Are you looking to save money and keep things simple in your closet? Then, trying a capsule wardrobe may be the answer to all of your top clothing dilemmas. Read on to find out more about a capsule wardrobe, and minimalist living.
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What is a capsule wardrobe?
There’s a little secret that fashion stylists, bloggers, and celebrities have known for years, and it’s time you get to take advantage of their knowledge and sheer genius. A capsule wardrobe can help you save money, cut back on all of the clutter in your closet, and open you up to more creative, but simplified outfit options than ever. Don’t believe us? Try it for yourself and see all of the benefits. Here’s how a capsule wardrobe can answer all your closet and clothing dilemmas.
A capsule, or minimalist, wardrobe is a collection of classic clothes and accessories that do not go out of style and can be worn in any season. This puts your fashion game on 💯 and reduces the stress of choosing an outfit to wear. This idea isn’t new by far, but fashion blogger Caroline Rector of the Unfancy blog popularized the idea. In her blog, she writes about her experience wearing 37 pieces of clothing for three straight months (Yep, 37, read that sentence again!). The idea saved her money and eliminated the stress of deciding what to wear every day. We’re here to give you the details on how you can start your own capsule wardrobe and carve out your own piece of the minimalist lifestyle.
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Why should I have a capsule wardrobe?
The main reason to have a capsule wardrobe is to save money on shopping and save time getting ready in the morning. There’s no need to worry about what to wear, and you no longer have so many extra pieces of clothing cluttering your closet.
A minimalist wardrobe means that you have basic pieces of clothing that you consider staples in your closet, and you have all of the clothes that you really love instead of a bunch of different pieces that don’t match or you bought on a whim. A capsule wardrobe only includes the articles of clothing that you wear consistently — anything else can be thrown out. If you focus on timeless pieces that you love and wear often, then there becomes less of a need to keep trendy items that you only wear once or twice a year.
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What’s the best way to build a capsule wardrobe?
Building a capsule wardrobe isn’t as hard as you think. There are a few steps you can take to get a jumpstart on a wardrobe that works for you (instead of a bunch of uncoordinated, single pieces of clothing). Your focus should be on getting rid of all of the things you don’t want or need, then making a plan for how all of your new pieces can fit together.
If you need a little help, here are five tips to get a jumpstart on streamlining your closet, so you can prepare for your new smaller, but more effective capsule wardrobe.
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5 Tips to Clear the Clutter in Your Closet
Tip #1 - Less Is the Goal, Not More
The first thing to do is to eliminate all of the things in your closet that you don’t need. Those shoes that you haven’t worn in 2 years? Go ahead and pull those out now. What about the formal dress you bought for an event 5 years ago that no longer fits? Add that to your list of things to take out.
Here’s a cheat sheet on how to clean out and organize your closet quickly with three separate piles: Keep, Maybe, and No.
The Keep Pile
These items are on your greatest hits and always get the most mileage when you think of things you wear most often. These are the things you should put back into your closet immediately. If there are several items and they vary by season, you can separate them.
The Maybe Pile
If you’re unsure where some items fit in your overall plans and you still like them, throw them in your maybe pile. The key to having a successful maybe pile is to make sure it doesn’t get too big. Put a timeline on how long you need to think about these pieces (say 30 days), and if you find that you’re not wearing or liking them as much as you thought, then shift them to your last pile.
The No Pile
For some, this may be the hardest pile. These are the items you haven’t worn in a while, never liked, or maybe no longer fit with the style you’re trying to achieve. Your no pile can either turn into items you donate or sell to make a little extra cash. Don’t forget about the items that aren’t clothes that can go in your no pile such as accessories, purses, and shoes.
Tip #2 - Make a list, check it twice
The next step is to make a checklist of things that you need. With your closet cleaned out, you can see what missing pieces you need to start filling in the gaps. Do you want to stick to a certain color scheme? Or do you need a mix of items for each season? The most important thing to remember is the advantage to having a capsule wardrobe is with fewer options to choose, the easier it is to decide your outfit.
Tip #3 - Plan a to-buy list, make a budget
Now that you’ve decided what you need, create your budget for what you’ll buy. After spending all of that time cleaning out your closet, you definitely don’t want to fill it back up with unneeded items. Decide on a set budget and decide what you’ll buy first based on price. There’s no need to rush because a capsule wardrobe can be created over time.
Tip #4 - Mix it up
This is the time to have fun! Try different outfit ideas and brainstorm on the various ways you can wear every item. Add accessories and different shoes to bring a new spin to an existing outfit. One helpful hint is to take a picture of each outfit you create. This way you can add different accessories each time you wear it.
Although you’re wearing the same items, that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. You still have different outfits you can create with all of the options.
Tip #5 - Keep up your minimalist wardrobe
You may think you’ll get bored with a limited number of clothes in your closet, but don’t worry. As tempting as it can be to give up, remember the reasons you started your capsule wardrobe. Whether it was to clean out your closet or simply to save money, these can be good reminders when you want to rush out and buy the latest designs.
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Summary
The process of building a capsule wardrobe can be as long or short of a process as you like. As you add new items and purge old things from your closet, you’ll start to shape your minimalist wardrobe. Imagine all of the fun you’ll have and time you’ll gain every day after you start with these simple tips. You will have less clothes, but more peace of mind as you simplify your life. This can also help you save money, which means you will have more dollars to add to your Porte Savings Account.1 Happy purging!
This blog is not intended to provide any tax, legal, financial planning, insurance, accounting, investment, or any other kind of professional advice or services. To make sure that any information or suggestions in this blog fit your particular circumstances, you should consult with an appropriate tax or legal professional before taking action based on any suggestions or information that we provide.