How to Create a Fall Capsule Wardrobe

A while back I did a little experiment (based off of Jen Hatmaker’s book 7) where I only wore 7 articles of clothing for an entire month. SEVEN.

And while it was nice to have such minimal options for clothing for that month, I missed having some specific pieces in my arsenal of clothing options.

So I’m compromising. Not as minimal as only 7 pieces, but not as large as a closet-full either.

The compromise is a capsule wardrobe.

A small number of quality pieces that can be mix and matched to make lots of different outfit combinations.

Here’s how to create a Fall Capsule Wardrobe:

1. Try everything on. E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.

If it doesn’t fit not, you’re not going to wear it. It’s just taking up space. (The only exception I’ll make to this is if you’re currently pregnant or recently postpartum.)

2. Make 4 piles: sell, donate, trash, later-on:

Higher end pieces, sell them! You can use that money to put towards any other pieces you need to buy to “fill in the gaps.” Cheaper (both cost and quality) shirts? Donate them. I’m talking about the shirts you’ve got from Old Navy and Target. Have a shirt with permanent pit stains? No need to even donate that. No one wants that!

3. Put together different outfits.

This is the best part! Try your ‘keep’ pile back on, mixing and matching with different things. It’s basically shopping from your closet at this point. (I like to use Pinterest for outfit inspiration.) Make as many different outfits as you can. I like to be able to use one item in at least 3 different outfits for it to make the cut into the final capsule. If you think it would be helpful, take pictures of the different outfits so you can remember for later on!

4. Fill in the gaps.

Do you need a basic white tee? Maybe a black one? Maybe you don’t have a jacket and you’ve just been freezing your butt off every time you step outside? What do you need?

5. Hang up clothes.

This is going to be the best way for you to see everything in your capsule, making sure you’re getting good use out of everything that you’ve carefully chosen.

6. Vacuum seal the later-on pile.  

Take your “later-on” pile, seal them, store them somewhere dry, and don’t forget about them! Break them back out once the weather changes so you can create another capsule wardrobe for the next season.

What’s a go-to staple in your wardrobe? Mine are my black t-shirt and my white t-shirt. They make the rounds every season, no matter what.

This is a ‘how to create a Fall capsule wardrobe,’ but obviously you can use the same steps to create a capsule wardrobe for any season. Here’s what I ended up with in my Fall Capsule Wardrobe!

Thanks for being here,

Regan