Capsule Wardrobes: The Ultimate Guide

The word ‘capsule wardrobe’ can be traced back to as early as the 1940s, when it materialized in American publications to describe small collections of clothing items created to be harmoniously worn with one another.

However, the term was later coined in the 1970s by Susie Faux, owner of the London boutique, ‘Wardrobe’. Faux described a capsule wardrobe as a focused but limited collection of a few staple pieces that are long-lasting and never go out of style, and which can be periodically refreshed with the addition of seasonal garments.

A decade later, designer Donna Karan revitalized this idea when she introduced a seminal capsule work-wear collection composed of seven interchangeable pieces. The concept of a capsule wardrobe has recently swung back into popularity with the rise of the minimalism movement.

Capsule wardrobes have been hailed as a sort of antidote to the problem of fast fashion, as more people have begun to push back on the culture of excessive consumption that has been promoted by the apparel and textile industries.

Compared to the fast fashion wardrobe, typically characterized by an overflow of cheap, trendy, and disposable garments, a capsule offers the attractive alternative of a closet that is beautiful, tidy, and composed of durable pieces that effortlessly harmonize with one another.

A micro capsule wardrobe is a smaller number of investment staples that reside within the overall capsule wardrobe.

Typically consisting of about three items, these garments are meant to capture the essence of who you are and how you wish to present yourself to the world.

While a capsule wardrobe is meant to reflect your personality and needs more generally, the microcapsule is composed of pieces that typically are of higher quality and that possess a unique character or charm that feels personal to you.

Taking on a Capsule Wardrobe Challenge can be a transformative experience. Begin by auditing your closet to evaluate which 30 pieces you’ll wear for the next 30 days. This is a critical step, as it forces you to identify what clothing items truly serve your everyday needs. When evaluating each piece, consider factors such as versatility, comfort, and how easily it pairs with other items.

To make the process structured, create a checklist of criteria—such as weather appropriateness, whether the piece aligns with your personal style, and how often you wear it. This checklist can help you feel confident in your final selection.

Once you’ve chosen your pieces, plan your core “everyday” outfits. Think about your lifestyle and the key occasions you’ll need outfits for, from casual workdays to weekend outings.

To make this process creative and visually appealing, you might want to use tools like Canva to craft a collage or mood board of your planned outfits. This can help you see how your selected pieces interact and spark new ideas.

After completing the challenge, reflect on what worked well, where you could improve, and how the experience impacted your approach to fashion, sustainability, and daily decision-making.

You can also look to the Oliver Charles #Repeat blog as a source of inspiration, as it serves as a hub for many different people to chronicle their experiences attempting a vast array of wardrobe challenges, from the 7 Day Sweater Challenge to the 5 Adventure Challenge.

Ideally, your capsule wardrobe should be versatile enough to accommodate every season.

However, it is understandable that this is far easier said than done, and that many people live in climates that require very distinct wardrobes for different times of the year.

The good news is that you can choose the option that is best suited for you and curate either a seasonal or year-round capsule collection.

If you are someone who is feeling a bit overwhelmed with starting your own capsule, live somewhere with four distinct seasons, have lots of spare storage space, or appreciate the thrill of wearing ‘new’ clothes, then curating a seasonal wardrobe might be the ideal path for you.

On the other hand, if you are someone who desires a simpler routine, doesn’t have a lot of spare time or storage space, loves the comfort that comes with wearing familiar staples, or lives somewhere with a similar climate throughout the year, then a year-round wardrobe could be a better fit for your needs.

Your capsule wardrobe should be flexible and accommodate any path you choose.

How you craft your capsule wardrobe is dependent upon who you are and what your end goal is for simplifying your closet.

It’s okay to start slow and dedicate only a portion of your closet to being a part of your capsule wardrobe, like for a particular season. It is equally valid to go all out and convert the entirety of your wardrobe from the get-go. Choose what feels best for you and adjust accordingly.

You can create a budget-friendly capsule wardrobe by using the clothes you already have in your closet.

Most of the time, it is completely unnecessary to compile a capsule collection from newly bought items. Making use of the items you already own is the more sustainable (and free) option, but if you still feel the need to make a few purchases, then try thrift shopping as a cost-efficient alternative.

Despite what some people may think, variety and capsule wardrobes are not polar opposites, and it is absolutely possible to have both.

Capsule collections are meant to be sources of inspiration that can be used to create endless outfit combinations with just a little bit of imagination.

They are also supposed to be periodically updated to adapt to your personal preferences and changing style, which allows for greater variety over time.

While the terms ‘capsule wardrobe’ and ‘minimalist wardrobe’ are often used interchangeably, it is important to note that they are not always the same thing.

Both types of wardrobes emphasize quality over quantity and versatility over variety. However, a minimalist wardrobe is typically smaller than a capsule wardrobe, as it is composed of only the fewest possible, most essential basics with minimal patterns or colors.

On the other hand, a capsule wardrobe is not meant to be as bare bones, and is made up of items designed to be strategically mixed and matched, and which can include more colors, patterns, statement items, and variety in general.

Capsule wardrobes can and should be colorful! The primary goal is to curate a collection of pieces that can be mixed and matched with one another.

While pairing basics together is an easy route that many people choose to take, it is by no means necessary to have a closet composed entirely of neutrals. In fact, adding color to your capsule wardrobe is what will allow you to spice things up and make it uniquely your own.

Routine maintenance and auditing of your wardrobe is essential for ensuring its longevity. Periodically check to make sure that pieces haven’t developed holes or stubborn stains, and when they do, try to mend or replace them as quickly as possible.

Even if there is nothing physically wrong with an item, it is important you ask yourself if you still love it or wear it often enough for it to remain a staple in your wardrobe. Finally, invest in high-quality, durable pieces that can last you many years so you do not feel the need to constantly replace items in your capsule collection.

Check out our guide to caring for wool to make sure your Oliver Charles sweaters last a lifetime.

If one of the staples in your collection becomes damaged, there is no need to fret. First, try to mend the item as quickly as possible so you can continue to wear the pieces you love. If it cannot be fixed, start the search for a replacement, whether it be the same garment, one that is similar, or one that is entirely new to spice up your wardrobe.

Wear and tear is inevitable, and retiring a clothing item should be seen as an opportunity to acquire something new that can shape and define your style for the next chapter of your life. However, make sure that you are staying up to date on best practices for how to wash and store your clothes so you can fend off deterioration for as long as possible.

One useful strategy that can be used to update your wardrobe without expanding it is to adopt a one-in, one-out rule.

If one of your clothing items is donated or thrown away, then it is perfectly acceptable to replace that piece with something new.

However, if you come across a garment that you have to have, ask yourself if you would be willing to give away something else you already own in order to buy it.

Abiding by a one-in, one-out rule will allow you to keep your wardrobe the same size over time, as well as encourage you to make conscious and sustainable decisions when it comes to new purchases.

The best time to start a capsule wardrobe for your kids is when they are already in need of new clothes, whether that be due to changing seasons or because they are about to go up a size.

Write down a checklist and do some research to find items that align with the budget, style, and color palette you’ve decided upon. Since kids’ clothing can vary dramatically between brands, try to buy from only one or two places to ensure that the wardrobe has consistent sizing and colors.

If your kids are older, make sure to ask for their input, and take the time to see what clothing styles they naturally gravitate toward so you can avoid purchasing items they won’t wear.  

One way to accommodate for weight fluctuations with your capsule wardrobe is to invest in easily adjustable clothing, as well as garments made from stretchy, technical fabrics.

Try including items such as wrap-around shirts or skirts, pants with elastic waistbands, button down dresses that can be converted into dusters, and high-waisted trousers that can be easily adjusted by adding a belt.

It might also be a good idea to curate individual capsule wardrobes to accommodate different weights, in the same way, one might adopt distinct collections for changing seasons.

How you store out-of-season clothing will depend on factors such as your available storage space and how often you plan on rotating your capsule collection to accommodate changing weather patterns.

Try your best to make the greatest possible use of the room you have, such as storing items under your bed, and make sure to label any bins/bags that you use accordingly.

Before putting garments away, pick out carry-over pieces that can go into the new seasonal capsule, as well as wash dirty items and tend to any repairs so that these clothes will be ready to wear when you take them out next season.

Check out our helpful tips to avoid moth damage when storing clothes long-term.

The idea of ‘one bagging’ is that it means bringing only one bag with you when you travel.

More specifically, it is a challenge to see if you can pack strategically and lightly enough to fit all of your belongings in a suitcase the size of a carry-on, which is beneficial because it frees up time and money you would have probably spent on checking bags.

One bagging also gives you peace of mind in knowing your valuables are safe because you are able to stay in close proximity to your luggage.

Packing efficiently is a skill that many struggle with, but it is a muscle that can be strengthened by challenging yourself to bring only one bag of clothes with you wherever you go.