I’m not a capsule wardrobe expert, but I have downsized my wardrobe considerably in a way that suits my lifestyle better. I have likened it to a “capsule(ish) wardrobe” over on Instagram, but really it’s probably a realistic collection of clothing that fits my lifestyle. But that doesn’t quite have the same ring to it does it?! 

Whatever we want to call it, it’s been a labour of love for nearly three years; selling any clothes that no longer fit in with my new lifestyle, taking mental note of what I do and don’t wear, passing on clothes to friends and family, changing my shopping mindset, and only buying items where I didn’t have something similar in my wardrobe already. 

Here are my tips for decluttering and creating a wardrobe that works for your lifestyle. Before you begin, I recommend doing this on a day or weekend when you have time. You don’t want to feel rushed during this process, and you may also want to set some time aside to try on clothes.

Get everything out of your wardrobe

Empty out your drawers and wardrobe onto your bed so you can see it all. This might seem overwhelming at first but being able to see everything you own will help you to truly understand how much you own. 

Consider your lifestyle

If you’re spending 70% of your time in an office that has a smart dress code but only 10% of your time going to black-tie events then you’ll want this reflected in the items you own. The majority of your clothing should be appropriate for how you spend the majority of your time (in this example, roughly 70% of your wardrobe should then be appropriate for a smart dress code). The percentages don’t have to be exact but this is a great way to see whether you’re getting the most out of your wardrobe in a way that suits your lifestyle. And of course, there will always be practical items like raincoats and wellies that are useful to have regardless of how many muddy walks you go on each year.

Have all your bases covered

One way to prevent the feeling that your capsule wardrobe is limiting is to have your bases covered for different situations. Let’s look at coats and jackets as an example. Having four jackets that are excellent for that spring/summer weather will certainly give you options for that time of the year but it won’t be very helpful if you live somewhere with cold, rainy winters. Instead, keeping one light jacket that works for spring, an everyday coat, a raincoat and a wool coat for those cold winter days will mean your outerwear is covered for different types of weather. This will depend on your lifestyle and where you live but it’s definitely something to keep in mind when you’re deciding what to keep.

Consider the colour palette

Look at the clothes you’re keeping; do the colours work well together or are there lots of clashing colours and prints? Having a small colour palette can make it easier to create different outfit combinations using what you already own, and your wardrobe may feel less limited that way too. 

My colour palette is very neutral with blacks, blues and white being the dominant colours but I know some people prefer more colour! This isn’t to say that you should only keep clothes that are the same colour but if you’re adding new items to your wardrobe it’s a good idea to ask yourself, “how does this fit into my current collection?”

Sort them into piles

Sort the items you own into three different piles; to keep, to mend, and to sell/pass onto friends and family. There will be items that you know are your firm favourites since you reach for these time after time. It’s likely that you’ll come across items that you love but might need a little TLC, be it a quick debobble or fixing a loose button. We’re unlikely to reach for these items when they don’t quite work for us or if they need mending, so put these to the side and make time to sort them out. Then there will be items that you no longer need or wear, or that simply don’t work for your lifestyle anymore. Put them in a bag for charity, or offer your friends first refusal before selling them online. 

During the process of bringing everything out of your wardrobe, you’ll probably discover items you forgot you owned. The top you loved but stopped wearing, the trousers that you used to wear all the time. You may also be inclined to keep these items because they often have some nostalgia attached to them but if you haven’t worn them in the last year then it’s unlikely that you will again.

Make note of any gaps in your wardrobe

As you’re clearing out your wardrobe there may be significant items that you feel are missing. It might be that there’s a genuine need for it (for example: an item that you wore all the time but no longer fits so you’re giving it to a friend) but don’t fall into the trap of trying to convince yourself you need items that you’ve never owned before. If you have made it this far without ever owning something like it, then chances are you don’t need it as much as you think you do. Your list will come in handy next time you’re going shopping so you can fill any necessary gaps rather than adding yet another dress to your wardrobe (I’m guilty for this one).

My wardrobe may be smaller these days but I feel so much more content with it and it might be rather counterintuitive but it feels like I have so many more options now because it’s full of items I actually reach for. I’d love to know how you get on with your realistic wardrobe journey!