Start Building Your Winter Capsule Wardrobe With These Tips

If you are looking to cut back on your clothes this winter, you may be the perfect candidate for a capsule wardrobe. Capsule wardrobes are loved by minimalists everywhere as the typical "goal of a capsule wardrobe is to have a more condensed closet where you have pieces for every occasion without owning an excessive amount of clothing or owning pieces you can only wear once or for a special occasion," professional stylist Audree Lopez tells Byrdie. Ultimately, you will still have plenty of outfits with minimal material items, showcasing every minimalist's point that you really can live with less.

If you are looking to live with less, what's stopping you? Perhaps the biggest setback for most people who are looking to create a capsule wardrobe is that they don't know where to begin. The benefits of a capsule wardrobe truly outweigh the cons, as a capsule wardrobe is more sustainable, less stressful, and money-saving in the long run. This is why we have curated six tips for beginning your capsule wardrobe this winter.

Most minimalists swear that if an item in your closet is in season but you haven't reached for it in weeks, it is time to let it go. We all have a tendency to buy clothing items just because they are beautiful or we think there may be an occasion where we need it, but in reality, it never gets worn and it's sitting in the closet collecting dust. This is a waste of space and clothing, as the item could be donated to someone who really needs it. Begin building your capsule wardrobe by completely emptying your closet and deciding what you no longer need, according to advice from the YouTube channel Use Less.

For each season, it is important to keep it at five items or less per each clothing category. This means that when you begin creating your capsule wardrobe, it is important to narrow your closet down to five jackets, five blouses, five pants, etc. "Try to pick your top three to five items in each category. From there, make a list of items that you're missing or need, like an interview-appropriate blazer, classic black heel for events, or the perfect pair of jeans that can go with everything," explains Audree Lopez to Byrdie. This winter, you can add five sweaters to your capsule wardrobe, for example, and then proceed from there.

Choosing mostly neutral clothing for your capsule wardrobe will help to ensure the most outfit combinations possible. For example, a plain black turtleneck may go with more outfits than a floral turtleneck. This being said, capsule wardrobes also should represent your true style. If you prefer brights, you can still build a wonderful capsule wardrobe. Simply try to ensure all of the pieces in your closet are in a similar color palette so they can still be interchanged seamlessly, according to advice from the YouTube channel My Green Closet.

Core staple pieces are simple to build entire outfits around which is why they are essential for a capsule wardrobe. Some of these core pieces for winter include a cardigan, faux leather jacket, plain sweater, jeans, trousers, and a button-up, explains content creator Erin Elizabeth on YouTube. These pieces are easy to layer over or under other pieces to create a variety of looks. For example, a cardigan can be worn on its own tucked into denim, open with a button-up underneath, and around the shoulders over a graphic tee.

When adding new pieces to your capsule wardrobe, choose lasting, high-quality pieces. Luckily, since you will be buying less, you can splurge on the pieces you do choose, ensuring that they are the highest quality and that you will not have to buy the same piece again any time soon. This will save you money in the long run. Plus, it prevents you from contributing to the 21 billion pounds of textile waste each year in the United States alone (via the University of Colorado).

Capsule wardrobes may mean limited clothing pieces, but they do not have to mean limited individuality. You can choose a few of your favorite pieces to customize your capsule wardrobe to fit your own personal style. In fact, Audree Lopez tells Byrdie, "Ultimately, your wardrobe should always reflect your personal style, favorite pieces, colors, and items you routinely gravitate towards when getting dressed." This winter, you may choose to add pieces that best represent your aesthetic. If you are looking to fit the preppy academia aesthetic, you may choose to add a neutral plaid skirt. Whereas if you are looking to achieve a clean-girl athletic look, you may choose to add a sleek pair of white sneakers.