Why We’re Over One-Size-Fits-All Capsule Wardrobes
If you have existed in online fashion spaces in the last 10 years, then you have almost certainly heard about the supposed magic of a capsule wardrobe. The concept seemingly took the world by storm - and understandably so. A streamlined wardrobe of carefully curated items that mix-and-match perfectly, making getting dressed fast and easy? Almost anyone’s ears would perk up at that.
The concept itself is meant to be flexible and personal, but somewhere between Tumblr, Instagram, and Pinterest it was twisted to mean a very specific thing: a one-size-fits-all set of the exact same bland, neutral basics. It left us asking:
What if I don’t want to wear only white, camel, and black?
What if I don’t want 3 t-shirts, 2 patterned tops, and a blazer?
What if I don’t want a wardrobe of only 37 or 44 items?
What if I don’t want to just copy someone else’s minimalist style?
And…is this just a clever scheme to get me to buy a whole new wardrobe through your LTK links, only for it to end up feeling like an expensive costume?
While we love the *idea* of the capsule wardrobe, we hate what the fashion industry has turned it into just to try and sell you more stuff. If you’re looking for a prescriptive “Capsule Wardrobe Checklist”, I’ll warn you now that you won’t find it in this article. But what you will find is our roadmap on how to build a capsule wardrobe - a flexible, easy wardrobe system - that truly reflects you and your personal style.
What Is A Capsule Wardrobe?
At its most basic, a capsule wardrobe is a set of items that are super easy for you to mix and match into endless combinations.
In other words, a wardrobe where everything goes with everything.
The goal is often to accomplish this with a relatively limited number of items - to do more with less. But, we don’t think that this *necessarily* needs to be the case. Your capsule wardrobe can be as small or large as works best for you.
You can choose to edit your entire closet down into a single capsule wardrobe. Or, it works for others to approach their capsule wardrobe as a seasonal exercise, curating out of their larger closet a slimmed down set of items they wear on repeat that particular season. So, their “Summer Capsule Wardrobe” can be completely different from their “Winter Capsule Wardrobe”, and “Fall Capsule Wardrobe” completely different from their “Spring Capsule Wardrobe”.
Why Would I Want A Capsule Wardrobe?
Well, it can make getting dressed really easy! For most of us, this is one of our primary goals for our wardrobe - and so a capsule wardrobe can be really appealing. Stepping into a closet curated down to only things you love and love to wear together can majorly reduce decision fatigue and give you more time to spend on well…anything else! In today’s busy world, time is a luxury - and so, part of the aspiration of a capsule wardrobe is how luxurious it can feel.
A capsule wardrobe can also help you get more wear out of every item. A capsule wardrobe is all about creating a system that works together seamlessly. You know that shirt that you only wear with that one pair of pants? That doesn’t exist in a capsule wardrobe.
Actually getting wear out of your items is - in our opinion - the best way to truly live “sustainable fashion”. And, if getting more wear out of the items you have prevents you from buying new things all the time, then it *can* save you money as well!
Why “Capsule Wardrobes” Don’t Work
Don’t get us wrong, we love the idea of a capsule wardrobe. An intentional, curated wardrobe system that makes getting dressed easy? That is exactly what Indyx is all about!
What we hate is the over-commercialization of the concept of a “capsule wardrobe”. Unfortunately - as they’re apt to do - big fashion has taken the idea and twisted it into yet another novel way to sell you a boatload of new things. Specifically: a nondescript set of bland, neutral basics, regardless of whether those items actually fit your personal style or not.
If you don’t have the exact pieces on this manufactured Pinterest-perfect “Capsule Wardrobe Checklist”, then you’re made to feel like you have to go out and buy every item on the list.
And because every single image of a “Capsule Wardrobe” looks exactly the same, there is no room in this approach for creativity or personal style. It’s unlikely that the Pinterest “Capsule Wardrobe” will exactly match your style, so even if you do go out and buy the entire checklist, it will still feel wrong to you. You’ll naturally gravitate back towards adding new pieces that better match your true personal style….but they may not fit into the capsule! And all of a sudden, you’re right back to where you started with a bunch of pieces that don’t work together.
To add insult to injury, if you don't live up to this glossy image of a perfectly curated, versatile, mix-and-match-anything-and-everything wardrobe then it’s easy to feel like a failure. Which makes you want to go out and buy the entire checklist all over again just to be done with it! Rinse and repeat.
Big fashion loves to try and sell us the idea that “if only you buy this checklist of things, then all your problems will be solved”. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a real long-term fashion solution, it just isn’t that easy.
And don’t even get us started on the proliferation of endless capsule wardrobe subtypes!
Work Capsule Wardrobe and Weekend Capsule Wardrobe: Wasn’t the entire point to have one streamlined, versatile wardrobe that just works? A bifurcated closet may work for some folks, but most of us are specifically trying to avoid this.
2023 Capsule Wardrobe: If you know anything about what we stand for, we could never support swapping out your entire wardrobe every year!
Plus Size Capsule Wardrobe: The approach to building a functional style system shouldn’t change according to the size of your body.
Maternity Capsule Wardrobe This is the one instance where we concede that you may need to significantly supplement your existing wardrobe with new pieces. Temporary but dramatic changes to your body are tough to get around. But again, the types of pieces in your wardrobe shouldn’t dramatically change - you’ll just need maternity-friendly versions of what you already gravitate towards.
At this point, the term “Capsule Wardrobe” has been misappropriated to just mean “Shopping List” - a search term to use when shopping for clothing suitable for different occasions, weather, and personal circumstances. That’s fine, if you’re clear that’s all it is. But let me relieve you of the notion that you need to have all these different “capsules” all figured out. You don’t even need to have *one* capsule wardrobe, if the concept doesn’t resonate with you!
Okay, So What Should I Do?
We clearly cringe at the “Capsule Wardrobe” concept, or at least how it has been twisted by brands and influencers who are incentivized to keep selling you more and more things.
But, we do love the core idea of approaching your wardrobe strategically as a system. Rather than thoughtlessly buying individual pieces and then being surprised when they don’t fit into the whole, we completely recommend editing your current wardrobe and evaluating new additions against the criteria of how these items fit together.
Of the items I already own, which are workhorses that can be styled into endless outfit combinations? Which items could I add to unlock more versatility with the pieces I already have? These are all great questions to be asking.
But we have to emphasize that your wardrobe system will only ever really work if the items you’re keeping & adding truly match *your* unique personal style. All the Pinterest-perfect checklists out there are kind of like a get-rich-quick scheme - they seem really appealing as they appear to give step-by-step instructions on how to achieve your goal. But for 99% of the population, they just don’t work as intended.
For example, every “Capsule Wardrobe Checklist” out there recommends a blazer. For many people, this is a great versatile piece! But for many others, a blazer is always going to feel too stiff, formal, and business-y for their own style. Even if a blazer *could* work for you, the minimalist oversized single-breasted blazer that is currently trendy isn’t going to be the blazer for everyone. The same idea applies for every type of item commonly recommended by Capsule Wardrobe checklists, including t-shirts, button-ups, cardigans, jeans, trench coats, leather jackets, loafers, white sneakers….the list goes on and on!
For any wardrobe system to really work in the long-term, there needs to be room for nuance as to your personal staple categories and the unique details of those items need to match your personal style.
Doing it the right way takes work - and, frankly, time. The hard truth is that it isn’t going to happen overnight, but the good news is that we are here to support you 100% on that journey.
How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe
Step 1: Identify Your Current Capsule
The secret is: many of us already have a capsule wardrobe of some sort. You almost certainly have a set of pieces that regularly make it into your daily rotation. Take notice of those items and set them aside.
Before moving on, reflect on the common traits of these items. Try to generalize why you find them easy to wear - and apply those insights moving forward.
It’s often equally instructive to observe: what are the commonalities of the items that didn’t make it into this set? Why do you find them difficult to wear more often? You should take note of this and avoid buying more items that fall into this description.
Step 2: Define Your Personal Style
We know this is much easier said than done. But, until you have a decent grasp of the “north star” of your personal style, the entire exercise is going to feel a bit like trying to find your destination without a map.
Our free Indyx Style Quiz is a great place to start. Download the app on iOS or Android and navigate to Explore > Style Quiz to get a general idea of the direction you’re headed in just a few short minutes.
From there, we love the three-word method popularized on TikTok by Allison Bornstein. Our Style Quiz will give you a personalized word bank to work with when selecting your three words, and our blog post walks you through the process step-by-step.
Learn what it is, why we love it, and how to choose your three words
In addition to a verbal description, we recommend also maintaining a visual representation - aka, your style inspiration board. Especially if you are a more visual person, this can be a super helpful tool in figuring out your three words in the first place! We’ve got you covered there, too - read our blog post for guidance on how to curate a board that feels like you rather than what you think you’re *supposed* to like.
Learn how to curate an inspiration board that hones your style intuition
Read about Rebecca’s experience
Step 3: Audit Your Full Wardrobe
For many of us, finding renewed style inspiration has a very predictable outcome: to go out shopping! If I had a certain style before, and now I have figured out how I want it to evolve, surely that means I need to rush out to add a bunch of new pieces, right? Not necessarily.
Whenever you’re feeling like your wardrobe no longer matches your style, that should be a nudge to first sit with your existing wardrobe and seek to understand that feeling more. Do these pieces really not work with my style, or am I simply bored? I must have liked *something* about these items when I bought them - can I find that spark again, and style them in a new way that better fits my three words?
Of course, you will likely find that there are some items that you’re ready to move on from. Take stock and ask which items are no longer providing their intended ROI based on your personal style, versatility, comfort….or are just plain redundant in your closet?
Once you digitize your closet (highly recommended), it’s really handy to be able to make virtual lists of the items you intend to remove from your closet with digital “Donate” or “Sell” lists using the collections feature. And of course, you can list items for resale directly on the app with just a few extra clicks.
We’ll walk you through how evaluate your current closet, making sure that you’re optimizing your wardrobe return-on-investment
Step 4: Consider Your Capsule Wardrobe “Holes”
At this point, you’ve trimmed back your wardrobe to the pieces that are working for you, and things should definitely start feeling much more “capsule-y”.
But, you may find that your capsule has certain holes. Take a big step back and ask questions like:
When getting dressed, which items do I not have that I wish I could reach for to complete an outfit?
What individual items could I add to potentially ‘unlock’ many more new outfit combinations?
When I look at my style inspiration board, are there items that appear frequently that I don’t already own?
This will help you build a very targeted wishlist of items to consider adding to your wardrobe over time. If you are looking for validation that these items are the right ones, try adding a stand-in item - say, a pair of black flowy trousers - to your Indyx digital wardrobe and styling new outfits with the rest of your existing wardrobe. If new outfit ideas are flowing easily, then that is a good indication that you’re on the right track.
Remember: this should be a generative rather than reactive process. Meaning: we urge you to NOT simply walk into your favorite store (or, open those Chrome tabs, as the case may be) and browse what they have to offer. Keep yourself in the driver’s seat by identifying these items independently of what is being marketed to you. At this point, your list should look like “white poplin oversized button down” and “square toe ballet flats” - no specific brands or items.
Learn how to build an intentional wardrobe wishlist to curb impulse shopping and buy the items you actually need
Step 5: Shop Strategically
Once you have a working wishlist, it becomes your trusted shopping guide and companion. You can start to source that wishlist, translating a general idea of an item into the specific item you want to purchase.
Having a set wishlist is a great way to curb impulse shopping. If you come across a metaphorically shiny item that is begging your lizard brain to “add-to-cart”, check against your wishlist. Not fulfilling an item on the wishlist? Think twice.
On the flip side, if you struggle to give yourself permission to make big purchases, the wishlist can give you the little push of assurance that you’ve really thought it through.
Don’t feel that you have to check everything off your wishlist all at once, or within any certain period of time. In fact, the opposite is encouraged! Taking your time gives the opportunity for serendipity: to come across a one-of-a-kind vintage treasure, or even simply a great deal on a high-quality item at an end-of-season sale. You have clothes in your closet that are perfectly fine - it’s rarely an actual fashion emergency - so give yourself the time to source the items on your wishlist that you’re sure you’ll cherish for years to come.
Another strategy that many find helpful - especially if you subscribe to the seasonal capsule wardrobe method - is to limit shopping to just a few small windows a year. Remember when you’d actually go to the mall with your mom to do your “back to school” shopping all in one go? It’s kind of like that. During the last week of each season, take time to plan next season’s capsule - and identify from your larger wishlist which item(s) you’d like to add to supplement. This puts some clear boundaries around what you’ll be buying, and allows you to completely “check out” of shopping the other 48 weeks of the year.
Read our step-by-step process to go about shopping for your wishlist to get the best of new, secondhand, and vintage options.
You might notice that many of the resources linked above are from our Style Workshop Series, as these steps are nearly identical to what we walk through in this 8-week guided course.
The good news? We’ve made all of this course content completely free! If you want to embark on this full self-guided journey, start below with Week 1: Setting Intentions.
If you’ve made it this far….we really think you’d like it!
Start from the very beginning with our 8-week self-guided style journey
You can read all the content here on our blog, but the experience is even better on our app! Sign up for the Style Workshop on the Indyx app by navigating to Explore > Style Workshop, and you’ll get this 8-week course conveniently emailed to you at our recommended cadence to help keep you accountable.
You’ll also get private, exclusive access to our community Slack channel where you can meet other like-minded folks and discuss your progress.
The Indyx app is available for free on both iOS and Android.
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How many items you keep in your capsule wardrobe is entirely up to you! Contrary to some beliefs, there is truly no wrong or right answer: only what feels and works best for you. Some people enjoy the simplicity of an extremely curated closet (30-50 items) while others find that much too constraining. As long as you are wearing all the items in your capsule and find them easy to mix-and-match, you’re doing it right!
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It is absolutely critical for the long-term success of your capsule wardrobe that you build it based on your own unique personal style rather than any one-size-fits-all checklist. We recommend reading the full article above as that’s what it’s all about!
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In maintaining any curation, there are two steps to consider: adding and subtracting. A capsule wardrobe is not totally “set it and forget it” - it is natural to want to evolve it over time.
The first step is to be extremely thoughtful and intentional about any new pieces you add to your wardrobe. We highly recommend using a wardrobe wishlist as a way to evaluate everything you buy.
The second is to periodically edit and remove items from your wardrobe. It’s okay to make some mistakes - we all do! - or, to just feel like it’s time to move on from an item. Read more on our wardrobe auditing method.
Devon is a co-founder of Indyx and currently leads Growth for the company from San Francisco. She enjoys admiring other people’s gardens and sleeping in with her French Bulldog, Reggie.
