So many people are on a cleaning spree courtesy of Marie Kondo. This isn’t the worst idea. Many of us shop to excess and our closets reflect this. It’s not even these items don’t “spark joy” anymore; it’s that they never did. The sheer volume of clothing we own causes us a ridiculous amount of stress. When we get dressed for work or get ready for a special event, we have a closet full of too many choices. It’s time to pare that closet down and have what I like to call, a capsule wardrobe. 

What is a capsule wardrobe anyway?

A precise definition will depend on who you talk to, but the general concept of what this entails will be the same.  The idea is that you own fewer pieces of clothing, but the clothing that you do own all seamlessly pairs with each other. It takes the stress out of getting dressed each day because you never have to question if something “goes together”. Trust me; it will.  That’s the point of this wardrobe.

As I said, definitions vary. But some fashion purists approximate that you only need 36-40 items in your closet TOTAL for a capsule wardrobe. They suggest the bulk of your items be tops and only owning roughly one pair of shoes of each style (ex: one pair of boots, one pair of sandals, etc.). So everything can pair together, these wardrobes are heavy on neutrals with the occasional pop of color. This seems drastic, but if you are overwhelmed by the clutter that is your closet, this will be worth it.

This seems extreme! Do I have any other options?

Absolutely!! As much as people like to say they are, fashion rules are NOT written in stone! If this is too much of a cut for you, don’t do it. Having a pared-down wardrobe has its benefits. But there are drawbacks to this minimalist approach. Having fewer items means that your clothing will wear out quicker since the items you have will be getting much more use. You will also have to get items cleaned more often. If you have pieces that require professional cleaning, that bill gets expensive quickly.

So what can you do if you want less clothing but can’t cut your wardrobe this drastically? Create your own plan! Part with pieces that only go with one other item in your closet. Apply this rule to your shoes also! These tips alone should free up quite a bit of space. 

You can create your own version of a capsule wardrobe that fulfills the spirit of the original idea. Keep enough core clothing items, so you don’t have to constantly launder them, but don’t have 30 pairs of black pants. Keep some of your bold prints, but only if they coordinate with a bottom. I think you get the picture. By keeping a balanced mix of fun colors with a good range of basics, you can save yourself stress while still keep your flair for style!