Why a capsule wardrobe isn’t for me

The Idea of a capsule wardrobe

The idea of a capsule wardrobe is great, it just isn’t for me. There’s been a lot of talk about capsule wardrobes these past few years and it can be a step towards having a sustainable closet. The idea is to have a closet with 30 items that you can mix and match to get a seemingly bigger wardrobe. It’s a logical concept and I’m sure it works for many. Thirty items is the number most capsule wardrobe proponents recommend.

My wardrobe is more of a common sense wardrobe: well made basics with some added special pieces. It’s a wardrobe built over time, it has character, it is not large by any means, and sometimes things don’t coordinate but that’s okay with me. My wardrobe has character.

Why this doesn’t work for me

First of all, it seems like a lot of work to get 30 new pieces and have them all coordinate. Even after I put the time into deciding which 30 pieces will make up my capsule wardrobe, going out and actually finding these pieces would take time way beyond my limit for shopping. I just can’t do it. And don’t want to. I don’t want to spend that much time in a mall, or stores, or even online searching to fulfill my list.

I have clothes in my closet that I love wearing, they are well made and I’ve had them for a long time. Probably some too long, but I’m keeping them. For now anyway. Building a wardrobe of special pieces and taking care of them works for me.

I love my black leather jacket

I love the black leather jacket I bought 10 years ago. The cream colored dress that my mother crocheted for herself but now is mine. The Nordic knit sweater I bought in Amsterdam at a vintage shop. (There were two beautiful wool sweaters that I wore almost every day when I lived in the Netherlands but because it was always cold and I always wore one or the other, I happily donated them when we moved back to the US. Sustainability by accident that was.) There have been a lot of mistakes, but I’ve come away with a few special pieces that I intend on keeping and mixing into my other basics.

Speaking of basics

I find what works for me is having some very well made sustainable basics and then add that leather jacket or special piece whenever the mood strikes. And by “well made” I mean beautifully crafted, so the garment, while simple and ‘basic’ is expertly stitched and a work of art in itself. Or as close to that as you can get, depending on your budget.

When I shop I shop for longevity. That’s a big part of sustainability, I only buy something when I am fairly certain I will wear it many times and want to have it in my closet for years. This is a cornerstone of slow fashion.

Basics Wardrobe – here’s how I do it

I put some thought into what the basic garments, the foundation, of my wardrobe will be. Which items and colors I wear most. These are my basics and I seek out the best well made garments to fill this list. Then I add the spice, the icing on the cake, by choosing garments that I can add to my basics for variety.

The list below are generalities that I have found work for me. You’ll find different things may work for you. The important thing is to be aware of what does work.

1. When you buy something ask yourself if you’ll love it for at least 2 years.
2. Avoid being a fashion victim. Don’t buy what the ad or the brand is telling you to wear, buy what you want to wear and feel comfortable wearing.
3. If you’re buying a basic garment make sure it’s the best quality you can afford and that it fits well, or have it tailored to fit. See more about basics here. Deciding and purchasing the basics that are best suited to you takes some thought and often experience.
4. Avoid impulse buying. Your basics will be planned out so they won’t be impulse buying. But if you see something you like, and it’s not one of your basics, take a day to think about it and what function it’ll have in your wardrobe.
5. Number 4 works unless you are at a vintage clothing stall in Paris, in that case if you love it, buy it. But love it, not just like it. And don’t love it just because you’re buying it in Paris.
6. Try vintage. In my opinion vintage store are a lot more fun to shop in, they certainly have more personality than the generic stores in the mall. And you are guaranteed to find something unique. Taking the time to inspect the garments for quality can reveal some real treasures.
7. If you have a special occasion that requires an outfit you know you will only wear once, plan ahead. Try to borrow or rent. Best not to rush to the mall the day before (or the day of!) to find something.
8. If you feel like shopping but don’t know what you need, then don’t go shopping. Try not to make shopping a habit but instead find something you enjoy doing.

Life is not about stuff

Life can actually be more fulfilling when we own less stuff. Owning less stuff leaves more time to do the things we want to do and less time taking care of our stuff. I have never been that interested in fashion; wearing the right clothes was more of a requirement, albeit it a self imposed one, most of the time. (Hello peer pressure.)

I have discovered there is a certain freedom in dressing sustainably because there is purpose in it. We dress sustainably for the good of the earth and human kind. We dress sustainably for the future, and that’s so much more satisfying than wearing this seasons newest style.

And that’s why a capsule wardrobe isn’t for me

I suppose what I’ve described isn’t that far off from a capsule wardrobe. What I have described is a common sense wardrobe, the kind of thing my mother taught me about wearing and buying clothes. And maybe what I like about my way is the fact that there aren’t rules, except for my own.

Part of this common sense wardrobe is inherently having less. Having only what you wear and can maintain, it is not a large grand wardrobe. The wardrobe I describe is built over time with special pieces with sustainability in mind.. I hope you’ve found this article helpful in your sustainability journey.