10 Benefits of a Capsule Wardrobe

By Kevin Shirley, Associate Broker (DC), GRI, e-PRO, ASP

The winter months have almost arrived, and once again, you’re no doubt worried about organizing your closet for the new season. This is among the most challenging things we do at the change of the season.
Perhaps you even spend hours staring at the clothes hanging in your wardrobe with the same question, “When do I wear them all?” or even “When did I wear this last?” Moreover, the mess created by loads and loads of items inside creates a headache before you even begin the organization project.

Experts say that people who open a well-organized closet in the morning feel less overwhelmed and more peaceful for the rest of the day. When you can decide your outfit for the day without feeling stressed, it can inexplicably fill your day with promise.

This is where the concept of a capsule wardrobe comes into play. You might have heard this phrase and wondered what the capsule-wardrobe hype is all about.

What is a capsule wardrobe?

As the name suggests, a capsule wardrobe is basically a streamlined wardrobe comprised of versatile articles of clothes and accessories that you love to wear every day in a particular season. These wardrobes are meant to accommodate around 30 to 40 items that fit your lifestyle. The items you put inside these small-sized wardrobes are greatly influenced by season; however, it has nothing to do with the walk-in square footage.

These wardrobes’ basics say that all shoes, clothes, and outwear count in this wardrobe; however, accessories, pajamas, fitness apparel, and special event outfits don’t.

When your wardrobe consists only of pieces you love to wear — and that mix and match with all the other items in your wardrobe — there is no need to spend hours choosing your outfit each day. Moreover, as it keeps everything organized inside, you will always feel great about your clothes.

At first blush, a capsule wardrobe may appear restrictive since it allows you to include only a limited number of clothes. But you will likely come to love the level of freedom it offers. Those who have adopted the capsule-wardrobe strategy often say that it makes getting dressed in the morning a genuine pleasure.

Here are a few unique benefits of crafting a capsule wardrobe to ease your decision-making:

1. A capsule wardrobe makes it easy to choose an outfit. The morning hours are often already full of chaos, and rooting around in an overflowing and disorganized closet to pick your day’s outfit only adds to the stress. Capsule wardrobes can help you avoid this struggle as it consists only of clothes that you love, that fit you well, and that make you look and feel great. The idea is to edit the wardrobe collection until you have only your favorite items inside. Doing so will help you to decide what to wear with ease every morning. There is no need to spend time trying on items and taking them off a few minutes later — no need to spoil your mood by looking at clothes that you actually don’t like to wear or don’t really fit. Everything you have in the closet is something you love to wear, making selection more straightforward and convenient.
2. A capsule wardrobe saves time. As you can see, all your favorite clothes are hanging in front of you; there is no need to worry about what looks good and what doesn’t. There is no need to waste time trying on multiple outfits when you are already in a rush. Moreover, it doesn’t require your precious time every weekend to clean and organize the wardrobe. You will be able to utilize this time to participate in other productive (or fun) activities.
3. A capsule wardrobe helps avoid decision fatigue. We make important decisions all day long. Some decisions are important, and others are comparatively insignificant. No matter the size, decisions add stress to your life and fatigue to your brain. If we can somehow avoid a few minor choices throughout your day, it may help you maintain control over the larger decisions you have to make. Having a well-organized, capsule wardrobe that contains fewer items can help you make selections for your daily outfit more easily.
4. A capsule wardrobe requires less stress about clothes. The capsule wardrobe may make help you let go of the general stress about the clothes. As this strategy allows you to eliminate items that you don’t wear often, the wardrobe will be packed only with the pieces that make you feel your best. It simplifies life by taking out the unnecessary overwhelming burden of storing and caring for clothes that don’t even fit or flatter your body. Owning fewer, better-tailored pieces can also help you feel realistic about your collections, and it is far easier to manage them. You will also have to worry less about washing, drying, dry-cleaning, and folding them.
5. A capsule wardrobe reduces guilt about your clothes. For many people, clothes can hold great emotional significance. A significant problem with having so many clothes in the closet is that it can force you to feel negative emotions and guilt. You may feel guilty about buying things that you rarely wear or spending so much of your hard-earned money on something lying there unworn season after season. Maybe you have gained some weight, and many of those clothes consequently no longer serve you, bringing additional negative feelings. Getting rid of clothes that don’t positively impact your life can definitely help you feel lighter and freer.
6. A capsule wardrobe makes your closet simple to organize. Owning fewer clothes means you get more space to breathe in the closet since shelves, drawers, and rods are not stuffed full. As a result, it’s easier to keep it tidy and well organized all the time. Moreover, finding precisely what you’re looking for is always easy. A simplified wardrobe simplifies your life, as well. There is no need to spend time or money on a fancy closet organization system; a smaller wardrobe requires only minimal organizational items to keep it tidy and items easy to find. Since you have fewer clothes to put in your closet, you can also accommodate some other items on the empty shelves and drawers. This naturally frees up more space in the bedroom.
7. A capsule wardrobe boosts your confidence. A smaller wardrobe makes it easier to implement your style preferences. You will never come across clothes that you do not wear anymore. The color, style, feel, and fit, everything will be according to your well-thought-out choice. The capsule wardrobe makes it convenient to determine your style preferences, and it will naturally boost your confidence. Wearing your favorite outfits without concerning yourself with the unflattering sartorial detritus can enhance the entire day’s mood.
8. A capsule wardrobe can bring increased gratitude and contentment. It seems odd to think that a mere wardrobe can teach us lessons of contentment and gratitude. When you curate your clothes carefully, leaving only what makes you feel great, you are more careful about your next shopping trip. You will soon realize that more clothes don’t make you happier or more stylish. Rather — and counterintuitively — having a smaller number of items in the wardrobe can create a sense of abundance. You will also learn to appreciate what you have while enjoying the feeling of gratitude.
9. A capsule wardrobe saves money. Having a capsule wardrobe can naturally help you to avoid mindless shopping. The idea is to commit to the limited collection and carefully select what you should buy in the future. Experts advise keeping only 35 to 40 items in your wardrobe and make thoughtful decisions about purchasing new items. In short, capsule wardrobes can help you save more out of your limited monthly income, and soon you will be able to enhance your bank balance.
10. A capsule wardrobe helps you learn to be comfortable with less. One of the most essential things in human life is satisfaction, and we all struggle to achieve that. A person who learns to be comfortable even with fewer things can enjoy life to the fullest. Capsule wardrobes teach us the same lesson. Having a limited number of clothes in your closet and still feeling secure and happy about your style is a significant achievement for anyone.

So there you have them, the 10 most important benefits of crafting and maintaining a capsule wardrobe. This strategy may soon lead to a positive impact on your life while taking away all the stress of managing unwanted pieces in your wardrobe.