4 Tips to Build a Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe that Lasts
Do you find yourself bored and uninspired with your closet? While buying a whole new wardrobe might seem expensive or wasteful, building a capsule wardrobe might be the most sustainable fit for your budget and the environment.
What is a Capsule Wardrobe?
Ever heard of decision fatigue? With too many options, it’s possible to feel overwhelmed or like you have “nothing to wear” within your closet. To build a capsule wardrobe, you will need a set number of clothes, shoes, and accessories that allow you to create a variety of outfits. By having pieces that easily mix-and-match, you can pull an outfit together quickly. This gives you freedom and flexibility, without having to sacrifice your confidence.
Why is a Capsule Wardrobe a More Sustainable Option?
With fast fashion harming our planet, creating a capsule wardrobe is one eco-friendly way to reduce buying trends and find timeless clothing that you love. With fewer options in your closet, you may be less likely to buy the latest trend. By being more mindful with purchases that will last longer than the average fashion cycle trend of 1 week, starting a capsule wardrobe with quality pieces will help reduce waste and save you money.
4 Steps to Help You Build a Capsule Wardrobe
Building a capsule wardrobe can feel overwhelming, and you might worry about emptying your wallet to do so. Luckily, this doesn’t have to be the case. Here are 4 steps to creating a capsule wardrobe with pieces that you love:
Identifying Your Personal Style
Finding your personal style isn’t a process that’s going to happen overnight. Before throwing out your whole wardrobe, think about what outfits inspire you. Pinterest is a great source to create a vision board of what vibe you’re interested in by the season or occasion.
Have a larger budget and want to invest in a professional? Hire a personal stylist who can help you put together pieces for a complete look. Some even offer personal shopping services to make curating your capsule closet easier.
Audit and Shop Your Closet
It’s important to first do an audit of your current wardrobe and determine what you want to keep, donate, or sell. Take into account what no longer fits you, or what you haven’t been reaching for lately. You can also do this exercise each season to keep things fresh and up to date with what you actually wear.
Buy Second-hand/Go Thrift Shopping
While going to a thrift store requires a lot of patience, it can be a great place to find clothing items on a budget. It could also be where you try out a particular style or trend without fully investing in a piece. It might take some time, but again, this process doesn’t have to happen in one day.
Choose Quality Over Quantity
Once you’ve decided on some pieces you want to invest in, look at the materials, versatility, and fit to ensure that they’re a worthy investment. A tip is to look at the cost per wear = the total price of the item / number of wears, to ensure you will get the most out of it. As a bonus, some companies also have a commitment to the planet, making your purchase one you can feel good about.
Build a Sustainable Future With Today’s Fashion Choices
While you might not be following the latest TikTok trend, starting your capsule wardrobe is going to save you time, energy, and money. By creating a sustainable and mindful capsule wardrobe, you can help slow the fast fashion cycle and still feel confident.