01 // Keep Practicality at the Core

Creating a capsule wardrobe is all about curating a selection of outfits that perfectly meets your needs for your lifestyle. But having too many items that linger in the back of our closet can make us feel like we have nothing to wear. Keep it practical by perfectly customizing your wardrobe to fit your needs and goals.

Take some time to record all of the events and activities that you attend in a typical month whether it be work, date night, happy hour, working out, etc. Then, consider the season ahead and be sure to note any upcoming special occasions or travel.

Now, count how many outfits you might need for each occasion. For example, if you work full time then you probably work about 60 days in a season. If you don’t mind wearing some outfits twice, then you may only need 45 work-appropriate outfits in your capsule. On the flip side, if you like to have more fun with your date night and happy hour outfits, and you go out about 20 nights in a season, you might want 30 going-out outfits in your capsule.

Likewise, if you rarely attend formal events, then you probably don’t need to add many, if any, gowns or formal cocktail dresses to your wardrobe. Formal events or unexpected events are a great opportunity to test out luxury rental services like Rent the Runway.

Whether your wardrobe is big or small, what matters is that you have the right number of outfits that are practical and appropriate for each occasion in your lifestyle.

02 // Curate Unique Pieces, Not Just Basics

Ever type capsule wardrobe into Google and find hundreds of images of wardrobes consisting of a white t-shirt, a white button-down, a pair of jeans, a black blazer, and a pair of black pumps? Don’t get me wrong, these are great basics that you might want to include in your capsule. But if you want a truly tailored, expressive wardrobe that perfectly encapsulates your personal style and makes you stand out from the crowd, don’t get too hung up on the basics.

INSPIRATION // Muted Autumn Capsule Wardrobe

Seek out a few unique pieces that you love, that really capture the mood that you want to express for the season. Then, work backwards and determine which key basics would allow you to maximize their versatility. Need some inspiration? Check out this capsule wardrobe example which contains 7 stand-out pieces and only 8 basics.

03 // Master the Returns Policy

If you want to have a wardrobe full of beautiful pieces that you love, you have to learn to be absolutely brutal when deciding whether or not a new item truly deserves a place in your collection. Don’t be afraid to return something if it isn’t absolutely perfect for you. My personal rule is that if I try something on and I even hesitate to decide that I like it, I should probably return it.

For this reason, it is crucial to inspect a shop’s return policy before purchasing an item, especially online. Ideally, stick to shops with free shipping and free returns. At the very least, ensure that returns are affordable and prepaid shipping labels are provided by the retailer. Unless you know and love the brand, avoid retailers with vague returns policies or inconvenient requirements. Especially if the brand is headquartered in a different region or country, avoid returns policies that require the customer to arrange for return shipping. Also, be sure to check for caveats like final sale or exchange-only items.

If you happen to find an item that you love on a site with a poor returns policy, try searching elsewhere for the same item. I love Aeyde boots, but they don’t provide return shipping labels for U.S. customers, and shipping a large box to Europe on my own could cost over $100. Luckily, Net-A-Porter stockes Ayede shoes and they offer free shipping and returns in the U.S., score!

04 // Take Advantage of Your Color Season

Is your capsule wardrobe full of black, gray, white, navy, and neutrals? While neutral colors certainly are chic and versatile, give your wardrobe some new life with a refreshed color palette that compliments your natural coloring.

There are about a million different ways to determine your color type, and I’m not quite sure that I believe there truly are exact color types that can be applied to entire groups of people. Plus, our personal preferences should take precedence over any particular style rules that might be thrown at us. However, knowing which colors are most likely to suit you is a great starting point.

As you try new things, take note of which colors make you feel bright, happy, and healthy. Then look for colors with similar undertones, saturation, lightness, or darkness. Slowly build a color palette that includes a few colors that match well together. Then combine these with your neutrals to really amp up the versatility in your wardrobe.

05 // Choose Long-Wearing Fabrics

Quality is king. Building a great wardrobe full of stand-out investment pieces without breaking the bank means that each item must be a wardrobe workhorse for years to come. That means carefully choosing materials with a high percentage of strong, natural fibers. Prioritize silk, wool, cotton, linen, and hemp. Of these, silk, linen, thick cotton, and merino wool are the most durable and long-lasting.

In addition to choosing quality fabrics, be sure to inspect the stitching. Great quality items have straight, sturdy stitching free from gaps or loose threads. You could also look for a button fly rather than a zipper on your next new pair of jeans. Check out my Quality Clothing and Material Guide for more tips on choosing long-lasting pieces for your capsule.

06 // Embrace Your Shape

Every single one of us has features we would consider assets. It’s time to embrace those assets with clothing that flatters our own unique shapes.

If you have a rounded, curvy, muscular, hourglass, pear, or apple shaped body type, prioritize softer, flowy fabrics like silk and soft cotton which will elegantly skim your curves. If you have a more angular, rectangle, or inverted triangle body type, dare to wear structured silhouettes like a strong blazer or a-line skirt.

Accentuate the smallest points on your body by simply ruching up your sleeves to expose your wrists, wearing a delicate choker necklace, choosing a midi skirt that hits just above the smallest point on your calf, or adding a belt to cinch in your waist.

Through embracing your shape and customizing your look to fit your unique proportions, you will show the world that you know what’s great about you. There is nothing more attractive and powerful than a woman who knows her strengths and is not afraid to use them.

07 // Choose a Variety of Shapes and Colors

One of the best ways to ensure maximum versatility in your wardrobe is to make sure that each item differs from every other item in either color or shape. In other words, no two items should have both the same or similar color and shape. Oftentimes we find a piece of clothing that we love and we buy it in every color. That’s certainly okay, especially if it is a basic that we wear almost every day. But if you are interested in minimizing your wardrobe while also getting maximum variety in your outfit options, this rule is key. If you can choose pieces that differ in both color and shape, even better.

INSPIRATION // Sophisticated Spring Summer Capsule Wardrobe

Check out this capsule wardrobe example which contains only a few items of the same color and none that are the same shape. This method allows for a small, 15 item capsule to create 28 completely different outfits from semi-formal to backyard casual.

08 // Create a Seasonal Rotating Capsule

If you’ve already achieved a great year-round capsule wardrobe that you love, great job! Now it’s time to take your capsule to the next level. As the upcoming season approaches, think about refreshing your wardrobe by adding a seasonal color to your color palette, or maybe a couple new weather-appropriate silhouettes. These new items can become part of your rotating seasonal capsule wardrobe.

For example, you could add a camel turtleneck sweater to your next autumn wardrobe, or a white eyelet dress to your next spring wardrobe. At the end of the season, pack away your seasonal items until next year. Even if you only change out one or two items, this will keep your wardrobe feeling fresh and extend the life of your clothes.

09 // Visualize Your Outfit Combinations

The best way to get the most out of your capsule wardrobe is to create a visual outfit guide. You can do this by collecting photos of each item of clothing in your wardrobe, and using a simple keynote or Word document to mix and match the items, creating each outfit. I like to search for each item online and download a photo with a solid background. If I can’t find the exact item, I look for a similar one. If you like, you can also take photos of your items at home with a smartphone, just hang each item on a blank wall with plenty of natural light and snap a quick photo.

INSPIRATION // Business Casual Fall Workwear Capsule

Any time you purchase a new item, remember to download a photo and add it to your collection. Take a look at any of these shoppable capsule wardrobe examples for visual guide inspiration.

10 // Remember Your Roots

Try new things, but always remember who you are and who you want to be. Your wardrobe is yours. No one can tell you exactly what you want or need or should have in your closet. If you ever feel lost, take some time to reconnect with who you are. Grab a notebook and write down five words that describe who you are, according to you. Then write down five goals that you are working to achieve. Not fashion goals, life goals. Let your roots ground you and your goals guide you.