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Capsule size - how do you determine how much is enough?

Makrame

Veteran

I wasn't sure how to title this post but here is what I mean. How do you determine how many pieces and/or combinations that can be worn together for a particular season or purpose are enough? I am something of an aspiring "small wardrobe" follower, and I definitely try to create workable capsules where various pieces play well together. I am also trying to come up with a good system for determining when enough is enough and it is time to stop acquiring new pieces for the season/capsule.

For each season, I will typically aim to have at least 6-7 work capsule combinations that I really like (meaning top + bottom + any layering pieces needed + shoes), which means that I can go an entire week without doing laundry + add some variety from week to week. I might repeat the same exact combination at least once every 2 weeks or I might remix the items. So it looks like for any particular season it should be sufficient to have just about 5-7 bottoms and 5-7 tops + layering pieces, and if they can be remixed, that's more than enough to go for 2 weeks without repeats.

Overall, I feel like for me the main goal is workability and not variety - the outfits should make me feel good about the way I look and be appropriate for the occasion and the weather. If I can alternate wearing just two or three pairs of shoes over and over again because they look good and go with everything, that's great. I have some friends who have so many different pieces, they will wear each item in their work wardrobe only a few times a season (perhaps once a month). I think it would pain me to get so little wear out of each item, unless it's a special occasion dress or an interview suit. Since I bought quite a few fall items lately, I feel the need to go through everything in my closet, count the number of combinations I have, and return any "excess" items.

What about you? How do you decide how much variety you need?

General

30 replies

Latest reply was from Lynne

Marley

Veteran

Excellent question. I know there are some women on the forum who have this all figured out for their lifestyle and wardrobe needs - but, unfortunately - not me. I am still floundering between not being able to remember what I have in my closet, to wishing I could go buy something new, to realizing that I probably have enough clothese to last me for a couple of years - if I could only figure out how to "capsulize" them! Anyway, I will be watching this post carefully to see how those who've got the capsule "thing" nailed respond!

AJ

Veteran

I bat for teams More is More and Don't Wear It The Same Way Twice so I haven't found my limit yet! : P

Actually, I will watch this thread with great interest. I would like to learn how to pare down my closet. A couple of days ago I was planning for some Labor Day shopping and decided to jot down my fall and winter items to see what wardrobe holes I might be missing. Oh my, I was surprised to see my list of current items JUST for the colder months! It is quite long! Although I do need to try each item and weed out articles that do not fit properly.

Even with my long list, I still can think of 4 items I would like to add to my fall/winter line-up: non-black dress, red or cobalt skinnies, black flat boots and camel colored skinnies. *Hangs head in shame*

Lynne

Veteran

I'm still working this out, too. Forum member Imogen Lamport (bespokeimage.com.au, but I can't get on to the site at the moment to send you the link) defines a capsule as up to 12 clothing items that work together, and it seems like a good limit for one capsule. Unless you are team More is More :).

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Having a small closet and doing laundry often really affects my view on this. I have 5 pair of shorts and 5 pair of pants/jeans, plus 3 skirts. I have similar numbers in types of tops.

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

I read somewhere, and it may well have been here (!) that you should probably have twice as many tops as bottoms. I also think you need to be quite firm with yourself with colours, so that you have maybe only two neutrals, then two accent colours, so that your shoes will go with all your outfits. Does that make sense?! If I remember where I read that, I will link ...

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

Here are some links to Angie's blog posts, which might help. The comments are very interesting, too.

http://youlookfab.com/2008/02/.....ssentials/

http://youlookfab.com/2010/07/.....rsatility/

http://youlookfab.com/2010/04/.....an-be-fab/

Queen Mum

Veteran

This is a choice that varies from person to person. Some women like tons of choices, others feel better with a smaller wardrobe.
I agree that you probably want more tops than bottoms. You can cycle through the same bottoms every week, but you might want 2 -3 weeks worth of tops options. You can always start with the numbers you're thinking about and then if a month or two into the season you're feeling the need for more variety, add a couple of pieces to spice things up. I think if you grow your wardrobe slowly, you'll know when you've reached the size that feels right to you.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

The only real capsule I've done is for traveling. My work clothing mixes with my casual wear since it's a uniform tee shirt with jeans or other dark bottoms. So I never needed to think of work wear and weekend wear as separate capsules. That could be a big reason why I just amassed a lot of clothes with no real idea where or when I was going to where them. I've tried paring down a bit but am still at 150+ items. I can link you to my travel capsule if it helps . . . http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ture-heavy Or maybe you should follow the wardrobe challenge http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ew-outfits

Makrame

Veteran

Very interesting replies, and thanks for the links!

I am going through my closet and making a list of everything I have for fall, and I am actually thinking that once I make the list, I might try returning some of the new items I bought recently, if I find that I have more than enough. I am using this thread and various SYC/closet organization threads for discipline and inspiration.

I started wondering about the size of the capsule because I am often more than content to wear the same things from week to week but sometimes I will still buy something because "it would be nice to have this option", not because I absolutely need it. Like the long cardigans I was asking about on a "keep or return" thread - I am going to see how many options for wearing with skinny jeans I have, and if it is more than enough to get me through a couple weeks, one cardigan will go back. Like Khris, I do laundry often, so I don't need many versions of the same item.

Thanks to YLF, I think I am doing pretty well now at making sure I don't create many orphans among the new things I buy (tops go well with bottoms in terms of suitable length and drape etc.), which used to be my big problem leading to "nothing to wear". And I have the color thing all worked out where most of my clothes mix and match (the only downside to this, as someone pointed out to me, is that almost all my shoes are black ).

Now my main problem is figuring out whether I am content with wearing the same items/combination relatively often or if I want more variety. Those of you who like to mix and change things - do you feel that you are doing it for yourself (i.e., "I am sick of wearing the same old thing") or for others that see you?

I am also trying to convince myself that if I restrain myself now, I will have more disposable income and closet space to buy something new and exciting next season.

Makrame

Veteran

Oh, AJ, I too decided to make a list of what I have to convince myself that I don't need much of anything new. So far the only things on the list of "needs" are a black bra, tights, belts, and olive or brown bag. Now if I can only stick to list, I'll be in good shape!

Vix

Veteran

It took me so long to type this I see you already answered most of my questions, ha!

Hi Makrame --

I'm another one who prioritizes "workability not variety" [love that phrase!] and lots of the comments upthread dovetail with what found to be helpful -- limiting colors, more tops than bottoms, feeling things out and adding or donating as needed.

You say you're aiming to have 6-7 work capsule combos per season. Do you:

-- put those away at the end of a season, or buy new stuff that mixes in and expands your options?

-- buy clothes/accessories for a season, wear them a lot, then move them out after a year or two?

I think both of the above can influence the "right" number for a person.

The majority of my closet has stuff I wear year-round plus or minus things for much colder or hotter weather and I do NOT put them away or cycle through them quickly -- but am considering doing one or both.

I'm coming to believe that wearing the same items so much contributes to my closet's growing size -- so keep that in mind when you are evaluating.

[Sometimes there's just no accessory or new combination that makes putting on the same brown pants or grey sweater I've had on for 38 of 52 weeks appealing!]

And keep in mind that if your style and/or preferences change you may have a larger capsule than usual while you are in transition -- or just larger than before.

Deciding to add more color-color and pattern to my closet means that it's grown from pretty minimal (less than 5 each of pants/tops/sweaters) to lots of "mini-capsules." I wanted the option of wearing color with color, color with neutrals, AND neutrals with neutrals...so things expanded!

Also as mentioned upthread, "psychological need/want" differs so much from person to person.

I'd say if you:

a) aren't sighing when you put something on again and aren't repeatedly discovering your clothes are dirty (or washed-but-not-dried or at the cleaners)

and b) aren't feeling overwhelmed by choices or feeling wasteful

then you probably have the right amount for you!

rosee

Veteran

No real comment, good advice above (just tagging this so it shows up on my profile page for easy reference)

Jonesy

Veteran

I am not the right person to give you advice, because I'm like AJ in that I really crave variety and I consequently have a rather large wardrobe! Coming up with new combos is like a fiendish analytical puzzle for me that I enjoy working on, plus I get bored easily by my clothes, plus I work at home usually half the time so I don't have the pressure of coming up with 5 new, interesting, comfy combos each workday. So, I do it for me, rather than for anyone in my environment (sometimes I get comments IRL, but not usually), though I admit that posting WIWs here has encouraged me to stretch myself too.

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

I agree with Vix.

From an organisational and efficiency point of view, I love the idea of a good capsule that works hard (if you read my now very neglected blog, you will see that I love an 'elegant sufficiency' of things), but I appreciate others like abundance and choice. At the moment, I am trying to build a 'socialising' capsule.

I read a book a while ago about capsule collections of clothes, and it recommended that you have one capsule, and then another, which will interlink with the original one, thus giving you lots of options. It was fascinating (I think it was this book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lookin.....038;sr=1-9 ) which means you get more options. The book is a bit dated now, but the ideas are sound, for those of us that this idea appeals to.

And as for shoes - metallic shoes are pretty neutral, and particularly for spring/summer, will go well with a lot of outfits.

Makrame

Veteran

I was just thinking that I have one or two capsules that work really well for me (and they got started before I even knew the expression "wardrobe capsule" but that's exactly what they are). One is a running capsule (running bra, technical shirts, shorts, capris, socks etc.) and the other is a hiking capsule (hiking pants, boots, shirts etc.). Each one has about 2-3 versions of each item, and often I will wash, dry and wear the same set over and over again but if I forget to dry one set or have to pack one to keep in my office, I still have another set to wear. The running clothes are semi-expensive (although bought on sale) but I feel like I get enough wear out of them and they are not wasted. Of course, this approach does not quite work for the office/work clothes.

Makrame

Veteran

Oh, and speaking of people in my environment (at work). I just realized that I have 2 distinct goals for my wardrobe with regard to how I look to others. When I am in the lab, I don't want to look like I spent a ton of money/time on my clothes. Partly it's because I work with people whose incomes are fairly limited (grad. students etc.), partly because of "science environmental norm". So I either consciously or subconsciously try to limit myself there. On the other hand, when I am teaching, I am meeting with the same students 3 times a week, and I know that medical students expect professional and semi-polished dress from faculty (based on some comments that we get on evaluations). I remember as a student, sometimes I would notice if an instructor was repeating the same set of clothes week after week, and it would feel like we were all in a rut. So I guess it would make sense to have more variety or more opportunities for remixing in my "teaching" capsule than in my casual/lab capsule.

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

lots of good advice!!! first, i echo the thoughts of others that if it works for you, then - it works for you!! any 'shoulds' are not helpful, in fact detrimental. we're all very different psychologically,in practical and professional terms, etc. so there's no 'magic number' or even a magic formula. just be honest with yourself about what you want to achieve, and when your wardrobe does that it's good!

i love Butterfly Lady's ideas about 'interlinking capsules'. i have always had pretty small wardrobes, and i found that when i started being super strict about what i bought (especially in terms of color) that, paradoxically, the # of outfits i could create exploded. because everything could be worn with everything else.

for example i started with beige and black - both go well with the other. then i added denim. next, olive drab. now coral. nothing clashes, i can do monochrome (light or dark), all newtrals, or get colorful with coral and denim. you have to put a lot of thought in to developing your scheme and shopping, but then when you get down to actually wearing your clothes its so easy.

Makrame, you've done a LOT of very good thinking about this, and now you've implemented your plan. it seems like the next step is to go thru this season and see how your plan works for you - maybe you'll want more tops, or scarves, or more wash and wear as opposed to dry clean only pieces. any system will need fine-tuning once you start actually using it.

But i have to say i'm completely impressed with what you've accomplished! sounds like we can take lessons from YOU in answering your question!!! happy weekend! steph

Scarlet

Veteran

To give a useless answer, I like to have as much as I have space for. I love variety.

Aida

Veteran

Can't help on the capsule bit (I don't really use them), another batter for Team More is More and Don't Wear It The Same Way Twice *waves to AJ and Jonesy* But it sounds like you've gotten some great advice, and already some insight while working on your capsules!

Re your question: "Those of you who like to mix and change things - do you feel that you are doing it for yourself (i.e., "I am sick of wearing the same old thing") or for others that see you?"

Totally for myself! I have a good bit of patience with my clothes though (don't get too bored). Like Jonesy said, coming up with new combos is a little puzzle that I really enjoy "solving" each morning.

Lisa

Veteran

Some wonderful advice here already. For me, I am on team more is more and I enjoy coming up with new combinations. My wardrobe is quite large and I rarely wear the same tops twice in the same month to work. I have started trying to pare down my wardrobe and have learned thus far: I do like variety, I prefer when I can remix my items at least two or three ways, and I do enjoy outfit repeats, but only after 3 weeks of variety.

Once you learn what you tolerance for remixing/repeating is, you can streamline your wardrobe accordingly. And it's amazing how much you can change an outfit solely with accessories.

Kate

Veteran

I am on team less is more, currently SYC, slowly whittling down my wardrobe, and I (obsessively) keep track of everything I wear in a spreadsheet. I'm also a grad student on a limited budget and want to look good without looking like I spend all my money on clothes.

I also spent two separate semesters as an undergrad living out of a backpack while studying abroad (each time I had about 8 shirts, 5 layers, and 5 bottoms). This was before I became interested in fashion, and both times by the end of the semester I was sick of many of my clothes. I wanted more shirts. I despised anything that didn't fit perfectly, especially my only pair of jeans during the second semester which were too big and yet I wore them at least 2-3 times a week. I also lacked a color scheme, which limited my remixing in a big way.

Over time, I've learned which items I "play favorites" with and don't need many of (shoes and jeans in particular) and the items where I tend to seek variety (tops above all else, but also cardigans). This will vary from person to person.

I've also moved towards a more cohesive color scheme, which means that most of my clothes can be mixed with most of my other clothes. I have fewer items than I did three years ago, but so many more outfits.

In terms of numbers for my ideal wardrobe size (everything but gear), I would say:

5 pants (2 jeans, 3 other)
6-7 skirts
2 bermuda shorts
7-9 dresses
7 jackets/blazers
10 cardigans
25 tops
3 leggings
4 scarves
3 belts
1 trench coat
4 shoes (sandals, booties, boots, heels)

I should mention that I live in a climate where I can wear a lot of my warm weather clothes in the winter if I layer them.

I hope this helps!

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

The book I linked too, I seem to remember, had you try on all your clothes (which took me a long time, and I didn't have a lot, that much I do remember!). So you put on your jeans, and then try on every single top you have (even if you think they won't 'go') and see if you can make an outfit. It's very time consuming, but I did find that I could see that with the addition of a belt, say, I had another outfit I hadn't even thought of. It might be a worthwhile exercise for you, with your existing clothes ... ?

And Steph has explained far better than me the idea of interlinking capsules, thank you Steph!

StacyJo

(website)

Can't really add anything because the comments above are so spot on! Great thread! I will add though that I SYC but tend to "More is More" as far as accessories go.

Makrame

Veteran

I am really enjoying reading these replies, and my closet is looking much better after some tidying up that I did while making my list of fall items!

On a slightly embarrassing note, while working on getting my clothes organized, I decided that I will use a sleeveless wrap dress that has seen very little wear for an informal dinner at a friends' house. I used a safety pin to ensure no accidental cleavage exposure, since wrap dresses can be a bit revealing on my slightly busty self. The pin gave, which I did not notice, and apparently I spent much of the evening with not only cleavage exposure but also some bra exposure (fortunately, it was a black bra that almost looked like a camisole). My sweet husband assured me that while he noticed it, he thought that that was the way the dress was supposed to be worn, and it looked perfectly fine to him, so he did not say anything. Oh my, I guess this dress is now going to have a "wear with a cami only" notation in my spreadsheet!

Kristine

Veteran

I've been thinking about this too lately. After starting with virtually nothing, it took me a year and a half to build up a good working wardrobe. So I'm starting to wonder how much is enough and think I'm just about to the point of "one in, one out". I have approximately 5 dress pants, 5 skirts, 5 dresses, 2-3 jackets per season. I'll often wear the same pieces every week but usually not in the same way.

Now that my wardrobe is almost complete, I try to be careful to shop for needs not wants. For example, lately I'm drawn to skirts and dresses when what I really need is a few more choices of shoes to wear with the ones I already have.

Accessories help me a lot also. The same grey sheath dress is completely different with a cobalt blue scarf versus a leopard scarf. My closet is very small so it's a lot easier to store accessories too.

Elly

Veteran

I have been thinking about this alot because I am trying to build a couple of small capsules.

I may be different that a lot of the ladies-- I am definitely a small wardrobe fanatic, but I don't put away or get rid of clothing often. I like to shop at the beginning of a season and then not have to shop again except for maybe a small pick-me-up a couple of times (or goodies when I am traveling or otherwise "memory shopping") or an "emergency" (a workhorse gives out, I suddenly need a special occasion outfit). Ideally I like my clothing to be good enough quality to last a couple of seasons, and since I live in a 4 season climate I have a good 6 months to get "un-sick" of my often-worn items. I love fashion and continue to follow what is going on and participate in my favorite forums all season, but life often gets in the way for me and I like to be done before I need the clothes.

Also, I am not a huge re-mixer. There are definitely things I like to wear 2-3 ways and a handful of things I wear more ways, but I generally have one or two favorite ways to wear my things and wear them that way. I am ok with wearing the same items the same way often, but would prefer to go just a bit for than a week between outfits. I want to wear my "everyday" outfits 3+ times a month. I would wear items multiple times a week, but I have problems keeping up with laundry (even though I wash once a week or more).

I can do well with 3-4 work bottoms and 2 weekend bottoms and 8 tops total. I do need more toppers than most-- 5-8.

MsMary

Veteran

I am totally Team More is More! I don't mind wearing things the same way twice or more, but I also like to mix it up a lot.

I have realized lately that I don't need a big variety in TYPES of items, but I really want to have all the basics in every color. E.g. the Halogen pencil skirt in six colors; patent leather pumps in nine colors, blazers in every color, pants in every color, bags in every color, cardigans in every color, tops in every color plus a variety of prints.

That probably doesn't help, I realize...

Joy

Veteran

After having to rebuild a new wardrobe from nothing after weight loss, I found that I really like a small wardrobe plus accessories and actually felt most creative when it was small. I've let it get too big now and plan to SYC after an edit at the change of the seasons until I really feel I have a need for something new or different and can identify what is needed. The need might be real or be from a need for change. I suspect that there will be some of both. You might try seeing how you do with small capsules and add or replace when you feel the need.

Makrame

Veteran

MaryK, your wardrobe sure sounds like a fun collection (and I always like looking at your outfit pictures because of the beautiful colors).

Elly and Joy, I kind of like the idea of smaller capsules, too. Like Elly, I have 4 real seasons (was 85F here yesterday, will be about 10F in the winter) so I don't get tired of my clothes very easily since they are not the same all year round. And I do like to keep them for more than a year (or a season).

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