How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe - Guidance For The Minimalist Dresser
Words by Alice Hartwell
As we shift through high summer toward fall, we turn our thoughts to a new season of dressing. Every cycle change offers an opportunity to rethink and refine our approach to daily wear, a style rebirth of sorts. Our letter today lends guidance to this process. A definitive blueprint for how to build a capsule wardrobe - the ally of the modern, minimalist dresser.
stage 1: evaluate and plan
Preparation is key before curating a capsule wardrobe. First, consider your personal needs and style requirements, both creatively and functionally. Envision uniforms for every facet of your life: work, social events, sports and downtime.
Identify a personal theme for the current or upcoming season - this will serve as the foundation for your capsule. Consider which color palette you feel harmonized with, and the silhouettes you feel most confident in.
Reflect on your mission with this capsule wardrobe to make a purposeful change. What are your aims with this redirection? To streamline your wardrobe and move away from overconsumption? To conquer outfit decision fatigue? To rediscover a lost sense of personal style? Maybe something entirely different - follow whatever feels authentic to you.
Stage 2: seek inspiration
While it’s important to stay rooted in a secure style vision independent of passing trends, seeking inspiration and visualization for your capsule can prove helpful for those who feel unsure how or where to start.
Browse blogs, magazines, or any other fashion sources that resonate to gather inspiration for your new wardrobe. Create a mood board to further visualize and play creatively - consider everything from your organizational formula to storage options.
Stage 3: set the foundations in motion
After choosing your central color palette, consider a few other complementary shades for your capsule. This will allow for occasional pops of brightness that keep your wardrobe feeling fresh.
Many of us have the foundations for a capsule closet already hanging on our rails, without the need for extensive reinvestment. Spend some time styling your existing garments to discover which can easily transition to your new wardrobe. These pieces should be versatile above all, with the multifunctionality that allows you to slim down your collection.
Now comes the part everyone finds challenging. It’s time to be definitive, and perhaps a little ruthless, about which items will make the cut. As guidance, a traditional capsule wardrobe contains roughly 30-40 pieces.
Stage 4: pick your core pieces
Allocate essential, timeless pieces that will form the core of your revitalized wardrobe. They should be enduring in both style and quality, with total ease of rotation each day. Dāl’s capsule closet:
- Basic t-shirts
- Jeans
- Tailored pants
- Seasonal outerwear
- Structured blazer
- Thin to heavy knits (dependent on season)
- Timeless accessories and jewelry
- Seasonal footwear
- Oversized shirt
- Versatile dresses
Stage 5: maintain and rotate
After transitioning to a capsule closet, it’s important to ensure regular maintenance, allowing continued functionality for daily styling. Keep your fashion space organized and be mindful of new additions. There’s nothing wrong with conscious investment where necessary, but try to work on a “one in, one out” policy when noticing your rails start to fill again.
A capsule doesn’t have to last forever, in fact, we actively encourage you to rotate with the changing seasons. Walk through a similar process to assess new changes in your style or remove items that no longer fit comfortably. As people, we are always changing, so it’s only natural our clothes should too.
