We’ve all got them — closets filled with old clothing pieces, pants that don’t fit, and nice pieces that are for “just in case,” otherwise known as clothing clutter. I’m going to talk about decluttering your clothes with a minimalist capsule wardrobe and how it could save you time and space.
A minimalist capsule wardrobe contains the essential clothing pieces and nothing in excess. Benefits include saving space and money, more flexibility in coordinating, and retaining only useful articles. Components of a minimalist capsule wardrobe can be created by checklist and vary by season.
Is your closet full of clothing that doesn’t fit, doesn’t get worn, or isn’t your style anymore? Are you looking to save some space without sacrificing your clothing needs? Let’s get into some examples of minimalist capsule wardrobes and how they’re helpful for anyone.
What is a Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe?
A minimalist capsule wardrobe is the minimum number of essential clothing pieces a person needs for everyday wear and seasonal apparel. It is part of the minimalist lifestyle, which follows the principle of “less is more.” You won’t find any fast fashion in a minimalist capsule wardrobe — it’s only essential, durable, and sustainable apparel.
Benefits of a Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe
A minimalist capsule wardrobe may sound simplistic and underwhelming, and many might even think it’s just not enough. The great thing is that a minimalist capsule wardrobe has many advantages. Let’s look at some of the benefits:`
- More closet space
- Everything coordinates
- All articles are used
- Less clutter
- Saves time
- Everything is stylish
- High-quality clothing
- Better durability
- Coordinates well
Now that you’ve seen some of the benefits of utilizing a minimalist capsule wardrobe, let’s review what makes up this type of wardrobe.
Components of a Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe
The components of a minimalist capsule wardrobe vary by lifestyle and work, but they promote sustainability. According to Magdalena Pavlova and Radka Atanasova of the Technical University of Sofia, the capsule wardrobe was coined by Susie Foe in the 1970s and consisted of five to 12 essential clothing pieces that are timeless and easy to combine. Let’s look at how you can create a minimalist capsule wardrobe.
The numbers of each of these essential articles will vary slightly based on your needs, and it’s highly flexible.
Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe Checklist
If you’re getting ready to start a minimalist capsule wardrobe, one helpful tool you can use is a checklist. Creating a list of your essential casual, work, and exercise needs can ensure you keep all of those necessary items while saving space. Your checklist should include enough pieces of each article, so don’t have to do laundry more often than you’re willing. The numbers of each of these essential articles will vary slightly based on your needs, and it’s highly flexible. Here is an example of a minimalist capsule wardrobe checklist:
- Underwear and undershirts
- Socks
- Long and short-sleeved shirts
- Sweater or jacket
- Work attire
- Exercise tops and bottoms
- Casual pants
- Shorts
- Shoes for work and casual
Seasonal Minimalist Capsule Wardrobes
Haeun Bang of the University of North Carolina and Marylyn DeLong of the University of Minnesota define the capsule wardrobe as a personal minimal-sized wardrobe that contains the essentials, basics, and classic pieces that are timeless and flexible for the seasons. Depending on where you live and the weather, there are minimalist capsule wardrobes appropriate for various environments.
Minimalist Spring Capsule Wardrobe
A minimalist spring capsule will contain weather-appropriate clothing for your environment. They will be cool or warm weather-ready, and flexible for any unpredictable weather. It will contain four or five tops, a sweater or two, a couple of pairs of pants, and a few accessories including shoes.
Minimalist Summer Capsule Wardrobe
The minimalist summer capsule wardrobe is ready for hot weather. Four or five tank tops or t-shirts, three pairs of shorts, and a couple of accessories including shoes. And of course, you’ll need swimwear for the pool and beach days!
Minimalist Fall/Autumn Capsule Wardrobe
The minimalist fall or autumn capsule wardrobe will depend on where you live — some are hot, and some are cool. But you can be prepared with four or five tops, two or three pairs of pants, and a few accessories, including shoes. There may be long-sleeved tops and long pants for the cooler environments.
Minimalist Winter Capsule Wardrobe
The minimalist winter capsule wardrobe will vary as well depending on the weather, so flexing the length of sleeves and pants will be essential. You’ll want four or five tops, four pairs of pants, and several accessories including shoes, scarves, and gloves.
Minimalist Capsule Wardrobes By Use
Beyond the seasons and everyday use, there are categories of minimalist capsule wardrobes that are interesting to learn about. Let’s take a look at a few usage categories.
The minimalist women’s capsule wardrobe will have all the essentials for lifestyle, work, and everyday needs.
Minimalist Travel Capsule Wardrobe
Whether you travel for work or for play, a minimalist travel capsule wardrobe can make it easier to pack and save space. The travel capsule wardrobe is weather appropriate for the destination, with a couple of pieces for unpredictable weather. There’s comfort, flexibility, and your suitcase may just fit in that overhead compartment.
Minimalist Mom Capsule Wardrobe
For the busy mom with work and small children, there’s the minimalist mom capsule wardrobe. It covers comfort, is easy to use, is flexible, and is ready for anything. There are essential pieces for work, home, and even extra for an unexpected mess or a sick child.
Minimalist Work Capsule Wardrobe
The minimalist work capsule wardrobe will contain everything you need to dress appropriately for your job. All it takes is a few pieces that coordinate well, and you will have a week’s worth of outfits (or maybe more) with no repeats. This will make getting ready for work easier and faster.
Minimalist Women’s Capsule Wardrobe
The minimalist women’s capsule wardrobe will have all the essentials for lifestyle, work, and everyday needs. It will contain undergarments, tops, bottoms, dresses and skirts, socks, and shoes needed for everyday wear in the lowest amount possible. It saves time because everything coordinates well, and nothing is unused.
Minimalist Plus Size Capsule Wardrobe
The minimalist plus size capsule wardrobe is just like the women’s wardrobe, just in plus size. It will also contain all the essentials and nothing in excess, just enough for the week.
Minimalist Men’s Capsule Wardrobe
The minimalist man needs a functional wardrobe, and the minimalist men’s capsule wardrobe will fit the bill. It covers your essential needs and fits your lifestyle and work needs. Only the minimum number of underwear, socks, shirts, shorts, pants, shoes, and work uniforms are needed for the week (or more). This type of men’s wardrobe saves time and space, and there is nothing that is not used regularly.
Minimalist Capsule Wardrobe Example
You’ve seen =minimalist capsule wardrobes based on gender, season, and lifestyle, but there’s more! Let’s talk about a minimalist French capsule wardrobe.
Minimalist French Capsule Wardrobe
A minimalist French capsule wardrobe is a classy way to be stylish and comfortable. There are just enough essential pieces in varied neutral colors and simple patterns that coordinate well with each other. It’s great for work, errands, and even travel.
This helpful video teaches how to build your perfect capsule wardrobe to create a timeless and concise minimalist style.
Related Insights
What should I have in a minimalist wardrobe?
Your minimalist wardrobe should have all the clothing pieces that fit your work, home, and exercise needs. There should be nothing in your wardrobe that you don’t use or don’t wear, which saves space and money!
Is a capsule wardrobe minimalist?
A capsule wardrobe is considered minimalist because it uses the minimal number of pieces one can get by on. Fewer pieces with more flexibility and durability are the quintessential minimalist wardrobe.
How many pairs of jeans should a woman own?
A woman should own at least two pairs of jeans. This will provide flexibility and variety for comfort, ease of use, and laundry day!
Clothing Items That Real People Could Never Remove From Their Wardrobe
I asked friends and family to describe three items in their wardrobe that they could never remove (Excluding basic undergarments such as socks, underwear, etc.). Here is a table representing the percentages of their responses and what I learned from the poll.
| Clothing Item |
| 10% of people polled could never remove shorts from their wardrobe |
| 17% of people polled could never remove t-shirts from their wardrobe |
| 7% of people polled could never remove jeans from their wardrobe |
| 7% of people polled could never remove casual dresses from their wardrobe |
| 10% of people polled could never remove work shirts from their wardrobe |
| 14% of people polled could never remove sports bras from their wardrobe |
| 7% of people polled could never remove running pants from their wardrobe |
| 14% of people polled could never remove tank tops from their wardrobe |
| 7% of people polled could never remove casual jackets from their wardrobe |
| 7% of people polled could never remove collard shirts from their wardrobe |
Other Resources:
- Minimalist Clothing – Free Yourself with a Simple Wardrobe
- Capsule Wardrobe – Choosing Minimal Clothing for Big Living
- Capsule Wardrobe – Choosing Minimal Clothing for Big Living
- Minimalist Shoes – Choosing Simplicity and Stylish Elegance
- Minimalist Running Shoes – Comfort and Style for Performance
- Minimalist Wardrobe for Men – Guide to the Everyday Basics
- Capsule Wardrobe For Men – Experienced Guide with a List
- Minimalist Wardrobe – Essentials for Simpler Living
- Minimalist Style – Elegance in Simplicity for Men and Women
- Minimalist Fashion – Simple Style and Timeless Looks
- Minimalist Wedding Dress – Simple Beauty and Radiance
Final Thoughts
The minimalist capsule wardrobe may sound small and simple, but it’s the opposite. With all of the essential pieces, everything is usable, everything coordinates, and so much space is freed up. If you’re ready to get rid of all those articles of clothing collecting dust and taking up space, why wait? Create your own minimalist capsule wardrobe!