Creating a capsule wardrobe can be so helpful when you’re trying to minimize your stuff and organize your closet. If you’re not familiar with capsule wardrobes, they’re smaller wardrobes made up of classic pieces that can be used for multiple outfits. Pops of color and trends are added with accessories.

For my clients, I normally recommend seasonal capsule wardrobes. When I’m working with them, we’ll go through their closet, put together outfits, and identify pieces they’re missing from your wardrobe. I’m showing you how to do the same below.

Easy Ways to Create a Capsule Wardrobe

• Decide which dark neutral: navy, brown, or black?

This helps keeps your wardrobe small. This can depend on the season. Black works great for winter. But in the spring you might want to switch to the navy. In the fall, you might want to pick brown. 

Then you can add neutral coordinating colors to go along with that–greys, whites, creams, greens (I count hunter green is a neutral color)… For the most part, you want to keep all your basics neutral–your shirts, pants, sweaters, jackets.

• Create outfits for your capsule wardrobe.

The goal here is to make sure that most of your clothes work for at least three outfits. For example, I have a pair of cute, coral pants. Not a neutral, but I can come up with three different outfits with those pants because the majority of my wardrobe is neutral.

Tip: Start with pants. It’s easier to pull out one pair of pants and see how many shirts go with each pair. As you’re doing this, pay attention to the gaps in your wardrobe. For example, you notice that you don’t have a white button-up, but you know it would go with a few different pairs of pants. Maybe that’s something you should invest in? Picking quality pieces that can be worn with different outfits is important for creating a capsule wardrobe. 

• Add color and personality with accessories.

Scarves, jewelry, and shoes can totally transform your outfit and are key to creating a capsule wardrobe. Unique accessories can add color and personality to a neutral backdrop, and they can help you create different looks with the same basic outfits. 

You know how you can throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt with simple jewelry and sneakers to go to the park with your kids? Well, switch out a big pair of earrings, chunky necklace, and heels and you’re ready to go out for date night! That’s what I’m talking about here.