Dressing Your Best for Less: Essential Elements of Your Capsule Wardrobe

If your closet is bursting at the seams and the clothes you buy never seem to last, it may be time to change the way you look at your wardrobe. Fast fashion may seem like an affordable solution, but in the long run these poor quality clothes could be costing you more than you realize.

Instead of heading to the off-price clothing store for yet another time, why not change things up and focus on quality over quantity? A capsule wardrobe is designed around a select number of items, giving you the chance to up the quality quotient with every purchase. And since these select pieces are designed to work together, you can use them to create dozens of different outfits and a virtually unlimited number of looks.

As you put your capsule wardrobe together you will want to focus on the basics, and the items you need are deceptively simple. That simplicity is at the heart of the capsule wardrobe model, but when you put them all together you can replace a closet full of clothes with a selection that will fit into even the smallest space. Here are the essential items you will want in your capsule wardrobe.

T-Shirts in Neutral Colors

The humble T-shirt is a vital part of any successful capsule wardrobe. That T-shirt can be combined with virtually every other piece you buy, and when layered under a sweater or paired with a stylish pair of jeans it can look surprisingly upscale.

As you are designing your capsule wardrobe look for T-shirts in neutral colors like greys, blacks and tans. You can add to your T-shirt wardrobe if you wish, but these basic colors may be all you need.

A Great Pair of Dress Pants

You will need a quality pair of dress pants for your capsule wardrobe, so buy the best ones you can afford. Again neutral color is the rule here, so look for dress pants that will pair well with the other parts of your growing capsule wardrobe.

You can choose any style you like when shopping for dress pants; just make sure they fit well and are made for comfort. You might even want to use some of the money you save to have those dress pants tailored.

Several Pairs of Good Jeans

There are times when dress pants are required, but in many cases jeans are perfectly appropriate for everything from the office to the local restaurant. That means every capsule wardrobe needs a few pairs of good jeans, stylish items that will look great with T-shirts, sweaters and your carefully chosen accessories.

A Cardigan or Similar Sweater

Layering is a vital part of designing a capsule wardrobe and make it work. With just a simple sweater you can turn your humble T-shirt into something great, and a cardigan can be a great choice.

If cardigan sweaters are not your style, you can choose another type. Just make sure it works well with your other pieces so you can mix and match to create a new look for every day of the week.

The Little Black Dress

Every woman needs a little black dress, and that dress is a vital part of any capsule wardrobe. If you already have a little black dress in your wardrobe, you can simply include it in your growing capsule wardrobe. If not you can choose one that works for you and your lifestyle.

A Few Fun Accessories

This is where  you can spice up your neutral colored capsule wardrobe, and where you get to have a lot of fun. If you want to make your capsule wardrobe work for all occasions, you will need some great accessories to create all those brand new looks.

From scarves to belts to everything in between, there are plenty of amazing accessories that will enhance your capsule wardrobe and make those limited pieces do more than double duty. We have tons of incredible hosiery choices that can help level up your looks in a subtle way. You can experiment with bright colors, earth tones, pastels and anything else that strikes your fancy.

There you have it - the essential elements of your new capsule wardrobe. With just a few items you can create amazing new looks, enough for every day, the weekend and beyond.