Capsule wardrobes are all well and good, but they’re not for everyone! If you’re new to minimalism, you might find the idea of limiting your clothing to only a few staple pieces to be intimidating. And that’s okay!
Here are six things I did in my closet to simplify my wardrobe without dedicating to a capsule.
1. I picked a color palette I actually wear.
No more trying to force mustard yellow or baby pink into my outfits. I chose a few core colors that mix and match easily–instant simplicity.
Along with a color palette, you might find some general idea to base your wardrobe around. Some ideas:
- Practicality – comfortable, easy-to-care-for pieces you can wear anywhere, with anything
- Off-Duty Pirate – flowy, edgy, room to stow a blade
- Homemaker – outfits that can go from baking to gardening to grocery shopping
Or you can choose one piece of your wardrobe to base the rest around. Maybe you have a signature piece you really identify with–a leather jacket, a floral dress, a good pair of boots. Having that piece as a reference point can help you to build a wardrobe that works well with itself.
Wardrobe color palette ideas.
2. I let go of “someday” clothes.
Hugely, I stopped storing those “someday” and “maybe” articles of clothing. You know, those pieces you’d wear if you had a different lifestyle, job, body, personality… If it didn’t fit NOW me, it didn’t stay.
For some people, this might look like keeping those “aspirational” pieces, from when you were stronger, thinner, more able-bodied, etc. You’re saving clothes for someone you aren’t anymore, and someone you may never be again.
For others, maybe you’re saving office outfits in case you someday go back to work after the kids are grown. Will those pieces even still be in style? Maybe! But probably not. All we know for sure is that they’re taking up space right now.
3. I made peace with outfit repeating.
Rewearing favorites isn’t lazy–it’s smart. I stopped worrying about looking “too samey” and started enjoying not overthinking my outfit every single day.
Some of my neighbors probably have an opinion on how I wear the same outfit to walk my dog every morning, but here’s my secret: I own a washing machine. And I save fifteen minutes of my mornings by knowing exactly what to grab to get started with my day.
4. I created Outfit Formulas.
You can create outfit formulas, rather than creating a tight capsule wardrobe. An outfit formula is just a good go-to combo that always works.
Comfy jeans + soft tee + cardigan.
Black dress + boots + denim jacket.
No decision fatigue–just easy dressing. You can have an outfit formula for every day, going out, exercising, and whatever other situations in your life require a different outfit. Then you always know what to grab, but you can mix and match items in those categories to create the same formula.
5. I decluttered by category.
Instead of doing the whole closet at once, I tackled in small chunks–just shoes, just outerwear, just lounge clothes.
This was way less overwhelming. I could declutter an entire category in as little as ten minutes, rather than dedicating an entire day (or week…or month) to my whole closet.
6. I stopped chasing sales and “wardrobe fixes”.
I used to shop as a hobby or to try to “fix” my wardrobe with just one more item. Now I ask: do I need this, or am I bored/stressed/scrolling?
When I do feel I need an addition to my wardrobe, I add it to my thrifting list. Then I look for it at my own pace, and I don’t buy things that aren’t already on my list. This way, I know I’m shopping necessary staples. I don’t just comb the racks for whatever catches my eye.
10-Minute Closet Cleaning Challenges
Grab this free PDF of 10-minute closet cleaning challenges to make your wardrobe simplification fun, quick, and easy:
#4: While I never mental formulated in words the idea of outfit formulas, I guess I was already doing that as I do have one set of clothes for funerals and have grouped my closed with Sunday Church tops, Winter tops (as it’s winter in New England), Winter coats, and Casual indoor winter tops.
#5: I decluttered by category which was helpful.
#1: Decades ago I figured out my color palette and I stick with it.
#2: Last week I let go of a new group of “someday clothes.”