Summer. Just thinking of it makes you feel more relaxed. We all like to slow down a bit and enjoy the summer months with less stress. 

What does that have to do with clothes? If you’ve ever stood in front of a closet full of clothes and felt overwhelmed, you know that finding the perfect outfit for your day is sometimes stressful. Just imagine trying to get ready to meet friends for a breezy summer brunch on an outdoor patio but feeling like you had nothing to wear. That’s a terrible feeling, and we’ve all been there!

Luckily, that’s where a capsule wardrobe specifically for summer can help.

What is a Capsule Wardrobe?

The term “capsule wardrobe” was first coined in the 1970s by Susie Faux at her London boutique named Wardrobe. She recommended curating a few high-quality pieces for creating outfits, and the term became known in the United States in the 1980s when designer Donna Karan launched her Seven Easy Pieces collection.

A capsule wardrobe consists of a few key pieces of clothing and accessories that can be mixed and matched to create several different outfits.

For example, you might have 4 short-sleeve or sleeveless tops, 4 pairs of shorts, 2 skirts, 4 dresses, 2 pairs of pants, and 4 long-sleeve tops or cardigans. Plus you would have a few necklaces, purses, and pairs of shoes for accessorizing.

Each piece of a capsule wardrobe could be paired with other items in the collection to create an outfit. Items in neutral colors are the easiest to work with when it comes to using them interchangeably to create multiple outfits, but you can also use colors you enjoy wearing the most.

What are the Benefits of a Capsule Wardrobe?

Why should you create your own capsule wardrobe? Let’s take a quick look at some of the benefits of capsule wardrobes and why you might want to create one specifically for summer.

1. Reduces decision fatigue

When you have too many options of clothes to wear, it can take time to make a selection. Decision fatigue is when your brain becomes overwhelmed and tired from making decisions all day. Every little choice we make throughout our day adds up and uses part of our brain’s capacity for making decisions. If you ever feel mentally exhausted at the end of the day, decision fatigue could be partly to blame. 

When you have a defined capsule wardrobe, it’s easier to select what to wear because you’ve already narrowed down your options and thought about what pieces to pair together to make outfits.

2. Reduces consumption and benefits the environment

Creating a capsule wardrobe forces you to select key pieces, so you focus on quality over quantity. This habit promotes more mindful choices when it comes to clothes, and you end up buying fewer new items of clothing. You make better use of the clothing you have, so you are less likely to discard clothing because it hasn’t been worn in a while. When you do buy new clothes, you’re more likely to consider garments made with higher quality sustainable fabrics and more durable construction.

3. Saves time

Imagine the time you could save each day if you had a few key outfits you knew you loved right in your closet! With a capsule wardrobe, you don’t waste time trying on clothes you might want to wear to see what tops and skirts work together because you’ve already identified great ensembles that you know look good.

4. Keeps life simple and reduces stress

A capsule wardrobe makes selecting your outfit for the day simple, so you can begin each day with less stress. This is exactly what you want for those precious summer months that go by way too quickly. You want to be able to start your day with no worries, and a capsule wardrobe makes that possible. You have already identified the pieces in your capsule wardrobe and know which outfits they make, so getting dressed each day is easier and less stressful than ever before. 

5. You can curate your capsule wardrobe to fit your summer lifestyle

You can select capsule wardrobe pieces that will fit your lifestyle. For example, if you go boating on Lake Lanier most summer weekends, you can select clothes to make outfits appropriate for boating. Alternatively, if you enjoy hiking in the North Georgia mountains, your capsule wardrobe would contain clothes better suited to hiking rather than boating. You have more room to be creative and express your style when you are working with several pieces in a capsule wardrobe. We’re not talking about packing your closet with just one or two uniform outfits you wear on repeat. You can establish more of your own style with the pieces you select.

6. Packing and traveling is easier

When you’re on the go and enjoying summer travel, a capsule wardrobe makes packing easier. You’ve already identified your best garments, so deciding what to pack is a breeze. Plus, with experience mixing and matching your loveliest essential pieces, you will feel more confident creating fun outfits from the limited number of items that fit into your suitcase. (For tips about how to pack like a pro, see one of our previous posts here!)

How to Create Your Own Summer Capsule Wardrobe

Now that you know what a capsule wardrobe is and all the benefits of one, you might be wondering how to create your personal capsule wardrobe for summer. 

Here are some easy steps to get you started building your new simplified collection of summer clothes

1. Start where you are at, or begin with the clothes you already own.

No need to go out and buy new clothes for your summer capsule wardrobe! Begin with the clothes you already own. Find the pieces you wear the most, that fit you well, that give you the most joy, and see what they have in common.

2. Select 30-40 pieces

A capsule wardrobe isn’t about wearing the same things over and over. It’s about curating a collection of a few of your best garments and accessories to mix and match to create a variety of outfit options. Most capsule wardrobes include roughly 30-40 items. Tops, pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, cardigans, jackets, shoes, purses, and jewelry are all included in that total number. (Undergarments don’t count!) With those 30-40 pieces you can easily create more than 100 outfit options

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3. Consider what your summer in Atlanta will look like

We know summers in Atlanta are very different than in places like Seattle or Milwaukee. Summers here are hot, and our average high temperatures are in the high 80s from June through August.

Here in Atlanta, your summer capsule wardrobe probably doesn’t need as many pants as it does shorts, skirts, or dresses. Sleeveless tops are your friend, and you can include a cardigan or two for cooler summer evenings.

4. Eliminate what you don’t need

One of the benefits of the process of creating your own capsule wardrobe is that you can evaluate the clothing you own as you go. If something doesn’t fit, doesn’t make you feel happy, or simply doesn’t work with any other pieces you have, you can decide whether to get rid of it.

Decluttering your closet is easier when it’s not your sole purpose. If decluttering is boring or difficult for you, then creating your capsule wardrobe can make it easier to let go of clothes that no longer serve you.

Now to Enjoy Your Summer!

Once you’ve curated your capsule wardrobe you can enjoy all the benefits of simplifying your summer outfits. Time to relax with the knowledge that choosing clothes each day will be quick and stress-free.

If creating a capsule wardrobe has inspired you to tackle reorganizing your closet or wardrobe as a whole, get in touch with me, and I’m happy to let you know more about how a professional organizer with Designing With Less can help.