Ringing in a Capsule Wardrobe
Hey, BOS readers! As we hit the end of January, many of us might take this opportunity to reflect on whatever New Year’s resolutions we made a month ago. For me, that means continuing to wear all the clothes in my closet that didn’t see the light of day last semester.
As a self-diagnosed clothing addict, my closet can sometimes get overwhelming…which means some clothes fall through the cracks. Who has time to keep track of all their clothes and when they’re wearing them? It wasn’t until I went home for winter break, in a clothing deficit, that I realized I had taken my lifestyle for granted.
I resolved that I would start working through my closet, wearing all the clothes that had lost their starting positions in my wardrobe. If my love for the piece was renewed, then I would keep it. If not, then it was about time to get some good thrift karma anyways.
Maybe it’s my frontal lobe, or maybe my closet has just reached its limit – either way, it’s time. After 4 weeks of slowly working through my closet, I can finally reveal my findings: overconsumption is out. It’s time for a capsule wardrobe.
So, where does one start when completely revising their life’s work? The basics.
The key to a capsule wardrobe is the basics! Start collecting classic tank-tops and t-shirts that won’t go out of style. Start with neutral colors, and then branch into more unique pieces.
Basics
Sojourn Ribbed Tank
AE Premium Boxy T-Shirt
Obviously, a critical part of any clothing collection are the jeans. You need your strongest pieces here: classic pairs that your kid will want someday. Dark wash, light wash, low waisted and high. But don’t go crazy – this is where my closet got out of hand.
Start searching for jeans that fit you perfectly; no more settling for a pair that gapes at the waist. If you want a capsule wardrobe, you need denim staples.
Jeans
Levi's Low Loose Jeans
PacSun Casey Low Rise Baggy Jeans
Here the road divides and your individual style takes the wheel. Find the pieces that speak to you, but are still timeless. The perfect capsule wardrobe fits your style, minimalist or otherwise. Stick to pieces that aren’t subject to the cycle of trends, but make sure to branch out of the basics. Your wardrobe is your chance to express yourself – take it! My individual style means fun pops of color and interesting textures. The next few pieces are examples of clothes I would use to supplement the basics in my wardrobe.
Personal Style
Unique Pieces that Caught My Eye
As we near the end of this article, I have a confession I must make. While I have been sticking to my new year’s resolution, it has not produced any life-changing results. Unfortunately, it appears that I do still love all of my clothes, even the ones I don’t wear very much. We need more days in the year, not less clothes!
So maybe I’m not cut out for a capsule wardrobe. Maybe I’m just meant to be super trendy and funny and hot. But I’m still going to try! At the very least, we should all be moving away from overconsumption, and towards the classics…but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring.
