What is a Capsule Wardrobe?

You may be wondering what the heck a capsule wardrobe is. To put it simply, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential clothing items that do not go out of style (think classic, not trendy) that can be augmented with seasonal pieces throughout the year. The key is to invest in classic, quality pieces of a similar color palette that allows you to mix and match the pieces. When you invest in quality pieces that last, you end up shopping less and therefore save time and money in the long run. So I just wanted to share a bit about why I created my kid’s capsule wardrobe and how it simplified my life (and laundry!).

Quality over Quantity

The mantra of “Quality over quantity” is very difficult to live by in a world and culture that preaches “more is more.” A lie I liked to believe was that we needed to hold on to things *just in case* we might, possibly, one day find a use for it in the future. Another lie that is easy to believe is that the amount of stuff we have defines our status and place in the world. Having more means you are worth more. As a follower of Christ, this couldn’t be further from the truth. I want to raise my family with the idea that we could be content with less and one of the easiest ways to illustrate that was to begin with our clothing.

I have never been particularly sentimental about my children’s baby clothes. Once we had no use for them- I passed them down to younger cousins or donated them. Why should I keep things in storage boxes when they could serve another little one who needs them? We’ve also been living quite the nomadic life lately so having excess clothes is not something I want to have to deal with when we move again.

When I decided to simplify and create my kid’s capsule wardrobes, I wanted to unburden ourselves with the quantity and focus on the quality- the quality of the item itself as well as what quality of life it afforded us. What I found is that we are indeed content with less and can spend more time on what truly matters.

How creating a capsule wardrobe simplified my life

Laundry. Need I say more? I no longer have excess clothes strewn about the house or loads and loads of laundry to do because my children decided to change outfits 843926473 times. Less clothes, less clutter, and no more giant overwhelming loads of laundry to do. Instead of letting laundry pile up because we have endless options of clothing to wear, I usually do a quick, small load of laundry a couple times a week. There’s no piling up to the point of dread since we have limited items and because I’m doing smaller loads, there’s only about a few minutes worth of folding/putting away to do. The whole task feels so much lighter/easier. Win win win!

Pro tip: When I do our daily load of laundry, I opt for the delicate cycle and hang a lot of their pieces to dry so they last longer (clothesline anyone? I really was born in the wrong time).

Having a capsule wardrobe also means we have closets of clothes we LOVE so there aren’t as many meltdowns or difficulties choosing what to wear. We save so much time getting ready in the morning and can get out the door for church or other outings on time. There’s also a lot less time spent worrying about what to wear and we’re able focus on the more important things. I’ve found that by simplifying my kid’s capsule wardrobe, they are more content with what they have and are already learning to discern “need” over “want”.

Tips for making the swap to a capsule wardrobe

1. Pare down your current closet and see what you already have. The key to creating a capsule wardrobe is to pare down to just the pieces that you love and fit well and then build off of those. Focus on keeping timeless pieces that will last. Trends come and go so it’s important to have a basic capsule that will never go out of style.
2. No impulse buying. When you decide to create a capsule wardrobe, you’ll be rejecting the idea of “fast fashion” and will only be buying a few pieces every year. The idea is “need” vs. “want” so that anything you buy should be intentional and not an impulse…no matter how cute it is!
3. Capsule wardrobes are not one-size-fits-all. Each kiddo of mine has different needs and preferences so each capsule wardrobe is different. For example, Adeline will wear dresses all day long but Emma prefers the t-shirt and pants route, etc so they have different numbers of each. The climate in which you live and your daily routine will also determine what else is needed in each wardrobe. The important thing is to make it all work for you and your routine.
4. Shop smart. I realize that investing in quality for growing children can be financially challenging at times. So I try to look for pieces that are designed with a more loose and comfortable fit so there is room to grow. Other than that, I just try to do the best I can as they grow. Because I’m shopping less and spending less, I’m able to invest more in pieces and materials that will last. Linen, wool, and cotton are my go-tos!

Favorite shops

Here are just a few of my favorite shops where I buy for my kid’s capsule wardrobes. I honestly cannot afford to spend $50+ on a single item for each kid like most of the mom-bloggers I follow. I save money by getting all of the basics from H&M’s Conscious Line (organic cotton). For dresses and other seasonal pieces, I follow my favorite boutiques to see when they are having special sales, buy items at the end of season, size up, and space it out in our budget.

For basics

H&M Conscious

Kindly the Label

For seasonal pieces

The Simple Folk Co

Rylee + Cru

Little Cotton Clothes

Petits Vilains

Serendipity Organics

I hope reading about my kid’s capsule wardrobe encourages you to consider ethical businesses, shopping more mindfully, and learning to be content with less. If you are ready to make the leap to create your own capsule wardrobe, here’s a step-by-step, FREE guide to get you started! Thanks so much for reading friend! Let me know what your favorite clothing shops are in the comments!