When most of your clothes match, getting dressed is easy.
Find the capsule you already own
- Take out what you really wear. Pull out everything you wore in the last month. This is your real wardrobe.
- Look at the colors. You will see two or three plain colors and one or two bright ones. These are your colors.
- Check what goes together. For each top, count how many pants or skirts it works with. If it works with only one, it is not part of your capsule.
- Write down what is missing. Maybe a light jacket, a belt, or shoes that are smart but not too formal.
- Put the rest in a box. Do not throw anything away yet. Wait one season and see what you miss.
A simple list to start
Do not use this as a shopping list. Use it to check what you already have. Change it for your weather and your job.
| Type | Items |
|---|---|
| Tops | Two plain T-shirts, two shirts or blouses, one thin sweater |
| Bottoms | One pair of dark pants, one pair of light pants, one pair of jeans. A skirt or shorts if you wear them |
| Layers | One blazer or overshirt, one cardigan or sweater, one coat or jacket for your weather |
| One-piece | One dress or matching set, if you wear them |
| Shoes | One pair for every day, one smart pair, one pair for bad weather |
Outfit ideas from this list
- Dark pants, plain T-shirt and blazer. Good for most offices and most dinners.
- Jeans, an open shirt over a T-shirt, and everyday shoes.
- Light pants, thin sweater and coat.
- The dress with the cardigan in the day. The dress with the blazer at night.
- Dark pants and a shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Good for hot days.
That is five outfits from about fifteen items. Many items are used more than once. That is the whole idea.
Keep it working
A capsule changes over time. You buy something that goes with nothing. Or you stop wearing something and do not notice.
Check it at the start of each season. What did you not wear? What did you wish you had?
Before you buy something new, shop your closet first.
It helps to see all your clothes in one place. A digital closet is a list of your clothes in photos, on your phone. Ukti is our app. It picks one outfit a day from the clothes you photograph.
Two things in Ukti help with a capsule. Each item shows how often you wore it in the last 30 days. And you can set an item aside without deleting it, like a winter coat in summer. So you can see what you really wear, and keep the rest out of the way.
