Thinking of building a capsule wardrobe?  Well, here are the tips you need to know to build the capsule wardrobe that you’ve dreamed of from scratch.

Building a wardrobe can be fun and frustrating.  Most of us get caught up in not knowing where to begin or what pieces to invest in.

I’ve been there!  I’ve wasted money and precious time in the mornings trying to figure out what to wear.

Until I figured out a way to make shopping and getting dressed work for my lifestyle which is what I will be sharing with you in this post.

I am someone who loves fashion and loves the idea of living by a capsule wardrobe! 

I am constantly buying staple pieces for my closet, and I am giving you all my tips and the steps you need to know when building your own capsule wardrobe that will make getting dressed every day so much easier.

And once you have begun the process of building your own capsule, I promise you that you will love the ease of mixing pieces to create numerous comfortable outfits daily!

I will go over six steps you should be taking when you begin the process of revamping your own closet.

By following these tips, you will save money, save time, declutter your closet, and best of all you will be able to get dressed quickly and can get busy living!

I hope you are ready to curate a closet that is functional, comfortable, and purposeful so that you can mix and match every piece that will create quick and easy outfits!

After reading through these steps, you will feel more confident and prepared when you are ready to start building a capsule wardrobe that you are sure to love!

How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe From Scratch:

In this blog post I will be covering:

1.  The definition of a capsule wardrobe

2.  How to plan for creating your new capsule wardrobe

3.  How to create a budget for a capsule wardrobe and start shopping

4.  Understanding a capsule wardrobe formula

5.  How to use examples when shopping

6.  Using a capsule wardrobe checklist

1.  Capsule wardrobe definition

First, let’s define what a capsule wardrobe is.  A capsule wardrobe is a small number of clothing items that are interchangeable and create many outfits.

Its foundation is based on purchasing mostly solid essentials or basics that will mix and match to create endless outfits.

So, the idea goes that a capsule wardrobe is for someone who wants a small simple group of clothes to make getting dressed daily easy.

And of course, who doesn’t love that idea, right?!

Now, this can be hard for someone who loves to shop and wants to be up to date with the cutest trends that we cannot live without.  So, this is where I am different in that I am constantly adding to my personal capsule wardrobe.

Basically, the rule I tend to break when it comes to my personal capsule is that mine is not small!

All that said, it is of course possible to have a capsule wardrobe that is made up of a minimal number of pieces while still being able to create many different looks.

And the best news is that if you are like me you don’t have to give up your passion for shopping.  There are ways to be smart about the pieces you purchase on a budget!

That’s right, there are smarter ways to shop all while creating a wardrobe that you will love and use!

So how do we get there?  How do we create cute, stylish outfits without breaking the bank?  Well, let’s break it down a bit more.

2.  Planning for your new capsule wardrobe

Deciding what to wear is one of the first things you do every day, so it makes sense that it will set the tone for your day as well.  I know when I feel cute, I feel confident!

This also sets my mood and yes even my attitude for the day.

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I am most definitely not a fan of those mornings when I don’t like what I am wearing after trying on ten different clothing items and trying to create a cute outfit with very little time.

It never ends well! And most of the time I will settle on an outfit for the sake of not being late.

No one wants to waste valuable time every morning when getting dressed to only feel okay with what you are wearing.

Why would anyone want to start their day this way?  Well, you don’t have to!

That’s why planning is so important and thus the idea of building a capsule wardrobe is most definitely a good idea to seriously consider.

The whole idea behind building a capsule wardrobe is to make getting dressed easier and fun with clothing that you will not only get a ton of use out of but with pieces that will forever be cool and most importantly that will suit your own individual style.

And hey, you may just surprise yourself and create a whole new style that you will love!

First, it’s important to decide what items in your wardrobe are must-haves.  This will depend on your lifestyle.

Items to consider are work attire, casual weekend wear, work from home job, student/college life, etc.  Go through your closet and decide which pieces you cannot live without and keep those.

Any other pieces that you are not using are only taking up valuable space in your closet.

There are different kinds of capsule wardrobes to create.  Remember, the key is to build a capsule that is curated to your style.

Some ideas would be a core capsule wardrobe, essential wardrobe, contemporary, relaxed, to a boho/free-spirited capsule wardrobe to name a few.

Feel free to explore styles that you have been admiring.  Just remember that when planning for your capsule wardrobe keep in mind that all your pieces should be versatile by mixing and matching well with each other and creating many different outfit combinations.

I’m talking about everyday pieces that you can transition for different looks.

Wardrobe planning will allow you to be as best prepared as possible when it is time to shop, will save you money, and declutter your closet.

Planning ahead of time will allow you to fill your closet with pieces you love that will last for years to come and will work for you year-round!

3.  How to budget for a capsule wardrobe

This can be the real hard part.  We see so many cute outfits that we’d love to have but often don’t fit into our budget.

Well, there is a way to shop for a few items that will help you begin to build the foundation for your new capsule wardrobe.

As discussed in step 2,  I mentioned that planning for your capsule would require you to plan and clear out things in your closet that just don’t work for your lifestyle or things that you just know you will never wear again.

There may even be things in your closet that you purchased but never wore.  Things that still have the tags on them even.

Well, I’m here to tell you that those extra clothes and items you are clearing out are the way to your new capsule by reselling them.

Pack up those items.  Clean them up and air them out because you are sitting on a small gold mine that will help you afford those new capsule basics that you’re about to purchase.

Of course, you can always just pack them up and donate them to your local Goodwill if you just want to get rid of them which is always a great option.  Or make some money and sell them on reseller sites like Poshmark or Mercari.

Reselling old, unused items can help you when you’re ready to start investing in those new capsule wardrobe pieces.

I’ve personally used both sites to resell things in my own closet and I’m here to tell you I’ve gotten approximately $5000 for things that were just sitting in my closet and taking up valuable space for years!

Another great option for bringing in some income for unused items in your home (and we are not just talking about clothing items anymore) is Facebook Marketplace.

It is an ideal site for selling unused furniture locally which means no shipping is required!

These are all ways that have worked for me and millions of other fashionistas out there!  So go ahead and give it a try.  You will be so glad you did!

4. Capsule wardrobe formula

Following a capsule wardrobe formula will make this experience so much easier!  Knowing ahead of time how many pieces you are shopping for and that are within your current budget is important.

Creating a capsule wardrobe shouldn’t break the bank either.  The idea behind building a capsule wardrobe is to grow it over time.

You should easily be able to add new pieces to existing pieces in your closet.

Work on growing your capsule over time based on your budget.  After all, really what’s the rush?

Think saving money where you can by using coupon/discount apps that you can download to find the best deals on the pieces you are searching for from the retailers you prefer like Honey and Retail Me Not.

Using capsule wardrobe formulas will allow you to build a capsule wardrobe over time and as you can afford to do so.

Create a capsule wardrobe formula that works for you and your pocketbook.  Challenge yourself and be disciplined to not step out of your comfort zone when it comes to how much you can actually afford.

The important thing is to remember to have fun with it!

[FREE PRINTABLE DOWNLOAD: SEASONAL CAPSULE WARDROBE CHECKLISTS]

So, how many pieces should you start with?  Remember to start with a realistic number based on your budget.

A good place to start would be to use a 6 x 6 (6 pieces 6 outfits) or 10 x 10 (10 pieces 10 outfits) capsule wardrobe formula to help you keep the cost down.

Start with shirts, bottoms, and top layers. These are good basic items that you can build off of.

All you need is a few pieces of each item and remember all these pieces should create a variety of different outfits.  Be selective with the pieces you choose.

You’d be surprised by the number of outfits that you can create with just 10 pieces of the right basics.  We’re talking literally an endless number of outfits!

When thinking about colors, neutrals are really where you want to start.  Look for staple pieces such as a basic white t-shirt, blue jeans, a little black dress, denim jacket, neutral-colored pants, etc.

Add a cardigan and maybe a pop of color, or animal print, and you are set!

This printed bodysuit from Lulu’s has a cute animal pattern that will pair well with any other neutral-colored pieces like the white jeans shown in this picture or just a pair of black or blue jeans.

Throw on a blazer, denim jacket, or a  chunky beige cardigan like this one from Lulu’s (shown below).

Just add your favorite accessories and just like that, you created a cute outfit with pieces that are so versatile and will mix and match with several other items in your capsule!

 

[RELATED POST:  13 MUST-HAVE ON TREND FALL AND WINTER JACKETS THAT ARE IDEAL CAPSULE WARDROBE STAPLES]

5. Using examples

When looking for capsule wardrobe examples remember that a capsule should consist of mostly neutral pieces that are interchangeable.

You don’t need to have a specific style to start building a capsule wardrobe.  You don’t even need to shop for any specific brands either.

Remember the goal is to make getting dressed daily easier with pieces that will make you feel good and confident all while defining your own personal style and saving money.

Your existing closet will set the foundation to build off of since you’ve already rummaged through what you want to keep and what you want to get rid of.

Figure out how many outfits you already own to give you a better idea of the types of items that would add to your existing wardrobe.  This process will help you envision the capsule style you are wanting and will allow you to curate it to your own style.

Doing this will save you so much time and money!

Now it’s time to look online for inspiration!  This is the fun part that will give you a clearer picture of what style you want to make your own.

Take some time to research!  Get ideas from your favorite influencer, try a Pinterest search, or browse your favorite online boutique or retail store.  Ideas and inspiration are literally at your fingertips!

Find a few options and screenshot a few pictures as I did here with these flared hem jeans  (shown below) from Lulu’s.  Then when you’ve done all that then it’s time to pick out some feminine, casual, cute, and put-together pieces!

I love getting my inspiration this way and doing so will not only prepare you, but it will inspire you! You will be excited and ready to get started!

[RELATED POST:  CAPSULE WARDROBE BASICS | THE 10 BEST BASIC PIECES TO HAVE IN YOUR CLOSET TO MAKE GETTING DRESSED EVERYDAY INSANELY EASY]

6.  Capsule wardrobe checklist

You should now have a better idea of the pieces you would like to purchase to begin building your very own capsule wardrobe.  Most capsule wardrobe basics should easily go from season to season.

However, there are some obvious pieces that are more suited for different times of the year.

Try using one of these capsule wardrobe seasonal checklists to help you get started with purchasing items that you can use to suit today’s weather and keep your purchases on track.

Using a capsule wardrobe checklist will not only narrow down the items you want but will help to avoid making purchases that you won’t use or wear.

A checklist will make your shopping quick and seamless.

Once you’ve made your purchases then you are ready to start creating outfits for every day of the week.  Use this weekly outfit planner to help you keep track of outfits you’ve created and love for future reference.

Put them in a binder or take a picture of each to give you ideas and inspiration for days when you need a quick cute outfit that you know you will feel confident in!

To Wrap Things Up:

These are my tried and true, tested tips for building and adding to my capsule wardrobe that I have used for years!

A little research and preparation will go a long way and will cost you nothing!

Getting dressed will not only be so much easier but will be fun and give you endless options for creating stylish and curated, put-together outfits that are sure to draw attention and compliments!

This post is about how to build a capsule wardrobe from scratch.