Is the Capsule Wardrobe Really Necessary for a Simple Life?

I’ve been experimenting on and off for six years… here’s my take on it…

9 min readAug 23, 2020

The capsule wardrobe is one of the hallmarks of the minimalist movement. It seemingly has the same status as: rejecting consumerism, creating instead of consuming, and downsizing our possessions.

It’s one of the most covered topics by minimalist content creators in blogs, youtube videos and Instagram. The hashtag #project 333 on Instagram has 48.9k posts, the hashtag of #capsulewardrobe having 514K posts.

I actually found the minimalist movement because of trying to reduce an overstuffed closet. At the time, I had over 300 pieces of clothing and kept bringing more in by the weekend.

Goodwill was cheap for my college student budget. At the time, it didn’t matter how much time I would have to spend sorting, cleaning and storing all 300 pieces. I just liked having a full closet.

I credit my ex boyfriend for making me realize what was going on, both with the overstuffing of a closet and the buy-use (maybe)-store-discard-buy cycle.

It was early 2014 and I had dreams of staying with him forever. We had dated 10 months and even though we occassionally argued, I still wanted to move in with him and spend life with him. However, I saw my 300 piece closet as a problem.

I knew that with my paycheck and his, we would be able to afford only a small space. We wouldnt have room to store both his stuff and mine and still have a functional living space.

So, I began to question how to pare things down. As a total overhaul seemed difficult to muster at the time, I wanted to start with one area.

I started with a moderated Project333. I would choose 33 pieces of clothing and wear only them for 3 months. I wasn’t ready to count accessories, jewlery or shoes (the first two were also problem areas).

Over those three months, I had a lot of revelations about the clothes I had purchased:

they were uncomfortable- some of them just hurt.
they didn’t fit correctly- and therefore were impossible to work with all day
they weren’t something that I wanted to wear all day every day
I hated how I looked in them.

Some of the pieces that I chose were keepers. They have remained the backbones of my wardrobe and were the pieces I replaced when I wore them out.

However, most of the pieces I had either did not work well or were not my style. Some were fun to wear on certain occasions- like a metal concert, but were things that were constrained to those activities.

My first capsule opened my eyes. I began to get a better sense of what I wanted in my closet. Of what worked for me and what could be let go. I remember making frequent swaps for the pieces that didn’t fit right or hurt.

It has been six years since that first capsule. I’ve tried Project333 multiple times. I’ve tried the Five Piece French Wardrobe (another method). I’ve even gone without creating a capsule a few times.

Each season brings new lessons.

I’ve learned what actually works for my wardrobe and what I prefer (mostly neutrals that can be worn over and over again with a few standout pieces).
I’ve learned my personal style (a cross between rock girl and bohemian with some classic).
I’ve learned that the structures of a capsule wardrobe will help you to build a closet that you love where things work together.
Mixing and matching has also become almost a science. I can see the pairing combinations when considering a new piece.

My favorite thing about having a wardrobe that was forged by capsule wardrobes?

Every piece that I have in the closet is a piece that I will wear until it falls apart. Each piece holds memories- some hold one, others hold multiple. When I look at my closet, I see those memories.

When I look at the sequin owl shirt my mother bought me, I think of my first trip to Erie with my fiance.
When I look at my red dress with the western print, I think of traveling to Maryland to meet Randy’s family and all of the memories associated with that trip.
When I see my smoke printed pants, I think of the day I bought them in Erie- the peninsula as well as where I was at that time in my life.
My canvas jacket with the safety pins- that’s college all over again for me, standing in front of 100 people and reading poetry.

This aspect of being able to look at each piece of my closet and bring up memories is not something that can be cultivated with a 300 piece wardrobe.

It comes from putting the brakes on. From being selective and only purchasing a few pieces per season. With a larger wardrobe, you might feel this way about a few pieces, but not every piece, the way that I’m able to.

There are many reasons for building a capsule wardrobe:

it saves time
it saves money
it prevents unpurposeful duplicates (I can never have enough black shirts)
it builds up a sturdy foundation
it prevents decision paralysis by reducing the number of decisions you make in the morning.

The restrictions of having a capsule wardrobe:

it can cause boredom- there are not many options
it can seem restrictive for those who prefer a larger collection
it can be hard to get used to due to size
it can be harder to wash, especially if you live between places.

However, is the capsule wardrobe necessary for a simple life?

As unpopular as my opinion might be, I’m going to say no. Making purposeful choices, however, is essential for a simpler closet.

Capsule wardrobes are often done as experiments with no end goal in mind. People are curious to see what enough means for them. If they can get by with a smaller closet and if it will make a difference. They are curious to see what a smaller closet would look like in their everyday life.

Capsule wardrobes can be that starting point. When we seek to simplify, it’s often easier to start on the outside and work our way in. By simplifying the closet, we do make room for more of what matters most: time, energy, money and freedom.

Capsule wardrobes also provide guidelines. Trying to live with 33–37 pieces of clothing every season will teach you what you really want from your closet, about personal style and how to get by for less. They are a great tool for beginning to design simplier concepts of life.

In all of the above cases, capsule wardrobes are awesome.

However, they are not the only way to achieve closet simplicity. I think of those who have a self-chosen uniform, where everything looks similar: same kind of pants, top and shoes each day. My grandfather was one of those people who wore khakis, a blue button down with a white teeshirt under and a pair of New Balance everyday.

I also think of those who practice a clothes shopping ban regardless of time frame. I’ve heard of everything from one month no clothes shopping bans to a three year shopping ban.

Instead of storing clothes to be pulled from the closet or donated/sold, those who start the clothes shopping ban usually start with what they have. They want to make the most of what they have.

Often, they learn some of the same lessons: what really doesn’t fit, what is most important and deserves closet space and more about their style. By making themselves choose to obstain from shopping, they come up with ideas for new outfits from mixing and matching and creative solutions for a praticular outfit when needed.

Finally, I think of those who have a well curated closet from years of experimenting. They might not use the framework of a capsule, but everything is purchased with intent and not only loved, but worn until it falls apart. This is where I am right now.

The Rules I follow with My Wardrobe After Six Years

Even when I’m not challenging myself with a capsule, I always use the following rules that keep my wardrobe simple. They have been a happy compromise between full closet and capsule.

Ignore trends.

I’m all for experimenting with my style. Sometimes a piece won’t work out and I’ll lovingly pass it on to a friend or give to the local Red, White and Blue.

However, when I experiment, I won’t do it by trend. There was a time where I knew every seasonal trend. However, if you asked me what’s in for Fall2020 right now I couldn’t tell you. I can tell you that I’d like to buy ribbed tank because I want to look more industrial this fall.

When you decide to buy a piece that seems like a game changer, think of something that you have always wanted to try. It could be anything from a fringe jacket to a pair of colored pants. Buy one or two of these pieces per season and try them out. See what they do for your look and how they intermingle with the rest of the wardrobe.

2. Know your basics, and invest in quality as often as you’re able to.

I define a basic as the essential pieces that I can’t live without. Neutral shirts, solid color maxi skirts and palazzo pants and a pair of sneakers are pieces that I know I’ll wear over and over again until they fall apart. It makes sense when I wear one of these pieces out to try to invest in a better quality or ethically made version.

Basics are the backbone of your wardrobe, they support the structure. While there are theories of basic to statement (the pieces that pack a punch) out there, I’ve never stuck to any of them. For me, as long as I have my basics down, I know that I’m set. I can add pieces that catch my eye as opportunity allows.

3. Have a list and stick to it.

Even when I’m not doing a capsule wardrobe, I still love making a list at the beginning of the season. I bring as many seasonally appropriate pieces into my closet as possible, but I still start with a list.

The first thing on my list are always my basics. I list them out, season after season and then go back and cross out the ones I know I have covered. The ones that are not in good repair or worn out are the first thing on my shopping list. I also think of anything that I’d like to try that season. I keep the list and consider it carefully before making any purchases.

4. Experiment during the season

Contentment starts with enjoying what we already have.

Even in a small wardrobe, there is a lot of room for experimentation. Try a skirt with a different top, just to see how it works. If you’re interested, trying to make 10 outfits from 10 items is a fun activity that helps to mix things up.

Experimenting in general can open our eyes to the versatility of the pieces of clothing that we own. It keeps things from getting too stale and allows the pieces to be worn again and again, making good on the investment of the purchase. Also, remember when I mentioned having a memory with each of my pieces? That also comes from having fewer items but knowing how to use them well.

5. Live life outside the closet.

I used to be that girl who would plan her wardrobe out two months earlier than she needed to. I would fixate on getting things right, identifying the perfect pieces, and then rewriting my list.

Instead of expending energy on this pursuit, do something else that you love. Read 100 books in 10 months. Write a poem every day for a month. Craft until your heart is content. Take daytrips to places that speak to you. Have deeper conversations. Focus your time on special projects that need to be done.

This is without doubt the thing that helped me first when overcoming my shopping addiction, throughout the days of fending off any boredom in the beginning of the capsule and now. This year, I’ve been gifted clothing, but can honestly say that I’ve only made 3 purchases for myself.

By plugging into life as it happens instead of focusing on how we look at certain events or what we dream of our next look being, we enjoy it more. I am not trying to bash shopping. We all have a need to express ourselves both inwardly and outwardly. I’m not against that need. I’m just stating that there is more to life than what we show up to the party in.

Conclusion

As a short recap: a capsule is not necessary for a simple life. It can be helpful by providing a starting point for downsizing or experimenting with what the concept of enough means to each of us. It also provides great guidelines for building a solid closet.

However, there are more ways than one to practice mindful consuming. Not every method works for every person. Also, when you get to the point where you’ve been working with a capsule, a simple wardrobe comes naturally even without the process.

Finally, by providing my rules for a simple closet, I hope that I’ve encouraged you to create your own guidelines in how you form your closet and what is worth the valuable resource of space.