If you know me, you might think I must have seriously lost my mind, to consider making the switch to a capsule wardrobe.
When I put it out into the world through Instagram Stories, I felt nervous even mentioning it, because the idea makes me nervous.
For one thing, I’m a shopping addict. I rarely have time for fitting rooms, but you can often find me scrolling a shopping app. I just can’t resist a good deal.
I’m also a packrat. I am sentimental about many things in general – and definitely clothes.
So to say that I would willingly sort through my clothes and actually cut out some of them, and shop less, seems almost like a joke.
Why the switch to a capsule wardrobe?
Because my wardrobe is, in a word, overwhelming. It’s full of all kinds of colors, shapes and styles.
I shop when the price is right, and when it’s love. And love happens a lot – maybe more than it should. So much that I don’t have enough hangers or dresser space for all of my clothes.
Then when it comes down to it, I don’t seem to have anything to wear. There have actually been tears shed over my closet. Now that is a sad state of affairs.
The benefits of a capsule wardrobe
Capsules have become a pretty popular topic. People are drawn to the idea of a minimalistic closet. And honestly, the mindsets behind it make it a pretty fantastic concept, especially for people like me.
Less clothes, more options.
When you are intentional with your shopping and cultivating a closet, you end up with actually more options to wear. Clothing can be mixed and matched, rather than trying to put something together out of way too many random pieces.
Less erratic purchases, more intention.
I am so guilty of buying something I like on the rack, and then donating it to Goodwill after little to no wears. Usually it’s because it’s on sale, or it’s a style I want to try, but am not fully convinced it will work on me. When you get familiar with your style and set some boundaries, you cut back on those purchases.
Less wasted money, more focused spending.
When you’re buying spontaneously, whatever the reason, and you rarely wear what you buy, it’s a waste of money. With capsules, even if you spend more on individual quality pieces (not a requirement, by the way), you can calculate in a lower cost per wear.
Less time pondering an outfit, more uniforms.
I read an article recently about how the smartest people in the world wear a uniform – a formula with the same items of clothing over and over. I’m not sure of the science behind that, but I do know how much time I’ve wasted staring at my clothes, and I probably could have written a book with the hours.
Less fast fashion, more style staples.
The movement for slow fashion is growing. It’s the idea that we should invest less in clothing that doesn’t make it more than a few wears, and companies that don’t care for the environment or their workers. Instead, we can put our dollars and attention towards wardrobe workhorses that don’t do a lot of damage to the world that produces them.
Less stress, more peace of mind.
In theory, anyway. Let’s see how well it works in real life.
The commitment to a capsule wardrobe
Still – this isn’t an easy road to opt for. Setting boundaries in your closet means losing some sentimentality and being serious about what you will and won’t wear.
It’s deciding the styles and the budget that works best for you, and sticking to it.
But I think the peace of mind is worth it. The times when I opt for discipline and boundaries in other areas of life, like nutrition and exercise and even finances, are instances where it works out better for me.
So, now that I’m putting this out into the universe, I am going after it.
How about you?
What questions do you have about cultivating a capsule? Do you see yourself doing something like this, or is it overwhelming?
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