A capsule wardrobe in twelve pieces
Four colours, twelve pieces, forty outfits. The plan we tested for three months, with the pieces we kept.
A capsule wardrobe is a small number of clothes that all work together. The idea is not new, and it is often badly explained. You do not have to throw everything away, wear only beige or count your socks. You need twelve good pieces that make about forty outfits, and a plan for the rest.
Why twelve
We tested capsules of eight, twelve and twenty pieces over three months. Eight was too few: we were bored in two weeks. Twenty was too many: there were pieces we never wore. Twelve gave enough choice for work, weekends and one formal evening, and it fitted in a carry-on bag.
The colour rule
Choose two dark neutrals, one light neutral and one accent. For example: navy and grey, ivory, and a deep red. Every piece must be in one of these four colours. That is the whole secret. When the colours agree, the clothes combine without effort.
The twelve
Here is the list. Change the details for your own life, and keep the structure.
- A long wool coat
- A short jacket or blazer
- A fine roll-neck knit
- A thick crew-neck knit
- A white shirt
- A striped or coloured shirt
- Two T-shirts, which count as one
- Straight trousers in wool
- Dark jeans
- A skirt or a second pair of trousers
- A simple dress
- A cardigan or waistcoat
Shoes, bags and scarves are extra. Three pairs of shoes are enough: a loafer, a boot and a clean white trainer.
Fit before fashion
A capsule works only if every piece fits you well. Take the trousers to a tailor and have the hem made exactly right for your shoes. Have the sleeves of the jacket shortened so that a centimetre of shirt shows. These small changes cost little, and they make inexpensive clothes look expensive.
Twelve pieces that fit are worth more than sixty that almost fit.
Isabeau Laurent
A week from the rail
To show how it works, here is one week from our test.
| Day | Outfit |
|---|---|
| Monday | Blazer, white shirt, wool trousers, loafers |
| Tuesday | Roll-neck, jeans, long coat, boots |
| Wednesday | Dress, cardigan, boots |
| Thursday | Striped shirt, skirt, blazer, loafers |
| Friday | Crew-neck knit, jeans, trainers |
| Saturday | T-shirt, cardigan, jeans, trainers |
| Sunday | Roll-neck, wool trousers, long coat |
No outfit repeats, and there are more than thirty still to try.
What to do with everything else
Do not throw the rest of your clothes away. Put them in a box or at the back of the cupboard for one season. If you miss something, take it out. At the end of three months, sell or give away what you did not miss. Most people find that they wore a fifth of their clothes four-fifths of the time.
Where to spend and where to save
Spend on the things you wear most and that take the most stress: the coat, the shoes and the knitwear. Save on T-shirts and shirts, which wear out whatever they cost. Buy trousers and jeans in the middle of the market and spend the difference at the tailor.
The pieces we kept
Four pieces from our own capsule. We chose them for the cloth and the cut, and we bought them ourselves.
Common mistakes
- Too many basics. A capsule of plain grey and white is dull. Include one piece you love for no reason.
- The wrong life. If you work at home, you do not need three jackets. Build the capsule for the week you really have.
- Ignoring the season. A capsule changes four times a year. Swap four or five pieces and keep the rest.
Can a capsule work with colour and prints?
How often should I rebuild it?
The real benefit
After three months, the surprise was not the money we saved. It was the time. Getting dressed took two minutes, and we liked what we saw in the mirror every day. A small wardrobe is not a sacrifice. It is a wardrobe where everything is your favourite.
