Creating a new capsule wardrobe is a skill like any other. As it’s a skill, you’re learning and you’ll likely make mistakes during the process. If you do make mistakes, it’s important not to worry too much, as you’re still learning from them.
There are some common mistakes that many people make when creating their capsule wardrobe. Here are some of the most common ones, and how you can avoid them in your process.
1. Too Many Trendy Pieces
Take a look at your wardrobe right now. Are there too many trendy pieces in there? If you’ve made your capsule wardrobe mostly trend pieces, it’s going to be harder for them to stand the test of time. Is that something that you’ll want to wear in six months?
A capsule wardrobe is your daily wear, so you need pieces that are classics. There’s nothing wrong with having some trend pieces in there, but if there’s too much it’s not going to work long-term. Try to create a mostly classic selection, and add in and remove the trendy pieces as the seasons change.
2. Your Wardrobe Feels Too Boring
This is the other side of the coin when creating your wardrobe. You’ve picked up all the classic pieces that you know should be in your capsule wardrobe, but now when you go to get dressed nothing in there speaks to you.
The problem is, you’ve most likely just picked up all the items you ‘should’ have, and not thought about your style. “Everyone has their unique looks and tastes, and that’s something you should remember when making a capsule wardrobe,” says Jennifer Lay, a fashion blogger with Lia Help. “Even if you are trying to stick with staples, accessories that suit your style will go a long way to make it interesting.”
3. You’re Trying To Stick To The Rules
Of course, when creating a capsule wardrobe there are some guidelines you’ll want to follow. There’s no shortage of advice online about how to make a capsule wardrobe, so you’ll try and follow these rules too closely and then get frustrated.
However, those guidelines are meant to be just that: guidelines. You don’t need to stick with only certain shades or only 37 items. You can always do it at first, and then adapt your wardrobe to suit your needs. Seen a pair of shoes you love? If you can think of a way to work them into your daily wear, then you can get them.
4. You Aren’t Sure Of Your Style
It’s exciting to get started on a capsule wardrobe. You’ve gone into your closet and pulled out anything that you didn’t think fit the guidelines, and now you’re not sure about what you’re left with. Is any of it your style?
The important thing when building a capsule wardrobe is that you’re only wearing clothes that you feel happy in. You don’t have to stick to the rules to get what you want out of the exercise. Look at what you’ve kept, and think about whether they’d fit your lifestyle. For example, if you’re a daily jogger but you haven’t kept any running gear, then that’s going to make things more difficult.
5. You Don’t Have Enough High-Quality Pieces
Once you’ve whittled down your wardrobe to the core pieces, every piece in there will need to be able to hold up. You’ll be wearing them more, so they’ll need to be of higher quality to withstand extra use. If you have items that aren’t higher quality, it can be tempting to keep buying them as they wear out, but that goes against the point of the exercise.
Instead, make a list of the items that need high-quality replacements, and swap them out slowly. That helps curb spending and ensures that you’re still only buying and using the staples that you need in your wardrobe.
These are some of the most common mistakes you can make when creating a capsule wardrobe. Now you’re aware of them, you can take steps to avoid making them as you get started with your journey. It should now be easier to keep just the pieces that you want.
