Many consumers are embracing the concept of a capsule wardrobe as they seek simplicity and versatility in their fashion choices. Supplying the best garments for your customers to build a capsule wardrobe begins when choosing the collections you are going to sell. Being able to provide the staple items in a wardrobe will take you a long way.
The fashion industry is increasingly under scrutiny for its environmental impact. By promoting capsule wardrobes, retailers can encourage customers to adopt more sustainable fashion practices.
In this article, we explore what exactly makes a capsule wardrobe for women, the benefits of embracing a capsule wardrobe, and how your business can promote this and meet customer demand for a minimalistic wardrobe.
What is a capsule wardrobe?
A capsule wardrobe is a curated collection of essential clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits. The concept of a capsule wardrobe is known to be promoted by fashion designer Susie Faux in the 1970s. The capsule wardrobe's popularity gained further recognition through the minimalist movement.
It consists of a selection of clothing that are simplistic, stylish, and versatile. Contrary to popular belief, a capsule wardrobe can be colourful and bold. However, they are generally thought of to be neutral colours like beige, black and white.
How many pieces of clothing are in a capsule wardrobe?
Now, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the amount of clothing required for a capsule wardrobe. Naturally, the wardrobe should lend itself to minimalism and not be completely overcrowded. As a guideline, a capsule wardrobe can consist of roughly 30 - 50 items. Of course, 50 items is quite large. But, if this were to include clothing for all year round, it wouldn’t feel as much.
In 2020, Courtney Carver published a book that promoted only wearing 33 items of clothing over a three-month period. It was called Project 333 and was a challenge for women who wanted to live a more minimalistic lifestyle. If we were to go by this challenge, it would make sense for the number of garments to be roughly 30 - 50 pieces.
Exceptions to the rule include underwear, workout clothing and home loungewear, wedding rings, and of course, if you change size. Apart from this, all clothing ‘should’ be a part of a capsule wardrobe. This includes accessories like jewellery and belts.
Benefits of a capsule wardrobe
If you’re going to be investing in a new capsule wardrobe or trying to work out what you already own to create one – you’ll want to have good reasons for doing so. Or, if you’re a retailer who wants to be able to provide all the elements needed for a capsule wardrobe, you will need to be able to understand the full benefits of a capsule wardrobe!
Increases versatility
Those with a capsule wardrobe can put together a variety of looks appropriate for different events from a small selection of clothing and accessories. Investing in timeless pieces that can last a long time and survive shifting fashion trends by prioritising quality over quantity.
Helps keep a clutter-free wardrobe
The perfect way to simplify a stressful morning routine… A clutter-free wardrobe. Those with a capsule wardrobe don’t spend forever rummaging through their clothing, not knowing what to wear. As a capsule wardrobe mostly all goes together well, choosing an outfit is an easy decision.
Promote mindful living
A capsule wardrobe encourages mindful consumption and reduces the urge to buy new clothes from fast-fashion brands constantly. This leads to financial savings and a more sustainable lifestyle. If you provide your customers with the means for a capsule wardrobe, they won’t need to go elsewhere.
How to promote a capsule wardrobe in your store
If you are a clothing and accessories boutique owner looking to offer your customers a one-stop shop for their capsule wardrobe, you will want to make sure you have every garment available. Or, perhaps you’re building your very own capsule wardrobe?
See the capsule wardrobe staples below.
Capsule wardrobe staples
Use this as a checklist for the best garments to go in a capsule wardrobe. The exact number of each piece of clothing or accessory can vary, but this should be a great place to start for a general guide:
Tops
When choosing your selection of tops for your wardrobe, these can include everything from your basic white tees to a patterned knitted jumper. Consider adding the below tops to your capsule wardrobe:
- Basic t-shirts
- Strappy vests
- Long sleeve tops
- Jumpers
- Smart shirts/blouses
Bottoms
Choosing the bottoms for your capsule wardrobe is definitely an exciting part! Mix and match using neutrals with a splash of colour and pattern:
- Jeans
- Leggings/joggers
- Skirts
- Tailored trousers
- Dungarees
Dresses
Mix things up with the dress length options. Some dresses will naturally be better suited to the summer or winter. Opt for dresses that you can pair with tights and boots in the colder months and dress with a denim jacket and sandals in the summertime.
Jackets and coats
When selecting the coats, jackets, and cardigans for your wardrobe – choose a selection that you know will go well with the majority of your clothing. Again, it would be ideal to opt for neutral colours here. For example:
- Trench coat
- Woollen winter coat
- Lightweight denim jacket
- Leather jacket
- A cardigan for layering
Footwear
A healthy mix of shoe styles and types will work excellently in a capsule wardrobe. You want to ensure you have a choice without it feeling overwhelming. Examples of great footwear to mix and match in a capsule wardrobe:
- Trainers
- Boots
- Sandals
- Dress shoes
For wholesale essentials, see our Basics Collection.
Accessories
Choose a selection of accessories that will go with the majority of your wardrobe. For example, stick to either gold or silver and keep them simple or minimalistic. This will help them go with whatever you choose to wear.
Remember, if you’re selling clothing from a wholesaler, you may be able to relabel the clothing! Check out our guide on this for more information: Can I Put My Own Label In Wholesale Clothing?
Discover the best wholesale clothing with Nova of London
We hope you found this article helpful! And, of course, if you have any questions about wholesale clothing, get in touch with us today. The Nova of London team is happy to help.
Looking for more? Discover our selection of high-quality wholesale clothing collections today, including our popular Made in Italy Collection. Plus, we offer direct shipping at wholesale prices so you can stock your store with the products you love for less. Check out our Wholesale Clothing FAQs and the Nova of London Blog for all the latest news and product updates.
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