Building a capsule wardrobe
/ Words: Melanie van Berkel
/ Category: Sustainability
/ Published: December 2021
Building a capsule wardrobe
A closet packed with clothes and still nothing to wear? A capsule wardrobe might be the solution to your problem. A few years ago, almost every influencer proudly presented their new exquisite approach to their closet. Needless and out of style shirts, trousers and shoes were thrown away and small perfect wardrobes started to appear on our social media timelines. However, it wasn’t the first time someone used the term ‘capsule wardrobe’. The History of the capsule wardrobe goes all the way back to the 1970’s. At Teym we believe that, after all those years, you can still use a capsule wardrobe as a guideline for composing your own impeccable wardrobe. But what is a capsule wardrobe? And how can it help you?
In this blog we’ll tell you all about the origin of capsule wardrobes and we’ll give you handy tips for building an impeccable capsule wardrobe yourself.
What is a capsule wardrobe?
The capsule wardrobe all began with boutique owner Susie Faux in the 1970’s. She invented a new way of organizing the wardrobes of her shop clients by mixing & matching basics. In the 1980’s, fashion designer Donna Karan was inspired by Susie’s approach. Therefore, she decided to design a capsule collection of work-wear inspired pieces. Her approach to Susie’s idea caused a breakthrough in the popularity of the capsule wardrobe. The collection, called ‘7 easy pieces’, was meant to make life easier for women by creating basic timeless items which were easy to style with other items and fitted every occasion. With Donna’s approach on dressing women with only seven items Karan popularized the idea of a capsule wardrobe. Nowadays, the word is everywhere.
Everyone perceives a capsule wardrobe in a different way. The most common approach is that a capsule wardrobe is a timeless selection of your favorite and most essential items which complement each other. You can adjust your items from season to season, so you still have a ‘new’ wardrobe every time spring is in the air. Perceive your capsule items as the building blocks of your wardrobe. A typical building block of your capsule wardrobe could be a pair of good fitted jeans. Slowly you can build your impeccable wardrobe by adding the right items to your foundation, like a shirt and a cardigan which you can style with your jeans. At Teym, we think that’s the best way to put together your impeccable wardrobe.
How to build a capsule wardrobe?
As humans we constantly evolve, so sometimes it’s hard to find items that will grow with you while you change. To make smart investments it’s wise to search for what stays. That’s why we are here to give you some tips to start building your own capsule wardrobe.
- Go researching your own wardrobe. It all starts with a deep dive into your wardrobe. What do you already have? Tip: don’t forget to check all the little corners for forgotten old pieces. What are items you never wear anymore? If you wouldn’t buy it again, it’s better to pass it on to someone else. Pick your favorites and donate the rest of your clothes or organize a clothing swap with friends.
- Know your daily life routine/ day to day life. What are your daily tasks? Does this match with the clothes you own? When you know your daily tasks and what kind of clothing these tasks require, it becomes easier to select the right items for your wardrobe.
- The 30 wears rule. A couple of years ago, Eco Age founder and sustainable fashion pioneer Livia Firth introduced a new theory to help you curate your wardrobe. Do you want to buy something new? Make sure that everything you’ve put in your shopping bag is well-considered before you wake your debit card up from his well-earned sleep. Always ask yourself the following question: will I wear this item at least 30 times before I’ll pass it on to someone else? If the answer is no, you know what to do.
- Invest in qualitative items that will last for a lifetime. That makes sense, doesn’t it? But how can you recognize quality? It’s essential to do research in fabrics in order to notice a qualitative item. What are fabrics that have a long lifespan and do they suit your lifestyle? Do you want to buy a wool coat for the stormy autumn weather? Keep in mind that wool isn’t the most suitable fabric for rainy days, because the rain will damage the fiber.
- Forget the numbers, have fun! Don’t be too hard on yourself. When we talk about a capsule wardrobe, we usually think we are restricted to a selected number of clothes. You definitely don’t need 250 items, but the only person who can decide how many items you need is, drumroll…, you. The foundation of a capsule wardrobe is that you own clothes you absolutely love to wear and that you don’t feel the need to buy a whole new collection season after season. Therefore, it’s important that you find your own way in using the capsule wardrobe guidelines.
- Start with the basics. It’s best to start building your capsule wardrobe by selecting your favorite basics, like your favorite pair of jeans, and then look for more seasonal items which are easy to layer and match.
Which items do you need for your capsule wardrobe?
Which items are absolutely unmissable in a capsule collection?
- Basic T-shirts. Do we need to say more? It works with everything, from blazer to sweatsuit. Have a look at our T-Shirt here.
- A piece of outerwear. We all need a warm coat to protect ourselves from the freezing temperatures and stormy winds.
- Shirts. Whether you need it for a formal occasion or a long day at the beach to protect your arms from the sun. A shirt is never a wrong idea. It also is the perfect item to layer, mix and match to give your outfit the perfect extra touch.
- Sweaters. From couch to conference room and everything in between. A sweater will keep you warm and comfortable. Don’t forget to check the material it’s made of, if the sweater is made of Merino wool it will last longer and it won’t itch. Take a look at our Merino Sweaters here.
- Jeans. Jeans are one of the most worn items of all time for a reason. A perfect pair of jeans is suitable for every occasion. We simply can’t live without our beloved denim friend, like artist Andy Warhol once said: “I want to die with my blue jeans on.”
- Trousers. Whether you want to wear something casual or you want to dress up for a fancy dinner, a pair of trousers fits every occasion.
- A sweatsuit. A cozy, comfortable sweatsuit is all you need some days. It’s the perfect fit for a binge-watch marathon on the couch.
- A jacket, blazer or zip hoodie. The secret to a perfect capsule wardrobe is owning items you can layer. This way your wardrobe is suitable for every weather condition. A jacket, blazer or zip hoodie which you can wear over your t-shirt or shirt is the perfect addition to your wardrobe.
- At least two pairs of shoes. From a pair of boots for cold winter days to a comfortable sandal to cool off your feet on long summer days. There’re many options when it comes to finding the perfect pair of shoes. We think a pair of Chelsea Boots is the perfect addition to your wardrobe. To dress up or to dress down, this multifunctional shoe is classic yet comfortable. Discover our Chelsea Boots here.
Teym’s impeccable wardrobe
At Teym we strive to build an impeccable wardrobe. One item at a time, we’re creating the pieces we’ve spent years searching for. We don’t produce overhyped collections, because we believe that slow and steady wins the race. A perfect wardrobe that’ll last for many years to come starts with high quality materials and an outstanding design, that’s why we’re constantly looking for ways to improve our products and search for the best materials.