Fashion experts everywhere are advocating for finding high-quality basics to elevate your wardrobe, but at what point does the cycle of replacement end?
Recently, fashion influencers aplenty have been singing the praises of establishing a “capsule wardrobe” or a pared-down version of your closet filled with fewer, yet higher-quality items.
Although some may have only recently (or maybe never) heard of this phenomenon, American Duchess claims that this idea of maximizing the utility of limited clothing started popping up in American publications in the 30s and 40s, alongside war rationing and economic depression.
Nicole Anzia, a freelance writer for The Washington Post, states the term wasn’t officially coined until the 70s by London boutique owner of Wardrobe, Susie Faux, who was promoting a collection that contained a few, “essential and timeless items that can be paired with seasonal pieces.” DKNY founder Donna Karan reinvigorated this term again in 1985 with her innovative “Seven Easy Pieces,” an interchangeable women’s workwear collection.
A more contemporary case of a capsule wardrobe is influencer Emma Chamberlain’s most recent closet clean out titled, “i got rid of (almost) everything.” As an approximate fashion expert, Chamberlain has racked up an impressive collection and has previously posted decluttering videos, however, in Nov. 2024, she was particularly impassioned to do a complete purging of her closet. By essentially getting rid of every item that didn’t “spark joy,” she narrowed her wardrobe down to a curated capsule collection that she said is “a concise amount of clothing and accessories that mix and match together to create infinite outfits [with] a cohesive vibe.”
While not all of us have Emma’s curatorial eye or the ingenuity of designers like Susie Faux and Donna Karan, many college students have the experience of limiting a life’s collection of clothing and accessories down to what you can fit into a dorm room.
If you, too, have been inspired by the capsule wardrobe phenomenon, you may be in the process of seeking out “high-quality basics” to create the foundation of your closet. This may mean replacing ‘outdated’ or rarely worn pieces with more timeless styles or seeking out a few stand-out pieces that help define your unique fashion sense.
You may be supplementing your current collection, whether you are frequenting thrift stores, vintage shops, resale websites or investing into new high-end products, it can be difficult to determine which “essentials” are actually essential. Especially now with the rampancy of sponsored influencers who are constantly telling you to “run, don’t walk” to their LTK to “shop the look.” It can be difficult to resist the temptation to buy the next best thing that is being advertised or the dupe of a trending item, particularly in the contemporary consumer market.
To prevent the overconsumption that the capsule wardrobe aims to eradicate, be wary of selecting styles on factors such as their popularity or prevalence in the fashion community. Instead, look for well-fitting items that best complement your personal fashion sense and the pieces already in your closet.
A capsule wardrobe doesn’t have to be just “seven easy pieces” or another unsubstantiated number of items, but it should cover the basics of complementary tops, bottoms and accessories that make you feel the most “you.” So before you bite the bullet and buy the newest “must-have” piece of clothing, consider what can most effectively contribute to your capsule collection.
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